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Reply | Stephens
at 20:56 23 Oct 2024
Why did we waste money on Wood and Edwards ?
Because that’s what Sports Republic want, although they don’t see it as a waste, to them it’s a perfectly reasonable gamble.
It fits with their ethos of assembling a large number of young players at relatively little cost in the hope that the odd one will come good and can be sold for a massive profit. Remember Lavia to Chelsea for £50 million ? |
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Reply | Astonishing
at 12:01 23 Oct 2024
Ifonly, Given that Sports Republic managed to engineer our exit from The Premiership when we actually had some Premiership quality players and we are now 1/5 to be relegated yet again, your suggestion of re-establishment currently looks the least likely outcome I’m afraid.
Yo-Yo is the best we can hope for with them in control. [Post edited 23 Oct 12:03]
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Reply | Astonishing
at 11:37 23 Oct 2024
Our season is already irretrievable which to me fits Sports Republic’s long term narrative of wanting to be a Championship feeder club to established Premiership teams.
They aren’t currently concerned who manages our club.
That’s how they see the future:- Purchase vast numbers of young players at relatively low cost ( play them in Turkey if necessary) in the hope that one or two out of every batch comes good and they sell on at a vast profit. Case in point Lavia to Chelsea for £50 million.
Long term they know they can’t compete in the Premiership hence becoming a yo-yo club isn’t a problem given the Parachute Payments should we get promoted every now and then. |
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Thread | Wolves today. And so it goes on. First it was Man Utd now it’s City.
at 17:24 20 Oct 2024
Another day another dollar and once more a referee who favours the big money teams.
I’ve an intense illogical dislike for Wolves but even after reviewing V A R how did Man City’s winning goal stand ? If it’s not offside it’s physical interference with their keeper.
On the other hand was the decision worse than the many given by the total excuse for a referee who officiated our game yesterday ?
These people referee as a profession so how even with the aid of V A R can they be so totally and regularly inept and still remain in their job ?
Perhaps it’s like any other profession. Simply money talking ?
[Post edited 20 Oct 17:31]
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Reply | Has he gone yet?
at 15:22 20 Oct 2024
100% on side with the content of your second paragraph Chesham.
Like your good self I’m starting to think the previously unthinkable. Disenchantment with Sports Republic and the direction of travel of The Premiership in general plus advancing old age could well make this my final season.
Yesterday has given Sports Republic a once a season opportunity to dismiss Russell Martin with all the planets alining so to speak.
If he is still in charge next Saturday at Man City then I suspect we will need to get used to the fact that whatever happens for the remainder of the season his position is secure.
A crucial week in the history of Southampton Football Club Ltd awaits us. Then again there have been a few of those recently haven’t there ? |
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Reply | Has he gone yet?
at 12:41 20 Oct 2024
Hello Pat.
Genuine question. What am I doing wrong in my description of the league we currently play in please ? I’m happy for you to put me right if I’ve got it wrong. |
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Reply | Has he gone yet?
at 12:08 20 Oct 2024
Well Chesham, at least we’ve found some common ground in that we both care about the Saints.Personally I’ve probably cared far too long having seen my first game during the 1959/60 season.
Where we currently differ is that you appear to admit that “ The board have got it wrong” but now suggest that they are competent to source a satisfactory replacement for Russell Martin.
My view is that Sports Republic themselves are as unfit for purpose as you suggest Russell Martin is.They got us relegated previously when we had some established Premier quality players and to all intents and purposes they have already succeeded this time around after only eight games, having assembled a squad of extremely limited ability during the last transfer window.
I’m truly agnostic as to whether Russell Martin stays or goes ( or Potter or A N O arrives ) because with Sports Republic in control we are inevitably headed for a league commensurate with their abilities, i e The Championship.
There’s even a part of me that thinks that it may have been their intention all along in that it fits with their long term business plan of being a big fish in a small pond.
Saints future with Sports Republic:- An attractive lower league feeder club for long established Premiership teams. [Post edited 20 Oct 12:11]
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Reply | Has he gone yet?
at 22:03 19 Oct 2024
So the club only being able to obtain one point from a possible twenty four is all the fault of one man is it Chesham ?
Of course it isn’t. It’s because collectively our squad isn’t good enough to compete in The Premiership and most fans can see that as the problem.
Sports Republics player recruitment record is absolutely outstanding in that they have consistently purchased sub standard players at absurd cost. If I could be bothered I would make a list but it’s not necessary because we all know who they are.
We currently have two, perhaps three players who would command even consideration for a starting place in any other Premiership team. All of the rest just can’t cut it in the top flight as our current league position confirms.
Russell Martin hasn’t helped himself and as an example his decision today to remove Sugar and introduce Fraser was bizarre in the extreme, but to suggest that fault lies solely with him is frankly naive.
Let’s say he goes. Do you seriously think that given their previous record Sports Republic will appoint an adequate replacement who will improve our existing squad sufficiently to avoid relegation ? It’s my opinion that no such manager exists and even if I’m wrong you can bet your house that Sports Republic won’t find him. |
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Reply | Can we get 12 points? Not with this manager.
at 20:31 19 Oct 2024
The first sentence of your second paragraph sums up our situation perfectly.
Our player recruitment in the last transfer window was utterly pathetic and gave Russell Martin ( or any other manager) no opportunity whatsoever of keeping us in the Premier League.
Do Sports Republic care about the Derby County record ? Not a chance in my opinion.
Now that relegation is all but assured they will simply want to minimise their losses. Thus, Russell Martin may well stay in position and simply have to make the best of a bad job with the limited resources at his disposal.
