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30 Sep 2024 21:57:06
No signs of improvement, if anything it's getting worse. We face Leicester, Wolves and Everton in our next five. Who says no to Potter joining by the end of the week except for the Board.
30 Aug 2024 18:51:23
SaintGGsy has written an article entitled, Southampton Players Overview
17 Aug 2024 09:20:49
SaintGGsy has written an article entitled, Good Transfer Window For Southampton FC
28 Apr 2024 21:45:13
I'd like to think I've not quite lost my mind with our manager to the extent that most of you have, but my birthday was ruined by our Leicester drubbing.
The best we've played this season was the first half vs Preston. Essentially the policy was make runs, create space, line breaking passes, shoot on sight. And we were awesome.
There was no pressure then. We'd been written off again, then the second hope is back on the table we lose three in a row. I can't think of the last time we were a side massively under pressure AND delivered.
I think it was our win at Swansea under Hughes to stay up, and that was six years ago. It looks like we'll have Norwich in the play-offs and we will go down 2-3 on agg I reckon.
But this isn't just an issue with our manager - yes he's stubborn beyond belief and an arrogant sod, but our squad doesn't have the mettle to handle pressure and imagine this lot in the PL next season.
I also don't see how the board sack him. He will say 'most years 84 points gets you promoted (I think the average before this year was 79?) and the play-offs is a lottery' and our board are renowned for being lenient - Pellegrino, Hughes and Jones all outstayed their welcomes. I hope it happens, but also who do we bring in? Potter? Cooper? I doubt it. Go cheap and hope it comes off has been the policy for a decade plus and that'll probably be the continued thinking.
I almost hope we don't go up because we will never ever stay up next year and at least this year we've won games.
And on the discussion around players listening to their manager - a bit different but I'm a cricket captain, and the main philosophy is 'have fun, go for it, back yourself'. If I told everyone to play one way we would never win, there needs to be flexibility and that is something we absolutely do not have.
Even when losing in the last minute we pass it round the back, and the players need to have some bravery and belief in themselves to do what they think. It isn't all on one man and in August I'd have taken the play-offs. But I fear stagnation and a Bristol City type season (boring mid table) next campaign.
1.) 30 Apr 2024 21:36:07
Preston was an interesting one. We were quite simply superb… as you say, we changed things. I honestly thought that was the start of changes.
I remember when we started to play balls over the top, H-B particularly good and clever at it . I worked … but we stopped it.
it is almost like RM had sleepless nights worrying that he had gone against his possession obsession.
Possession obsession to the extreme.
11 Feb 2024 20:56:16
It's been a long time since I've expected Saints to win. It's been even longer since I've been excited to watch them play good football. It's been even longer since I've ENJOYED IT!
Even at half time yesterday. And all that positivity from five months' effort was gone. But even then I thought we could still get something.
But 8 goal involvements from substitutes is utterly obscene and shows our depth now. EIGHT! Rothwell 2G 1A, Brooks 2A, Mara 1G 1A, Edozie 1G. We won the second half 5-1!
Our two Bournemouth loanees were excellent and the fact they've come from the same club seemed to do wonders yesterday.
And just following it online from the second half, even at 2-3, I was still expectant rather than hoping, and I think Huddersfield were too.
Not only will that energise the fans, the fringe players, and galvanise the first XI regulars to pick up the standards, that must be massively deflating for both Leeds and Ipswich.
We were dropping to third albeit with a game in hand but have kept up the relentlessness and with Leeds playing Leicester in a few weeks, we could be a couple of wins clear before our dicey run-in.
I think it's just between us and Leeds now. Ipswich have nine points in nine games, but the three former Prem teams are all just winning and winning.
How epic could that game be at Elland Road to finish the season? And what's more, I can't wait for the game on Tuesday! We could pick any 6 of 11 MID/FWD players, and I'd still expect us to score four. 0-0 incoming no doubt.
