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Saints Pre Season Thread


Mallagroth

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Pre-season results mean zilch,

 

Yep, but it's still worth a chortle at Wetsams results down under.. Joking aside, I don't think going half way round the world is good preparation for pre-season. Perhaps WH's debts meant they had to put commercial considerations first?

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I don't think that "pre-season results mean nothing" if you lose most of them. Bournemouth and Brighton may not be Champions League material but they aren't mugs, and we beat them 4-1 on aggregate, with a team that's supposed to have been gutted and filled with not-ready-yet kids and unproven new signings.

 

The Leverkusen game's a big step up, mind.

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So pre - season results mean nothing....yet the same people saying this would be whinging and whining all day on here saying it was proof we were doomed if we had a bad preseason.

 

Would they? Out of interest which people would they be? Pre season results are for fitness and trying out a few things from the training ground. The results have always meant nothing for all teams and that would be the case if saints had had good or bad results.

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Would they? Out of interest which people would they be? Pre season results are for fitness and trying out a few things from the training ground. The results have always meant nothing for all teams and that would be the case if saints had had good or bad results.

 

Of course they would. You think we got turned over 4-0 at Bournemouth this place would be calm?

And RK was annoyed about us conceding against Brighton so what does that tell you?

Agree it doesn't mean too much and not something to get carried away with but winning breeds confidence whatever the level.

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Of course they would. You think we got turned over 4-0 at Bournemouth this place would be calm?

And RK was annoyed about us conceding against Brighton so what does that tell you?

Agree it doesn't mean too much and not something to get carried away with but winning breeds confidence whatever the level.

Us refusing to be crap in pre season really has ruined a lot of people's fun on here, but at least the "meaningless" line gets wheeled out anyway.

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Us refusing to be crap in pre season really has ruined a lot of people's fun on here, but at least the "meaningless" line gets wheeled out anyway.

 

exactly this. if we had lost 4 on a trot, this thread would be seeing twice the amount of activity and suddenly the friendlies are no longer 'meaningless'

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exactly this. if we had lost 4 on a trot, this thread would be seeing twice the amount of activity and suddenly the friendlies are no longer 'meaningless'

 

Not sure if my memory is playing with me or not. But I remember last preseason under Pochettino, us looking decidedly cr*p in a lot of our games. And it really only coming together first game of the season.

 

This preseason it's been pleasant surprise watching them playing some very connected football.

 

Maybe that's because of Koeman's different training style: more ball work, less running?

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Just watched the highlights of the Brighton game. I haven't seen much of Isgrove but he's a speedy fella isn't he.

 

Very speedy. In a strange way he is better off the ball than on it from what I saw at Bournemouth and Brighton. Best thing is his tenacious attitude. More so than footballing skills I reckon.

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Anyone else wish we had a game today?

Pre-season seems at bit meh to me, not much substance and certainly not much in the way of revenues.

Everyone seems to have at least a copule of interesting if not decent games except us. Just the one next week.

 

We never play a decent European side away towards the end of pre season

If we so, it will be in Switzerland or something

 

Saying that. Rather we do what we do of the other option was to March round south East Asia or Australia

 

East Coast of the states might be a decent option

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We never play a decent European side away towards the end of pre season

If we so, it will be in Switzerland or something

 

Saying that. Rather we do what we do of the other option was to March round south East Asia or Australia

 

East Coast of the states might be a decent option

 

 

But I'd be right in thinking that today we should have played a decent european side away but it didn't get arranged as planned?

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Last season we played Celta Vigo away on 3rd August 2013.

 

After earlier games against Schalke and Besiktas I think. Really feel that this season's warm up games are a severe let down. Just don't understand it.

Bournemouth are probably the best side we've played so far, surely we could have done a little better, certainly if we want to improve our global standing.

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After earlier games against Schalke and Besiktas I think. Really feel that this season's warm up games are a severe let down. Just don't understand it.

Bournemouth are probably the best side we've played so far, surely we could have done a little better, certainly if we want to improve our global standing.

 

 

Commercially they're not great, but apart from that I don't really see the problem.

 

How much is commercially on offer for a club our size I'm not sure, would somewhere like New Zealand or Eastern Europe have been any good?

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Commercially they're not great, but apart from that I don't really see the problem.

 

How much is commercially on offer for a club our size I'm not sure, would somewhere like New Zealand or Eastern Europe have been any good?

 

Is not the commercial side of things exactly where we need more activity?

