Patches O Houlihan

We needed a shithouse at Gillingham. That game demonstrated the gulf in attitude and athleticism between Charlie & Tall Paul. Both came on as subs, one was a spectator and one was a game changer. Watch that acrobatic goal video back and watch his movement into the box - reminds me of the "It's..." man at the start of Monty Python!

Well Russell has confirmed that the LND will be making an appearance! 🍾 Just a reminder that he... I can't make it. Would love to hear this being belted out and easily audible on the TV. COYS

Also this: https://twitter.com/saints_analysis/status/1720848121997980019?s=20 Southampton have now gained 10 points from goals in the 87th+ minute this season. 87th minute winner vs Sheff Wed 97th minute equaliser vs Norwich 94th minute winner vs Plymouth 95th minute winner vs Hull 96th minute equaliser vs Preston 93rd minute winner vs Millwall We have a confident team who believe in themselves again

Here's the link to the article in The Times It's an excellent read, and I would recommend every fan reads it. Apparently his grandmother, who he was very close to, died during the last month of the transfer window. Must have been a very difficult period for him. As I've said previously my best man's son was in the same class as his son in Swansea, and they chatted a bit. So right from when we looked like bringing him in I asked for his thoughts. My impression is the same. I think he is just what we need as a manager right now. One thing I was concerned about was a lack of experience in the management team - but that would seem to be fixed by the appointment of Colin Calderwood last week. RM was Captain of Norwich when CC was the assistant manager there I think. I'm a geography geek so I looked up the house his dad lost through gambling

Hopefully the rest of the league can use that game as a template for how to play Leicester, and draw them back into the mix.

I was using the term as used to describe a 'shit stirrer' I'm sure you'd have no issue with me calling the ref or one of the club's owners an onanist?!

There was also suggesting Smallbone was lucky to stay on the pitch and needed to watch his step after the ref incorrectly blew for a foul. We watched a replay showing the most innocuous of contact while she reiterated that point.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtney_Sweetman-Kirk I'm not seeing a male player with that career getting a co-commentators spot, and it's not like she's bringing anything useful to the commentary. I've no issue with women in football, as long as they are good. (And yes I'll call crap male commentators too)

Was she previously Captain of Preston North End Ladies?! I can handle thick as mince, but biased as well is likely to piss me off...

I was mistaken in the summer when I said he would be into his last year. Apparently he is contracted until summer 2025. I think Kyle is a bit like Ryan Bertrand: got the short end of the stick at a 'big' club, and so recognises the feeling of being valued by a club, and their supporters. I think he'll be here till the summer at least. One of the added bonuses of promotion would be getting to keep KWP and THB. 🤞

OK - so now I'm imagining a chant for Ryan based on the He-Man theme tune 😁😁

Adam Blackmore interviewing Russell Martin after the away win at Hull. RM refers to Ryan Fraser as 'wee man'. 😁 To be fair it can be tricky to tell them apart Great goal Ryan. First of many I hope

We were the first team to beat them at their place in 2023 apparently

Definitely. That's the first time I've ever heard her say anything. She seems really emotionally attached to the club.

Your wife stayed up dancing 😉

🌝 🥢

I bet you had an early night, cocoa and a bedtime book on your wedding night didn't you?! Life as a Saints fan is shit enough without trying to be unhappy when we score a 5th minute of injury time winner, away in the north of England that moves us into the playoff places again!

I only saw the second half, but I saw a far more resilient defensive unit than I'm used to.

Not for me - he's a bit dopey

When I was in that part of the world the big rivalry was with Oxford. Maybe it’s not worth the trouble if the antagoniser is only a bucket rattler, not a skate…

Why is it Russell's fault that the players can't finish so many clear cut chances? Too easy to blame the manager for this one. Yes I wouldn't have made that triple substitution at that moment but we should have had 2 or 3 goals by then

Looks like I was right 😁

Just watched the extended press conference prior to Rotherham this afternoon. The last question was interesting. RM at pains to make clear that he won't try to coach the aggressiveness out of Charly Alcaraz or Flynn Downes. That its an element that brings an edge to their game and if he did so he'd take away from their overall skill set. When set against the rest of the conversation you can see that he feels many players get over coached and become a confused lesser version of themselves, and he is keen to avoid that. I can't help it. I like Russell, like I liked Ralph. He just seems like a good bloke. I'm pleased we ended our losing streak and were able to sort out the midfield better before things got too tense. Really want him (and Saints) to do well.

I don't know whether this is the case or not, but you could imagine a young player who has been called up to the World Champions squad to play alongside Messi being nervous about getting injured and having to miss his first call up. So playing at 90% rather than 100%... A pragmatic manager might choose not to start them when they have already played twice that week, and they are keeping Che Adams on the bench (devaluing an asset likely to be sold in January)