SaintGGsy's banter posts with other poster's replies to SaintGGsy's banter posts
04 Jan 2025 21:39:24
Genuinely, who and what stays at the club next season?
Owners? Get rid.
Board? Get rid.
Manager? Get one.
Keepers? The one good one will leave.
Defenders? Can't defend.
Midfielders? Can't win the ball.
Forwards? Can't score.
After the last few games, I don't think we're now even a championship side. Keep Wood, Edwards, Archer, sell those that want to leave and are too good, fire sale the rest, start from three young players who may actually come good, because the rest are woeful.
So sad, but at least we're on for a record, albeit the first team to not reach double figures over an entire season.
20 Dec 2024 07:39:16
{Ed's Note - SaintGGsy has posted a new article entitled, Which Southampton Players I Want To Stick Around
19 Dec 2024 21:38:15
SaintGGsy has written an article entitled, Which Southampton Players I Want To Stick Around
1.) 20 Dec 2024 07:03:32
I realise confirmation is imminent of our new Managerbut I feel I ought to add to my previous shortlist posted.The late applicant ticks many of the boxes aside from his impressive successful record. He is VASCO MATOS (SANTA CLARA) PORTUGAL.It seems that both SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE COACHES’ have the unique ability to add another dimension to a game that is both very effective and exciting to watcch. KOM!
2.) 20 Dec 2024 11:46:14
Looking at Fabrizio's post it looks like it's Ivan Juric
27 Oct 2024 22:04:54
By my reckoning we should be 14th currently, above Man U and level with West Ham.
What I've been debating is whether Ralph would have gotten us many more points. I don't think it would be as many as the 11 I'd calculate, as this club does just crumble under any pressure, but Leicester, Bournemouth and Newcastle I'd expect we would have done better.
I believe we should be W3 D2 L4, good -2 or so, with wins against Leicester, Ipswich and Newcastle - all fairly self explanatory - and draws with Man U and Bournemouth.
Man U, we score that penalty, I think we would have gotten something from the game, especially given the state of United at the time and if we had already won one, and Bournemouth we won the second half 1-0, so better team selection and maybe that could've been something else from the game.
If those results came in as they could have, we're five clear of the bottom three with a tough run coming up after our next two.
Two things are unbelievably frustrating about this.
One; we are really not that far away from being mid table, with a penalty converted, being clinical at St James' Park, getting team selections right, we'd be going into the next two games looking to potentially move into the top half. Imagine that.
Two; same old same old. We have 1 point from 9 games. After Newcastle, the capitulations against Man U and Brentford, nothing changed moving into matches where we then took the lead and didn't learn and shore up at the back, or kill games off.
Even if (when?) we win, those things won't change and they will continue not to until we have a harsher taskmaster of a leader who is respectful and emotionally intelligent enough, but isn't into all this backpatting and 'we were so brave despite losing 3-0' bollocks.
Either Martin toughens himself up - he won't - and becomes a bit more pragmatic - he won't - or we likely lose the next two and he's sacked just before we have Liverpool, Villa and Spurs with 1 point from one third of our games and are staring down Derby's record.
He's a good bloke, we peaked well at the end of last season despite being fourth best in the league, but until he gets the City job, I don't think this can work out at this level with the players we have, and as he has repeatedly said, he won't change.
Try and tempt Graham, or have a chat with Moyes, I'm certain we will end up with a better season than with 29 more games of possession-ball.
1.) 29 Oct 2024 13:05:49
Will Erik Ten Hag Save us If Russell gets the sack and he wants to join us?
{Ed002's Note - ten Hag won't be joining Southampton. Could David Moyes save you is a better question.}
2.) 29 Oct 2024 18:40:34
Mourinho next season maybe?
He says he wants to fix a relegation club
also was supposed to put if he wants but he probably doesn't want to probably.
06 Oct 2024 12:25:42
For those of us not blinded by loyalty and back patting, it looks like a great number of spots are fairly obviously being filled in our lineup.
