About the only half decent performers yesterday were Edozie, Manning and Bazunu, which says it all

-3

Two early goals finished this game as a spectacle for Saints fans but it doesn't detract from the ridiculously low level of the overall performance. We lost discipline, shape and any form of responsibility. Leicester were excellent but they really didn't need to be, we were that poor. Things we should learn, other teams with pace use it, why don't we? Other sides keep their shape, our attempts to be fluid may work if we are disciplined enough not to all go charging forward like a Sunday morning kids team. Will Smallbone is a very good player but is not a number 6. If we are so good going forward where were the decent openings, I'm not counting the poor crosses that Vestergaard gobbled up. AND probably most of all, if we are insistent on being a passing team then lets at least learn to pass!

9

Even Fraser gave up. Don't blame him, surrounded by L1 standard losers and managed by Krusty with a new behind-the-ears hair do.

RM out!

0

Don’t we ever learn from passed mistakes seems not,manager says they did exactly as asked well that goes to show you what a long season this will be.Completely gutted once more and have to say after watching Saints for 70 years this bunch have to be some of the worst to put on the shirt to represent Southampton Football Club.

6

Where to start…..

The players looked lost. Unsure of what to do, when to pass, when to commit. That’s on the manager - either the players can’t deliver his tactics or don’t want too!

But the absence of of a cohesive game plan wasn’t the only issue. There was no leaders on the pitch, no one to pull everyone together after the initial goal and focus the team.

The midfield was absent without leave. That’s why the best tactic we had was Bazunu kicking it long to the two wings cutting out the midfield entirely. Smallbone was too lightweight (the 4th goal was a pathetic attempt at a tackle) and Downes couldn’t cover everything with no help.

Defensively the two CBs were out of their depth. Charles showed why he is not a genuine CB getting pulled out of position too often. It was hard for THB to make his first start against Leicester. He looked good at points but needs to be playing with a more experienced partner - never before did I think I would be hoping Stephens make a swift recovery.

Finally there were too many players who were going through the motions. KWP had his worst game for saints. Adams, Fraser, Alcaraz and Sulimana when they came on never looked like they were bothered. Perhaps they realised that whatever they did it would be pointless because of the defensive deficiencies but that is unforgivable in my eyes. Regardless of the situation you show you care and you set an example even if it doesn’t impact that match it sets the standards for the future.

Leicester are a good side but boy did we make it easy for them. Ipswich on Tuesday will also be hard given their start. I hope at least the players find something within themselves to stand up and be counted and the manager finds a way to apply his tactics in a while realising what his players are capable of.

10

We've got a new verb in our house - to make a Russell of something or to Russell it up.

'I went to the shop to get some bread for sandwiches but I came back home with 4 packets of jelly. Damn I really Russell'd that up.

SR have been a disaster from day one. Bad managerial decisions, scatter gun player recruitment, relegation which was entirely avoidable, which meant selling our better players and replacing them with loans and inadequate staff. Under SR we will keep going in the same trajectory.

We cannot keep making the same basic errors forever but by the time things get sorted out this club will be responsible for ruining yet more half decent players prospects. There was a time not so long ago that we were a respectable and well run club who developed players. Now we're a laughing stock where young players come to have any positivity and creativity knocked out of them.

COYRs

2

I will save my review of the game after reading Nick's review, but will say these 3 things for now:

1. Russel Martin seems to be like RH and stuck in his ways with no plan B. He also is making some daft subs.
2. Ryan Manning shouldn't be on the pitch and wouldn't make my Sunday League team.
3. We should have sold Sulemana to anyone that offered $1. He obviously thinks he is better than anyone else and should be somewhere better, YET he is responsible for a goal for the 4th goal with his lazy pass. Bench him and sell him to anyone in January.

6

Dreadful performance. Though we occasionally played some neat football we could have easily lost 7-1. They missed great chances whilst we created very little other than speculative shots straight at the keeper. Despite all the promises from the manager we learnt absolutely nothing from the Sunderland hammering and simply reproduced the performance. Defence was woeful as was the midfield. We put out an attacking line up but going 2-0 down so early (again) just meant Leicester could sit back, defend deep and then pick us off on the break. Teams will keep doing this to us. The acres of space we left at the back were ridiculous. If Martin can't change/modify how we play we're going to really struggle.

9

Agree totally with AmericanSaint. Sulemana had the most obvious 'what am I doing here?' look and found the perfect solution NOT to be asked to do anything for the next 3 games!! The thing was, when he did try, he looked good going forward.

RM certainly doesn't have the players playing for him and when he came out at the end and said how proud he was of the players, it didn't sound like a credible Manager at this level. More like a School Games Teacher, applauding the school B team for having just taken on one of the best A teams in their League!!

3

I went to the game sadly, second game of the season and it’s terrible. Long season for us if this the best we can manage. Sulemana doesn’t want to be play for us and from what I’ve heard has never been injured, just not interested in playing for us.

3