 | News
Comment | New Reform MP Rupert Lowe Will Give His MP Salary To Charity
at 10:37:21
Agree that a balanced view of any Saints Owner including Lowe is absolutely valid - and great job Nick - you often seek to present different sides - and on such a site that is wonderful to see- given how so many sites present one sided views.
However, taking a " balanced " view of Reform and those who represent Reform is another and different thing. Reform UK represents many things that are extreme and malicious - which encourage hatred between people and between cultures. It is really important to fairly discuss these issues but many of the elements behind Reform UK are not equitable or ethical - and no amount of ' sanitising ' by Lowe donations of salary - should lead us to strike a " balance" with extremist views or with the actions that lie underneath Reform. Hatred needs to be called out when we see it - whether Right or Left - We can be proud of our heritage of encouraging disadvantage people to come to UK.
Just look at the Current England team - maybe only 2 or 3 have a background that is untouched by immigration. Our team success is built on Immigration. I look forward to Farage and Lowe Congratulating the England Football team and the strong and positive cultural roots of our team |
| News
Comment | Russell Martin Lays Out Vision After New Contract Signed
at 07:29:14
By any standards he did a remarkable job. He followed a massively failed appointment of the wrong manager. Took a large group of players in disarray - on the brink of immense player transfers and uncertainties until well after the season had started. The rest of club was also in a shocked state due to the relegation. He then slowly and patiently rebuilt belief and the positive team and club culture as the season slowly evolved. He also worked so that the playing squad learnt and bought into a wholly new playing style unlike the Hassenhutl approach. The new possession style was closer to what we see successfully employed at Brighton and other successful clubs including Manchester City. It is hard to play and takes time for a squad to learn - until you become skilled at it - and the whole group has to learn the approach because one weak link breaks the system easily. When it fails it is excruciating to watch - and the fans often hated it - yet he persevered because he believed it was right. He eventually had the longest unbeaten run of any Saints team. He went through periods where results did not come and which should have come. He continued to evolve and changed as the team evolved. The team and his hard built approach eventually came through. We had an amazing day at Wembley and came out well deserved winners. We are all entitled to our opinion but there is no doubt he has been an immense success. The examples of failures of managers are plenty to see - often with all the resources provided. Let's get behind him and the club. We still have an even tougher time ahead- yet he has shown the ability to inspire the group and to change and evolve as the challenges come. We are fortunate to have him - yet the biggest test of his ability is to come |
| News
Comment | What Brought About Russell Martin U Turns Against Preston
at 11:59:07
Agree with analysis ref 7 Cup Finals onetowatch - however 1st 6 games are across 32 days. You simply cannot just pick the " best 11 " and be smart with subs - That is simply not a strategy that can realistically work.
The players cannot cope with that level of mental and physical intensity. RM will be measuring the physical states of the players ( we do not get that info ) - we do already know that Downes is feeling the physical pressure; that Armstrong cannot cope with heavy game schedules; that goal-keeper who can play with his feet on the ball is now out of action; that Adam Armstrong was very tired v Blackburn and did not play as he usually does; that two of the games are with the Top teams in our league also going for it.
So he has to manage and tinker - and work out how the play has to change as he must bring enough players on to cope - including Stephens |
| News
Comment | What Brought About Russell Martin U Turns Against Preston
at 18:53:34
Very good point FrankSaint - So oppo have worked out that the only way for them to respond when they eventually get the ball back ( which for Preston was not much ) - is to break super fast and in some numbers.
So RM has had to work out how to counter that - which did work in some games - and did not in others.
He does recently seem to have got greater intensity in the team when we lose the ball and when we tackle - and - echoing Nick here- he has changed to slightly more secure defensive system when ball is lost
But that does not represent a U - Turn - in my opinion |
| News
Comment | What Brought About Russell Martin U Turns Against Preston
at 13:56:24
Its not a U - Turn - Its just managing a squad - Which he has been doing since he took over. Managing a squad requires that you change things - Four factors seem important when you think of the Changes that RM has to make over a season :
# of Games - 1st Team Squad has to be able to play more than 54 hard physical games in something over 36 weeks - plus you will get injuries. It is essential that the squad is maximised and you have to work out not just your so called " best team " - you must have " multiple best teams " - Rotation is a fact of life - and this is not easy - because no player is a clone of another player - so when you rotate you must accept that players will play differently.
# 2 Building the System of Play - Each manager evolves their system of play - and all the squad needs to learn it together. That takes immense effort and time. The system also evolves and changes as the Manager learns about the players- the opposition - and what works and what does not. This also takes time and requires change - or " tinkering" as some folks call it. Some folks may dislike the current system of play yet it has produced the longest ever run in Saints History - not bad. It is also recognised in Europe even if we don't like the style of play. Brighton FC certainly also like what RM is doing- because he is creating a system of play.