Ramsdale is our GK. Sugawara and KWP are our full backs. Bednarek is one of our CBs. ABK should be the other.
Downes and Fernandes have to start, as does Dibling.
The forward spot is anyone's. Based on yesterday, Onuachu with Archer and Dibling running off him is ideal, go to a 4-3-3 and then that final midfield spot is another pivot in either Lallana or Ugo. Right now, Lallana probably.
Ramsdale; Sugawara ABK Bednarek KWP; Downes Lallana Fernandes; Dibling Onuachu Archer looks formulaically the best XI currently.
Sadly ABK is unliked, Lallana is nearing 40 and Onuachu, before yesterday, was unwanted as well. Not great that that's where the hope lays but a good manager would not freeze anyone out with 1 point from 7 games.
Still don't know why we aren't looking to Potter before Wolves sack O'Neil and inevitably go for him, but I've very little hope this season already. Hopefully a cup run will perk things up.
1.) 06 Oct 2024 16:17:40
I like that side a lot @SaintsGGsy.
The question for me was who could play up top on the left. I had mused Lallana, KWP or AA, with Diaz and Fraser disappointing but seeing Archer cut in beautifully from the left and scoring against Arsenal, I think Archer, Onuachu and Dibling is worth a promising front 3.
11 Nov 2023 21:52:55
Came here to say a very similar thing. Our next ‘tough’ game is the reverse of this fixture in February. Till then I don’t think we play a team in the top half. In this league we will slip up somewhere along the line but what a month or so.
Reflecting now on our losing run, in perspective they don’t look so shocking. Boro hadn’t won a game but are now mid table, Leicester and Ipswich are first and second, and the only real shocker is the Sunderland game which I still can’t fathom, and maybe that took a few games to come back from.
Maybe we all overreacted a little. Some more clean sheets would be nice, but ultimately losing on two long away trips and at home to the top two aren’t anything to be too ashamed of, and we now seem to have a settled and organised lineup. Also excellent to see Stewart on the pitch. Way things are going we might be able to offload Adams to a struggling PL club in January for too much money and invest wisely.
I’d like to think we can now go on a 20+ game unbeaten run but the championship doesn’t work that way, though shoring up a top 6 spot whilst keeping the top 2 within arms reach would be a nice place to be come the new year.
Go the saints! I’m actually enjoying supporting this team for the first time in about 7 years ?
27 Sep 2023 18:45:44
Thanks all, and thanks Ed’s for making that into a special article thingy, looks very cool!
What a sad spot we’re in. No hope for Saturday either, but at least it’ll be available to see live for the country to witness our embarrassment!
{Ed033's Note - Thanks, terrible period for Southampton supporters.
25 Sep 2023 21:20:03
There is definitely something amiss with our club. It seems so rigid - we must play this way or else - why can’t we bomb down the wings, cross it, big Paul with headers or knockdowns. There are reasons Sulemana and Alcaraz aren’t playing, why our best players aren’t performing.
I don’t know what it is, and I don’t think it’s just down to Martin, but problems feel deeper than we are seeing on the field right now, and it’s worrying.
{Ed033's Note - Thanks for the long post, i'll put it up tomorrow morning as an article
28 Jan 2023 22:20:34
Another winger with pace and little end product. GIVE US GOALS FOR GOD’S SAKE.
Doesn’t need to be anything magical. A half season loan deal to keep us up, and we’ll be in a much more inviting position if we stay up. Look what Gabbi did - none of us had heard of him and he had a spurt for two months which kept us up. Don’t sign a striker, we won’t know.
Che Adams and Adam Armstrong will not keep this side up. Mara has potential but isn’t going to bag 10-12 goals in the last 19 games. Maybe Orsic at striker is an option, but relying on JWP and Perraud for goals is a death sentence.
Also, generally speaking, it’s worrying that our 1.5th team (not quite a full second string side) barely beat a team in the championship relegation zone. Doesn’t exactly bode well.
