Saints Stuff

[Saints_Alive]

Azaz is a marmite player who splits opinion but his stats are good and he definitely made a good contribution to us finishing 4th imo.
He will never be a workhorse, tackling type of player but he fits into the team with 2 DM/CMs behind him.
I'll be happy to see him as our 10 for next season but he does need a bit of competition for his position in the team.

 

[Puck]

I definitely don't see Azaz as a top flight player personally. Obviously there's the odd exception but comes across a bit flat track bully to me - think only one of his goals or assists for us came against a fellow top 6 side.

Good player to have in this league though.

Agreed. He's the type of player who will win us the games in the Championship that we should be winning but I doubt he'll step up - he already goes missing at times and probably doesn't have the physicality for the Premier League. He's not holding us back though.

On Smallbone, if we have to sell one or more of Jander, Charles and Downes (which seems likely) and his wages are reasonable then I wouldn't mind keeping him. Useful player to have in the squad.

 

[Le Tissier's Laces]

Said the other day I'd happily re-sign him if it wasn't for his injury issues.

Yeah, he’s made of Twiglets.

Neither of them are PL level for me. Azaz is upper Champ, Smallbone is mid Champ.

 

[thereisonlyoneno7]

Yeah, he’s made of Twiglets.

Neither of them are PL level for me. Azaz is upper Champ, Smallbone is mid Champ.

Which thanks to Don Gibbo and the EFL, we are next year.

 

[st_brendy]

I think most Saints fans would agree that neither Smallbone nor Azaz are PL players. But we're not in the PL. And Azaz is currently under contract with us next season, whereas Smallbone isn't.

Personally I think it's inevitable that our squad next season will be weaker than our squad next season. And probably to the extent that we will be left with Azaz as one of our best players. I suspect we can forget any notion about us being too good for him.

As for Smallbone, if there is the option to renew his contract for a further year, then I would be very open to that. But I think that the existence of such an option was just a rumour? I might be wrong, but I can't recall it being confirmed? And without such an option, I assume Will would be looking for a longer contract this summer. And that would be far less tempting to me (though I still wouldn't be totally against is).

 

[Che’s Godlike Thighs]

Who gives a flying **** what the Boro fans think? He doesn't shoot from distance much because he backs himself to play someone in.

You don’t care about the opinion of fans who have watched a player for two seasons?

Strange, but okay.

 

[tomw24]

You don’t care about the opinion of fans who have watched a player for two seasons?

Strange, but okay.

Because I don't care how he played for them.

 

[Le Tissier's Laces]

You don’t care about the opinion of fans who have watched a player for two seasons?

Strange, but okay.

In fairness to Tom, I'm delighted we didn't listen to Mallorca fans about Larin.

 

[thereisonlyoneno7]

In fairness to Tom, I'm delighted we didn't listen to Mallorca fans about Larin.

And wished we'd listened to anyone about Downs

 

[SR get out of my club]

I don't believe Che is being objective about Azaz. You have tended to be down on him all season - guess you are consistent

He is upper Championship level, likely not EPL level, but give the guy a break mate - he has had a pretty good season by all accounts and we will defo need him as good next season.

 

[Che’s Godlike Thighs]

I don't believe Che is being objective about Azaz. You have tended to be down on him all season - guess you are consistent

He is upper Championship level, likely not EPL level, but give the guy a break mate - he has had a pretty good season by all accounts and we will defo need him as good next season.

Yeah it's a difficult one. I want to like him, I really do. I find him kind of similar to Adarma, in that he does nothing much for a couple of games apart from fluff big chances, but then he'll go and do something in the next game that makes you think, 'ah yeah, he can do it sometimes'. Adarma needed four chances to score one goal, and I feel Azaz is the same; in that he needs four opportunities to make the right pass. He can do it, but just not regularly enough for me. The amount of wayward through balls I watched him make this season was painful. And he doesn't shoot from distance, which is something we have needed for years. Games that are played at a high-energy level, he just can't get involved in.

I'm happy with him as a squad player, because he can unlock crappy stubborn teams it seems, which is something we need. But against decent oppo, I just feel we need an improvement on him. Hopefully Jay-Rob and Matsuki get given the chance during preseason.

 

[Che’s Godlike Thighs]

Harrison Reed wins Premier League Goal of the Season.

 

[St.Jerome]

Don't see it mentioned elsewhere, but P&O are the confirmed sponsor for next year.

 

[tomw24]

Don't see it mentioned elsewhere, but P&O are the confirmed sponsor for next year.

On the new kit thread.

 

[RSS]

I’m in Newcastle at the moment having spent the last week and a half hiking the Cumbria way and then the Hadrians wall path. As you’d expect, I’ve seen plenty of people walking around in Newcastle shirts. What I didn’t expect is the next best represented club that I’ve seen around the city is Saints!

 

[thereisonlyoneno7]

I’m in Newcastle at the moment having spent the last week and a half hiking the Cumbria way and then the Hadrians wall path. As you’d expect, I’ve seen plenty of people walking around in Newcastle shirts. What I didn’t expect is the next best represented club that I’ve seen around the city is Saints!

lol or is it Sunderland