Match Day Thread Ajax v Southampton (Thursday)

Yeah that was never a penalty! The cross from jay rod was a gem. It's a shame we can't tell how Clasie played from the highlights. I'm very intrigued

 

Cheers DTLW couple of good effortd from Gaston and thst was never a penalty.

 

Jay, Gastòn, and Juanmi all looking very sharp.

 

Which is want to see; a hungry set of bench players, although I think Jay is more than this.

 

Starting XI appears to have been Gazzaniga, Debayo, Caulker, Martina, Mugabi, Romeu, Clasie, Gaston, Juanmi, Seager, Jay.
Don't know the subs yet but Clasie only had an hour.

 

Jay looking very good from those highlights, getting back that power and pace.
Poor handling from Gazzaniga on a couple of occasions.

Great to see Hesketh, Seager, Sims, Gape, Debayo & McCarthy getting good competitive minutes alongside some experienced senior pros

 

Absolutely, as I said before I love it when we win, whatever the level.

 

If it is natural for the British to dislike that sort of thing, then why did Saints come up with the whole "We March On" slogan/manifesto?

Not trying to get in a dig at Saints or Krueger, I'm genuinely curious.

Because I actually thought it was a British thing as tbh, I've always found it somewhat cringeworthy myself. And to me it as an American it certainly doesn't come across to me as American/Canadian speil/sentiment/wording.

 

I don't know mate. Maybe you are in denial or something. The Americans do seem to love a slogan. I'd say it is one of their defining characteristics. Maybe it stems from Hollywood-style tagline marketing, or from the fiercely competitive political campaigning, etc.

I know most stereotypes that the Brits have about Americans are bollocks (don't get sarcasm etc), but this one I really do think is quite true.

Saints have never used this marketing strategy until Krueger came in

 

Heh. I won't deny we love slogans, but I think "We March On" would be perceived as somewhat wimpy. It seems to acknowledge that Saints have been dealt some bad blows, but they will persevere nonetheless, in noble fashion.

Whereas I don't think (very generalized stereotype of course) nobility and perseverance are necessarily seen as the best traits in a pro franchise. The message would be bolder, as if there were no obstacles in the way and Saints are easily going to march to a title. This would be delivered in either a matter-of-fact or brashly humorous manner so as to underscore just how little of a challenge they face. Less a promise to deliver than an acknowledgment of a foregone conclusion.

For example, the Chicago Cubs slogan this year is a simple "We are good" even though the Cubs have blatantly sucked for several years. It turns out, they really were good but that's a little beside the point. Last year the Kansas City Royals used "Always October" despite the fact that they had not appeared in the post-season (ostensibly October) in 25 years. You just lie blatantly and the brashness of the lie becomes a selling point showing your badass attitude.

 

We March On...Always October....May the force be with us?

 

I think we most likely chose "We March On" because of the lyrics in our club anthem.

 

Who'd have thought, eh?

 

I was really referring to business speak...staff in every place I have worked roll their eyes when managers return from conferences and start talking in a foreign language. I don't mind the We March On speech when first heard because it was the backing to an 'up and at 'em' video at a time when we were all a bit depressed. We would have learnt to loathe it if it hadn't been followed up with results. I like the statement 'We March On' because it sums us up and comes from our anthem. Ralph's mistake was repeating it when it was already on the video he showed.

 

Have to admit that I found the whole thing extremely cringe-worthy at first. Then I realised that it was a real statement of intent and slowly it turned around in my mind. Now it is at the bottom of every one of my posts. For me, at that point, Krueger stopped being a waffler and started to talk real sense. I stopped listening to him and started listening to what he says.

 

True cringeworthy is what others say.....Saints' cringeworthy = inspiring. Fact!