Match Day Thread Southampton v Shrewsbury Tuesday 19/1/2021 8pm BT Sport 2

Hopefully get some injury updates at 13:30.

 

Wrist strain from writing that article, apparently.

 

How is a 3 week break for other teams a positive but for us, jeez, we’d have about 5 injured & the other 5 off the pace. Never been able to fathom.

 

This x1000.

 

Ralph has different views about what “resting” consists of. If we had 3 weeks off, we’d probably go to Tenerife and spend an hour a day playing beach volleyball, and the rest of the time running up Mount Teide.

 

All best wishes for Steve Cotterrill. Nasty.

 

Don’t disagree but without being flippant (very hard for me as you know ) doesn’t look like we’ve quite got the balance right. Maybe he does actually send 5x for lazy beach patrol & the other 5x for continuous gruelling workouts!?

 

what’s with the 1950s football?

 

Smallbone has done his ACL

Absolutely gutting.

 

Ah ****.

 

So sad for Will. The only positives are that he’s young and should hopefully heal quicker, and that he’s at a great club to help him rehabilitate.

All the best Will, hope we see you sometime next season.

 

Ings ruled out tomorrow.

 

ah balls.

 

Really bad news for Smallbone. He's not really featured this season, gets a chance and takes it well and then this happens. It will be a big mental challenge for him over the next few months especially. I'm sure Saints will be there for him every step of the way.

Has anything more been said about Ings and Covid? I thought it was said that he was asymptomatic, and is back training? So must have tested negative now. In which case I don't understand why he is out.

 

Wonder if Alexandre Jankewitz at least makes the bench.

 

Can imagine press conference with some Sun 'reporter'

"Mr Haveamoment, you going to play a weakened team tomorrow?"

Ralph adopts icy stare, "Yes, of course. But my plans are limited. The ticket sales manager is at the birth of his first child, while Jonno from the kitchen scalded himself yesterday cooking lunch at home. Luckily my wife has found her boots."

 

Terrible news for the lad. But thank heavens things have moved on. This injury was THE career ending injury a while back. A good mate of mine had this injury while at Everton's academy 30+ years ago and that was him looking for another job. Of course, players are more valuable assets these days, and the medical skills have advanced. I would hope that there is also a greater understanding of a football club's responsibility to support these young players. I like the fact that our club seems to off-load young players who aren't making the grade with some dignity and that many go on to have successful careers at other clubs. Surely a sign that Saints didn't mess their heads.

 

Quick reminder that this is only football. Speedy recovery wished upon the poor bugger.