Saw a reportage on the "Champions Cup" just now (it's what made me think on our pre season actually) A routine encounter between PSG and Guingamp of all things in Hong Kong or somewhere and the Chinese are absolutely flocking to buy merchandise and stuff. Now PSG you can understand but Guingamp (because they won an all Breton final iof the Mickey Mouse french cup). I'm sure our new sponsor wouldn't have minded an exhibition game in Thailand or something, we'd get swans, better our global awareness status and they'd get publicity. Won't get any of that playing against Dutch amateurs and Swindon.

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Is not the commercial side of things exactly where we need more activity?

I'm sure our new sponsor wouldn't have minded an exhibition game in Thailand or something, we'd get swans, better our global awareness status and they'd get publicity.

 

That kind of thing takes more than six months to organise though. Might be a possibility for next year.

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Is not the commercial side of things exactly where we need more activity?

Saw a reportage on the "Champions Cup" just now (it's what made me think on our pre season actually) A routine encounter between PSG and Guingamp of all things in Hong Kong or somewhere and the Chinese are absolutely flocking to buy merchandise and stuff. Now PSG you can understand but Guingamp (because they won an all Breton final iof the Mickey Mouse french cup). I'm sure our new sponsor wouldn't have minded an exhibition game in Thailand or something, we'd get swans, better our global awareness status and they'd get publicity. Won't get any of that playing against Dutch amateurs and Swindon.

As I say, Commercially it's not great, there is obvious room for improvement there. Last summer's pre-season games weren't commercially exciting, so 'm not sure why you've picked out this year's for being so disappointing for you.

 

That kind of thing takes more than six months to organise though. Might be a possibility for next year.
Exactly. I'd expect to see us do the States or Canada next year.
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We never play a decent European side away towards the end of pre season

If we so, it will be in Switzerland or something

 

Saying that. Rather we do what we do of the other option was to March round south East Asia or Australia

 

East Coast of the states might be a decent option

 

 

Noting wrong with coming to Australia.

 

The Saints could come and play Adelaide United at the new world class stadium Adelaide Oval.

 

After the game all you guys could come back to my place for a few beers and a BBQ

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Noting wrong with coming to Australia.

 

The Saints could come and play Adelaide United at the new world class stadium Adelaide Oval.

 

After the game all you guys could come back to my place for a few beers and a BBQ

 

I'm up for it if you shout the air fare too.

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Swansea have had an awful pre season, watched them (with a pretty strong team) get taken apart by Minneapolis (at best a low championship/L1 team.

 

A strong bet for relegation I think!

 

Reading 0-2 Swansea after 30 mins

Swansea also miss a penalty

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Very speedy. In a strange way he is better off the ball than on it from what I saw at Bournemouth and Brighton. Best thing is his tenacious attitude. More so than footballing skills I reckon.

 

From the youtube excerpts I saw I was thinking something very similar. He might not make things happen in the same way that Tadic might, but he was always available and making space for other players to exploit and, as you say, he seems to have picked up a bit of pace from somewhere.

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From the youtube excerpts I saw I was thinking something very similar. He might not make things happen in the same way that Tadic might, but he was always available and making space for other players to exploit and, as you say, he seems to have picked up a bit of pace from somewhere.

 

Nice point. As the now tedious Alan Hansen says: defenders hate pace.

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Meanwhile.

I see that Victor trekked down to Kenya again after Thursday's game but they failed to pull back the goal that they were down after the first leg so presumably Kenya are now out of the African Nations Cup so we won't be losing him in Jan/Feb.

No but presumably they will arrange friendlies in the weeks when the group stages take place in September, October and November, though I assume these coincide with the pre-arranged international breaks. On the other hand we will probably lose Tadier if he joins.

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No but presumably they will arrange friendlies in the weeks when the group stages take place in September, October and November, though I assume these coincide with the pre-arranged international breaks. On the other hand we will probably lose Tadier if he joins.

 

 

don't know why just can't force myself into believing that will be like the end of the world.:rolleyes:

Taider is an OK player but I really don't see him as a 30 game starter.

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don't know why just can't force myself into believing that will be like the end of the world.:rolleyes:

Taider is an OK player but I really don't see him as a 30 game starter.

Tend to agree, unfortunately as we saw last year December/January is the time of year when we need a squad rather than just a first XI

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More pre-season fluff...

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2714756/Arsenal-Chelsea-Liverpool-Man-United-look-Man-City-s-Premier-League-title-shape-ahead-new-term.html

 

Southampton

 

What shape are they in?

Dreadful. Barely have a decent five-a-side team left after selling Rickie Lambert, Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Calum Chambers. And manager Mauricio Pochettino has walked too.

 

If the manager had one wish...

