| News Comment | Sources Say Southampton Have Made Decision About Russell Martin at 19:50:32
We didn't really know the financial state of the club. Lot of scrutiny on FFP now. We're probably still paying off Ralph and Jones. SR maybe can't afford to pay off another manager on a punt that they may fare better. The difference between now and 2012/13 is we had a much better team then! |
| News Comment | Southampton V Wolverhampton Wanderers The Verdict at 10:40:43
First VAR decision was awful. I'm generally in favour of VAR (think how terrible it was before VAR) but sometimes refs are too ready to overturn on field decisions and that has to be addressed. Martin. I've previously been in the give him more time camp, mainly because replacing a manager usually doesn't work out midway through the season, especially for us, and the question of who we're going to get in. However, a terrible start to the season, constantly throwing away leads, and no shots on target against a poor opponent makes his position untenable. I don't think any manager could stop us getting relegated because of the lack of quality in the side and our points deficit, but fans would hopefully rally behind a manager who could make us more competitive in games. People who are heralding Potter as a potential saviour need to remember that Brighton were a long term project under him. I doubt we'd see improvements straight away |
| News Comment | Southampton V Leeds United The Wembley Play Off Final Verdict at 15:16:59
Great performance. Everyone put in a shift. I like that we are playing to the opposition more. We'll need to do this in the prem. RM is definitely growing. My mind can't help but think forward to what we need to strengthen the first team but this can probably wait for another day. |
| News Comment | Southampton V Stoke City The Verdict at 14:28:31
If memory serves me correctly plenty of people on here were saying at the start of the season that playoffs would be an achievement. Let's not forget how bad we were last season: no style of play, poor defence, weak attack. Yes, we're in a lower league but it takes time to heal a team that is so used to losing. RM is a bit green but what are people expecting? Leicester and Ipswich have consistently been better than every other team in the league. I'm Leicester's case that isn't surprising: look at their squad. Even Leeds are pretty shambolic at times. It's a shame not to get an automatic place but that would have been some achievement in my view. The focus now has to be on ensuring that the best team is fit for the playoff games. That involves protecting the better players and giving the fringe players a go. People are asking for all of the fringe players to be given a chance all at once - that won't help anyone. As for the game. Stoke had something to play for, we didn't. So the result shouldn't be surprising. Let's just focus on doing as well as possible in the playoffs. These are one-off/two-off games. Nothing before them really matters |
| News Comment | Southampton At Coventry City The Verdict at 19:50:12
Agree with the positive comments. Think what RM has achieved in a short time. He inherited a big squad in a mess, no obvious style of play, rubbish more or less every week. Now we have a recognisable way of playing and a team that wants to play for the manager. Yes we're in a lower league but I still think it's impressive what's been achieved. Fans have to be realistic about this season. Leicester have retained most of their quality so that's one automatic place gone. Ipswich are doing what we did all those seasons ago when we got back in the PL. Playoffs would be a good result imo |
| News Comment | Southampton At Coventry City The Verdict at 13:42:23
Draw was a fair reflection, I thought. Coventry were well set up to break down most of our attacks. It's a decent result away against a decent team on a good run. Aribo is not a winger, and looked better when moved to CM. I think this is a more natural position for him as he's good at breaking up play. We lack creativity in midfield. Once they'd marked Stu out of the game we resorted to attacks down the wings, which becomes very predictable. The subs were effective and I think Charley is a good option for attacking midfield. We should use him more and accept that some days he won't be at it. Che unfortunately adds little to the team when he starts. He doesn't suit our style. I reckon he had about 5 touches in the 65mins he was on. My dream is that we sell Che and get Ings in, as he has far better link up with midfield. I don't get the hatred for Manning. He's not a world beater but he's a decent defender and attacker and always provides an option. Glad to see Baz is looking good. KWP MOM |
| News Comment | Does Kamaldeen Sulemana Have A Part To Play In Southampton's Season at 12:22:24
Truth is that we don't really know what his attitude is like. It's all hearsay so far. In his defence he was bought by one manager and then he was sacked so he didn't get as many chances. He could be another Mane, he could not, but let's give him a chance. My main concern is how does KS fit into Martin's slow, possession based build up style? |
