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Comment | Ralph Hasenhuttl An Appreciation
at 11:36:45
I agree completely with the article which fairly outlines his achievements and the challenges he faced. He began a monumental project to keep the club competitive on a minimal budget, overhaul the playing staff and improve the young players recruited. He did this, kept us up while many teams with similar budgets were relegated and he always tried to play good football. He was on a hiding to nothing but did what he was employed to do and leaves the club in a much better place than he found it with a squad of young exciting players. Personally, I think he deserved the chance to see the project through and think he would have turned the slow start to the season around. It was always going to be difficult to integrate all the new players but this was made more difficult by injuries to key players. Maybe if the owners had signed Gakpo things would have been different as in too many of the games chances weren't taken, but that's all guesswork. What's done is done and the decision has been made. I hope the new manager has Ralph's enthusiasm and commitment because fans can be pretty demanding. Thanks Ralph! |
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Comment | Southampton V Tottenham Hotspur The Verdict
at 11:39:45
A really impressive performance which shows that Saints did some excellent work during the transfer window to strengthen the whole squad and to ensure that we're not relying on the youth team as we were this time last year.
What was most impressive was the way in which players who are not playing regularly come into the side and immediately know their duties so whether it was first half with 10 or second with 11 everyone knew what to do, which is a testament to Ralph's coaching. As for the side he picked, he ensured the team was fresh and they easily outran as well as outplayed the Tottenham team.
Saints pressed them from the off and were quick into challenges. Unfortunately Salisu was a bit over the top and his red only seemed a matter of time. He's a great player but there's a fine line between guarding a player and going through a player to get to the ball. His enthusiasm was his downfall yesterday.
Kane's disallowed effort looked a goal to me as did Forster's fumble but some days it goes your way and some it doesn't. I look at this squad and think what progress has been made. They are all hard working and play some really good football. Long may it continue. |
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Comment | Southampton V Aston Villa The Preview
at 09:12:00
Credit where it's due, I thought v Watford that Redmond tried to put the ball in the box quicker and worked harder tackling back so maybe someone's finally had a word in his ear. If he keeps that up, I've no objection to him being in the team. If he gets the ball in to the strikers like Livramento, I'm sure we will start scoring. |
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Comment | Southampton V Burnley The Verdict
at 16:15:02
Deeply depressing, not because the team didn't play well but because two young players showed the our established players, how to execute basics. Redmond's end product was once again on display, missing a chance that book end would put away and Walcott similarly showing a failure to shoot straight. Livramento hit accurate crosses again and again while our experienced wingers barely created a chance. It's the same culprits whose repeated failure to do the basics cost us points. Both of these players flatter to deceive, don't release the ball early enough, don't make the right decision and don't tackle back. Walcott is past his best and Redmond never lived up to his potential, time to move on. |
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Comment | Che Adams Fit For The Visit Of Burnley
at 18:39:10
Djenepo comes in for too much stick. He does the work that other wingers like Redmond and Walcott don't. He tackles back and doesn't get easily shrugged off, his attitude is spot on. Yes, he's made mistakes but he's young and will continue to improve, can the same be said for the others? Deserves to be in again, he is not a weak link and it was his vision and pass which opened up Leeds for our first win. |
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Comment | Southampton V Leeds United The Verdict
at 12:41:09
A good result and a good performance by Redmond. I think we all know what he is capable of but the issue is that he doesn’t show it regularly enough. If we are to rely on his brilliant ‘end product’ which is praised here, we would be relegated as he has scored 1 Premier League goal in a calendar year. This article praises his ‘great vision and awareness’ when in truth this was shown by Djenepo who put him clean through and he had to run forward and play a simple square pass but, fair play, he did it. I’ve never had an issue with his talents but sadly his deficiencies often outweigh these. His shooting is abysmal, he doesn’t tackle back and when he tries to he is too weak, he’s obviously no use for headers so if he’s going to stay in the team he should be scoring and assisting regularly. Still at least we can finally hear the last of the need for an experienced defender because Salisu is awesome and provides the pace that we were missing in the centre of defence. |
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Comment | Southampton At Bournemouth The FA Cup Verdict
at 10:01:32
Good, confidence boosting win. Redmond was given the sort of time and space to play which he doesn't get in the premier league and he thrived. However, let's not get too carried away by his performance. Bournemouth made him look like Ronaldo and on his first goal the defender fell over and on his second the goalkeeper was sat on his arse. If he did this on a regular basis or even an occasional basis in the premier league he should start but he doesn't.
