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Posted

Hey all!

It's Dan Sheldon from The Athletic here - I hope everyone is well.

Saturday was a brilliant result for Saints & I am already looking forward to Friday night's game against Norwich.

As I said on TSP last night, Southampton can take confidence from the fact that the last time Angus Gunn played in a Premier League match at St Mary's, he conceded nine goals. That is a good enough omen for me...

This may not be the correct channel/discussion to post this in, but I am going to be using Saints Web to communicate more frequently with supporters. If you have any queries, topics you want me to explore or anything else, then feel free to leave a comment/post a question.

Best wishes, 

Dan

  • Like 18
Posted (edited)
  On 21/02/2022 at 12:59, Dan Sheldon, The Athletic said:

Hey all!

It's Dan Sheldon from The Athletic here - I hope everyone is well.

If you have any queries, topics you want me to explore or anything else, then feel free to leave a comment/post a question.

Expand  

Is this what you were hoping to achieve? 🤔 😇

 

Edited by Matthew Le God
  • Like 3
  • Haha 3
Posted

Not sure if this impacts our prep or not, but apparently there has been structural damage to the dome at Staplewood. (similar to what happened to the O2 I think)

Posted (edited)
  On 21/02/2022 at 13:12, Matthew Le God said:

Is this what you were hoping to achieve? 🤔 😇

 

Expand  

An important point to make on this is that I am a reporter first, and a supporter second. 

What Southampton are doing is not cheating, nor is anything likely going to be done off the back of the piece I did. Once a player goes down and informs the referee that he needs medical attention, the match official has a duty of care to that person and is not going to say no.

The fact one of their players goes down, more often than not, between the 60th and 70th minute is not a secret and there are many within the industry who have picked up on it. To think other clubs weren't aware of this is a non-starter.

My job is to report on Southampton/spot interesting patterns - and the energy gels/drinks/tactical instructions during a specific time frame falls into that category.

 

Edited by Dan Sheldon, The Athletic
Posted (edited)
  On 21/02/2022 at 13:29, S-Clarke said:

Not sure if this impacts our prep or not, but apparently there has been structural damage to the dome at Staplewood. (similar to what happened to the O2 I think)

Expand  

The first team only use the dome on rare occasions. It is mainly for the academy teams.

Edited by Matthew Le God
Posted
  On 21/02/2022 at 13:31, Dan Sheldon, The Athletic said:

An important point to make on this is that I am a reporter first, and a supporter second. 

What Southampton are doing is not cheating, nor is anything likely going to be done off the back of the piece I did. Once a player goes down and informs the referee that he needs medical attention, the match official has a duty of care to that person and is not going to say no.

The fact one of their players goes down, more often than not, between the 60th and 70th minute is not a secret and there are many within the industry who have picked up on it. To think other clubs weren't aware of this is a non-starter.

My job is to report on Southampton/spot interesting patterns - and the energy gels/drinks/tactical instructions during a specific time frame falls into that category.

Expand  

How many of the 14 stoppages were caused by an opponent injuring a Saints player? Like the one vs Everton at the weekend.

Posted
  On 21/02/2022 at 13:46, Matthew Le God said:

How many of the 14 stoppages were caused by an opponent injuring a Saints player? Like the one vs Everton at the weekend.

Expand  

Has it occurred to you that, following the publicity it had received, we perhaps waited until there was a genuine foul in the Everton game to avoid any suspicion? 

Posted
  On 21/02/2022 at 13:51, Sheaf Saint said:

Has it occurred to you that, following the publicity it had received, we perhaps waited until there was a genuine foul in the Everton game to avoid any suspicion? 

Expand  

The Everton foul also occurred between 60 and 70 minutes. Tiring opponents make fouls in that time period regularly.

Posted
  On 21/02/2022 at 13:53, Matthew Le God said:

The Everton foul also occurred between 60 and 70 minutes. Tiring opponents make fouls in that time period regularly.

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Everton we’re not behind the door going to get drinks from their staff at the same time. As Lampard said in his press conference- it’s been going on for years - so not just a Saints thing by the sound if things.

Posted
  On 21/02/2022 at 13:51, Sheaf Saint said:

Has it occurred to you that, following the publicity it had received, we perhaps waited until there was a genuine foul in the Everton game to avoid any suspicion? 

