Saints Stuff

Newcastle United are ready to compete with a handful of Premier League rivals to sign Southampton's England midfielder James Ward-Prowse, 28, in the summer. (Football Insider)

 

I mean, that may be true, but firstly would depend on us going down, and secondly Football Insider just makes stuff up.

 

From The Athletic -

Southampton (19th, 21 points)
Southampton have flirted with relegation since their last promotion out of the Championship in 2011-12, but the managerial churn of this season has painted the greatest air of desperation yet.

Sport Republic, owner since January 2022, has no wish to see its business model tested outside of the Premier League. Southampton’s turnover was among the lowest in the division last term owing to relatively low commercial and matchday income, while this season has brought a spend of over £120million across the two windows.

Those within the club would consider that a calculated risk. Relegation clauses are in place and eight of the players signed were aged 20 or under. The club’s wage bill has plateaued in the last five years and, at around the £110million mark, is not considered the millstone that some carry.

The hope would be that Southampton have the resilience and owners to ride out relegation, but the accounts for the 2021-22 season, due to be published this month, will be telling. They will cover the end of the Gao Jisheng era, with the most recent financial snapshot showing net debt of £62million. Interest rates from an MSD loan are 9.14 per cent.

Those debt levels have caused nagging doubts in recent years, but Southampton’s takeover, removing the apathetic and distant Gao, has strengthened the club’s position if this is to be the year that sees time run out.

Squad value: £344m
Wage bill: £110m (2020-21)

 

Really good interview with Che here -

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/23379985.adams-reveals-home-truths-told-southampton-reset/

 

So players were late for training and lunches but now they've decided they're going to be a bit more professional? I'm more concerned that none of our strikers have scored in the league since ****ing November than their eating habits to be fair.

I really dislike this group of players, at least most of them will be ****ing off in June

 

Saturday 18 March

SOU

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15:00

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TOT

Referee: Simon Hooper. Assistants: Adrian Holmes, Mark Scholes. Fourth official: John Busby. VAR: Tony Harrington. Assistant VAR: Simon Long.

Hooper has actually improved a lot as a referee over the last couple of seasons so this appointment no longer fills me with the dread it once did.

 

As with almost everything in football, if he performs well on the pitch and helps us get results, fans won't care and it'll be as if nothing ever happened.

 

that was almost an apology

 

The visit from Pep Guardiola's Man City has been moved to a 5:30PM start on Saturday, April 8, due to their Champions League quarter-final that week.

Later in the month, Saints will welcome AFC Bournemouth to St Mary's on Thursday, April 27 (7:45PM).

 

Saints media team forgetting that Smallbone also plays for Ireland and only wishing Bazunu good luck with them for tonights friendly. Maybe not a big deal, but don't think it's a great look considering hes come through our academy, is still on our books and should we go down you'd think he could be an important player for us next season given he has done well with Stoke in the Championship this season.

 

He may have a Smallbone to pick with them about it…

 

At my age any bone is welcome.

 

Thirty years ago today...

 

I was there; West Stand, Archers end.

 

Also scored against Saints at Hillsborough. As I've said before **** happens then **** happens again.

 

Not sure if everyone knows but there is a small “no through road” adjacent to the old Dell, named Crossley Place.
I’ve always presumed it was named after Mark and it being a no through road is quite fitting.

 

Taking oldest grandson to the Bournemouth game. It's his 15th birthday present, 2 years later. How things change, now I get 'do you want a lift Grandad?'