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Comment | Southampton At Aston Villa The Preview
at 11:21:25
At last season's forum Russell told us that he would give us a team we could be proud of. What he didn't say is that this boast would not extend into this season if he got us promoted however, he is claiming to be proud of his team, irrespective it seems as to what the match score is. As a defender himself he should have first sorted out how the back six, including the goalkeeper, blend together and play to their collective abilities. This he has patently failed to do despite four of that six being some of our most talented (Ramsdale, Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Sugawara). The other two normally being Bednarek (an undoubted trier) and Stephens (rated highly only by Russell himself) - arguably both Bree and Taylor are tidier players than Jack. On balance we are a bottom-six side with the players we have, made undeniably absolutely rock bottom by the idiotic perseverance of suicidal tactics by our manager. In January the club needs to have identified and purchased a Van Dijk type leader, Martin needs to be ordered to adapt or now or go at that time and Sports Republic should apologise for taking our season ticket money under false pretences. Sadly, none of the above will happen. It's an embarrassment. |
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Comment | Do Southampton Need To Recall Bella-Kotchap For Liverpool Clash
at 13:24:47
I'll be reasonably happy if we aren't slaughtered on Sunday but, I'd actually be more surprised if RM alters his possession at any cost philosophy to limit what Liverpool can achieve rather than what he wants us to. Not relaxing the total rigidity of his policy has cost us several points this season and we now need to scrap for everything irrespective of whether we kick the ball into Row Z instead of trying to retain it. I think RM has sold some players short. Ryan Manning, for example. Okay, he's not a world beater, he's on the slow side but, he does in my opinion, seem prepared to give of his best for the club and I think that if he was told to get rid of the ball forwards instead of trying to retain it he would be more effective and not so maligned by many supporters. Up front we're blessed with speed, Archer, Armstrong, Sulemana even Fernandes, they're all quick. We currently create very little so fast play from back to front has to be worth a go. I'd also like to understand why Onuachu and Archer aren't ever on together. It's a combination that might work. My guess is we'll never know. Maybe Russell is using Saints to hone his skills in the hope that a bigger club with more skillful players will come calling. I doubt it as there'll be a negative record on his CV at the end of this season that will last for years to come. |
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Comment | Central Defensive Injury Blow For Southampton
at 12:08:14
If he's not committed to Saints (as has appeared to be the case) added to his unfortunate recent history of injuries, would we risk him over and above say, Nathan Wood who might, at least get through ninety minutes and will surely get in the side when we're in the Championship and, practically speaking, testing himself against top players would surely only aid his education for when we inevitably rise again. |
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Comment | Southampton V Everton The Verdict
at 13:47:47
I thought Jack Stephens was truly awful. He showed no leadership qualities and gave me several heart in the mouth moments with ill-weighted passes. I was relieved when he was subbed and far too late in my opinion. I agree that there were several decent performances but, despite all the possession, our team doesn't play joined up football. All too often there was a large gap between the midfield sitting back or spread too wide and Cameron Archer, who received very little to run onto despite his obvious pace. We were often caught out by Everton's speed of attack, again this is partially down to Stephens and Manning having lead boots. Fernandes had a really good game but, must learn that throwing himself on the floor and writhing agony after having the ball brushing his nose is more suited to Shakespeare's tragedies at the Globe Theatre rather than the St Mary's stage. A win was a huge boost for all connected with Southampton and that includes us fans who supported our team throughout. The suspense generated by the red card and offside goal analyses were worthy of a Hitchcock thriller. Perhaps VAR reviews should carry a health warning for the more frail of us to leave the stadium! |
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Comment | Southampton V Stoke City The Carabao Cup Verdict
at 10:09:51
Have to say I was bored witless for much of the game in much the same way as the schoolchildren surrounding me who had been unlucky enough to be "treated" during half term to a visit to St Marys. Trouble was they all had mobile phones and understood the technology enough to while away the time we took to move the ball backwards and sideways. Me, I can make and take calls and send and receive messages and that's about it but, that would have been enough if I'd had Russell's number as I would've contacted him and politely requested that he ask the players to entertain us. Next season I suggest the board endeavour to fill all the inevitable empty seats in the stadium by offering cut-price tickets to all registered insomniacs - like Premier Inns they can guarantee a good night's sleep. My facetiousness doesn't include the tidy James Bree who deserves to be playing more first-team football than he's currently getting at Saints. As for Cornet well, his cone appears not to contain any ice-cream. |
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Comment | Southampton V Leicester City The Verdict
at 16:49:46
It's not often I wonder why I pay to watch professional football but, on Saturday I could not believe that a FIFA-listed referee had been as heavy-handed as Anthony Taylor was in his treatment of Southampton's players. I won't argue about Fraser being penalised for the shirt pull but, a sending off was rather harsh. To have seen and ignored the pull-back on Onuauchu was criminal. We pay to be entertained, not to see our team unfairly disadvantaged by the person only there to see fair play. This surely warrants an explanation which we won't get as we're only Southampton and, in the eyes of the football circus, only on board to make up the numbers. As for the failure to introduce Charlie Taylor earlier to negate Fatawu, Russell Martin should hang his head in shame. I have to say I feared for the worse when he declared prior to the game that he always feels more comfortable when Will Smallbone is on the pitch. I'm really sorry, Russell but, your naivete will cost you your job and quite rightly, too.
