Southampton Banter Mobile

11 Apr 2026 10:52:35
Can I argue my point fairly without being cried at for lunacy 😅

People here seem to think I have a reputation for defending every manager, that's not the case.

I was amongst the first to say Nathan Jones, Selles, Juric shouldn't have been even let in the door, let alone shown it when they eventually were.

I've defended people like RM and Still in the past not necessarily because of the manager they are, but the process.

There are variables to everything and my current point about Still and Tonda is that if it was the the other way round, would Tonda have come in following a nightmare season in the premiership, identified what the championship is/who what is needed/players to be brought in .and then on top of that got them firing straight from the off .and my answer is, No. I don't think he would. I think things would have played out the same way they did for Still, whoever took that role was cannon fodder, a dead man walking.

Now, whether you like Still or not, whether you agree with me or not it was Still who put this current team together.

There are a few players, Scienza in particular, who will most likely not be here next season. Shea is gaining interest too.

So whichever league were in next season, on some level were going to have to rebuild and Tonda will be the spearhead of that. For me, that is where Tonda makes his money/reputation.because whatever team that is going forward will be his along with the new pressures of managing a team in the premiership/championship when the whole process of pre-season/transfers in-out occur and the awareness from other teams the increased reputation has gained you.

I still kinda feel like we're riding a wave from a team that was assembled but needed a kickstart (part of that was a decent GK which I believe Petetz was instigated by Still)

The way fans are, suddenly we're going to win every single league game now and the media are acting like we're world beaters. I mean let's not forget, whilst he didn't win any, RM was nominated for four consecutive Manager of the month awards. No, I'm not obsessing over RM, I agree Tonda has a lot more about him than RM but I'm simply using that as a reference.

I do like Tonda though and I will gladly eat any of my words if he turns out to be the real deal, I hope he does. I like his awkward/obsessive nature to cut through all the bull 🐂. I'm just more a hope for the best, plan for the worst guy.

The city game will go some way to convincing me. If PeP takes that game even remotely seriously than they should trash us. Nothing short of a mastermind will get us a win there.

As for the league I'll be delighted with promotion but where we go from there is where reality is, last season showed us that.

11 Apr 2026 17:58:33
You have something very important missing from all of your posts and arguments. Still is irrelevant in the equation. It is what the new manager has achieved with this group of players that is unbelievable.
Stop bringing Still and Martin into the discussion. They are not in the same league whe it comes to tactics, style, substitutions, reading a game, adjusting tactics . Stills only involvement in the current team is some of the players. That is where it ends.

11 Apr 2026 19:38:53
Yes Still did put this team together, or rather Spors did. And he had time to work with this squad.

After the window ended, he had nine matches with the squad. Won 1, 7 points, good -6. On that form we’d be down now.

Four days later, we suddenly started a streak of 6 wins in 7, then after another poor month, are on a 14 match unbeaten league run. Tonda had even less time with the same players, and changed formation, lineups, etc from the off.

Still persisted with a back three which we all saw was wrong. If he was that good, he’d have been snapped up by someone else by now. It’s nonsense.

It’s fair we wouldn’t have hired Tonda over the summer as permanent manager and we’ve lucked into it, but Still wouldn’t have had us in the FA cup semis. We’d be in the mix with Oxford and Portsmouth at best.

We aren’t hiring Still back, no point dwelling on it, Tonda has us fifth and one game from the cup final. He’s our man!

11 Apr 2026 20:22:28
I agree, Spors has more input in the signings than the manager. Still was too ridged in his tactics like Martin was. Tonda has inherited this team but that makes it more interesting. I agree the summer is a big test as there will be changes, but we are better without still and Martin, Juric etc, but I think saying Tonda has only done this because of Still is nonsense.

12 Apr 2026 01:57:18
I didn’t bother to read, likely same drivel

12 Apr 2026 10:24:33
You can have the same squad, two different types of managers and two completely different sets of results and performance.

The key is how you get the best out of players and Still didn’t have that. It’s the difference between an arm round the shoulder or a kick up the backside.

Our team is playing with confidence and courage. Three months ago no one wanted the ball or take a risk. For that Tonda must take credit along with the players who’ve stepped up.

07 Apr 2026 21:48:30
Wow. Can we play City on Saturday? Might win it on this form! Beat Ipswich and we aren't out of the battle for autos just yet!

07 Apr 2026 23:23:06
Would need to win our last 6 games (84 pts) and hope Ipswich lose to us, Middlesbrough and then draw 2, win 3 (83 points) .

07 Apr 2026 23:30:47
Wow indeed! From a non existent game plan, to poor tactics, poor defending/marking/tracking, slow predictable play, a non existent attacking threat .
to superb interplay, fast attacking, resolute defending, getting the ball through midfield to attack in moments, attacking in large numbers, great crosses, great interplay. and goals coming from all over the pitch
This is an absolute pleasure to watch!
From when will we score to we are going to score!

08 Apr 2026 15:06:19
Many of us wondered if promotion would be good for us or a repeat of last time. Now, we must go all out. 7 or 8 top players in and I think we can survive, even thrive. Do not want to lose Leo and Shea.

