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Comment | Saints V Crystal Palace The Verdict
at 11:54:25
As I sat there last night at the game, as much I was thinking it, others were shouting 'forward'. There were so many occasions where a player had time to turn and move forward. They had space to turn. In my meagre time playing football, we always would talk to each other telling them 'man on' or 'time'. Why has Southampton gone to playing first time balls backwards?
There were other times when the play was going forward and the player checks back when they could have crossed it or laid a through ball. When they check back, it goes back to the defender and then back to the keeper who hoofs it. This was then headed by a Crystal Palace defender? It seems easy to me what the best option would be here; at least have a go!
I would also like to mention Bertrand telling the ball boys to slow down. Who decided that 1-0 would be enough? Consolidate that lead, drive when your ahead then do this.
As a player scoring, creating goals, this has to be the best feeling so why do the Saints players feel that passing it around, passing back and not driving forward is the best way?
I like watching Match of the Day and seeing these top teams breaking and playing attacking football. Those decisive passes, telling balls. Don't any of the Saints players watch this kind of play? Are they banned from watching the better teams play? If I wanted to be a great player, how would I achieve this by always playing the ball backwards? Imagine telling Ronaldo or Messi that you want them to pass the ball sideways or pass back always and do not drive through the opposing team. Where has that passion to be a legend at Saints gone?
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Comment | The Ugly Inside TV ! Chinese Takeover Reaction
at 08:03:24
Last year Macau Business Daily reported: "Lander’s business scope has shifted entirely from property investment to the organization of sports activities; design, construction and management of stadiums; research and sales of sporting goods as well as engaging in sports agency business."
From reading some news reports, I felt this text above sounded promising. It is not just about spending big on players, I feel. It is growing every part of the club which I hope this new Chinese connection can do. |
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Comment | Dejan Lovren Celebrates No Longer Being The Most Hated Man In Southampton !
at 13:37:44
What has Van Dyke been saying to the medics who have looked after for the last six months? The work they have put in to get him back to fitness and he turns around and says "cheers for that, I am now just out to put in a transfer request!" Let's hope Les give the medics a bonus for being messed around and recoups all the expense spared on Van Dykes' recuperation. |
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Comment | Saints Guaranteed Record Breaking Season
at 12:41:20
I would feel better talking about Saints winning more and/or putting in better performances where teams who were there for the taking were swept aside rather than other poor teams losing and having a worse season than us thus elevating our league position. Securing and fighting for eighth within reach of Everton would be better and more satisfying than being bumped up to this position. Sam Allardyce had the gall to big up his team and say they could finish 11th after the game against Hull; this is the game that could have put them back in a relegation fight. If Crystal Palace win their last game and we lose, they finish only two points behind. Reality check!!!
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Comment | The Ugly Inside Video Channel ! Is The Time Up For Puel
at 13:30:09
If Claude Puel is reading this today, could he just turn on the Man City game? Two or three passes and they are near the opposing team's box. Thier football is so positive and forward thinking. This is not rocket science. Puel is taking that away from Saints. Too much passing and giving the defending team time to get into their positions is not the way forward for Saints. You only have to look at Forster and his kicking this season. He is not used to it being passed back so often. This is because we keep passing, and it goes nowhere, so they pass it back to Forster. But look on the bright side other teams have been worse than us so we end up 10th which does not make us good. I think this top 10 thinking is naive as within this season there have been some woeful team performances from a woeful manager. |
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Comment | Romeu Sweeps The Player Of The Year Awards.
