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Thread | Is there anything positive about SFC at the moment?
at 11:49 2 Jan 2025
As I was driving into work this morning, on the radio there was something about footballing sculptures and what is the best and worst...........surprise, surprise there was a resounding view that the initial sculpture of Ted Bates was considered the worst (though it has since been replaced).
The other day Danny Murphy (can't stand the guy and he hates us) was saying that Saints are the worse side since Derby to grace the PL.
We cannot get a win for love nor money.
We are languishing and firmly routed at the bottom.
We have the 2 x 9-0 record defeats
and it goes on and on. No one could ever accuse us Saints fans of picking an easy team to support and watch. I know we have had some good times in the past and I have been lucky enough to witness some of them, but I cannot recall a time where the brand and name of SFC seems as low as it is now........I am not even sure it was as low as this during the administration years?????? |
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Reply | 2024 - the year for Saints
at 09:40 31 Dec 2024
I recall during the back end of our season in the Championship that I did not want to go up. I enjoyed most of the championship season, but I also knew we did not have the team or the set up to compete in the PL. I think the majority of Saints fans knew that.
The Wembley day was fantastic, a memorable day and it was a case of wanting to win it but knowing that we were not ready for the next level.
The disappointment is not that we are in the relegation zone - I think most fans expected that we would be or that relegation would be the most likely outcome - I think the disappointment is that I did not think we would be as bad as are or have been this season and often against even the most mediocre of opposition. |
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Reply | Who is conducting transfer negotiations in January?
at 09:07 31 Dec 2024
I hope we don't buy anyone this January. This season is a lost cause now and we would be better keeping our money and starting to focus on the summer window and the next season. I won't object if we off-load a few in this window. |
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Reply | Anybody still of the opinion that it was all Russell Martin’s fault ?
at 19:04 29 Dec 2024
Don't disagree with that grumpy. He should have gone probably around the Leicester game but I think he deserved to be given the chance. I still believe that with this squad relegation was the likely outcome whoever was in charge but I did think we would have more points and be in the fight into the new year. |
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Reply | Anybody still of the opinion that it was all Russell Martin’s fault ?
at 18:51 29 Dec 2024
As I think I said in a previous thread regarding RM, I don't think it was all his fault at all and to be fair he should be respected for what he did post our last relegation and the promotion we achieved albeit via the back door of the play-offs. What RM has to accept responsibility for was his steadfast refusal to try any new tactics or adapt to the changing situation in games, opposition etc which ultimately led to his downfall.
I suppose what is now being shown is that even with a change of manager and change of tactics there is little likelihood that our fortunes are going to change. In fact, for the life of me I cannot even see where we will get our next point let alone a win. The squad is so far away from being able to compete at this level and in that respect you have to question SR because it was suicidal to go into the PL with this squad without purchasing some experience especially up front..
I cannot help but feel that the season is over/written off, if indeed it ever started. All that is left is whether Brentford can break their failure to win away this forthcoming weekend - you wouldn't bet against it, would you? After that, what will be the motivation for fans to turn up and what will be the motivation for the players to risk injuries etc for what is now an inevitable outcome. As regards RM or Juric - we will never know whether they would have been good enough if they had a squad that could compete at this level. |
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Reply | New Manager Bounce
at 17:15 29 Dec 2024
I was thinking the same Butty. Does it say more about our players and squad when they take over or do we choose the wrong managers? To be honest, I almost feel like giving up now because nothing this club seems to do in recent years feels for the long term betterment of the club, the team or the supporters. May be I am over- reacting but I just have no idea where we are going - obviously the championship, but with what??????
I am wondering what the motivation is to pay and attend any more matches this season as for the life of me I cannot see a win or even a draw from anywhere. Brentford have not won away yet..........would you bet against them not breaking that run next week?????? |
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Reply | Russell Martin goes but results wise nothing changes
at 17:44 26 Dec 2024
Was it all his fault? A good question -probably not, but it was his decision to play the tactic he did when clearly it was not working and at times it was suicidal. But, unlike some I don't have any angst towards RM. He was not a bad manager and certainly he deserves some respect for turning around a declining team post Jones and Selles into one that got promoted, albeit through the back door. His downfall was his ability to adjust tactics and to adapt and it was clear that nothing was going to change and for that, he ran out of time........regrettably.