Expand  

If it's not against the rules then why would we seek to avert suspicion? Everything is fair in love and war like using subs in the 4 minutes of injury time to break up patterns of play and run the clock down. Within the rules if not within the spirit.

I would be more suspicious about what's in the energy drinks that suddenly revives players and keeps them going for another half-hour.

 

Posted
  On 20/02/2022 at 22:30, Roger said:

Looks like another sell out about 370 tickets left unreal support. 

Expand  

They've opened up some of block 44 for Saints fans as well now, £15 tickets still and gives us most of the Northam end , should make it a good atmosphere. Not sure how many Norwich are brining but won't be more than 1800. 

Saints hitting good form

Home to Norwich under the lights

Gunn in goal for the Canaries

Who is going to score a hat trick like this one? 

 

  • Like 4
Posted
  On 21/02/2022 at 13:31, Dan Sheldon, The Athletic said:

My job is to report on Southampton/spot interesting patterns - and the energy gels/drinks/tactical instructions during a specific time frame falls into that category.

 

Expand  

I'm not so sure it does fall into that category and here's why:

- Southampton are not unique in employing this tactic or similar tactics

- The tactic can suit both teams involved in the match, both are able to take on energy and chat with their respective coaches.

- Players go down faking injury all the bloody time, a lot of the time to take some pressure off their team or to try and force the ref to stop a promising attack.  It is infuriating.  

There is so much positivity that could be reported on the Saints currently, it must be disappointing that a non-story is the one that has received the most traction - or maybe that's just a sad reflection of sports journalism / society in general, after all there must be a reason why lil ol' Southampton are winning games.

 

Fair play for signing up here though, hard hat on and good luck!

 

  • Like 5
Posted (edited)
  On 21/02/2022 at 12:59, Dan Sheldon, The Athletic said:

Hey all!

It's Dan Sheldon from The Athletic here - I hope everyone is well.

Saturday was a brilliant result for Saints & I am already looking forward to Friday night's game against Norwich.

As I said on TSP last night, Southampton can take confidence from the fact that the last time Angus Gunn played in a Premier League match at St Mary's, he conceded nine goals. That is a good enough omen for me...

This may not be the correct channel/discussion to post this in, but I am going to be using Saints Web to communicate more frequently with supporters. If you have any queries, topics you want me to explore or anything else, then feel free to leave a comment/post a question.

Best wishes, 

Dan

Expand  

 

  On 21/02/2022 at 13:35, Sheaf Saint said:

Hi @Dan Sheldon, The Athletic welcome to the forum.

Are you new here or have you been lurking for a while? 

Expand  

 

  On 21/02/2022 at 13:36, Dan Sheldon, The Athletic said:

Hey. Thank you for the welcome. I am very much new here.

Expand  

Hi Dan - great to see someone with direct access to the Saints management team on here. Welcome! 

Saintsweb is the most friendly, positive, non-cynical fans forum you're ever likely to encounter on the interweb. It's also the only fan forum that doesn't have any trolls or wind up merchants... (Watch out for the sarcastic / tongue- in-cheek posts though.... ;) )

That said, you may wish to invest in a flak jacket... just in case... ;)

P.s. how do we know that you're not 'Glasgow Saint' in one of his various guises...? ;)

Edited by trousers
  • Haha 2
Posted (edited)
  On 21/02/2022 at 14:08, JRM said:

Who is going to score a hat trick like this one? 

 

Expand  

The answer is nobody. The pace of the PL game these days means it's impossible for the likes of MLT to get the time and space needed to score such a ridiculous goal as that second one. We'll never see another hattrick like it again IMO. 

Edited by Sheaf Saint
Posted
  On 21/02/2022 at 13:51, Sheaf Saint said:

Has it occurred to you that, following the publicity it had received, we perhaps waited until there was a genuine foul in the Everton game to avoid any suspicion? 

Expand  

As I mentioned in the Match thread - Coleman had obviously been incensed by this startling revelation that we like to swing the lead and have quick brew with 20-30 minutes left to play - he was right into Che's ear with body language telling him to get up and stop cheating. Che looked to be saying "jog on mush" so Coleman started bleating at the ref, meanwhile the rest of the lads were over with Ralph having a chat, Everton boys were ambling around aimlessly then one of them noticed Frank was telling them to come and see him too.

