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Comment | Southampton V Ipswich Town The Verdict
at 12:02:16
I feel I may be going against the flow here, but I enjoyed the game apart from that final few seconds when Ipswich equalised. I thought generally the performance was good without being perfect and there were some really good individual performances - Dibling, Lallana, Sugawara, Downes to name a few but no one had a bad game. The defence looked much better drilled and Ramsdale brought off some good saves, though interestingly 3 times he kicked the ball out and nearly put us in trouble (and a better opposition may have capitalised.
The line up on Saturday was better and they worked well as a team and looked much more energetic.
The opening goal was well worked but after that Ipswich actually looked the better side and had it been 1-1 at half time I doubt many of us could have complained. But, the second we were the better side. Had we taken one of our chances we would have been celebrating a win.
I am not sure all the subs worked but I understood some of them. I just felt too many were made at the same time.
On their equaliser - was we surprised? We hadn't taken our chances and the opposition gets a late equaliser. Not that unique for us - rarely though does it happen the other way. Relying on one goal is always dangerous and we are just not prolific scorers. If you want to stay in the PL you have to invest in a quality striker. All that said, I thought Archer was no better or worse than Adam Armstrong at this level.
On the equaliser, I do have a different view and the match analysis was good in respect of the Ipswich goal. They pointed out that AA just stood and watched which lead to the corner which lead to the goal. I do not understand players turning their backs. Ironically I was watching some of the West Ham game and I said then, why do players now turn their backs with an incoming ball? low and behold we did the same.
But, I enjoyed the game and whilst I think both these sides will go back down at least the performance was better. I am not looking forward to those games against Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool though! |
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Comment | Southampton At Everton The Carabao Cup Verdict
at 10:12:26
A win is a win even though it was through the lottery of a penalty shoot out - though they were all good penalties - so providing we use the right players when we do get a penalty we may have a chance.
It was a poor game overall with 2 poor relegation looking sides.
Generally our focus is on how error strewn our defence is, but really the big question is, the continued failing of our frontline to score goals no matter who we put there. The return on goals scored is dreadful and is equally costing us games and points as much as our errors at the back in the league (I realise that this was a cup game but our 1 goal in play came from a defender again). Why are we so poor up front? Is it quality?, is it confidence? is it lack of feed from midfield? is it tactics and positioning? Teams that don't score don't stay up generally. |
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Comment | Manchester United Have Injury Issues For their Visit To Southampton
at 13:13:58
Oh, here we go. Where have we heard this sort of thing before and when has such news ever worked well for us?
I recall numerous teams supposedly coming to St Marys or The Dell before it supposedly there for the taking. When have we exploited it? Burnley, Watford, Rotherham to name but a few supposedly on the rack player wise only to eek out a win or a draw. We cannot even beat or draw with a side that has gone down to 10 men so whatever side Man U put out they will be difficult for us to beat or even get a draw against.
I like your last sentence that we won't miss Ross Stewart. Has to be the understatement of the year that. We would all like some honesty and transparency on that situation. 2 weeks they said then another 2 weeks..........they don't even bother saying anything now. |
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Comment | Southampton At Brentford The Damning Verdict
at 11:10:06
Agree with much of your analysis Nick and the contributors especially Westsussex. I would just add that as well as our errors at the back and against Newcastle in goal Smallbone has been poor at this level and Adam Armstrong looks the same as he did when he was last in the PL. Neither appear to be up to the level required. We need our strikers to score because if they don't, we are immediately hoping for a flawless display at the back and that looks highly unlikely at this level in any game.
I am not one shouting or seeking RM to go (I want management stability and there is no guarantee based on previous recent history that SR would make the right selection) but if he does not deal with the issues and make the right selections and become more adaptable in his tactics and style he will be the architect of his own eventual dismissal.
The Man Utd game is now becoming very interesting for both managers. Both are facing question marks over their style and ability to get a team to perform. I fear that Man Utd (as they often do when they are criticised) will respond better and whilst we may put up a fight the outcome may well be the same. The last 3 games are ones you feel we should have picked up at least a couple of points. |
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Comment | Arsenal Delaying Signing Ramsdale Transfer Paperwork
at 23:05:05
............and if they don't sign someone? then what? transfer day goes and we are left with McCarthy and Bazunu and Lumley. I assumed Arsenal wanted rid of Ramsdale because he was surplus to requirements and was unlikely to get playing time with them.
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Comment | Southampton Turn Attentions To Arsenal Goalkeeper
at 16:21:35
This could all have been avoided if we had pulled our finger out as soon as the final whistle went at Wembley. It is not as if there were not keepers out there and available and for less than this.
I have not understood our recruitment strategy at all this summer. It has felt scatter gun in nature. |
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Comment | Sekou Mara Departs
at 12:53:42
I am not glad to see the back of him Nick. I wish him well and hope he progresses and becomes the good player I think is in there somewhere. Whether it was game time or what, but for some reason it hasn't quite happened with him at Saints and it is right for him and us that he is moving on. But, good luck to him. |
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Comment | Southampton At Newcastle United The Verdict
at 11:14:35
The one exception I take to the report is that in my view McCarthy should and has to take responsibility for that error. Whilst he may be expected to play the ball out I cannot believe that RM or any manager would say you do that irrespective of the threat. McCarthy is not a young green keeper, he is experienced and mature and he had time to assess the situation and the threat and how near we were to half time and the obvious and simplest thing to have done was to boot the ball up or off the pitch. He was to blame plain and simple. The thing is RM either gets a keeper that can play his way and is skilled and able to deliver that or accepts that McCarthy can't play that way and allows him to play the way he is best able to.