08 Apr 2026 21:52:51
Something has definitely happened in the coaching department. Tonda started really well and then the team started to show signs of old laborious performances as if he was under instruction. Then the gloves came off and the team starts to show real signs of togetherness and a definitive plan for how to deal with individual opponents.
I think Spors has had to ditch the possession deep defensive style and let Tonda initiate his style of football, on recent results Tonda has special ability.

09 Apr 2026 20:56:51
Tonda’s ability to assess the opposition is superb and that’s an understatement!

He studied the opponents from every angle possible and initiated a game plan. The win over Arsenal was quite simply breathtaking. We are talking about one of the top teams in Europe. when we scored the winner, there were loads of saints players in around the box, pushing to win the game.

Man City will be interesting. For me De Bruyne pulled the strings, yes I know they have amazing players, but you can be sure he has studied every game City have played this season. He will know if they have a weakness.
Pep will enjoy coming up against a Football Grand Master!
But tactics for the sake of tactics is one thing, but this guy has us playing some of the best, if not the best, counterattacking and transitional football I have seen.
Everyone seems to want to score of be part of a goal.
The defence is fighting for every ball. Man marking is back to its best
Tracking a man is superb . and finally
The goalkeeper . this guy is outstanding!
His saves to his command of the box to his comradery with his teams mates is a joy to watch!

05 Apr 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, What a Manchester City Punishment Could Change

04 Apr 2026 15:46:19
I know I bang on and on about the same things, so I'm just going to say it once more and then zip 🤐

I read another article about the 'incredible' impact Tonda has had for us and a big part of that being his decision to bring in and replace Bazuna with Petetz.

It is this that really gets/winds me up. The goalkeeper situation is something that has long been a massive problem/priority with myself and others mentioning it needing addressing.

Will Still re-addressed that situation when it became clear Ramsdale wasn't coming back anytime soon. Him bringing McCarthy into the team when he did (admittedly just as bad/worse than bazuna) highlighted the club would have obviously been looking at replacements/Petetz then.

Meaning just like the rest of the club Tonda inherited, he inherited Petetz too.

I feel like if Tonda is receiving so much applauds than us fans on here should be receiving some too as the turnaround in performances have come from areas we've highlighted.

Tondas real impact will come next season. When we see if we're a premier League team, what players we have/who stayed/who we need to bring in ect.

For now I will keep presuming that if it was the other way round, Tonda got sacked and Will took over .than Will would be doing just as good of a job.

With that said, I going to put a cheeky bet builder on for us to win tonight, we're not going to beat Man City or win the FA cup, but who knows, a cheeky counter attack and ab bit of luck at home

04 Apr 2026 18:04:03
Will Still recorded 2 league wins…. But somehow should get credit for Tonda’s success and any future signings? You don’t make any sense

05 Apr 2026 07:41:53
For want of not getting banned from this site for bullying, harassment, hate speech . my reply is rather more straightforward .,

You have lost the plot!
Obsessed with Martin and now with Still .
Relish in what the new manager is achieving.

Saints never sat back last night, they went for the 2nd when 1-0 up and went for a winner when 1-1 .

Their transition play was fast and precise .
Our new man is proving to get better and better .

05 Apr 2026 07:56:35
It’s hard to know if you’re happy or sad about beating the Arsenal!

You need to let it go now, Lesleee for your sake!

05 Apr 2026 10:39:47
Southampton 2 Arsenal 1
Thank you Will Still

06 Apr 2026 00:18:42
You people say I've lost the plot, but put Bazuna in goal the whole time and take away Leo Scienza and is the story the same .those two changes were already implemented before Tonda, is my point.

That said I do like Tonda, especially if he is having an impact behind the scenes.

The reason for that is he's primarily an obsessive analysis. I think he might be borderline autistic, which works in our favour as he doesn't listen or care about anything around him but what the focus is.

My point is and always will be, you can't judge someone fully until they've put their full stamp on something.

I don't get carried away on the positives and I don't get carried away on the negatives.

06 Apr 2026 13:10:29
‘Us people’ have been banging on for as long as I remember about getting a decent keeper between the sticks, and someone with pace and purpose who can take on defenders and cause problems.

For the record, I’m not a Tonda convert (yet) and I was highly sceptical of his ability to manage at this level. However, he is certainly instrumental in turning things round over the last few weeks and should get credit for that at least.

Which goes to show, we can all get it wrong at times - even you Leslee. My advice would be to enjoy the moment because none of us can tell how long it will last.

01 Apr 2026 08:36:45
To win games you need to score goals. so many conversations on here about needing a striker, lack of goals . and now what a difference. It's now not a case of who will score but rather, who isn't going to score!
From fullbacks to midfield to attack. all getting into goal scoring positions.
At any other time I would never given us a chance against Arsenal . but we have so many options from near post headers, to scoring from dead ball situations, to wonder strikes to clever touches .
Come on Saints

30 Mar 2026 07:39:05
{Ed's Note - Davey Sulls has posted a new article entitled, My Liverpool Summer Plan: Coach Change and Four Signings

25 Mar 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

22 Mar 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - BlueNose1878 has posted a new article entitled, Everton Finally Look Like a Proper Unit