In a nutshell, Sports Republic it’s Owners, Board, Player Recruitment and Management are an outfit who have found their comfort zone which is The Championship and when relegated yet again, will be happy to stay there.
Put simply, it was proven the last time we were relegated that the Premier League is beyond their desire and capability and nothing has changed since. [Post edited 19 Oct 20:36]
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Reply | Assault, a ship and Shilts Interesting Stories of Saints V Leicester Games
at 09:44 16 Oct 2024
Thanks Nick. Interesting read.
I was stood on the Milton Road when Shilton scored.
Amazing really, given that now whenever I post a comment that doesn’t comply with the herd mentality you can guarantee some doughnut will accuse me of being a Skate.
I was probably watching the Saints before some of them were even born. |
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Reply | Four days off
at 11:19 13 Oct 2024
Pat, we’ve played seven games and obtained one point. Scored the grand total of four goals ( worst in the league) and conceded fifteen ( joint worst with Everton ) which indicates to me that our squad is very poor by any standard.
Russell Martin ( or any replacement ) has been left with an impossible job and that’s why we are 1/4 to be relegated.
It’s my opinion that no amount of coaching of players or changed tactics will make a difference because the players assembled by the club just aren’t good enough to avoid relegation.
The Championship beckons once again probably before the turn of the year. |
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Reply | Four days off
at 08:48 12 Oct 2024
Pat, Adam Armstrongs is without doubt a quality striker at Championship level.
Unfortunately for us his abilities don’t extend to Premiership level. No amount of training during the four days would bridge that gap.
Regretfully, the same lack of Premiership ability applies to the vast majority of our current squad.
Personally I’m agnostic as to whether Russell Martin stays or goes simply because I just can’t see any other manager turning our current situation around.
In a nutshell our players just aren’t good enough for the club to survive in The Premiership this season. |
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Reply | England
at 14:16 11 Oct 2024
Never mind there will be a World Cup soon, giving the F A and their sponsors yet another opportunity to fleece gullible supporters of their hard earned.
To me the F A are very much like Manchester United, simply a business with a football team attached.
They aren’t remotely concerned about the fact that we haven’t won a single major tournament in 58 years. It’s all about rinsing the supporters season after season. |
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Reply | So Sorry Dragan and Sport Republic
at 17:47 10 Oct 2024
Wow, a football forum where Jelly and 901 are knocking spots off each other as to whether or not God exists.
Almost makes the question of Russell Martin staying or going appear totally irrelevant, which compared to The Big Bang Theory v Creator Theory, I suppose it is.
Reminds me of the banner at Wembley in 1976 “ Jesus Saves but Channon knocks in the rebounds”. |
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Reply | Sheffield Wednesday Fear Southampton Will Recall Shea Charles
at 15:22 9 Oct 2024
Yep, Ugochukwu and Cornet, two more triumphs for our Recruitment Team.
Never mind, there’s always the prospect to look forward to of Ross Stewart actually playing a full game for us next season, when we are in The Championship. |
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Reply | Has our defence got weaker or is Ramsdale just not that good?
at 18:38 7 Oct 2024
Nick, thanks for the response.
I had no need to hide anything, I’ve been very happy to base my thoughts purely on Ramsdale’s career record at Bournemouth and Sheffield Utd, the teams with which he was previously relegated . I reiterate that I’ve no interest whatsoever as to whether their fans or that matter other players liked him or not.
Do I personally dislike Ramsdale ? Of course not, I’ve never even met him. Perhaps I’m just disappointed that in the five games since his arrival our results haven’t exactly improved have they ? Maybe in the company of many other supporters, given the fanfare that preceded his arrival, I expected a points total of more than one from a possible fifteen with thirteen goals conceded.
Who knows, his and our fortunes may improve shortly because they certainly need to. If our current form continues unabated ( with or without a managerial change ) it’s not inconceivable that we won’t have a points total in double figures by season’s end.
In any event, thanks for confirming that I can still remember Saints games from forty two years ago.Some quality players to watch then. Sad to be reminded though that Chris Nicholl is no longer with us, together with the disgusting way Sports Republic handled his passing. |
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Reply | Has our defence got weaker or is Ramsdale just not that good?
at 14:43 7 Oct 2024
Nick, to be honest I’m not particularly interested in whether Ramsdale was player/ goalkeeper of the year at his previous clubs. He’s now a Saints player and his previous accolades are exactly that, in the past.
Without doubt you are correct in that at the time of signing, Shilton was acknowledged as the best goalkeeper in the world and was a regular first choice for England, something of course that Ramsdale currently isn’t. Some of my happiest memories at The Dell were watching Shilton.
Please correct me should I be wrong but weren’t two of the games in Shilton’s first seven, away at Spurs and Liverpool where the results were 6-0 and 5-0 respectively ?
So far Ramsdale has let in 3 goals four times already, once at home to a poor Man United and three further times at Brentford, Bournemouth and now Saturday.
Arsenal fair enough, they are a top team, but a poor Man Utd at home together with Brentford and Bournemouth ? It’s hardly what Shilton was up against at White Hart Lane and Anfield in 1982 is it ?
Despite your best efforts to compare him to Shilton, I remain unconvinced as to Ramsdale’s abilities but will be happy to be proven wrong should he come good during the remainder of the season.
Logically two conclusions we can agree on ?
1. Our current defence and that of early 1982 would appear to have considerable similarities.
2. Unlike Shilton in his time, Ramsdale is currently not the best goalkeeper in the world. |
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