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Comment | Southampton V Liverpool The Verdict
at 13:56:08
Players are not good enough for this style of play.
McCarthy was at fault for twos goal. There is no why Ramsdale in a big game like that rushes to roll the ball out to Fernandes. He'd slow the game down. McCarthy was slow to come out for the second and his positioning was equally as awful making it all but an open goal for Salah to find the net.
There were positives in Fernandes and Dibling, again but as mentioned already, Martin's starting line-up was baffling. Surely Bree or Suga had to start and why put Downes in a back 3. Was Martin really expecting Fraser and KWP to give us threat going forward as wingbacks against Liverpool. It might be old school, but this was crying out for a 442. Why play Tall Pall if we never play to his strengths and hit him long to hold the ball up. Yes he played well, but he was getting us out of a hole in midfield half the him, not causing Liverpool centre backs problems.
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Comment | Sources Say Southampton Have Made Decision About Russell Martin
at 18:46:44
It very much feels like the situation Saints found themselves in back in 2012/13 when after enjoying promotions back to the Premier League a decision had to be made on Nigel Adkins. Was he really the manager that could take us beyond the lower places of the league long term or was that too risky if he couldn't. Yes, results were slightly better in those opening 3 months of that season under Adkins compared to Martin, but Nicolas Cortese made the tough call, much to the dislike of some who believed Adkins deserved more time given he got us promoted.
Unlike 2013 (yet), our owners haven't yet seen that they must act now, if we are to have any chance of staying up. That for me speaks to how good Cortese was and how our current owns may not be. Yes I like Martin, but business has to be ruthless at times. If they leave it much longer, I feel we creap into the realms of accepting our fate and then, maybe then they see that Martin is the guy to bring us back up again.
Time to make the tough call now for me and go get Potter, if he's willing to come. |
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Comment | Southampton V Everton The Verdict
at 22:53:55
We rode our luck at times and some of the football from both teams was pretty poor at times, however.
Moving to back 4 changed the game in the second half, as did our substitutions . When Dibling came on he gave us that drive and creativity we miss when he's not in the side. He draws players and creates space for others.
Fernandes was quality on the ball again throughout. His willingness to drive forward and work rate is going to be key moving forward in our midfield.
Ramsdale is just top draw and won us the points in this one really.
The run of Archer mustn't be overlooked in the winning goal either. He took two players with him (across, in front of Pickfords view of the attack) opening up the space for Armstrong in the box to fire it home.
Next week at Wolves we'll really see how this season is going to go! |
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Comment | Southampton Get Home Draw In Carabao Cup Quarter Final
at 08:04:18
Of course it will all end for Saints in the last 8. What, just like when it was all going to end for us in the quarters in 2023 playing Man City at St Marys and we won 2-0!
Great support for our team this site is offering up, again. |
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Comment | Southampton V Stoke City The Carabao Cup Verdict
at 12:34:09
When a team comes up with a game plan of putting 10 men behind the ball for 90mins, and going down wasting time on any occasion. You get a game with ridiculous possession stats for one side (Saints) and fans moaning when the better-quality side can not easily break through. Stoke had no intention of engaging in a game with us and their plan nearly worked as we gifted them two easily defensible goals. This was a Championship game that followed the path we saw for most of last season with teams sitting back, digging in, maybe getting a foothold in the game and then Saints in the end finding a way to win.
Not the greatest game I've ever been to, but credit to those who could be bothered to turn up last night, as the fans inside St Marys stuck with the team all night, despite the frustrations of yet again conceding soft goals and making the night longer than necessary! |
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Comment | Southampton At Portsmouth The Women's Game Verdict
at 13:42:37
If the women's game is to thrive, more women need to show an interest in attending games!
Women's football forced down our throats because those in charge are too scared of how they might be perceived if everything they do is not deemed to be equal. But that is a nonsense.
The reality is, women have every chance to engage attending the women's game, but they really don't in any great numbers.
My guess is that in the professional men's game the ratio of women attending is something like 1 in 30. You have to ask therefore where is the market. Yes, they are trying to grow the game, and that's great, but women need to show far more interest in it. Why aren't they?
I'm not suggesting for any second that the men's game is for men and vis versa but I honestly don't think that many women are greatly interested in football or we'd see this representation at men's games. They have better things to do! |
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Comment | Kyle Walker Peters Giving Russell Martin A Dilemma
at 08:00:53
Unfortunately, I fear KWP is going to be another one that thinks the grass is greener somewhere else, going for the money and in their head a step up, only to be cast aside. KWP is excellent going forward but at the top level you need to be defensively strong as well. For me, this is why none of the biggest clubs come in for him. This was why Spurs let him go in the first place.
