| News Comment | New Reform MP Rupert Lowe Will Give His MP Salary To Charity at 13:00:40
Lowe's politics are for him and those that choose to support him. Was he good as a Saints chairman? I am sure Nick's view is balanced but it was a long time ago and what the heck. One thing I would say about Colburn's views: If you really think it is 'loony left' to have serious doubts about Reform UK in terms of illiberal, racist and far right politics then you are very much of the 'loony right'. Look at the world as it is now and it is you lot who are far more dangerous than the far left. I cannot think of one far left politician with any real power in the whole of the western world (if you think Starmer is far left then you make my point) - we have however Bravermans, Farages, Le Pens, Melonis, Orbans and Putins all over the place... |
| News Comment | It's Official Adam Lallana Returns To Southampton at 11:58:12
I think harbouring long-term resentments at the expense of current decision-making is rather foolish. I remember us all ganging up to make sure Hoddle didn't come back and then finding us go backwards with the bloke we got instead. The key for me is what AL can contribute NOW. I will give this signing the benefit of the doubt on that basis. We will all like him again soon enough if things go well.... |
| News Comment | Saints 23/24 Season Review - The Goalkeepers at 11:14:24
In retrospect I see the logic behind the McCarthy rather than Lumley. RM, unlike the rest of us, presumably knew straightaway that it wasn't just Preston but the rest of the season, including play-offs. Whatever his history McCarthy did his job in the play-offs. So a hard-nosed decision which paid off. I feel with Bazuna that he isn't always a great shot-stopper. As I don't like tippy-tappy I am perhaps prejudiced because Bazuna is RM's tippy-tappy man. If fit, Bazuna will obviously start as first choice next season and I think we need to bring in a new second choice ready to step in. Thanks to McCarthy for the play-offs but I don't think he is good enough for the Prem. |
| News Comment | Stuart Armstrong Weighing Up Options at 21:38:46
I like him but he is a bit injury prone. Perhaps it is time for him to move on as he might well not feature that much next season. |
| News Comment | Watt View - The Play off Special at 11:47:05
It felt to me like winning the cup. I see it as a glorious one-off event like May 1976 was (although perhaps less of a shock result!) The encouraging thing for me is that over the play-offs, and in the game at Leeds before that, RM has shown signs of adapting his style. Whatever we have thought about RM over the whole season we must all agree that he has succeeded in doing what he was appointed to do. To keep the fans with him he will need to keep learning and adapting. We all feel good at the moment and even people like me, who have been critical of RM at times, should embrace the part that he has played in us now feeling happy. Who knows what the future holds but I am going to keep smiling for a few days yet. For me that game has been added to May 76, Fratton 84, the LC semi at Anfield and the 4-0 in the cup vs Hoddle's Spurs, my all-time favourite games. |
| News Comment | Saints Can Now Start Planning Their Transfer Strategy For The Premier League at 11:36:46
JoeEgg has said most of what I intended to say. RM has already said he intends to play his preferred style next season. In the play-offs he did show some flexibility so we can hope for a 'plan B'. The truth is though that the club will need to be hard-headed, even brutal, in culling those players not good enough for the higher level and they must back RM with players that he wants for this way of playing. We can't be kicking off at Anfield, or wherever, in August with several players 'getting used to' the style and others not good enough for the top level. As for Lallana - if he will fit in re coaching then why not? Given his age/fitness I wouldn't think signing him just as a player would work, but I would hope to be wrong if he does come. The Ings of his peak with the Saints would be very welcome but are we going to get that? He also wouldn't come cheap, so probably no on that one. Presuming he is fit I wonder where Ross Stewart will fit into the plans? |
| News Comment | Would Southampton Fans Welcome Back Adam Lallana To St Mary's at 11:22:56
Forget all the betrayal guff. The hard-headed decision has to be will this be a good idea for Saints on the pitch next season? The Theo case is a warning that this sort of thing has dangers attached. If Lallana was coming off a fairly injury free period I would say why not. That, sadly, is not the case, so I would probably be marginally against this one. Won't be upset if it does happen though. I used the phrase 'hard-headed decision' and I think that has to be the key in the coming weeks. Sentimentally it would be wonderful to see all those who triumphed on Sunday in the squad for next season but we know that can't happen. I am still too happy to name names but we all know it is true - quite a few will not be good enough and some very difficult decisions will need to be made. |
| News Comment | Southampton V Leeds United The Wembley Play Off Final Verdict at 11:10:57
A great day and a deserved win. Well done to players, management and fans. Great report Nick and thanks for another brilliant season on TUI. RM was appointed to get us back up at the first go. He has succeeded and deserves a crack at managing in the Prem. Like all but one of the posters above I fully intend to leave other discussion until I have finished enjoying this!! There will be plenty of time to discuss our anxieties and hopes for next season. For now let's celebrate a long overdue win at Wembley... |
| News Comment | Leave Nothing On The Pitch ! Leave Nothing In The Stands ! at 16:17:57
I think the abusers Nick mentions are often people who have forgotten to take their tablets. We all have negative thoughts about our players at times. I just keep them in my head where they belong. You can look at it the other way and say we are due for better things wibbersda!! |
| News Comment | Southampton V West Bromwich Albion The Play Off Preview at 16:12:34
Please no tippy-tappy in our own box if it is tight near the end. My nerves will not stand it. We are rightly favourites to win but one of those passes across our box from Jack with it 0-0 in the 94th minute would send us home very angry. Other than that I am optimistic but if we were to fail honourably tonight, or at Wembley, then so be it. We came 4th so promotion would be a bonus - the REAL pressure is always on the team that came third. That's how I am rationalising it anyway!! |
| News Comment | Could Adam Lallana Make A Surprise Return To Southampton at 10:31:11
When I saw the Lallana to leave Brighton story I knew we would get this speculation. I see zero evidence for this. I know in this day and age plenty of people feel that 'truth' doesn't need evidence or any kind of factual basis but I am not one of them. NOT a dig at Nick as this story was totally inevitable!! |
| News Comment | Southampton At West Bromwich Albion The Play Off Verdict at 16:33:42
Good enough result. We should be favourites now but musn't be complacent as that right-winger seemed to have the measure of us on that side. . Well done to McCarthy, Downes and Bednerak in particular. Tippy-Tappy diatribe alert: I hate it. What do we gain from the risky messing around at the back? It never seems to lead to anything and if it was going to lead to a goal yesterday it wasn't us that were going to score it. Even if you do find a reason for doing it (and it is Emperor's New Clothes as far as I am concerned) then you need highly skilled players who can pass very, very accurately and are supremely confident on the ball. Whatever else might be said about JS and Manning they do not fulfill those criteria. JS's passing is atrocious. We came close to handing them a goal several times in that second half. It is NOT worth it... Adams or Stewart for Mara on Friday will make us more dangerous hopefully. Also Armstrong needs to get back to best form. |
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