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Comment | Southampton V Manchester United The Verdict
at 11:30:41
I agree with saintmark's first sentence. I feel a wee bit sorry for RM. He did virtually all we were demanding of him but his addiction to Jack is doing for him and for us. If we lose the next two he will be sacked and the question as to whether this is a good thing is not as clear cut as it might seem. I get davidargyll's point that he needs to go but would just make two points:
1. History - our last two relegations from this league were in seasons involving an early manager change, and indeed two happened in both. Alright Poch worked okay but there is a strong case to say Adkins would have kept us up anyway.
2. The replacement. Sports Republic don't have a great record here. It would need to be someone who could be up and running on day one. Is Potter still available? Nathan Jones mark two would have us all nostalgic for RM very quickly.
Personally I would give him until the end of October and say we MUST have at least 4 points by then. If we beat Ipswich and Leicester then all bets are back on. Big 'IF' I know but I am not going to give up yet.
As for the game - the penalty taker decision was mad and Jack was Jack. Dibling looked good and Ramsdale a long overdue signing. Several other players looked decent but where are the goals coming from?? |
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Comment | The Solution Is Clear For Russell Martin If He Is To Stay In His Job
at 11:38:24
What other PL team plays extreme tippy-tappy at the back? The idea of possession-based football is that you move smoothly UP the field. Over 90 gruelling minutes at this level our defenders are always going to make vital mistakes at the back playing this way - also they are a lot more likely to be punished for it. It is unfair on (some) of our defenders to say they are 'not good enough' because it is the way that they are being asked to play that makes them look that way.
Nick's point about the last 4 games of last season is a key one. Even with McCarthy in goal I remember only one heart in the mouth moment in the whole of those games (in front of the away end at the Hawthorns). RM can therefore adapt. Will he? I hope so because an early change of manager doesn't seem the way forward to me. He needs to drop the players who need dropping and accept that a clearance into row Z and a throw in at the halfway line is infinitely better than picking the ball out of the net after another fiasco... |
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Comment | Southampton At Brentford The Damning Verdict
at 11:23:34
Extreme playing out from the back is last year's news. No other teams do it. Possession-based football is fine but good teams play most of it further up the pitch. RM is trying to do something that will not work at this level. I would argue that we got promoted despite of it last year rather than because of it. RM must see it is not working so why in the hell not change.? Pick the best players and tell the defenders to hoof it when there are no better options. |
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Comment | Southampton At Newcastle United The Verdict
at 14:15:00
harrapuk - actually that goal was the exception that proves your rule. It was a roll out to the left-back, two long passes and just a few seconds later it was in the Ipswich net. Not a risky pass in sight! |
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Comment | Southampton At Newcastle United The Verdict
at 08:41:31
Three things strike me about this game. Two I already knew (McCarthy useless at playing out, attack unlikely to score many) but the one I didn't know was a pleasant surprise: we looked alright, even good at times. The key now is that RM accepts the truth - at least one point was thrown away in that game by a simple fact (McCarthy) that we all know about and he seems to be in denial about. If he is not willing to LEARN then we go down. Full stop. If he does adapt there are hopeful signs. Even with us not scoring that should have been an excellent 0-0. Every point is vital. Come on RM - stubborn is sometimes good but NOT over this.
I always hate this sort of behaviour that gets players sent off - whoever does it. It is cheating. That said, I thought the Saudi fans moaning about cheating brought to mind a phrase about kettles and pots and black paint... |
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Comment | Kyle Walker-Peters Situation Is Win Win Says Russell Martin
at 15:39:03
I am not sure that selling our best player would be a 'win'. So far I don't see us as any stronger than the side which got promotion through the play-offs. With the likes of Brentford beating us to our main targets. If we are serious about staying up I would have thought buying good players was a better option than selling them. |
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Comment | German Club Agree Deal For Southampton Defender
at 17:40:15
Shame - at his best he was far better than some who I fear will be regulars in that position this season. He was never the same after the injury though. I wish him well. |
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Comment | New Reform MP Rupert Lowe Will Give His MP Salary To Charity
at 13:00:40
Lowe's politics are for him and those that choose to support him. Was he good as a Saints chairman? I am sure Nick's view is balanced but it was a long time ago and what the heck.
One thing I would say about Colburn's views: If you really think it is 'loony left' to have serious doubts about Reform UK in terms of illiberal, racist and far right politics then you are very much of the 'loony right'. Look at the world as it is now and it is you lot who are far more dangerous than the far left. I cannot think of one far left politician with any real power in the whole of the western world (if you think Starmer is far left then you make my point) - we have however Bravermans, Farages, Le Pens, Melonis, Orbans and Putins all over the place... |
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Comment | It's Official Adam Lallana Returns To Southampton
at 11:58:12
I think harbouring long-term resentments at the expense of current decision-making is rather foolish. I remember us all ganging up to make sure Hoddle didn't come back and then finding us go backwards with the bloke we got instead. The key for me is what AL can contribute NOW. I will give this signing the benefit of the doubt on that basis. We will all like him again soon enough if things go well.... |
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