That said, it's good to see the team balance restored, particularly with Walker-Peters back on the right. Diallo and Salisu are beginning to settle and the development of the team goes on. With Ings and Walcott back soon, Ralph has an almost full squad to choose from and I hope we'll see a return to form and who knows, maybe even a trophy. |
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Comment | Southampton V Chelsea The Verdict
at 10:11:29
Excellent defensive performance with the back three showing a useful alternative to the normal formation. Salisu, Djenepo and Minamino gave stand out performances. Great pass by Redmond who looks better in the central role but needs to assist in this way more often if he is going to keep his place. Chelsea are a tough team and they were strong in the challenge but Ralph had the team well drilled. Lots to be positive about. |
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Comment | Southampton V Wolverhampton Wanderers The Verdict
at 11:28:19
The report manages to pick out everything Redmond did right but again ignores his failings. He did play better in the more central role which meant he drove forward and some of his passing was very good but it meant Adams was left out and yet again when the crucial chance came Redmond scuffed his shot and the chance to go two up was missed. For all his good work the problem that doesn't go away is end product. |
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Comment | Southampton V Wolverhampton Wanderers The Preview
at 10:44:42
While there is zero tolerance for the central defence on this site with an almost perpetual demand to sign a new centre back, there is endless indulgence given to Redmond. Innumerable articles have been given over to the inadequacy of the defenders, calling them championship standard, demanding a loan signing came in Jan and bizarrely looking to the return of Callum Chambers. There were rumours spread about Salisu’s injury and when we had no first team full backs, the writer arrogantly claimed that people were now beginning to see what he had seen for ‘some time’ and pointed the finger of blame at the centre backs again. And yet Redmond time and again is excused his faults. Against Newcastle, he barely tracked back, was weak in the challenge and and slow to cross. Against Wolves Ralph moved him into a second striker role and he was better but the issue remains that he has very little end product. We could say he was unlucky not to score but he hit the shot straight at Ruddy and although Ings did the same, Redmond hasn’t exactly set the world on fire with his finishing in other games. I don’t agree with berating players for the limits of their ability but if the central defence can be criticised constantly for every ‘lapse in concentration’ then Redmond’s wastefulness can be examined too. |
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Comment | Southampton At Newcastle The Verdict
at 13:51:11
I hate to say it but I think Ralph has to shoulder some of the blame for this defeat. He has done some tremendous things for our side but there were obvious deficiencies that cost us this game. The most significant one was pitting Stephens against Saint Maximum. Why ship Valery out on loan if we are going to play a centre back at right back? This is not a criticism of Stephens but it was an obvious mismatch and Redmond who was no replacement for Armstrong, gave him no support so he was exposed time and again. Similarly Stephens was not able to go forward in the same way as KWP or Valery. The conditions were obviously atrocious and as the report points out surface water made quick passing impossible but had we not given away the first half it was a game we should have won comfortably. |
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Comment | Southampton V Liverpool The Verdict
at 23:13:05
Showed two facets of Saints game. Confident free passing football in the first half and the ability to dig in and defend in the second. Fantastic performances all round but again because he never gets a positive mention on this site, I'll mention Stephens for his leadership at the back and yet another clean sheet. Diallo and KWP also outstanding. The youth on the bench is an indicator of even better times ahead. Well done Ralph for the amount you invest in our team which obviously came pouring out at the end. |
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Comment | Saints V West Ham United The Verdict
at 10:19:03
Disappointing result but West Ham spécialisé in this type of anti-football, packing their half with players and making it very difficult to score. Great to see Stephens step up again and show why he is excellent cover at centre half. He and Bednarek coped well against a team who have scored many goals from set pieces and can bully teams. Stephens in particular stood out with some excellent long passes. The hard work in training has meant we have one of the best defensive records in the league and show that rushing out to get a loan signing for a few games is a ridiculous knee jerk reaction. |
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Comment | Hasenhuttl Reveals Vestergaard Injury Worse Than First Thought
at 19:47:52
Bring in another centre-half on loan in January instead of playing Stephens who is a long time member of the squad and has played alongside Bednarek numerous times. How long would it take for this loan signing to get Ralph fit and then how long to understand the team's way of playing? By that time Vestergaard will be back. The point of having centre-half cover is that they are able to go straight into the team with minimal disruption and Stephens can do that as he did yesterday. He may not be quite as good as Vestergaard but that's the nature of defensive cover and why some players are on the bench, not in the first team. |
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Comment | Saints At Fulham The Verdict
at 11:15:44
Whenever Long's name is on the team sheet I fear a lack of goals and this game had the feel of some past games from worse times where we had a lot of ball but lacked inventiveness. Fortunately he was not joined by the other master of the missed opportunity, Redmond but it did illustrate where we could strengthen, as there was little creativity around the box. Walcott was at his worst running into dead ends and Long's inability to stay onside meant an uncharacteristic 'goal' remained a more characteristic miss.
Stephens came in and showed why he is excellent cover in the centre-half position, it was another illustration of how unfairly the centre-backs have been criticised on this site when the team was in the early stages of transition. All were bought with improvement in mind and all have improved.
I was disappointed not to see Djenepo as I felt his individual skill can open up tight defences but overall he solid performance against an improved Fulham and we move on. |
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Comment | Saints V Manchester City The Verdict
at 18:33:37
Good performance which shows the development of the team to compete with the very best. I disagree with assessment of Redmond has doing 'little wrong' however. He came on, missed two clear shooting opportunities (in addition to the missed chance at Arsenal in midweek), missed a ball which went out for a throw and on another occasion gave City the ball launching one of their attacks. Aside from these key moments he contributed little. This is not denigrating his contribution or attitude over the years but we just need better. His diminished role in the side is part of the progress of the team and It's time to give up hoping he will ever make the grade. There is a reason, you can 'sense the sighs,' it's because we've seen it all before and if we are to improve we have to move him on. |
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Comment | Saints V Sheffield United The Verdict
at 14:46:22
Another fantastic performance. I know some people don't think we ever replaced Van Dijk and Fonte properly but increasingly Vestergaard and Bednarek are looking every bit as good if not better. With Diallo and a now fit Salisu waiting in the wings we look increasingly strong defensively. Ralph's vision for the future goes way beyond the first team, with teams at all levels playing in the same way. He is a true visionary and the sky is the limit for this team. |
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