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Comment | Southampton At Arsenal The Verdict
at 15:46:54
I think that we are out of our depth at this level. If we are relegated, but can keep the better players together for another season in the Championship, we will come back up with the benefit of the team having played as a unit for longer and having experienced the remains of this season scrapping in the EPL. We will be better prepared. It really serves no purpose for RM to continually tinker, this team needs stability. I feel that RM does command loyalty within the squad and they probably agree that currently this project is in a harsh learning curve phase. A change of manager is not necessarily going to help and will unsettle the younger squad members. I expect Ipswich supporters are somewhat disgruntled, too but, the majority of clubs in the EPL are streets ahead of them and us in terms of settled methods and patterns of play. We have to grit our teeth and accept the ride or look elsewhere for our recreation. |
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Comment | Southampton Summer Signings The Initial Verdict
at 11:19:13
On the strikers front, Diaz is no left-winger and should be tried in the centre, Archer appears to be short on confidence as does Armstrong and Ross Stewart is still not quite match-fit. But, whatever their situations, we aren't creating chances at speed for any of them and, until we do, we are destined not to score many goals. |
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Comment | Kyle Walker Peters Giving Russell Martin A Dilemma
at 11:14:18
I've often thought that KWP's defending is somewhat let down by his height (5' 8"), although his skill on the ball and battling qualities can't be denied however, if he doesn't want to stay at Saints, then Sugawara seems to be a reliable replacement and Charlie Taylor is a robust and natural left-back. If KWP does sign a new contract then, fine play him at right midfield. If he doesn't sign then he should sit and watch until necessity dictates otherwise. |
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Comment | Kyle Walker Peters Giving Russell Martin A Dilemma
at 11:14:18
I've often thought that KWP's defending is somewhat let down by his height (5' 8"), although his skill on the ball and battling qualities can't be denied however, if he doesn't want to stay at Saints, then Sugawara seems to be a reliable replacement and Charlie Taylor is a robust and natural left-back. If KWP does sign a new contract then, fine play him at right midfield. If he doesn't sign then he should sit and watch until necessity dictates otherwise. |
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Comment | Southampton V Ipswich Town The Verdict
at 10:59:15
Although the outcome was disappointing we did look like a team with some fight and, going by Ramsdale's earlier heroics, I reckon he might have saved Morsy's shot but for the deflection. We were the architect's of our own downfall by repeatedly giving the ball away, particularly towards the end of the game. It should be noted that Ipswich's attacks were often sharper and incisive than our pedestrianism. We haven't overcome the need to process the ball from midfield to front as often as could be. Sadly, when we did, our forwards didn't have their shooting boots on. In two words "slow progress" summarises Saturday's outing. |
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Comment | Southampton At Brentford The Damning Verdict
at 11:59:28
There are , to my mind, four possible outcomes to our current problems:-
Allow RM to continue with his ways and accept the consequences
RM changes his method of play to suit our players
The players change the style of play to suit what they can do best
RM is dismissed and a less fanciful head coach is appointed
We really don't want to see another 0-9 at St Marys (or elsewhere involving Saints)
I think we do have a good enough squad to see us through but, time is not something we'll be given in abundance in this division. |
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Comment | Southampton At Cardiff The Carabao Cup Verdict
at 15:15:29
I'm glad James Bree got some positive words in this report. I've always thought he's a tidy player and, whilst not possessing exceptional skills, is a useful guy to provide cover when necessary. Edozie was openly wasteful again last night and we can't afford crosses to no-one. Agreed that Archer should start as a number 9 in our next game. Amo-Ameyaw was a constant nuisance, but did lose the ball a fair amount. I thought Dibling started well but, faded out of the game until late second half. Fernandes looks to be the real thing. I wonder if RM has taken Colwill's name down in his Christmas wish list. |
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Comment | Southampton V Nottingham Forest The Verdict.
at 11:19:45
I also believe the inflexibility shown by RM at this game was a large contributory factor to our defeat. Forest started predictably quickly and we were overwhelmed in midfield. They detected a weakness on our right, with Smallbone drifting to the centre leaving Sugawara to mark both Hudson-Odoi and Aina on his own - and he did it reasonably well however, as Forest continued their all out assault our crowd went quiet, all home advantage atmosphere evaporated and our team failed to respond. The obvious lack of playing a centre forward was unforgiveable before halftime. Even if Edozie had come on on the left (oh, for Ryan Fraser) and Diaz had moved to the middle it might have been more fruitful but, no, Russell sat on his hands until it was far too late. Home fans did get behind the team with the introduction of new blood but, they scored and we did not and a feeling of doom for the season descended and marked the exodus. We've missed out on O'Riley and Carvalho, and what we've spent would have surely got one of them if we'd moved early enough. Due to these omissions and Russell's slow reaction to obvious trouble, we are already in a position where we could be cast adrift within a few weeks. Then the supporters won't be leaving early, they just won't turn up. If we don't have the class that's fair enough in a finance dominated league but, at least give us some fight. One weak shot on target might as well have been accompanied by the waving of a white flag. |
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Comment | Southampton Nearing Cash Plus Player Transfer Deal
at 10:28:27
We can only speculate as to why RM is agreeable to Charly leaving. Maybe his sale is the best bet, at this late stage of the window, to generate some cash so that we can resolve the more urgent GK situation. Alternatively, perhaps his somewhat fiery temperament makes him difficult to manage in terms of playing the RM way. He always appears to want to go forwards even if that's not the best option and, therefore, does sometimes lose possession. Nevertheless, I'll be very sorry to see him go as we don't have many attack-minded players in our squad. |
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