For Saints and Martin, we need to weigh up what we need each week against Premier League opposition, a strong defence or attacking treat. |
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Comment | Southampton V Ipswich Town The Verdict
at 13:33:23
What a player Fernandes is and Ramsdale will win us points this season. Lallana looks to be in great form as well.
There are plenty of reasons to be positive imo. |
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Comment | Southampton V Manchester United The Verdict
at 13:42:46
This one was on the players.
Credit Martin, we'd all been asking for a different formation (many asking for 443) and we got it. He was ruthless and dropped many of the player most wanted out (Aribo, Smallbone etc). He started Dibling, Fernandes and we played with a number 9! Lesley was a surprise but looked very capable at this level. With THB out of form, Stephens was always going to start. He picked the right players and the tempo was far quicker. We hardly (if at all) played around at the back and Ramsdale went long numerious times, something everyone has been calling for.
In the 1st 30mins we were very good but you have to take chances. The missed penalty changed the game, no question. Utd were there for the taking. However there was no energy once we go in 0-2 by half time and that's a mindset thing.
I thought the substitutions were all correct as it was only 0-2, with Dibling clearly tiring, Archer and Dias out of the game, the subs were one last throw of the dice to get some energy in our attack.
I saw a team in the first 30, with the right players and passages of play and options from the bench later on. We just needed a goal or now to get the first goal next week and I think we'll see the difference |
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Comment | Southampton At Cardiff The Carabao Cup Verdict
at 14:00:44
Didn't learn too much from last night.
If you've ever seen Archer play before, ya know he's a clinical finisher. I'm not sure where this comment about him being an unknown quantity comes from. Speak to any Villa or Boro fan and they'll tell you he's quality. He has to start in the 9 in the Premier League.
Fernandes looked quality again and should start over Smallbone in the 8 in the Premier League.
The main surprise was the quality of Lallana. His touch and eye for the pass was excellent.
Apart from that (and Dibling) the other players were and will largely be second string and it showed. |
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Comment | Southampton V Nottingham Forest The Verdict.
at 13:08:15
It would help if we played with someone in the no 9 position! We looked far more balanced when Archer came on & with Dibling driving forward. If not Archer in the 9 and we want a more physical presence play Dias there. Fernandes looks a tidy player who's 1st thought is to get forward as well. Frustrating game. A 433 needed imo. |
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Comment | Southampton Sign Portuguese Midfielder
at 22:15:41
Hi Saintmark
We've bought two centre forwards, Diaz and Archer. Who's to say the club are not trying to sign a keeper? There is still time in this window to buy or loan a keeper.
Fernandes looks a good player. I like the signings we've made so far. Time will tell if they'll cut it, but we are making moves to add strength and depth to our squad |
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Comment | Southampton At Newcastle United The Verdict
at 13:28:36
McCarthy is to blame for the goal, not the system we play. The pass McCarthy attempted was never on, it was poor judgement not technique and that's not good enough. He had two other options, pass out to the player on the right or get rid of the ball up field. Martin's system is not pass pass pass at all costs out from the back, it's about making the correct decisions when in possession and retaining the ball. We saw Bazunu (who is great with his feet) often drop a mid/long range ball out to the wide positions on the half way line in the second half of last season. |
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Comment | Southampton At Newcastle United The Verdict
at 13:28:33
McCarthy is to blame for the goal, not the system we play. The pass McCarthy attempted was never on, it was poor judgement not technique and that's not good enough. He had two other options, pass out to the player on the right or get rid of the ball up field. Martin's system is not pass pass pass at all costs out from the back, it's about making the correct decisions when in possession and retaining the ball. We saw Bazunu (who is great with his feet) often drop a mid/long range ball out to the wide positions on the half way line in the second half of last season. |
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Comment | Southampton Sign Forward From Aston Villa
at 20:52:14
Good player really good signing. You only have to ask Villa fans about him and they'll tell you he's quality and knows we're the goal is. He was decent for Villa at a young age, then scored plenty for Boro on loan. He's been banging them in for Villa this Pre-season but finds himself third choice behind Watkins and Duran. He's happy down the middle as a number 9. Our attack now feels significantly better now.
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Comment | A Rough Guide To The Changes At St Mary's Stadium
at 18:25:36
Movement of fans around the outside of the stadium will be fine. There is plenty of space around the outside of the stadium, even with the new segregation/fences. Heck, remember The Dell; we all managed to navigate the terraced housed streets before and after or the cramped surroundings under all the stands or exiting at 445. Give it a couple months and everyone will have worked out their favored route in and out. |
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Comment | Southampton Set To Smash Scottish Transfer Record For Celtic Star
at 13:41:04
We certainly do need a striker this summer but we need strengthening in midfield. The bottom line is that without a strong midfield you can't protect your defence or create for you forwards. It's no point buying a striker if they don't get the opportunities to score. We can't expect to out score teams in the Premier League. |
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