Saints fit

[Thedelldays]

Now it makes sense (If not already)

 

Sharp has changed his game since being here. Each game passing, getting more mobile and stronger.

 

His hold up play last night was very good and ran the channels very well

 

You can see s huge difference.

 

Great coaching that goes on at saints

[Lazlo78]

I see too few games (tv games and highlights) to really comment with authority, but as with Ricky the evidence supports that your assessment is fair - the coaching staff knows how to get players fit both physically and mentally!

[Barry the Badger]

It is so nice to see good players coming here and getting better. Got so used to good players being signed and then getting gradually worse until they left.

 

Next season we will see a faster Billy Sharp too, sure of that.

[Thedelldays]

It is so nice to see good players coming here and getting better. Got so used to good players being signed and then getting gradually worse until they left.

 

Next season we will see a faster Billy Sharp too, sure of that.

 

Remember seeing the state of some of the players when burley was here

[corky morris]

Completely agree TDD. You could notice his fitness markedly improve game by game.

[doddisalegend]

I said after Billy's first game that you could see he had good insticts to be in the right place at the right time to score and made some good runs but he looked well off the pace now his fitness is starting to come so are the goals.

[Noodles34]

dont know how you can assess that given i guess not too many of us watched Donny on a regular basis.

 

I would say its more down to getting over personal circumstances and a big move

[Ohio Saint]

I totally agree about the fitness aspect, but would add that the team spirit compliments the fitness in a great way. I've been impressed how quickly most new players seem to fit in so quickly with their new club mates, making a double whammy when they hit full fitness.

[Lighthouse]

Yeah, Billy looks better and better with each game.

 

Such a shame Tadanari Lee got injured IMO. He was a lot better than Sharp when the two of them joined, if we'd got him 'Saints fit' and on the same wavelength as the rest of the team he'd have ripped this league appart.

[Minty]

Billy said himself in an interview that we were a far fitter team than Doncaster and that he was having to work to reach the same levels, so we've heard it from the horses mouth. Although he has missed a few chances early on, last nights goals were cool, clinical finishes, and the first vs Pompey was similarly good, if not better (to readjust and finish as he did, was excellent IMO). I have no doubt that he will get better and having a stronger fitness base to work from undoubtedly helps.

[Shroppie]

Very impressed last night. The partnership with Ricky is looking better.

 

Billy Sharp, Southampton's New Goal Machine!

[BJBSAINTS]

6 in 6, the fat lad from Sheffield scores goals.

[dubai_phil]

IMHO it is not just about the Coaching Staff.

 

I think a BIG difference now is that the type of player who we are bringing in wants to IMPROVE, not simply Earn more money.

 

It's a subtle difference but it is a state of mind.

 

For this reason I would be VERY surprised to see us sign any "out and out PL stars" in the close season, the LAST thing the squad needs is some dork with a Bentley wandering round the training ground listening to his IPod all day long.

 

This to me is what is so exciting - we have set up a process the support staff, the scouts looking for the right player MENTALLY as well as Ability wise and then the entire ethos of "We want to be the Best we can be."

 

And CLEARLY Billy Sharp had that mind set and that is why he chose us

[Minty]

I think a BIG difference now is that the type of player who we are bringing in wants to IMPROVE, not simply Earn more money.

Agreed, which is a point I was also trying to make with regard to Academy players recently, but others were insisting that money would talk. And of course it will for some players, but we probably wouldn't want those players.

[Thedelldays]

Proper fox in the box

[doddisalegend]

IMHO it is not just about the Coaching Staff.

 

I think a BIG difference now is that the type of player who we are bringing in wants to IMPROVE, not simply Earn more money.

 

It's a subtle difference but it is a state of mind.

 

For this reason I would be VERY surprised to see us sign any "out and out PL stars" in the close season, the LAST thing the squad needs is some dork with a Bentley wandering round the training ground listening to his IPod all day long.

 

This to me is what is so exciting - we have set up a process the support staff, the scouts looking for the right player MENTALLY as well as Ability wise and then the entire ethos of "We want to be the Best we can be."

 

And CLEARLY Billy Sharp had that mind set and that is why he chose us

 

Slighty tempered by the fact that at the start of the season he chose to stay at Donny (wasn't sure if it was the right move according to Billy) then in January, when were top of the league, it was suddendly the right move....no flies on our Billy:D

[dubai_phil]

Slighty tempered by the fact that at the start of the season he chose to stay at Donny (wasn't sure if it was the right move according to Billy) then in January, when were top of the league, it was suddendly the right move....no flies on our Billy:D

 

Yeah tough to call whether it was because he wasn't sure about us or about his family circumstances. Point is that DOES show that he isn't the usual dumb **** stereotype footballer

[Paul75]

Also we dont have many training ground injuries like we did in the past, i also like the fact that they came back from pre-season ready for a change, i think it helps that Nigel's pyhsio background is a blessing disguise too

[saintoaks]

Interesting listening to Billy's interviw on saints player where he does say he wasnt as fit as the other lads when he joined at that was the reason he was left out of the proceeding games, very honest and hard working bloke tho. Looking forward to a "saints fit" Billy Sharp after a good pre-season behind him.

Also, interesting to hear him say about the game against the boro, he said he's looking forward to it but not happy with it being on the tele as they havnt done to well recently !!, it does get to all of us then..very confident saturdays our day tho. coyr's

[sidthesquid]

IMHO it is not just about the Coaching Staff.

 

I think a BIG difference now is that the type of player who we are bringing in wants to IMPROVE, not simply Earn more money.

 

It's a subtle difference but it is a state of mind.

 

For this reason I would be VERY surprised to see us sign any "out and out PL stars" in the close season, the LAST thing the squad needs is some dork with a Bentley wandering round the training ground listening to his IPod all day long.

 

This to me is what is so exciting - we have set up a process the support staff, the scouts looking for the right player MENTALLY as well as Ability wise and then the entire ethos of "We want to be the Best we can be."

 

And CLEARLY Billy Sharp had that mind set and that is why he chose us

 

I think you are spot on - the NA/NC way is to choose players that are intelligent/grounded/ keen to improve, bring them in and get them Saints fit mentally as well as physically. One or two of the deals that allegedly fell down were for players that probably on close inspection didn't quite meet their requirements.

I also think football is evolving and raw pace/strength are being replaced by intelligence and close control. Hence why we are where we are (& Reading tbf) and BFSam's old school tactics have got West Ham where they are. Also, look at Norwich & Swansea - bright young managers with bright non-star footballers. The Saints way is the future.