An end to speculation about the few quality players left such as Morgan Schneiderlin. Saints are becoming the sporting equivalent to the Titanic, which left Southampton 102 years ago.

 

Why should fans be optimistic?

Ronald Koeman has been round the block as a player and manager, and anything Dutch is in fashion at the moment. Signings Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle have talent.

 

Why should fans be worried?

Owner Katharina Liebherr seems to be cutting her losses rather than investing. The big turnaround of players leaves Saints very short of Premier League knowhow.

 

Who will surprise us?

Midfielder James Ward-Prowse has the ability to be a success in the mould of Adam Lallana. He is highly rated by England Under 21 manager Gareth Southgate.

 

What signings do they need?

It’s hard to know where to start. Southampton require new blood from goalkeeper to centre forward. Celtic’s Fraser Forster is a target, Lambert’s goals need replacing, as does Lovren.

Joe Bernstein

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More pre-season fluff...

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2714756/Arsenal-Chelsea-Liverpool-Man-United-look-Man-City-s-Premier-League-title-shape-ahead-new-term.html

 

Southampton

 

What shape are they in?

Dreadful. Barely have a decent five-a-side team left after selling Rickie Lambert, Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Calum Chambers. And manager Mauricio Pochettino has walked too.

 

If the manager had one wish...

An end to speculation about the few quality players left such as Morgan Schneiderlin. Saints are becoming the sporting equivalent to the Titanic, which left Southampton 102 years ago.

 

Why should fans be optimistic?

Ronald Koeman has been round the block as a player and manager, and anything Dutch is in fashion at the moment. Signings Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle have talent.

 

Why should fans be worried?

Owner Katharina Liebherr seems to be cutting her losses rather than investing. The big turnaround of players leaves Saints very short of Premier League knowhow.

 

Who will surprise us?

Midfielder James Ward-Prowse has the ability to be a success in the mould of Adam Lallana. He is highly rated by England Under 21 manager Gareth Southgate.

 

What signings do they need?

It’s hard to know where to start. Southampton require new blood from goalkeeper to centre forward. Celtic’s Fraser Forster is a target, Lambert’s goals need replacing, as does Lovren.

Joe Bernstein

 

pretty fair assessment, really

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More pre-season fluff...

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2714756/Arsenal-Chelsea-Liverpool-Man-United-look-Man-City-s-Premier-League-title-shape-ahead-new-term.html

 

Southampton

 

What shape are they in?

Surprising good. Of course the squad is weakened from the player exits, but Tadic and Pelle look good signings and they have a number of transfer targets that are apparently close to signing. When you actually map out their starting 11, it is still a good side.

If the manager had one wish...

I think he already has it - To be able to build his own team

 

Why should fans be optimistic?

Ronald Koeman is as biggest manager as they could have got and they have done incredibly well to get him There is money in the bank for him to spend and there is still some great talent down there.

 

Why should fans be worried?

The money in the bank needs to be converted into players on the pitch and quickly.

 

Who will surprise us?

Gaston Ramierz, whilst he was on the pitch at Bournemouth, the whole game came through him, in a much deeper role than Saints fans have seen before. If Koeman can unlock his ability it will be better than any signing he could make.

 

What signings do they need?

Goal keeper, centre half and two more strikers

Gemmel

 

Couple of little edits

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The Mail is a vile newspaper, that loves nothing more than this kind of sneering off-the-shelf 2nd hand blab.

Ignore!

 

You've got to wonder what their strategy is.

 

I wouldn't buy the Fail because of their constant slagging of Saints (along with many other reasons) and my Dad stopped buying it specifically because of it, and yet nobody is going to start buying it because they like their constant attacks. pompey or another prem teams fans might laugh at it but none of them would specifically buy the Fail because of it.

 

So why do it, to us or other clubs? It won't increase readership at all. (although disappointingly creating fictitious articles about potential player purchases probably will do)

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You've got to wonder what their strategy is.

 

I wouldn't buy the Fail because of their constant slagging of Saints (along with many other reasons) and my Dad stopped buying it specifically because of it, and yet nobody is going to start buying it because they like their constant attacks. pompey or another prem teams fans might laugh at it but none of them would specifically buy the Fail because of it.

 

So why do it, to us or other clubs? It won't increase readership at all. (although disappointingly creating fictitious articles about potential player purchases probably will do)

 

 

Its a sea change in the way papers operate. They used to be dependent on loyal readership buying the paper so needed to be balanced. Now its all about writing something contentious that encourages people to click on the story as they get advertising revenue for every 'visit'. Facts and consistency dont matter anymore, they'll happily contradict whatever they wrote yesterday as long as they can lure another herd of people to respond to the headline.

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