# 3 The squad make up in the summer and early part of the season was not clear - and the club was in disarray for a host of reasons associated with relegation and prior season decisions. He has radically changed that. The squad are committed and together. Great achievement. That would not be possible if they did not buy into the changes being made.
# 4 The Manager needs more than One Season to make all this work. Arteta is a good example - he has been given time and he is getting results. He joined Arsenal in 2019 as Manager - they were 8th for two years - then 5th - you could argue that it was not until last year - when they came 2nd that he is delivering - that has taken 4 years. Ferguson joined Man Utd in 1986 - and did not win League until 1992 - six years- and it took him 4 years to win the FA Cup. |
| News
Comment | Southampton At Rotherham The Verdict
at 14:47:32
Great result - good report.
One comment - We rightly applaud the fact that back four were kept intact and unchanged....so less risk...... then worry that we have no back up for the back four ?????........unless we also find ways to rotate the back players - then there will be no back up ....so Martin has to keep on seeking to make changes .......keep taking that risk......so that players coming back from injury ...or coming into the team....are able to get back up to speed ..... |
| News
Comment | January Transfer Window Mixed Bag For Southampton
at 10:06:09
Maybe the difference on the cover needed for centre backs is generally less than is needed for midfield players.
Changing centre back in a game is much more risky - so they less game changes in those positions.
Midfield players do get changed more often and as well as being expected to put in many more miles in a game. |
| News
Comment | Southampton V Walsall The Verdict
at 14:31:48
Mara needs game time - it was good to see he got lots more time. He could have scored more yet he was in the right place- and as his timing and touch gets tuned up he will score a lot more.
Thought Dibling is worth more game time also. Looked like he really wants to score and has the mentality to do so. He reminded me of Shearer
Maybe we do not need a striker if we give time and patience to the ones we have |
| News
Comment | Defensive Headache For Southampton's Russell Martin Against Huddersfield
at 14:54:17
The good news is there are plenty of options - all good yet all slightly different- as analysis above shows. So- guess it is not just about one game but about intense game- after- game for the rest of the season - and in a physical battle with every game. Teams near the bottom might fight just as hard and be just as tough as top teams. So in game rotation and injuries etc will be the way to judge on who plays where and when - and the squad feeling of team support - as different players get their chance |
| News
Comment | Southampton V West Bromwich Albion The Verdict
at 15:29:06
Reference Kamaldeen - and his end product. He is electric and attracts lots of attention from all defenders - he is hard to defend against. He is only 21 - and most of his playing career has been in Nigeria - he has played about 90 games total in European football ( France & Denmark) before coming here. Also he has not had the incredible coaching and training that young players now get in UK and Europe. It is going to take time. I'm happy he is playing for Saints and he is strong part of the non tippy- tappy parts of our new ways of playing. |
| News
Comment | Southampton Show Intent After Alcaraz Signs New 5 Year Contract
at 08:52:16
Great News - Really impressive work. Well done Saints
Who said that the Manager did not want Alcarez ??? Manager never said it.
He just had an immense number of players in a bloated squad and all at the start of the season. There were many many reasons why a player might be selected and might not be selected at any point. Might be physical states, mental states.
Also he had to work with the separate transfers/loans guys to ensure the right folks went out the door and the right folks stayed. Sometimes he would have been asked to play someone in order to show what he could do. Sometimes he would have to pick someone to find out what their capability was in the new system.
This is very frustrating for Fans. We all want results. We want that within 10 games or less. We all get frustrated when the team does not do as well - e.g. like yesterday in 2nd half - when they lost their way with the new system they are playing - as Rotherham tightened up and left no space. Team did not quite know what to do. Hard to watch. But learning Plan B - when you are still learning Plan A is tough to do.
I wish, as Fans, we would all do what Arsenal Management have done- they gave Arteta more than two seasons to work it all out - his squad - teach them the new way of playing - get some folks out the door at a decent price - test out some new players and some from the youth squad. He joined as Manager in 2019 - his 1st year of significant success was 2022.
That takes more than 11 games in your 1st season. |
| News
Comment | Southampton At Stoke City The Verdict
at 09:51:38
Agree with much of the commentary above - good summary Nick -
- Big differences in performances over last two games v 1st four games - no doubt.
- Manager may sometimes be talking to the players when he comments after a game - not directed at the fans. This is a young inexperienced group from many parts of the world some with language issues.
- The players have changed based on what the Manager has been asking of them - his system is not easy - it takes time to work out what Manager is asking for - just as much as it takes time for Manager to work out what players are capable of each doing. The changes early season around transfers and loans etc do impact this learning also. The early wins which were a bit fortunate may also gave some wrong messages to players/manager perhaps on what needed to be done.
- Still not seeing qualities of Manning that Manager sees. Do miss Perraud. However, maybe the wage bill budget was a factor ??
- This is a Marathon
- Manager seems to have commitment of the players |
| | SaintEPW
|
Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 0 | | Comment Votes: | 22 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 22 |
|
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.