Anyway this has got chuff all to do with playing Norwich on Friday night - which looks to be dry and cold on the weather front atm

Posted

Not sure why this is even an issue.

It was being discussed about us doing this a few months back.

I remember Danny Higgingottom talking about it. If he (and many fans could see it), I am certain players and coaches knew about it way before that. Not once has an opposing manager moaned about it though. 

Posted (edited)
  On 21/02/2022 at 14:55, AlexLaw76 said:

Not sure why this is even an issue.

It was being discussed about us doing this a few months back.

I remember Danny Higgingottom talking about it. If he (and many fans could see it), I am certain players and coaches knew about it way before that. Not once has an opposing manager moaned about it though. 

Expand  

Why would they, the 'break', if it actually is a thing  works just as well for them.

Edited by badgerx16
  • Like 1
Posted
  On 21/02/2022 at 14:08, JRM said:

They've opened up some of block 44 for Saints fans as well now, £15 tickets still and gives us most of the Northam end , should make it a good atmosphere. Not sure how many Norwich are brining but won't be more than 1800. 

Saints hitting good form

Home to Norwich under the lights

Gunn in goal for the Canaries

Who is going to score a hat trick like this one? 

 

Expand  

The goalkeep there was Bryan Gunn, father of Angus. 

  • Like 1
Posted
  On 21/02/2022 at 13:31, Dan Sheldon, The Athletic said:

An important point to make on this is that I am a reporter first, and a supporter second. 

What Southampton are doing is not cheating, nor is anything likely going to be done off the back of the piece I did. Once a player goes down and informs the referee that he needs medical attention, the match official has a duty of care to that person and is not going to say no.

The fact one of their players goes down, more often than not, between the 60th and 70th minute is not a secret and there are many within the industry who have picked up on it. To think other clubs weren't aware of this is a non-starter.

My job is to report on Southampton/spot interesting patterns - and the energy gels/drinks/tactical instructions during a specific time frame falls into that category.

 

Expand  

Welcome to the forum, Dan.

Who do you support? 

  • Haha 1
Posted
  On 21/02/2022 at 15:08, jawillwill said:

Welcome to the forum, Dan.

Who do you support? 

Expand  

Thank you!

Good question, and it's one I am often asked.

I am one of the strange people that doesn't follow a particular team/have any great love for one side. I am a huge fan of football, but I tend to appreciate moments rather than teams.

Going into a weekend, the only team I want to win is Southampton. But it is also nice that because I'm not a supporter, I am able to stand back sometimes and not get too high or down depending on their results. However, there have been a couple of games this season - most notably Spurs away - where it was impossible to not leave the stadium over the moon!

  • Like 8
Posted (edited)

Hi Dan, good to have you aboard.

I wonder if you can clear up something that has been the subject of some debate - did Alex McCarthy sign a new contract last year or is it still being hammered out?

Edited by waylander
Typo
  • Like 1
Posted
  On 21/02/2022 at 15:40, Dan Sheldon, The Athletic said:

Thank you!

Good question, and it's one I am often asked.

I am one of the strange people that doesn't follow a particular team/have any great love for one side. I am a huge fan of football, but I tend to appreciate moments rather than teams.

Going into a weekend, the only team I want to win is Southampton. But it is also nice that because I'm not a supporter, I am able to stand back sometimes and not get too high or down depending on their results. However, there have been a couple of games this season - most notably Spurs away - where it was impossible to not leave the stadium over the moon!

Expand  

So you are a Saints fan then, but for some reason don't want to admit to it. 😜

Experiencing the highs and lows is an integral component of being a football supporter, and I am happy you can experience the upsurge in energy and emotion that wins like that v Spurs can bring. I love the Saints, but with age, experience and (questionable) maturity, also comes the ability to not get "too high or down" based on the result of a game. We can all appreciate the 'moments in football' even for other teams, but the Saints are in our hearts.

I guess journalism requires a certain quelling of emotions/passion /whatever to retain objectivity, but lets face it, you're a Saints supporter. Be Proud!!

  • Haha 1
Posted (edited)
  On 21/02/2022 at 16:07, waylander said:

Hi Dan, good to have you aboard.

I wonder if yo ucan clear up something that has been the subject of some debate - did Alex McCarthy sign a new contract last year or is it still being hammered out?

Expand  

Hey! 