I agree with you on Brereton-Diaz. I don't like what he did and I am uncomfortable with it and hope it is not something he adopts. But it was the pot calling the kettle black when it comes to Newcastle and many teams. It was good to see that we could mix it though and not be bullied. We should had have at least a draw on Saturday - but McCarthy's error and our failure to offer a real goal threat (for all our approach play) let us down - but we cannot afford to be that generous or profligate. |
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Comment | Newcastle Winger Spotted At Southampton Airport
at 17:07:32
I have always said that Newcastle will release him to us after we have played them.
I like Fraser but I must be one of the few (or may be the only one) who doubts his ability to perform in a 90 minute game and at PL level. He was good at times, but there were moments when I forgot he was on the pitch. He was better as a sub. |
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Comment | Saints Confirm Arrival Of Japanese Midfielder And also His Loan To Goztepe
at 17:52:25
I am sorry Nick. I know I come from an age that probably no longer fits into modern football, though I do try not to be stuck in the past but I am a simply a one club person.
It's all about Southampton FC for me. I understand loans but I don't understand what we gain from purchasing and then immediately shipping out. I am not interested in clubs in Turkey or for that matter anywhere else and I don't want to help them particularly or be some sort of feeder club for them (I can partly understand being a feeder for more local clubs which may help local football or the community/economy).
For me, owners of my club should be focused on my club if they are not then they clearly don't completely invested in it (and I am not talking money here, I am talking about investing in it as what it means to Southampton the city, the people, the fans, the games etc).
I appreciate that you won't agree with me and many others won't but that is how I feel. |
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Comment | West Brom Striker On Southampton Radar
at 16:15:03
Following the West Brom away game in the playoffs and on my return to the hotel where I was parked there were many WBA fans and they stated that their biggest issue is that they did not have a real goalscorer that could change a game from a loss or a draw to a win. They did not rate this guy, though whether it was harsh I do not know. He does not sound like a step up for what we need for the PL. |
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Comment | Ryan Fraser Set to Train With U21 Squad As Newcastle Play Hard Ball
at 12:17:17
Though I have enjoyed Fraser since he joined us and he has made a difference, I doubt that this is as black and white (unintended pub) as we would perhaps like it to be. I doubt that Fraser is entirely blameless and we have seen it ourselves with some players. As someone has said, I would think Eddie Howe has bigger fish to fry than focus on the shenanigans around Fraser. I suspect (and here I am being a cynic) they would probably welcome nothing being sorted until after we have played Newcastle.
I am happy if Fraser joins us but if he is made permanent I hope he does not become difficult if he is not on the teamsheet as often as he thinks he should be. I am not saying Howe has been perfect as I have no idea but you cannot blame for Newcastle playing it hard.
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Comment | Ryan Fraser Agrees Terms And Waiting For Newcastle To Sanction The Move
at 13:00:14
I'll be delighted if the move is made permanent though it will be interesting to see if his attitude and enthusiasm will remain the same once made permanent.
I don't know what he did at Newcastle Utd to warrant such an extreme reaction but looking at the comments on the Chronicle Live they absolutely hate Fraser and don't have a single good word to say about him. |
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Comment | Southampton Keen On Signing Brighton keeper
at 12:10:21
Agree with your assessment. I do think we need another good decent keeper but there are better than this out there. I guess it depends on what we are willing or have available finance wise to pay. |
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Comment | Should Russell Martin Put Out Another Reserve Side For Leeds United Trip
at 12:16:29
Assuming RM knows which players he wants to play in the playoffs you would hope that they are aware and they are training together as a unit so that they are fired up and fully understanding as a group what is expected of them (irrespective of who we may face in the playoffs). If that is happening, then I would not risk them for the Leeds game.
As others have said, Leeds have the better goal difference to Ipswich so should there be a fluke Huddersfield win, Leeds could be promoted if they win. |
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Comment | Southampton V Stoke City The Preview
at 10:26:15
I think RM needs to play the players that he is going to use in the playoffs because he needs to get them playing as a group again and they the players need to know that they are the ones that he has faith in to give us the best chance. The selection of McCarthy over Lumley was a really poor decision and sent the wrong message - I wonder how much that affected the feeling in the changing room. The message that RM gave out after the Cardiff game told everyone that he thrown in the towel from an automatic promotion perspective and that showed at Leicester in the players performance - loads of possession but no intent.
I am going tomorrow, travelling down from Yorkshire. I appreciate Nick you giving a supportive message of the fans because tomorrow is sold out (whether everyone turns up is another matter - I have been in 2 minds despite buying the ticket but I will go in hope that we see a different attitude on the pitch). The Saints fans support has been great this season home and away (accepting our vocal support has not always been as good as it could be). We have been there and we have been there in numbers and how let down those that went to Leicester on Tuesday must have felt.
As usual the players trotted out the same old stuff after a bad defeat about letting us down and must do better. Heard it all before after a bad defeat and you usually get a brief response and then they lapse back. I just hope the players get it as well as I am not convinced they all do or have the same desire - after all, to some it won't matter whether we challenge for promotion or not because they will just play out their loans or move on anyway.
Overall I have enjoyed this season and it has been good to watch and be a part of. It has gone a bit sour since the Easter period and there is a sense that the manager and the team have lost their way and motivation. It will be interesting to see not just how we react tomorrow but in the playoffs - will we be lions or mice?
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