Saints Stuff

Correct. It applies to many football fans. Saints fans in this instance as that who is who we are and who we are talking about

For years I have sat and listened to the groans and moans if a pass goes backwards.

 

With no fans you don't get the nervous, tense atmosphere which comes with the passing around at the back. Players are more relaxed and more comfortable doing it. The elite players like Van Dijk, Laporte etc aren't really affected by the crowd as they're so good whereas players like Vestergaard rely on confidence to play well. I do think Vestergaard was affected badly by the nervous tension coming from the crowd.

It really annoyed me when people shouted at the players to lump it up the pitch and then shout at them for giving the ball away. I mean, what did they expect!

 

If you think the back-passes cause nervous tension, imagine what this year's transformation of McCarthy into a ball-playing sweeper would do if there were fans in the stadium! Actually he's dialled it back since the first few games, but I'd still say his average position is 5 metres or so further forward.

 

At the moment a player can hit the crossbar or have a near miss before immediately carrying on...perhaps after a team mate has patted him on the back. Big difference compared to ca. 30,000 sighs.

 

Reports: Angus Gunn is set to be out for six weeks with an ankle ligament injury.

Sad considering he's just starting getting a run in the Stoke team.

 

Here's a short interview by Che Adams from an entertaining podcast for fantasy football managers on the beeb, never used to like Chris Sutton much but he's funny on this and 606.
Che's bit starts at 15:20..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08z0n0p

 

Didn’t see it get discussed anywhere else but DoF Matt Crocker did an interview with Dan Sheldon. He hasn’t said much publicly since his official start in February but there’s a lot of interesting stuff on academy, recruitment and long term planning.

- Club has spent over a million pounds on upgrading youth and other training ground facilities since Feb.
- MC not chiefly working on player trading, more the overall strategy and long term planning.
- Focused on restoring path from academy to first team.
- B team is not considered to be on a route to joining football league.
- Loans for young players will be rare
- Scouting and overall decision making at the club has been overhauled
- Looking to have more full time scouts on staff
- Wants to eventually be three deep in all of the “six positions”

There’s lots more, including his background as the previous academy head and how Semmens approached him. It’s really good.

Exclusive: Southampton director of football Matt Crocker’s first interview
https://theathletic.com/2203450/202...crocker-interview/?source=user_shared_article

 

Happy Birthday to us!

 

Is Godders the only one on the forum who was there from the start?

 

Great podcast here with all time legend Mick Channon choosing his ultimate Saints XI...enjoy..

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aH...YCahcKEwiIwuSrw5btAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ&hl=en-GB

 

I really enjoyed that despite not knowing half of the guys he's talking about. Great listening to him talk as a fan as well as an ex player.

 

What about the year before that?

 

Sign the contract or be sold.

 

I thought they were both close to signing,Jack as well?

 

Ings was nobbled when playing for England.

 

Bertrand, Ings & Stephens have all been reported as close without anything official.

Vestegaard, Bednarek, Armstrong and McCarthy are also pressing, expiring in 2022.

 

It was a good year. We hoofed it long.

 

Seems you can get a birthday message, or perhaps a message on why wearing masks is wrong, from Matt Le Tiss for £25.

https://memmo.me/gb/en

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...-Kevin-Moore-died-dementia-55th-birthday.html

Sorry it’s in the Fail, but Kevin Moore passed away