Thanks everyone, I wasn't really fishing for sympathy just showing how little it all really means in your own life when something not-too-good happens. Mind you I'd be lying if I didn't say that things around the club and results and so-forth no longer upset me because they do, but not very much. I've noticed I'm definitely a lot more pessimistic regarding Saints though. We're both very pragmatic [my wife is a retired bion-medical scientist] so we take it in our stride and don't get too upset about anything and see how things pan out. The current prognosis is good I'm pleased to say. Hopefully Saints can cheer me up in the meantime.
A terribly worrying time for you but all I can say is that if your wife are being treated at the General she couldn't be in safer hands. The very lovely Mrs Godders had cancer in her left kidney about four years ago and had cryosurgery there to destroy it. She is now fully recovered. I hope all goes well. People may moan about the NHS and some politicians would like to destroy it but it is bloody marvellous and a godsend when you need it.
Like others I am in the zone where I am not brilliantly happy with things but am not worried either. I think I am more disappointed that, in a season where our stock couldn't be higher, especially with group stage European football, we seem to letting the best opportunity to strengthen slip through our fingers. Best wishes to you and the wife Shep! Hopes of a speedy recovery!
Thanks, to be honest we are okay at the moment and the worry is only slight. My wife being a ex-medical scientist knows exactly what is what, so there's less bafflement and mystery. We live in Swindon so it's GWH for us but as most the family work there at least we know who is who and so on. The only problem we had is after the last consultation we had utter radio silence from anyone for three weeks except for a confusing letter that contradicted itself. Anyway the upshot is that ol' kidney is coming out come what may and the date is August 30th. It's just some stuff around it that may cause a bit more concern. Anyhoo that's enough about me and on with some football. I for one would like two good quality signings [not mega-stars but good players] and Fonte to see out his career. So that's the kybosh on that.
Best wishes SC. Nothing about the next 18 days is any different to the last 12 months is it? People like Beefy and others have been correctly identifying areas we need to strengthen for ever. Centre Back support and attacking mid are much needed and its been apparent for so long I'm only disappointed that it isn't sorted yet. If we fail to secure our targets I think we are going to have a hard time of it. Defensively, the move to a new formation is going to cause us to leak goals at a greater rate and up front we have struggled for creativity for the past two seasons pushing us to rely too much on long balls and crosses onto Pelle's head. A quicker, solid CB and a quick footed quick thinking forward who can lash in a decent shot from distance would go a long way to settling my nerves about this season. The rest of the depth would be great from the youth team.
NZ, you say You're disappointed we haven't got CB support sorted after so long - isn't that Gardos? We bought him and he unfortunately got injured, but we did buy him to be that CB cover. We need to understand his recovery situation before dismissing him. If he is fit, that gives us 4 CBs with good Premier league experience. I'd expect either Gardos to be written off or Maya sold to bring in another good one (this before the Fonte stuff, which is why I don't agree with the "for so long" bit) On the creativity, I don't think we've really struggled that much over the last two seasons as we had Tadic and when Mane left everyone was up in arms that we were losing his creativity, so that was two key areas of creativity over the last two seasons. Now if Fonte goes and we get passed deadline day without a new CB and a new attacking player, I completely agree with you. I am just picking up on the "last couple of seasons" part. Ps. Hope you don't see this as "talking down to you"
Gardos is the forgotten man. Maybe it's my memory failing but I don't think I've seen enough of Gardos to consider him as all that experienced, he was always a back-up rather than first choice and personally think we could do with a new first choice in the squad. Rotate Fonte VVD and playerX with one or two others, there will be plenty of big games this year. We've run hot and cold in the creativity dept. Under Poch I thought we were more exciting, Koeman made us harder to beat but workmanlike to watch at times. Plenty of squeaky 1-0 wins with the odd 8-0 in there. I'm not a lone voice in the wilderness in wishing we'd had a Mahrez or Payet in the squad over the past two seasons. An alternate dimension where Gaston actually worked out would be a great place to live.
Yes, we might find ourselves casting an envious eye at that Gaston chap this season with our new formation. Time will tell. Anyway, you're bang on about needing some more creativity now, for sure. I thought Tadic was excellent Saturday but another one would be good (although Redmond may also provide sparks for us). Gardos looked very capable and I thought he had been brought in as long term replacement for Fonte. The injury situation clearly raises a question mark and probably that and Fonte's situation will dictate what CB type we sign. If Fonte stays and Gardos is ok, then a young up and coming CB would be good. If Fonte goes and Gardos injury is not good, then a first team CB needed quickly.
Yep, Its sod's law that Boro will get Gaston purring like a finely tuned ferrari after all this time. I'm not in the waah camp over Mane going, he was missing half the red stripes from his kit last season if you ask me. If he was here for the long haul it'd be different but he wasn't here long enough or played enough outstanding games for me to get too attached. He'll try a lot harder in Liverpool I'm sure and I'm thinking that Redmond will be a better fit for Saints, we will be good for him and I really think he will cause some defences some problems. I'm picking his finishing to be better than Long this season.
Fans can be funny. What you say about Mane is so true. He was hot and cold last season for sure. Some fans only remember the hot when a player leaves. At half time on Saturday I was talking to Chilco and my Dad about the first half that although very poor, I only thought it was poor because of the bad passing. I saw enough glimpses to see there was a light shining still. My Dad however, turned to me and asked me why it was so bad compared to the last two seasons on the first home game and we didn't seem anywhere near as buoyant or up for it as those previous two seasons opening home games. He was a little taken aback when I pointed out that those two games were a dire 0-0 against West Brom (hardly created a chance) and a 3-0 thrashing by Everton. It was a classic example of rose tinted memory.