Alex McCarthy signed a new contract last summer. He conducted all the relevant club media at the time he signed it but the announcement got pulled for a reason I do not know. 

I'm writing about the goalkeepers for a piece that will go live on Wednesday, but it is more focused on Fraser Forster's situation.

Edited by Dan Sheldon, The Athletic
  • Like 2
Posted
  On 21/02/2022 at 16:12, Dan Sheldon, The Athletic said:

Hey! 

Alex McCarthy signed a new contract last summer. He conducted all the relevant club media at the time he signed it but the announcement got pulled for a reason I do not know. 

I'm writing about the goalkeepers for a piece that will go live on Wednesday, but it is more focused on Fraser Forster.

Expand  

Hi Dan

I also work for a media organisation with a paywall, so I know you why can't just give SaintsWeb members/subscribers free access to all your excellent articles in The Athletic -- but if you can post a few choice extracts on here that will be much appreciated 😉

  • Like 2
Posted (edited)
  On 21/02/2022 at 16:12, Dan Sheldon, The Athletic said:

Hey! 

Alex McCarthy signed a new contract last summer. He conducted all the relevant club media at the time he signed it but the announcement got pulled for a reason I do not know. 

I'm writing about the goalkeepers for a piece that will go live on Wednesday, but it is more focused on Fraser Forster's situation.

Expand  

Hi Dan,

A few questions on that if I may...

- how many years was the new contract for?

- why did no other news organisations / outlets report this? i.e. how come only you knew/know about it and the likes of Adam Blackmore etc seemingly didn't/don't know about it?

- do you not know why the announcement was pulled because you asked them why but they refused to tell you why, or because you've never asked them why?

- given what you know about the club, do you have a hypothesis as to why the club have chosen to be duplicitous about it?

Cheers!

Edited by trousers
Posted
  On 21/02/2022 at 14:55, AlexLaw76 said:

Not sure why this is even an issue.

It was being discussed about us doing this a few months back.

I remember Danny Higgingottom talking about it. If he (and many fans could see it), I am certain players and coaches knew about it way before that. Not once has an opposing manager moaned about it though. 

Expand  

From what I remember of conversations, I have a suspicion @Dan Sheldon, The Athletic fed him that snippet and then used it on the US coverage of our games as if he'd spotted it himself. :lol:

Posted (edited)
  On 21/02/2022 at 15:40, Dan Sheldon, The Athletic said:

Thank you!

Good question, and it's one I am often asked.

I am one of the strange people that doesn't follow a particular team/have any great love for one side. I am a huge fan of football, but I tend to appreciate moments rather than teams.

Going into a weekend, the only team I want to win is Southampton. But it is also nice that because I'm not a supporter, I am able to stand back sometimes and not get too high or down depending on their results. However, there have been a couple of games this season - most notably Spurs away - where it was impossible to not leave the stadium over the moon!

Expand  

Is this you on 2mins 15?

The Fast Show - Roger Nouveau Football Fan - YouTube

 

Edited by Turkish
  • Like 1
Posted
  On 21/02/2022 at 13:31, Dan Sheldon, The Athletic said:

An important point to make on this is that I am a reporter first, and a supporter second. 

What Southampton are doing is not cheating, nor is anything likely going to be done off the back of the piece I did. Once a player goes down and informs the referee that he needs medical attention, the match official has a duty of care to that person and is not going to say no.

The fact one of their players goes down, more often than not, between the 60th and 70th minute is not a secret and there are many within the industry who have picked up on it. To think other clubs weren't aware of this is a non-starter.

My job is to report on Southampton/spot interesting patterns - and the energy gels/drinks/tactical instructions during a specific time frame falls into that category.

 

Expand  

But all teams are guilty of this or something similar to varying degrees and Wolves are among the worst offenders. Shouldn't your piece have made reference to all the different widespread ways teams try to achieve a little advantage rather than just concentrating on us the side you claim to support? It would have been a more even handed approach instead of making us look like the only bad guys. I think we're pretty fair when you consider some of the players/managers at other clubs who are constantly in the refs face trying to get decisions to go their way.

  • Like 1
Posted
  On 21/02/2022 at 16:47, Teddeer said:

But all teams are guilty of this or something similar to varying degrees and Wolves are among the worst offenders. Shouldn't your piece have made reference to all the different widespread ways teams try to achieve a little advantage rather than just concentrating on us the side you claim to support? It would have been a more even handed approach instead of making us look like the only bad guys. I think we're pretty fair when you consider some of the players/managers at other clubs who are constantly in the refs face trying to get decisions to go their way.

