supersonic

Ake - yes, but likely to go to a top side. The only other ones I'd take from AFCB are Brooks and Fraser (albeit the latter is technically a free agent). Godfrey at the back looks ok for Norwich as a squad player, but nothing more. Nobody, apart from Grealish, at Villa looks decent in my opinion.

Would keep the same team as per City if I were in charge. Macca, Bertrand, Bednarek, Stephens and KWP seem to be our best and most solid back 5 (only taken 33 games to figure this out, but better late than never!) Personally, I wouldn't play PEH again, I'd give the minutes to Smallbone and Jankewitz who could flourish. Giving them playing time when there's no real pressure can only benefit them. Heart says we keep Che up top with Ings, but head says we need a Long/Obafemi running type to partner him.

Personally, I think they're great. Best kits we've had for a long time. If the away kit follows the same design but with a blue sash on yellow background that'll be awesome

It's clearly rubbish

I watched the start of Palace then switched over the City game when that started. The Stadium Atmosphere mode was brilliant.

Agree with both of these. Some will get precious over the Northam for some reason, but it could be a blessing in disguise for the club. May have to give some discounts for STH’s in the Chapel, but overall should improve the experience on matchday

Not at all, most clubs will submit an area which isn’t next to the away fans. It’s only really us that has its “hardcore” fans based there rather than somewhere else.

As promised here's an overview of what was discussed yesterday at an FA meeting I attended regarding accessibility of stadiums. As mentioned above, this is mainly to do with access for disabled fans and the overall visiting experience that they gain from attending matches all over the country. Most of the modern stadiums pass with flying colours but there are a few stadiums and clubs which could be doing more to help them etc. One of the topics that was mentioned was safe standing, which has been discussed for a while now and the campaign to install these at stadiums is gathering momentum. The FA adviser said they're stance is to support it where possible, but there would need to be an overhaul in the law as standing at football is currently prohibited up to a certain level (note earlier post saying Conservatives have this in their manifesto). Provided such law change can get through parliament, it would then be up to the FA to grant permission to clubs to install safe standing at their ground but here's where it becomes interesting (and relevant to Saints)... The FA have a map of every ground and each section of the stadium is grouped by the type of supporters that sit in that part of the stadium (e.g. they know at St Mary's where the away fans sit, that the Northam and Itchen North are the loudest parts and that the Chapel is more family orientated. Each club would have to submit a request to the FA and detail where they'd like to position the safe standing area. The FA's guidance, so far, is that there will not be safe standing within 2 blocks (or a certain number of seats) from the away sections as they feel this is likely to stir trouble and want to avoid that where possible. At SMS, this would mean that blocks 1 + 2 can't have it, neither can 40-43 which may mean it's either started in block 3 (but with no real room for expansion into block 4 as the club views this as semi-premium seating), placed in the corner somewhere between blocks 36-39 or, as the FA speaker suggested, the club may take this as an opportunity to manage a move to the Chapel and create a "kop" end that way. Obviously a lot of variables on this to happen, but just thought i'd share with you a snippet of what was discussed.

Interestingly, I've been at an FA meeting today regarding the accessibility of stadiums (mainly for disabled fans) but one topic that came up was safe-standing and St Mary's was mentioned. I'll try and provide more of an update later if I get time.

West Ham are awful, yet could have nicked a draw. I forgot what is was like for a home team to actually have a go in the last ten minutes...

The 50% reduction rule is pretty common place, but through conversations I've had its clear there are a few players who don't have them. Not sure who, but even with the 50% reduction we'll be financially ruined

No wins at home in our last 8 matches, and only 1 in our last 10. We picked up a grand total of 4 points from the last 27 available at home. Utterly, atrocious. I too had a look at the stats going back to Puel at home, it's grim, really, really grim.

Can't believe people are trying to defend him for the goal? Truly awful defending, just ran away from the guy with the ball and let him have lots of time and space to pick out the top corner. I forgot how woeful he is.

I do get where the "businesses fail" arguments come from, but football clubs are far more than businesses, they're community assets, both locally and nationally. The level of elitism from some PL clubs and fans is appalling, most of whom came from the lower leagues and most, barring the top 6 could very well end up back there if they aren't careful. If we get relegated in the next two seasons, I worry about our club, with the wage bill and the lack of supposed investment, it's worrying and could very well happen to us (again). English football is unsustainable, the PL clubs will get richer whilst the lower leagues face more and more struggles, it'll only get worse with teams going for broke with the aim of getting the PL TV money. Bury gone, Bolton could well go, Coventry in turmoil, Birmingham under FFP penalties, Derby having to sell their stadium, Reading having to sell their stadium and two training grounds to avoid administration and being under soft transfer embargo. 15% of League 1 and 17% of League 2 clubs (around 7 clubs in the bottom two leagues) have "a grave concern of going into administration" (https://www.accountancydaily.co/one-five-championship-teams-financial-difficulty) and 18 league clubs faced winding-up petitions between 2012-2017. I'm not saying PL teams need to step in precisely for Bolton and Bury, but something needs to be done with the reallocation of money, perhaps a levy on any transfers over £50m, or 1% of ticket sales from Premier League, FACup semi finals and final, League cup final being placed into a pot and distributed around leagues 1 and 2?

Celtic have a wage cap at £25,000 a week. I should imagine he's on at least double that so we'll be paying some of his wages, but not all. Hopefully a year playing will make him a more attractive proposal to other teams for a permanent move next summer. Not quite sure how Celtic couldn't stump up the money, they've hardly spent big and have received a fair whack for Dembele and Tierney. Good luck to him up there.

never good enough for the PL i'm afraid. Lovely bloke and glad he's doing well, but we out grew him as a club

I'm sure we had a deal lined up rather than waiting for Austin deal to be complete...

Lemina wasn't necessarily a bad signing. Lots of talent, just a complete kn0b

Bit of an update on this one: Sim's place has basically been taken by Boufal in the squad (and Djenepo doesn't help). Whilst RH likes Boufal, the club and him are of the understanding that he'll be allowed to go if a decent bid comes in for him from the continent before the window. Should Boufal leave on 31st August, we do have a recall option on Sims (for a price) or can let him see out his deal at NYRB and he'll be back late October anyway. If Boufal stays, he'll probably be re-loaned in January to an English club. If he went on loan in the UK he would have had to have stayed until 31.12.19. Seems sort of sensible.

Joleon Lescott has just popped in the County Arms in Winchester with Martin O'Neil and has ordered a celebratory G&T.....

Thank god for that. Never justifies his wage, has an appalling attitude and thinks he's far better than he is. Bad egg and huge wages off the book. Win-Win.

As others have said, Obafemi looks to have taken on board Ralph's comments and looks in good shape judging by Saturday. I'm surprised TJ has gone this low down on loan, but it'll give him game time every week and will probably toughen the kid up a bit as he'll get kicked a lot. He was part of the U23's who lost in the Hampshire Cup at Basingstoke towards the end of last season and, although he scored, he spent the whole night looking like he wanted to be somewhere else. There's a Woking fan in the office so i'll try and get some updates from him as to how he's getting on.

got a 1-0 defeat to a 92nd minute Ashley Barnes winner written all over it

Given their financial predicament, any money in at the moment is a blessing for them. Obviously they’d have liked to have kept him, but £160k minimum for a 16 year old nowhere near the first team isn’t bad for them

We've agreed terms with a kid called Diamond Edwards from Reading. £160,000 up front with the potential of £1.3m total depending on appearances etc. 16 years old, midfielder, very highly rated within RFC but refused to sign a new contract. Decent Left peg on him. Seems like win-win for all clubs involved.