at 09:38:01
I have to agree with this award as Romeu who has consistently put in great solid performances all year. I am not sure about Boufall's award when you think about the one kick to Romeu's whole match contributions over the season. It all seems strange when he has only scored two goals all season, put in poor performances and has been injured. |
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Comment | Ryan Bertrand Denies He Wants Away
at 09:29:42
Corporate talk, like you said Bertrand is a model professional. If he does not like Puel, he can leave. he is wanted and would be wanted if he put himself in the shop window. There would be no point slagging off anything then leaving. This interview is as much as the club saying (after Hull) "it is not the result we wanted, but we march on!" it always leaves so much unanswered. |
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Comment | Puel Rumours Esculate
at 18:37:28
9th place is only 3 points above 16th. If it stays the same it only because other teams below us have lost or drawn as well. They are bad as well which does not make us good. This season has seen a lot of awful games, bad substitutions, and terrible team selections. Make no bones about it Puel has created confusion and players are not playing for him. These are good players who have had poor seasons. How the board could put up with that for another season, I do not know, because the fans have had enough. Bring back attacking football and ENTERTAINMENT, I think they have forgotten that. |
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Comment | Rumours Starting Over Puel's Future At St Mary's
at 12:49:33
Just a thought, but didn’t the Leicester owners reportedly talk to senior players about Renairi and his disappointing tactics with the view to sorting out their mess? I wonder what senior players would say in confidence if asked at Saints about Puel. Because if they are not working with Puel’s footballing tactics and ideas, how will it change next season to produce quality and wins?
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Comment | Rumours Starting Over Puel's Future At St Mary's
at 09:59:25
The Hull game brought all the problems out for everyone to see. I am glad it happened like that so we did/do not paper over the cracks. This was Hull. This was a home game. Hull have been the worst team away this season. Claude Puel had a chance to prove to us he knew what he was doing. He failed.
We have been poor this season and games like these have been happening too many times. For example, the West Brom game was the same. I do not feel we have a bad side. I have to say it is the management.
I listen to Claude Puel whose English is not bad and a lot better than my French but I am not sure what he is saying half the time and what point he is trying to nail down. It is just not wholly coherent, so do the players really get what Claude’s football philosophy is and ideas are for each elite Premiership game? And, what did Puel really want out of those European games? There was period he just kept talking about rest and character. It was getting boring. Fans wanted a solid plan of action not excuses. But above all, I just wonder how he comes across to the players.
I feel Claude Puel has not got the best out of his players. And his football beliefs and playing style are not working with the players. The amount of changes over the season. Players being dropped after playing well and formation changes must just upset and confuse all involved. They have just been playing for Southampton not the manager which is sad to say and, I feel, will have some bearing on whether players leave in the summer.
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Comment | Saints V Hull City The Verdict
at 10:53:52
My worry is that you a talented bunch of players not playing to their ability. Are not the tactics, team setup, formations and man management Claude Puel's job? Puel talked yesterday about all the things that went wrong. He had all the time before and during the game to sort this out. The ineptness of management is a major concern. Are the players playing for him? I don't think so. |
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Comment | Saints V Manchester City Dan's Verdict
at 00:56:34
I, tongue in cheek, guess Gambiadini asked to come off after getting no service. Time and again he made runs for the through ball or the one over top but the safe pass backwards or sideways pass sufficed. Where is the vision? You also have to look and Leroy Sane and his opposite number Dusan Tadic. One was looking to scream down the wing, the other was looking to scream for a foul. As for Højbjerg, the guy was complaining he was not getting much match play time. I am sorry Pierre but even Puel with his “let’s all play, rotation policy†will have to let him down now. Or maybe not, seeing as Puel let Højbjerg play the whole game and with a yellow card for the best part of that. There was also talk that Shane Long did not want to come off but the coaching staff thought he was injured and subbed him. And to cap a miserable day, Boufall once again showed us another £17 million performance - tongue back in cheek. His confidence looks shot. I saw him on the right, left, and the middle - make your mind up - and also being battled off the ball - at least play with some fight! It is not all about showing us that you have got some magical skills - that boat has sailed ages ago. Man City are a good team but please do not bow to that and let them play their own game. I have just watched the BT post-match analysis and all they talked about was Man City. That says it all.
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Comment | Puel Needs To Get Tactics Right Against Crystal Palace
at 18:31:40
So is Boufal any good or just played in the wrong formation? Puel bought him but is not sure where to play him. He brought him on Saturday then changed his mind where to put him. So, why is Puel buying / not starting these players and not getting them playing to their ability? If they did not have that ability and potential to command games would you not sign them?