Now RM has gone do I believe that we are going to walk into a land of milk and honey - No - and today proved that. We may change our tactics and approach and our manager but we don't have the players to compete at this level and we certainly don't have the strikers or midfield that can sting the opposition when we are on top. So, we will still get relegated. The only question is, will we get relegated with a fight or go down in a whimper????? Time will tell. |
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Reply | Southampton V West Ham United The Preview
at 10:53 26 Dec 2024
I would agree with you. We have been woeful at the back and front and not that great in midfield. But, I feel there is evidence we can improve at the back but I see little evidence of where the goals will come from up front to give is a chance and if you don't score there is always the likelihood that even a good defence will concede eventually.
Armstrong is simply not good enough at this level and haven't see enough of Tall Paul to judge properly but though he looks enthusiastic and tries I am not convinced. Cameron Archer has shown some nous in front of goal but he won't be enough.
Anyway, I have long accepted relegation and all I want is to see some fight, desire and not be easy for the opposition and some points on the board even if at the end it makes little difference. |
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Reply | Southampton At Fulham The Verdict
at 18:20 23 Dec 2024
I seem to recall that Shilton always used to kick the ball out wide. I don't think he could ever kick the ball straight. He was not a bad keeper though!!!!!!  |
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Reply | Southampton At Fulham The Verdict
at 11:18 23 Dec 2024
I have accepted relegation as the inevitably but what I want to see for the remainder of the season is some fight and to make it tougher for the opposition and go down with hope for the next season. Yesterday was a good point. Fulham probably just shaded it but a draw felt about right. One thing for certain is that Armstrong is not good enough at this level and that has proven for the second time and his profligacy in front of goal may cost us a win or two. I am not sure why at this level he hits everything but the area that will get him a goal - are the keepers at PL that much better? I guess they are.
Hopefully we will get a win on Boxing Day and give us something to hang onto for 2025. |
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Reply | New manager
at 20:56 21 Dec 2024
Completely agree Matt.
Whatever his record is, it is history and we have to give him chance and I hate to say but keep our expectations as low as they have been. Relegation is still the only realistic prospect and really it is a matter of whether we go down fighting and prepare for a good season next season. I suppose if we see no improvement over time then the judgement of SR will arise again but we need to get behind the team and hope the team get behind the manager and have the right attitude to show some fighting spirit. |
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Thread | Will today be the day?
at 08:07 20 Dec 2024
Will today be the day or will it just be imminent and if it is imminent how imminent is it imminent? |
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Reply | Looks like it's Carlos Corberan
at 15:58 19 Dec 2024
Not for me Grim. I don't see him as that much improvement on what we have had recently. I am happy to be proved wrong but on the play offs many WBA fans were unhappy with his style and his reluctance to adapt.........sound familiar??????? |
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Reply | RM gone….
at 08:28 16 Dec 2024
Are you sure? RM may have gone but do you trust our owners to get it right. It is not like this has not been coming so they should have been prepared for their next move. I am not sure I have that much faith in them.......we will see, I guess. |
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Reply | He's Gone!
at 22:33 15 Dec 2024
No, I don't saintwizzle and the reference to our academy etc more or less sounds like a warning not to expect much and that whoever takes over will be expected to work with that rather than in any strengthening the squad to make us competitive at PL level. We are still looking at Championship for next year. We just have to hope that the next manager can give our players something to hold onto and us fans something to believe in.
I should add, (and I realise I am unique here), I was willing to give RM the chance to succeed. I wanted him to but to blindly do the same thing week in, week out with no improvement was to effectively put a nail in his own coffin. |
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Reply | 5,500 Tickets Left ForLiverpool Game
at 08:40 13 Dec 2024
I have never liked Spurs as a club or their fans in fact it has bordered on "hatred" even though, they have historically played entertaining football and I thought Keith Burkinshaw (remember him during the McMenemy era) I had respect for.
The above said, whatever any of us ever thought of Spurs it is one of the fixtures that you could guarantee a sell out and a great atmosphere. This time there is complete indifference. The timing of the game etc is awful and on a night before school and people spending time and money on Christmas, but you are right, if we were remotely competitive people would have still turned up. I don't know what the ticket sales are like having said all that. |
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Reply | Monday morning
at 11:39 9 Dec 2024
It looks like it is not happening Saint22.
After tonight's game between Wolves and West Ham there will probably be another sacking tomorrow and another potential "good" manager appointed that we will have lost out on.