| News Comment | Southampton At Sunderland The (Damning) Verdict at 11:06:11
Just to add: I'm wary of people (in life and at work) who are wedded to a particular way of doing something that is blind to specific circumstances. RM's strong attachment to the possession game therefore worries me a little because we're not Man City, and therefore opposition managers with experience (Mowbray) can predict exactly what we'll do and can target the weaker links. We need some flexibility in how we set up |
| News Comment | Southampton At Sunderland The (Damning) Verdict at 10:13:04
Team selection was too arrogant. Mara and Edozie can't play together as neither is good enough defensively. Unless he's injured why not play Charles? It was too early for holgate to be drafted in. While I have no worries about our midfield or attack, our defence is still dodgy. Neither FB fills me with confidence, and a lot depends on the quality of the CB from Man City The possession based style is fine but it needs some versatility: Sunderland had us sussed and knew they could punish us on the break. Overall, I can accept this result as a bit of a freak due to the madness of the transfer window, but it does also point out some problems with RM's selections and his system |
| News Comment | Southampton V Queens Park Rangers The Verdict at 20:05:30
In the four games I reckon we've played a representative cross-section of champ teams: the good, the bad and the ugly. We've not been perfect but we've ended with 7 points. I think RM and his team are doing a great job so far for two reasons: all the upheaval cis not easy to manage, and second the players are buying into the style in spite of all the changes. |
| News Comment | Bayern Munich Interested In Southampton Star at 09:09:23
harsh take on the player in this article. ABK got injured at the end of last season and, according to RM 3 weeks ago, he is still injured. RM was very complimentary about ABK's attitude. If ABK wants to go to bayern munich I'd hardly begrudge him. I really hope he stays with us but think that's very unlikely |
| News Comment | Southampton Confirm Departure Of James Ward Prowse at 23:17:44
In the end it's decent business for both clubs. Prowse will do well at WHU. He's always put in a shift and has been a stabilising force amidst the madness of saints over the last few years. Wish him all the best |
| News Comment | Sheffield United Have Will Smallbone Offer Turned Down By Southampton at 14:17:09
My positive mood of Friday is evaporating fast. If we are to sell then the replacements need to be good. Of course, SR have a patchy record on signings so far. I'd say that Sheffield United are almost certain to go down so it might not be the best move for smallbone long term |
| News Comment | Southampton At Gillingham The Verdict at 11:52:32
Agree that it was a bad decision to play perraud as cb and to throw the youngsters under the bus. Perraud has been a model pro imo and didn't deserve that |
| News Comment | Southampton At Gillingham The Verdict at 10:17:34
In a press conference over the summer RM said that there would be bad days as well as good days ahead. Clearly the possession based approach only works if everyone understands their role and multiple players are showing for the ball when we're in possession. RM is somewhat culpable as it was kamikaze to go for an entirety different 11, but at the same time this was against L2 opposition and the players should be able to adapt. I'm of the view that we're better off out of the cup given how demanding the league is, but this result is embarrassing |
| News Comment | Southampton Announce Signing Of Goalkeeper at 10:31:53
I suspect that they are looking to move McCarthy on. He's stagnating with us, so better all round if he moves on imo. I am hopeful that Bazunu will get better, and he fits with the style of play RM wants |
| News Comment | Southampton V Bournemouth The Pre Season Preview at 12:44:51
You have a real bee in your bonnet about this fixture! Imo it's no more or less pointless than our other friendly fixtures, but at least Bournemouth is local and so it's easy for the clubs to arrange (plus little unnecessary carbon footprint). Surely a test against a middling PL club has some value too? In terms of player selection, we might as well accept that the team that starts the season won't be the same as the team we have on 1st sept. For that reason I'd play any player who wants to play at the start of the season, even if they might be gone by sept. Some of the players who are linked with moves away might not move... |
| News Comment | Newcastle Set To Drastically Increase Livramento Bid at 22:40:30
Christ, football is depressing at the moment. Bring back the good old days when Newcastle were shambolic (Titus Bramble etc). Don't like the new good Newcastle. At least Spurs are the gift that keeps giving |
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