Bournemouth played a high line on Saturday and Puel chose the leggy Jay Rod in the middle who made no real impact. Would the pace of Boufal worked on Saturday better in the middle? |
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Comment | The Ugly Inside Video Channel ! Saints Fans Reaction "He Is An Idiot"
at 18:59:03
I tend to think now that our players are being treated too nicely by the manager and treated unfairly by the system. For one, this rotation policy has let in players that may not have been in form or ready to play. Shane Long losing his place to, the just back from injury, Jay Rod messes up any solidity in the team. I then look at something Jose Mourinho recently said: "Playing to win, having the responsibility to win, and coping with the pressure of winning is something that has to belong to your natural habitat". These thoughts are what I feel Puel is missing. Like or loathe Mourinho, I believe he knows what he wants and is being hard on his players because he knows any player needs this mentality to be a winner. Are the Saints players really playing for places at times with this rotation?
I also look at Ronald Koeman with Ross Barkley. The way it came across that he was aware Barkley had talent but had to prove it. Barkley was maybe on the verge of leaving but realised that this manager was actually drilling into him that he had more in his locker. I feel, this is what you get from great managers, you do not just pick teams. A manager actually can be working with rough diamonds. For example, Nathan Redman certainly has talent but how is he being told this and how is he being managed? Puel needs to manage these players and get the best out of them.
Furthermore, Conte’s Chelsea system is showing his players to their best abilities but where’s Puel’s. If Puel wants the best out of Manolo Gabbiadini, he needs a unit that works to give Monolo these chances, not change things around next game. Our manager, I feel puts out teams, not a team playing to each of their individual strengths at times. Where is the cohesion? Moreover, where is the Sutton and Shearer or the Beardsley and Cole combination, for instance? Do you see any two or three players having that telepathic and obvious love of playing together where they know they can produce magic for themselves and fans alike. Again, rotation drags this away.
The potential, and so much more, is there and we (fans) must believe it is there, so Puel it is time to roll up those sleeves and get down to work and fans to sing about it.
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Comment | Dan's Report ! Will Claude Puel Be Saints Manager Next Season ?
at 16:18:58
My take on it is looking at the matches whatever competition it is, how did we perform and how have we been performing? The two EFL games with Liverpool were magical, the Leicester game was great so we know what can happen but then you look at the West Brom game or mugging us off against Arsenal in the FA Cup amongst others, it has been frustrating. Generally, looking at the big picture, all the games together, I feel it is not too great and not an improvement from last year. I would say a lot of this angst comes down to rotation and not having strength in depth. The rotation of the squad is totally down to Puel. I remember watching an interview with Charlie Austin, and he was clucking to play in Italy. I went out there and was surprised he was not starting. How did Charlie feel? Is it rotation for these players or do they feel like they are being dropped? If I played well, I would feel I deserved to play again. Moreover, the Arsenal game showed our lack of depth. I feel in a way, Wenger had the same approach as Puel. Win or lose, both managers were not that bothered but Wenger walks out with a 5-0 victory (Wenger did actually pick a team to win). This game highlighted Puel lack of awareness. It also showed, if these players waiting in the wings for the Saints first team are not up to the required standard (Premier League) or never really look like it (post 20 years) why do we have them? Wasn’t it Puel’s job to recognise this? So, how long do we keep our manager for him to change all this? Well, for one, I think he will always rotate. The EFL cup is great but only a few games, to win the Europa Cup would have been a lot more games and more of a challenge like the Premier League. Will Puel ever build a solid consistent team that can compete in every game? And, will we have genuine quality waiting on the bench? Or, will the fans be forever frustrated with his thinking?
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Comment | Saints Make First Signing Of The Transfer Window
at 10:52:11
I wonder why Claude did not let any of the players who played against Arsenal go. How long should a team wait for some players to be a vital part in the team? The Arsenal game showed that strength in depth. |
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Comment | Watt View ! Weekend Drubbing Provides Stark Reality Check
at 14:54:06
Having been played live in BT and having seen many families with young kids decked in their Saints kit (maybe making their first visit or a special treat) notwithstanding having megastore bags, I feel it was a bit of a PR disaster. From losing the early goals there was no real atmosphere. I just feel the Saints approach to this was wrong. Who really want to watch a third team and lose 5-0 having made such effort and expense for what they thought would be a fair game in the prestigious FA Cup? I agree that had many fans known that it would be this approach they may not have come. I also have to give it to the Arsenal fans who cheered their team along albeit not their complete first team. Another point is Puel saying he wanted to use younger players? But and they really young? Isgrove is 24. |
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