Polaroid Saint

Martin Out! Seriously tho', that defeat was primarily down to our horrendously unfit squad which is all RM; it's an open secret that we have trained all season, pre-season and last season in a way that is not rigorous enough for "top level athletes". It was showing a year ago, and it's shown all season. Will we have a team, a squad, capable of lasting ninety, a hundred, 100+, minutes next year? And competing? Let's hope so.

Can we have No Manager, please? Honestly can't see how that's worse; Let a player committee sort it out week to week. By the end of the season there might even be a consensus (is it Lalana? would it be Jack? Ryan Manning tactical genius?). Obviously, it's a terrible idea, I get that - but still no worse than any other options and would appeal to Sports Republic maverick management style.

Stephens taking one for his best mate there? - get sent off, so RM can blame the sending off for the result. Ffs.

Well. Replacing serial loser (BBD) with player of previous season (AA) and we done a win. Football Management eh?

You can get the same odds on Citeh winning 8-0 as you can on Saints to win 1-0. Which seems about right.

Difficult to judge away against this current Arsenal side. But nothing's really changed other than perhaps emphasise that the squad is being mis-managed. I can't see the owners sacking him before next Sunday's 'critical' game - but If Martin loses that one then he'll have to go. 🤪

Tall Paul has been great in this brief cameo. I mean, nothing to lose etc, but still, goes soem way to showing how much better any team can look with an actual centre forward on the pitch. (((ah. bums)))

Coach Available since Points per match Punkte pro Spiel letzter Verein Last club Rumours Frank Lampard 46 years Jun 30, 2023 1.47 1.60 - Graham Potter 49 years Apr 2, 2023 1.53 1.42 - Joachim Löw 64 years Jul 31, 2021 1.87 2.09 - Telat Üzüm 61 years Jun 30, 2023 - Thomas Tuchel 51 years Jun 30, 2024 1.93 1.95 - Xavi 44 years Jun 30, 2024 2.12 2.07 - Rudi Garcia 60 years Nov 14, 2023 1.73 1.75 - Walter Mazzarri 62 years Feb 19, 2024 1.45 1.69 - Stefano Pioli 58 years May 26, 2024 1.55 1.88 - Massimiliano Allegri 57 years May 17, 2024 1.85 2.11 - Edin Terzic 41 years Jun 13, 2024 1.95 1.95 - David Moyes 61 years Jun 30, 2024 1.52 1.49 - Albert Celades 48 years Jun 29, 2020 1.85 1.44 - Kasper Hjulmand 52 years Jul 19, 2024 1.46 1.93 - Roger Schmidt 57 years Aug 31, 2024 1.93 2.26 - Luís Figueiredo 38 years Jun 30, 2024 1.41 - Sam Allardyce 69 years Jun 30, 2023 1.40 0.25 - Gregg Berhalter 51 years Jul 10, 2024 1.57 1.96 - Dunga 60 years Jun 14, 2016 2.14 2.29 - José Peseiro 64 years Mar 1, 2024 1.70 1.68 - Marijo Tot 52 years Jun 30, 2024 0.99 - Javi Gracia 54 years May 2, 2023 1.45 0.92 - Sérgio Conceição 49 years Jun 30, 2024 2.02 2.29 - Bruno Cheyrou 46 years Jan 19, 2023 - Niko Kovac 52 years Mar 17, 2024 1.74 1.30 - 🤪 I know, I know. I'm being a d!ck, but need to find something to do, this game is gone... ..surely?

ah, the "ol' run two yards and gently poke the football with your finger" exercise. Classic. FFS.

My photography assistant says that Steele had great focus and is picture perfect for Saints. He can shake things up at the back and will develop nicely.

It really isn't. It's fine margins as it is in any sport. A half-decent championship player, with the right support, coaching and team around him can easily become and be valued as a decent Premier League player. Sure, there might be gradients and certainly a ceiling for some players, but it's a fallacy that only the very best and most talented individuals make it to the top, luck plays a huge part as does support and development at the right time from the right quarters.

The home kit on the players look okay, if utterly uninspired. The ones hanging up in the shop look shockingly terrible. I think it's the extra fabric in XL etc, is adding an extra white strip of stripe ? Is that what is happening? Looks horrid. Otherwise, three plain white stripes down the front of a red kit with black trim is pretty much what you'd expect/want from a ' traditional ' Saints kit. No?

I was just back from school - rematerialising in the teleporter at home - when our AI-helper-bot made the shock 'Saints Sign Kevin Keegan' announcement across the 3D simul-cast media system. My dad nearly fell off his hover jet.

Whereas, I am assuming that Ballard will stay, compete - and stay here to properly and professionally nurse the injury back to full fitness - and eventually play a part for the first team. I predict 5 EPL goals by the end of the season. 🙂

It's a slight misunderstanding to say spending big on transfers equates or correlates to success. The correlation between success and spending is when that spending is on WAGES. It's a subtle but important difference IMO. (As an aside, this might also help explain, a little, why big transfer fees on lesser known/unproven players (lower wages) have often/sometimes failed for Saints whereas loans on known players (higher wages) can be more reliable. )

my stream was so shite I saw three goals. all birminghampton. thanks to Master Bates for the clips.

https://soccerinhd.com/games/southampton-vs-millwall/ just in time for the goal, but I was on here posting the link. doh.

Dids we do a loss? Only watched the 'highlights' so I have no idea of how we, or Bristol, really performed (slight lie, I trust enough posters on here to get an idea that we weren't great and nor were Bristol playing out their skins). But I'm still okay with where we are at as a squad and a team. And definitely still okay with current league position. Frankly we could do 'a September' and lose the next three and we would still be in the playoffs. And I - for the first time ever - fancy our chances against any other team also in the mix across 3 games. I hate losing, but I like still this league. Football, eh?

That's a 3:5:2 on paper. Which confuses me. As we haven't played that ever. Be pretty amazing if we went out and tried it. Fun Wonder what we will actually do.

Is it too much to hope for a disgraceful 22 man brawl which results in both teams being docked 10 points?

ooooh. I like looking for the clueseses. Is there anyone at Arsenal that fits the description of a pacey winger (rated, but needing game time) we could loan?🤪

I see the loan system as working both ways. If the player can be a Saint for a season and help progress us as a club then fantastic. We have seen a lot of big money signings in recent years spend less time on the pitch -and contribute significantly less overall - than these loanees.

17 unbeaten. Not to be sniffed at. It's a decent result on New Year's Day away, to a decent side. Many of us predicted a draw today. Of course... ...should have had more shots on target with all the possession today. And we always look suspect on the counter. Hey, I know that possession doesn't necessarily mean shots, but it should mean more on target. We all know the what issue is; An out and out striker. (three years now, more?). No idea if that will be addressed in Jan. But happy with my teams festive football. UTS