Southampton Banter Archive August 03 2013

03 Aug 2013 19:28:24
Is anyone worried yet? Kelvin seems to me to be starting an awful lot of pre-season games. I'm sure I will get pelters for saying this. MP should surely be playing his strongest team, but we are 2 weeks away from season start so surely Boruc needs to be starting. The rest of the team looks quality apart from we are missing Clyne.

Saintlee

Maybe Kelvin is looking the best? He didn't look bad when he came on at the end of last season, who knows

We need an out and out striker that can simply finish these chances we're creating!

Don't see a need to be worried Saintlee.
MP will be using pre-season games to bring all his squad to match fitness ahead of the new season. If he played his first 11 for every match there is every risk he could end up with a number of injuries to key players with others in the squad not up to speed and prepared to fill in as replacements. I would rate this pre-season as very well thought out and organised and the only downside is that there may be a few signings yet to come in who have missed this-but it does get more difficult and drawn out when the club is after high quality targets. A very big contrast to some other teams in the Premiership who seem to have spent much of their time clocking up the air-miles and then playing worthless exhibition matches.

Saint Martin

It would not surprise me in the least if we don't see any more signings this window.

MP has said acquisitions are done his way, and his way is to be fully able to integrate players into the team (hence the original July 1st 'deadline').

Having a late starter means it is likely he would not be able to properly integrate/bed-in the guy for several games so 'weakening' the side.

More likely, he will concentrate on getting the current squad to play up to their potential and then look to bolster whatever areas need it in the new year.

Make no mistake guys, we DO have a good squad already. Providing they can get that level of fitness needed for the MP style of play, I believe we'll do ok, not brilliant maybe, but certainly ok.

I totally concur with Saint Martin, also with the new additions it is good to see which players gel and complement one another, it's all good stuff so far.
Would love to sign a striker ASAP like any Saints fan but I'm pleased with what we've added to the squad so far. WillsaSaint.

I think this has been summed up by Saint Martin and Block34, Pre-season means very little, other than improving SQUAD fitness. We had a decent side that could cope with the Premiership last season, this season we have signed 2 quality international players and early doors suggests that we have a handful of youngsters ready to step up to the plate. I am a realist and don't expect us to be challenging the top 6 this season, but all the same I think it will be an exciting one and it's a great time to be a Saints fan!

03 Aug 2013 17:26:37
Nice to see the skate's started well. 2nd from bottom in league two hahhaha 4-1 lose at home so unlucky

Yeah, but they lost to the mighty U's 4 - 1 great result

I thought the Poopey did quite well today. By the end of the season this will be viewed as one of their better scorelines.

They had 18k fans there today. It will be interesting to see if the bestest bestest fans in the whole wide world keep turning up week after week as they continue to loose.

My prediction, for what it is worth, (and it hasn't changed in the last 6 months) is Pompey will suffer a few more of these set backs and (maybe) an injury to DC, then they will start to spend rashly (again) to solve the problem and will be in deep financial problems by Christmas.
I know their current financial/management model was all they were left with as an option but it doesn't alter the fact that it is a pretty fragile one and very unlikely to work.

Saint Martin

The funny thing is that the 'best' fans in the world started to leave with 20mins to go and started to fight amongst each other hahhaahaha we own the south coast

Also 350 people haven't paid the £1000 they promised putting more trouble on them already

03 Aug 2013 14:49:49
So with all these people stating their inside sources and trying to create sensible posts from information that is already out their in the public domain. May I ask one simple question why is the number 11 shirt still available? Isn't that the number we would give to a new striker/Cf? Personally I think the club are still trying to bring in someone but only on our terms and that may well be the stumbling block, but we are still looking for players! The money has not dried up just yet lol.

The number 11 shirt is still available because nobody wanted it. If someone on the team had asked for it I'm sure they'd have received it by now. The number on the back of the players shirt isn't what matters really.

The number 11 shirt is free because sharp has been left out of the squad, the number 14 because the same for hammond and number 19 as the same for lee no other reason don't get your hopes up