I have long resigned to the fact there will be no change though I think RM may just have tipped the fans patience over on Saturday after his comments. |
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Reply | Yesterday's game
at 09:45 8 Dec 2024
Agree Dirk. I did not realise Villa had a CL game coming up and it says something when teams rest players against us in the same way as top teams rest players when they get a lower league side in a cup round. It also says something (sadly) on where other teams see us let alone how we see us. It is a reflection of how far we have fallen as a club. |
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Thread | Yesterday's game
at 09:19 8 Dec 2024
When I got up yesterday morning I was heavily weighing up whether to go to the game. I had the ticket but I didn't have the motivation and looking at the deteriorating weather I was looking for an excuse not to drive down the M18, M1, etc or hoping that perhaps the game would be called off. Anyway, despite all those doubts and knowing that I was going to watch another defeat, like many others I did go and the end if the day wondered why I did not stick to my gut instinct telling me not to.
I got there in good time, decided to venture into Aston Tavern to escape the cold and wet and paid the £5 entry fee which did include a bowl of food and though a Villa fans location there was a smattering of Saints fans and it was arguably the most pleasant part of the day.
As for the game. Well, whichever side you were supporting, there was a common feeling - it was a poor game, with a poor atmosphere played in poor conditions. Even the overhanging roof did not protect you from the elements as my feet became blocks of ice and the only thing that kept you going was the gallows humour between our own fans.
The game can be summed easily. They scored because of another error, we offered no goal threat whatsoever, despite alot of huffing and puffing. I think at best we had one real meaningful shot on goal and I think our corners was less than a handful. I cannot think of a more inept bunch of strikers we have had at this level in all my time watching Saints and that includes even through the Branfoot era. Armstrong was repeatedly in off side positions so on the rare occasion we did try to get it forward he had to come back. On a simple chance that he had in the second half he inevitably fluffed his lines. Archer I do think potentially offers more but wiith tall centre halves on either side of him the ball to him has to precision and Brereton- Diaz - why oh why did we waste our money on that purchase - put bluntly, we knew we would need a good striker for this level and we have at best a bunch of championship strikers - even Vardy at Leicester offers more than our 3 put together and of course in the background is Ross Stewart which has to go down as one of the worst signing decisions given he was injured when we purchased him - though I suppose they would not have expected him to have had these medical issues.
In some respects our build up play was not bad. As usual KWP, Dibling and Fernandes worked hard and Aribo worked hard when he came on but we simply had nothing in the final third. Our crosses got nowhere when we got to the opponents box. In defence we were ok (except for the one costly error) and Wood looks like persevering with. Lumley had his moments and having nearly had a repeat of his Chelsea moment he then proceeded to kick the ball long which RM blames the fans for doing as he claims it led to their goal! Blaming the fans is never a good thing - especially given the money they spend, the trip they have made, the conditions they have got there in and have to return home in and the lack of entertainment value his team have served up. We are not the ones on the pitch earning thousands of pounds per week.
Villa themselves were not in truth much better than us and that was also reflected by the lack of vocal support from their own fans, After the game I could hear Villa fans saying that Saints support was better - which is something given the difference in numbers. You left thinking that this was another game where the opposition were there for the taking. You would not have had to have been that much better than we were to beat them - if only we offered some sort of real goal threat. Most other PL teams would probably have beaten Villa yesterday, even arguably any of the others at the bottom (except us)!
For the life of me, I really cannot see where an improvement or a win (even a draw) is going to come from. I have tickets for one more game in this month and beyond that I am really questioning whether I want to invest any more of my hard earned cash in being so underwhelmed by my team and club - I probably will because I always have but is that insanity?????
We are now 8 points at least adrift and 9 if you count our poor goal difference. To all intents and purposes it feels like our season is over and it really depends whether SR feel it is worth making the change in the hope that someone can produce a miracle now or accept (as I believe they have) that going down in the hope of coming back up is a reason and their model for sticking with what we have - with the risk of losing the few good players we have (and given SR record of wasting the money that we would get from them).
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Thread | El Sackio game on Monday
at 08:50 6 Dec 2024
West Ham Vs Wolves on Monday. It is being suggested that whoever loses that game will get the sack - probably an element of truth in it. I would not be surprised to see Potter going to West Ham and another opportunity will be missed by our owners.
Not sure what happens if Monday night is a draw! |
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