Patches O Houlihan

I bet they didn’t lose 3-1 to Gillingham in that run...

In fairness most of the squad was away on international duty

The we”ve 9 outfield ballerinas right now - Shea Charles is the closest thing we have to a proper hod carrier. Smallbone the most powder puff DM ever

Apart from giving way too much space for his man, leading to their third...

I don’t care what the haters say: Baz is playing really well tonight

Watching England control the game with Rice & Phillips allowing Bellingham to roam was what I think Saints ought to be doing: Play Charles & Downes as a pair and allow Alcaraz (or perhaps AA/SA) to roam freely. Neither Alcaraz or Stu seems to be effective chasing back when we lose possession so commit to a team shape that allows for it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022–23_Burnley_F.C._season According to this after 5 games Burnley were on 6 points (not 10) and in early November they were beaten 5-2 at Sheffield United. We're all hurting this evening, but there has been some other eyebrow raising results today, and the Championship is known for this sort of thing. We're used to the dull predictability of the modern PL. Small crumbs of comfort...

On the plus side we didn't pay anything for either of them...

With 15 mins gone I was thinking "Holgate needs to be swapped for Shea Charles, he's having a mare", but then I got to thinking "but what does that do to his confidence if he's subbed off halfway through the first half of his debut playing a league down? We seem to be back in control now (~06:00 - 29:00 minutes) let's see if he can settle and maybe make the change at half time." Commentators and me thought there was a chance we'd get one back in the last few mins of the first half, but of course we let in a third. We're very unlikely to come back from that so subbing Holgate at half time most likely doesn't gain you a win/draw it just saps the confidence of a new signing... Holgate had a shocker and there's no disputing it, but I can kind of see why he stayed on as long as he did.

RM's teams historically seem to have a habit of letting in a shit tonne of goals, and watching our first six games its not hard to see why: 2 inverted full backs both playing almost in the no 8 position Lively wingers that cut the ball back to the penalty spot but passes always cut off by the defence and no attacking players in the right spot. Hence we loose the ball with only a couple of players available to defend Generally pretty weak in the midfield Midfielders who do not run back hard to defend when we loose the ball and when the midfielders do get goal side of an attacker seem to be too far back to do anything but create a ricochet that wrong foots the goalie. Surely they need to be pressing much tighter not waiting to be passed through. We have appointed a set piece coach to improve that side of our game. RM came with a coaching team, but that group has consistently coached teams which cough up goals. Is there an argument for bringing in an additional coach specifically to improve the defensive tactics & skills? Or do we end up with a Hasenhuttl/Selles 5 at the back shit fight like we did in pre-season last year? I really like the guy, and really want him to succeed, but we are playing playground football right now

It was a generic comment about the whole team

The official Saints twitter posted the first confirmation of his signing with Ross giving it a big cheesy grin and two fists up at about 11:30 last night. Below was a quoted tweet from footyinsider at about 5pm ish claiming that he had failed his medical and the deal was off. FootyInsider247 have deleted their original Tweet so it's not showing now

Have had a read of their forum. Looks like they signed a German lad in January while THB had a short injury. Ekdal played superbly for his first 8 games and they kept 6 clean sheets. By that stage of the season Burnley were completely bossing the Championship and so THB found it hard to break back into the side. Since his two rival CBs were owned by Burnley and not on loan they stuck with them.

Fraser plays on the left, and I think it is much more likely that Holgate starts at CB as he has been here most of the week, but otherwise I agree. Sulemana (Edozie) and Alcaraz to come on 15 mins after we have scored the first (and not conceded)

Comes with his own readymade song to the tune of "Heaven is a place on Earth: 🎼 The Loch Ness Drogba, Just what we need, He'll take Southampton to the Premier League, Oh baby do you know what that's worth, Ross Stewart is the best on earth

I found this link on the Sunderland forum 3 days after his injury. Seems quite positive

Watch the last 90 seconds of this and tell me you don't want to watch Sully play in the Championship

After scoring twice against Liverpool on the final day: “I’m ready for whatever’s next. If I stay, I’ll stay and help the team bounce back. If there’s an opportunity to explore I will take it.”

I just watched this 4 min pre-Sunderland training vid At the end the players are attacking/defending the goal. Sully's acceleration from a standing start is going to absolutely murder Championship defenders. The nutmeg goal on Bree is beautifully placed (remember Bree was/is a stand out Championship full back) The only player to get near him was KWP and even then you could see how tough it was (And KWP will be probably the best full back in the Championship you would think) Really hope we have him onside and he brings his 'A' game - has potential to light up the PL as well after a season of regular starts with us.

🎼 You'll never win that 🎵 You'll never win that 🎶 NET SPEND CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE!! 🎵You'll never win that!

Check out our new happy clapper 👏 Eyeore has seen the light! - good to see 🥳

Not if Arma takes them - based on recent experience (note: offer is based on present circumstances, is not valid in conjunction with any other offers. Offer subject to status)

If we do get him I’m hoping he isn’t exactly what it says on the tin ‘pants’

But will we be able to buy one now that after a season in the Championship can be more prolific than Che in the PL? Long term thinking vs short term thinking.

and Gillingham