Yes, I'd noticed this myself - 63rd minute, like clockwork, a player goes down, the physios come on and everyone refuels and have a tactical catch-up with the coaches.
Do we want this widely publicised? Is there a chance the refs could put a stop to it? Booking the player who goes down for time wasting? Surely they can’t because it means the ref is accusing the player of lying about an injury and that is definitely not their area of expertise
I see that Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have been added to the growing list of clubs monitoring Broja. BBC website also claiming that us and Leicester are watching a Bristol City midfielder, a French lad called Han-Noah Massengo. 20 years old and signed from Monaco.
I first read about this when I was looking at fan's forums of either Swansea or Coventry before we played them, can't remember which one but one of the poster's said "watch Southampton around the 65th minute, one of their players will need attention and all the rest go to the manager for coaching". I was totally unaware of this so looked out for it and sure enough at about 68 minutes it happened. Now, if the fans of Swansea or Coventry know about it then I'm pretty sure everyone else does too. A bit cheeky but hardly cheating on the grand scale of things, the worst that could happen is that the league might have a word in some ones ear. I think it's quite funny.
I'm sure you're right especially with the high energy strategy we use, but it's also quite convenient for the coaching staff.
Think if it was a pretend injury it would happen in more than 14/24 games. In my opinion, the players have been instructed to take advantage of any pause late in the game to get an energy drink.
I'm sure that's true as well, but I suspect there is more science behind it than that. My guess is that the sports scientists have calculated how long it takes for the energy drink to get into the bloodstream and have an effect and concluded that in order to have an impact in the 95th minute, it should be taken 30 minutes before that.
"Also would be nice to not sell them as soon as a bug club comes in, maybe get an extra year." But if Tino for eg wants away and we say one more year, that goes against what we are promising the youngsters to get them in the first place. As Semmens said, it's a pathway. We get two or three years from an exceptional young player and won't stand in their way when they want to leave, that encourages other youngsters to sign for us. I'm sure Mane and van Dijk were told that too. I think the club is in a very good place at the moment, we're getting a lot of good publicity that is boosting our reputation no end. I think this interview is Semmens cleverly keeping it going by plugging our vision and how youngsters will benefit by coming to us. The great results at West Ham and home to Spurs with 10 men were noted but imo the momentum started to shift when JWP scored that free kick at Wolves. He was well known here but that was being shown all over Europe and he was suddenly being compared to Beckham. Then Broja was starting to make a name for himself with us and even if we don't sign him, we will have done very well by him by showing we will play 19yr olds in the PL. Then we get some excellent high profile results playing great football and we are now flavour of the month. Ralph Hasenhuttl is a genius instead of The Austrian Klopp who has two 9-0's in his résumé. He is not only able to coach the Saints but also offers advice to Man Utd . Pundits, not known for their research seem to be aware of the club's philosophy and even say we are a well run club from top to bottom. All of the above will I believe, put us in a great position to sign youngsters (and perhaps older players) that would maybe have gone to other clubs. I've always backed Ralph, with irrational loyalty at times, but imo Semmens is just as, if not more, important to Saints. Another thing that I've been meaning to mention was KWP's interview after he scored in the Man City game. If anyone had a reason to be upset at not being played regularly it was him. One of our players of the season, he was immediately dropped for Tino. But in his interview he thanked Saints for taking him from Spurs to give him the opportunity to play in the PL and paid other compliments to the club. This can't go unnoticed by other youngsters and potential loaning clubs. KWP is a modest and seemingly very likeable young bloke who's been an excellent signing.
I have always thought Moussa is not tough enough for the robust PL. I’ve just looked at the photos of training this week. Everyone is well wrapped up against the wet, cold and windy weather. The exception is Moussa, who is playing in T shirt and shorts. Respect! He could be an adopted Geordie, down the Bigg Market in Newcastle.
Loved Rickie, but he's not as technically gifted as the other 3 options there. And I think Broja and pre-injury Rodriguez would compliment each other very well.
