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Comment | What Changed For Southampton Against Everton
at 11:09:50
It’s easy to overanalyse these things, but virtually every match is decided by fine margins. We would have beaten Ipswich if their deflected shot went a foot further to the right!
We probably should have had more points this season, and the only real difference this time is that we got the breaks. Simple as that.
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Comment | Graham Potter Lined Up For Southampton Job
at 19:25:48
This sounds like nonsense. So the manager specifically hired to play possession football, where every subsequent signing and coaching appointment aligns to that style, is going to be sacked for playing possession football? |
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Comment | Who Is Russell Martin? A Saints Fans' Guide To Our Alleged New Manager
at 13:35:10
I’m not too interested in win percentages. Results are dictated largely by the club you are managing and their relative resources. As we have just appointed a Director of Football and a number of young players (hopefully some will stay!) from Manchester City it’s hardly a surprise that we want to appoint a manager who will play possession football. He comes across very well, and ticks a lot of boxes as far as I can see. This appointment, if it happens, certainly makes far more sense than the Nathan Jones one, which now seems even more bizarre than it did at the time! |
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Comment | Saints Need To Connect With Their Fans With Managerial Appointment
at 12:33:04
In fairness, a little bit of research will show that the comparison with Jones is merely superficial. In terms of playing style, personality and charisma he couldn’t be more different. He’s almost the anti-Jones! If it happens, I actually think he ticks a lot of boxes whereas it was obvious from day one that Jones was just not the right fit.
We don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes, and I would hope that we have at least sounded out the likes of Potter, but I for one would not be devastated if Martin is the one.
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Comment | Saints Set To Tweak Transfer Strategy !
at 18:11:51
Diallo will play at Fulham, and Ralph has already said that Salisu is a longer term project. We have a very specific style of play and I think the feeling is that ‘more experienced’ players have generally got into habits that do not suit us. Walcott is the exception rather than the rule. I remember similar comments about KWP but look at him now. Patience! In Ralph we trust.... |
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Comment | Saints Set To Tweak Transfer Strategy !
at 13:33:23
I don’t think we are, nor should we in my opinion. As far as I can see, Ralph’s comments relate specifically to Walcott rather than any wider change of policy. |
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Comment | Saints V Manchester City The Verdict
at 11:57:31
‘Achieved little of real worth’ Really? I thought that we showed we are capable of going toe to toe with a top side and were never outplayed. It was a far better performance than when we beat them in July. Ralph has moved us to a different level in such a short time it’s unbelievable. Man City were not in a lower gear. They knew they were in a tough game so simply played with appropriate caution.
As regards the substitutions, one of the aims of the club is to bring young players through, so given our situation in the league I thought that was fair enough.
Bizarre comment about Redmond by the way. I do like him, but he had a nightmare I’m afraid!
Onwards and upwards.... |
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Comment | Saints At Crystal Palace The Verdict
at 15:50:01
There are pros and cons to the way we play, simple as that. The high line is aggressive but inherently risky, because leaving space behind is unavoidable. Bayern Munich, who have just won the Champions League, have a similar style (obviously with superior players!) and also often look vulnerable to the counter attack. It’s about minimising the downsides and maximising the advantages. We didn’t do that yesterday, but when it works we are very difficult to play against, even for the top sides.
As regards yesterday, it was interesting that Roy Hodgson said that he was very impressed with our central defenders and the way the intercepted, as with their pace up front he expected to create more chances against our style!
So, like it or not, we have a way of playing that will mean we lose some games we may expect to win, but equally I expect us to win games we’re expected to lose. Good fun in my opinion. |
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Comment | Saints Closing In On Salisu But Youth Is Not The Solution In The Centre Of Defence
at 10:24:38
Buying experienced players does not fit our model Nick. I would have thought that was obvious by now. Ralph clearly wants to mould the team to play in a certain way, and if he thinks that youth is the way to achieve that, then I trust him. As I’ve said many times, the only way to have any success in the modern PL without spending shedloads of cash is to have a unique ‘philosophy’, for want of a better word. Pochettino achieved this for a while, but we drifted away from it until now, despite the Koeman years. Lawrie Mac was a long time ago, and I’m old enough to remember it well, but the landscape is very different now I’m afraid. |
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Comment | Hoedt Explains Why He Had To Go !
at 09:45:27
Bottom line is that Ralph didn’t want him, and we will likely never know the reason. Fans are entitled to their opinions, but we don’t have the facts to make informed judgements. We saw Hoedt on match days, but Ralph saw him every day in training. He obviously wasn’t impressed, and that’s good enough for me. Move on... |
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Comment | Saints At Derby County The Verdict
at 13:44:36
Hasenhuttl is doing exactly the right thing in having a look at all his options, but I have no doubt there will be some players incoming. I can’t believe he wouldn’t have been given some assurances about that prior to joining. Whilst not particularly well known over here previously, the German media were amazed we managed to recruit him with his profile there.
For those expecting instant miracles, don’t forget he is having to make huge changes in tactics, fitness and mentality half way through the season, which is not easy. We need to accept that the remainder of this season is going to be a battle, but he’s capable of keeping us up. If he does, then with some personnel changes in the summer and a full pre-season, I’m confident there are exciting times ahead! |
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Comment | Pellegrino Needs To Play To Our Strengths Not Our Weakness
at 12:07:03
Pochettino was never rigid. He was just committed to certain basics of how he wants his teams to play. He was certainly never as passive as we are now, and is turning out to be the great manager I predicted at the time he left us. (Check the archives!) His teams play without fear, and in my opinion did more to change the mindset of our club than anyone. Sadly missed! |
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Comment | Stop The Player Witch Hunts Now !
at 13:53:41
In fairness Nick, you may not abuse Yoshida, but you certainly pick on him. I noticed in your Brighton report that you managed to get a dig in even though he wasn’t even playing, by saying he ‘wouldn’t get into their team’. Pretty sure he would actually, and as others have said, central defence is the least of our problems at the moment in any case. If we are judging purely on errors, Forster is way out in front.
On a more general point, I have been attending Saints games since 1968 and can honestly say I have never abused any of our players during the game. It’s totally counter-productive. However, I can understand the frustration at the moment as, for whatever reason, we are currently performing way less than the sum of our parts. With due respect to Brighton, their entire squad is probably worth half the market value of the back four alone we fielded on Sunday. We need to be much more assertive in these games, and Pellegrino is falling into the same trap as Puel. We seem to have an inferiority complex. Wouldn’t have happened under Pochettino! |
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Comment | Pochettino Criticises Luke Shaw
at 13:17:25
I would agree that he left too early, but we need to remember the role of agents in these situations. He was obviously poorly advised, as at 18 years old moving was a huge decision he probably wasn’t capable of making. Age apart, anecdotally Luke is perhaps not the sharpest tool in the box, so badly needed sensible guidance. Shame, because he is talented.... |
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