Expand  

I am pretty sure there is a piece going live on The Athletic tomorrow that looks at every club's stoppages/when they happen/what the players do during them.

Posted
  On 21/02/2022 at 16:56, Dan Sheldon, The Athletic said:

I am pretty sure there is a piece going live on The Athletic tomorrow that looks at every club's stoppages/when they happen/what the players do during them.

Expand  

Hey Dan,

Cheers for coming on here and answering a few questions.

You mentioned on the Tifo video recently that we narrowly missed out on Cucerella due to our budget constraints. I realise giving the inside scoop on here about current targets is probably not something you'd want to do but could you say any other past targets we narrowly missed out on?

Thanks!

Posted

Win and we move above Brighton - might only be for one day as they play Villa at home on Saturday which they'd expect to win. Mind you, they probably expected to beat Burnley rather than getting done 3-0. That was a nice 5 goal swing in goal difference in our favour.

Posted (edited)
  On 21/02/2022 at 17:08, TWar said:

Hey Dan,

Cheers for coming on here and answering a few questions.

You mentioned on the Tifo video recently that we narrowly missed out on Cucerella due to our budget constraints. I realise giving the inside scoop on here about current targets is probably not something you'd want to do but could you say any other past targets we narrowly missed out on?

Thanks!

Expand  

Hey,

No worries at all. I am keen to communicate with you all as much as possible. I can't be on here all the time, but will be dropping in more often than not. I am also conscious that this topic is about Friday's game against Norwich & that most of my answers haven't been about the match.

In terms of other players, one of the more famous ones is James Maddison. He had already visited Staplewood before Leicester blew Saints out of the water with a better offer. Leicester have beaten Saints to the punch in more recent(ish) times, too. 

Edited by Dan Sheldon, The Athletic
Posted (edited)
  On 21/02/2022 at 17:18, Dan Sheldon, The Athletic said:

Hey,

No worries at all. I am keen to communicate with you all as much as possible. I can't be on here all the time, but will be dropping in more often than not. I am also conscious that this topic is about Friday's game against Norwich & I'm conscious of the fact most of my answers haven't been about the match.

In terms of other players, one of the more famous ones is James Maddison. He had already visited Staplewood before Leicester blew Saints out of the water with a better offer. Leicester have beaten Saints to the punch in more recent(ish) times, too. 

Expand  

That's interesting, thanks. Castagne comes to mind, I think he might have been linked at one point and is a position we need around our price range. 

Edited by TWar
Posted (edited)
  On 21/02/2022 at 17:18, Dan Sheldon, The Athletic said:

Hey,

No worries at all. I am keen to communicate with you all as much as possible. I can't be on here all the time, but will be dropping in more often than not. I am also conscious that this topic is about Friday's game against Norwich & I'm conscious of the fact most of my answers haven't been about the match.

In terms of other players, one of the more famous ones is James Maddison. He had already visited Staplewood before Leicester blew Saints out of the water with a better offer. Leicester have beaten Saints to the punch in more recent(ish) times, too. 

Expand  

Think we got more than a bit of our own back with the deals for Bertrand and Vestergaard.

Edited by Teddeer
  • Haha 7
Posted
  On 21/02/2022 at 16:47, Teddeer said:

But all teams are guilty of this or something similar to varying degrees and Wolves are among the worst offenders. Shouldn't your piece have made reference to all the different widespread ways teams try to achieve a little advantage rather than just concentrating on us the side you claim to support? It would have been a more even handed approach instead of making us look like the only bad guys. I think we're pretty fair when you consider some of the players/managers at other clubs who are constantly in the refs face trying to get decisions to go their way.

Expand  

Alongside the previous two months where clubs were postponing matches with minimal COVID cases, but citing injuries and internationals to ensure those players were back for the rearranged fixture, which gives them a far bigger advantage than a 30 second break. While, we were what looked on the outside following strict COVID regulations to ensure there wasn't an outbreak at the club, which there wasn't.

It's no surprise that COVID/injuries hasn't affected clubs after the postponement rules got stricter and football got out of the hectic Christmas schedule.

  • Like 1

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