26 Jan 2023 20:47:33
Saints fans: sign a striker
Saints board: signs a winger
Saints fans: close! Now get a striker to score some goals!
Saints board: signs a midfielder
Saints fans: ok, good player, now we need goals!
Saints board: James Bree
{Ed014's Note - ??
15 Sep 2024 19:55:05
That requires our manager being innovative - haven’t had one of those since Koeman!
14 Sep 2024 22:19:24
Next three home games are Everton, Ipswich and Leicester. Quite simply they’re the three most likely to drop aside us. We have to win all three. So by that logic, lose and we look like being toast.
Get ABK and Cornet in for Stephens and Brereton and it’s basically the perfect side. Dibling was our best player and it says a lot that our right back is our biggest goal threat ? positives, but positives don’t bring results and we have scored one goal in four games, including 60 minutes against ten men, and that one goal was a last minute consolation.
It isn’t too difficult a game as Martin may make it out to be. Play fluid attacking football, leave 2 CBs and a CDM on the halfway line, and express yourselves.
Turned off after we missed the penalty. Knew where it was going, and not a great deal of faith in getting anything next weekend.
21 Aug 2024 12:25:36
And as I pressed send, it looks like Bijlow is on his way! Not the dream signing, but I’d say a very decent one given he’s in competition with Verburggen and Flekken for the Dutch #1 slot. That’ll do me
26 Jul 2024 21:26:36
I personally enjoy a back three, however that means having very very good wing backs who make or break the formation. We don’t have one on the left and it also encourages the thought that you need three CBs as two isn’t solid enough.
If we did go back 3, it’d have to be a 3-4-1-2 with KWP on the left, Charly at 10 and a very very solid pair of CMs. I don’t think we’re brave enough to do that.
Back four, Taylor/KWP - THB - Bednarek - Sugarawa
3 in midfield, probbaly two sat back - Downes and Smallbone, Alcaraz in front, with Arma and Diaz either side of Stewart up top I think gives us some dynamism.
Obviously relying on Stewart is a risk and Arma could go into ST with JRS, Sulemana or SAA on the left, but none of that fills me with much confidence.
GK, CM, ST and AM needed for me - Ramsdale loan, O’Riley, Rak-Sakyi if he is as good as we’re making him out, and Diaz seem to be the route currently, totalling £60m or so. Sell the deadwood of Mara (£3m), Onuachu (£6m), Manning (£3m), Lis (didn’t inspire me with confidence, £1.5m) and ABK if he doesn’t want to stay - hopefully £12m+, recoups £25m or so and hopefully keeps us within budget.
That to me is sensible and realistic. But I’d like us to end up nicking a bit of a marquee signing to really galvanise the support for what will be a tough season, especially if none of these points deductions seem to be happening any time soon.
02 Apr 2024 19:53:46
We aren’t cutthroat enough a club at any level, and I just cannot see that the board will replace Martin if we finish fourth and don’t go up. They’ll say ‘we got XX points (87ish), that would get you promoted automatically most seasons’.
Ipswich have done an amazing job and I want them to go up. We need to cherry pick from this league and League One and get Martin to see the error of his ways to this point. I backed the side when we went unbeaten, but the amount of times we’ve failed to kill off games has now caught up with us.
I’d like to think we can keep S Armstrong, A Armstrong, Fraser, Aribo, Smallbone, Charles and Bednarek, have Larios and Stewart fit, and sign a CDM - we won’t keep Downes - a goalie and another striker as a minimum. If we get money from KWP and Sulemana totalling £30m+, we can go and pick up several good prospects and build, because as people rightly say we wouldn’t stay in the PL with this squad.
I also don’t think the club is built on a ruthlessness to sack off Bazunu. I loved his signing but one could argue that with a hint of anticipation he saves all three goals last night.
I’d like us to go and look at the impressive players from this season. Whittaker, Szmodics, Simms, one of them would suit us. I think szmodics would be an amazing player for us personally. But I imagine we will dip back into the Chelsea and City youth pool again.