Forum | You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. by saintmark1976

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You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. 14:31 - Sep 5 with 3371 views

saintmark1976

Another uninspiring away performance and four points lost already from winning positions.

Something has to change and change quickly or the punishment four points deduction is going to haunt us a lot longer than some people thought.

Poll:

One week to go. Who will win The World Cup ?

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 14:34 - Sep 5 with 3313 views

cocklebreath

You don’t get autos with bottling it and going back 5 v shit like that, it was like England v the argies.
Edozie awful player, why take Leo off? He was getting into it

Poll:

Who is the biggest c*nt?

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 14:50 - Sep 5 with 3233 views

Southamptonfan

Our squad is weaker. It's fine margins and Tonda will soon realise that Mubama is not good enough, Edozie is not good enough, Wood is not good enough. Not bringing in Lankshear or another decent striker and a defemder will cost us.

Poll:

Will you get a season ticket next season?

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 14:53 - Sep 5 with 3221 views

Joiedevivre

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 14:50 - Sep 5 by Southamptonfan
Our squad is weaker. It's fine margins and Tonda will soon realise that Mubama is not good enough, Edozie is not good enough, Wood is not good enough. Not bringing in Lankshear or another decent striker and a defemder will cost us.

It was obvious Mubama was not the build of player we needed. We let Stewart go and didn’t replace him. A cheap loanee with 5 goals ever. Now we need to wait months to have a decent backup striker.

Whoever made that decision deserves this.

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 15:04 - Sep 5 with 3199 views

MattFinish

If you compare this season's results with the corresponding results last season it makes an interesting read. If you substitute the Lincoln away score this season with the away score against the team that won League One the season before ie Birmingham City (if you follow me) it shows that against the same teams last season we've actually picked up four more points at this stage.

2025/26 results:
Watford 2-2 Saints – 1 pt
Saints 1-2 Stoke – 0 pts
Saints 0-0 Millwall - 1 pt
Birmingham 1-1 Saints - 1 pt
Birmingham (ie Lincoln this season) 1-1 Saints – 1 Pt
2026/27 results:
Watford 2-1 Saints – 0 pts
Saints 3-1 Stoke – 3 pts
Saints 5-1 Millwall – 3 pts
Birmingham 1-1 Saints – 1pt
Lincoln 1-1 Saints – 1 pt

Agreed it wasn't a great performance today and apart from the Millwall game we haven't played like we did in the 21 game unbeaten run last season but it's a changed squad and I'm confident Eckert will get results, so let's not overreact now and see how things are in a couple of months’ time.

Okay we haven’t hit the form we would hope yet (excl Millwall) but we are now on a 5 match unbeaten run

Keep the faith COYS

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 15:13 - Sep 5 with 3159 views

Southamptonfan

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 15:04 - Sep 5 by MattFinish

Solak lied. The squad is weaker. If only we had bought Piroe who has just scored for West Ham (a proven striker at this level, that scored 20 goals for Leeds at this level) or Lankshear who is banging them in for Boro instead of a cheap player on loan that Stoke fans said was useless and only scored 5 goals. Tonda didn't have the squad to bring on players that are good enough. You can't take off Larin, Sciensa, Azaz and expect us to be as good with poor players coming on. These little details, saving 15 million will cost us 150 million. We always just miss out trying to do.it on the cheap. The fine margins will tell.

[Post edited 5 Sep 15:17]

Poll:

Will you get a season ticket next season?

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 15:22 - Sep 5 with 3099 views

saintmark1976

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 15:04 - Sep 5 by MattFinish

Interesting use of statistics MattFinish which makes no reference to the four point penalty we are unfortunately saddled with because of last season’s tomfoolery.

Add in the fact that we have sold arguably our two best players for £50 million and spent only £23 million and it’s plain to see that the squad is weaker than it was.

You are entitled to your opinion and I genuinely hope that your optimism is well founded.

Personally I feel that even at this early stage a top two finish will be beyond us. Top eight? Maybe, but not by continuing to take only 2 points out of every 9 points away from home.

Poll:

One week to go. Who will win The World Cup ?

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 15:32 - Sep 5 with 3057 views

StRipper

Total complacency by Eckert.
The points were more important than the rotation spreadsheet today. We did well to get ahead.Then the tinker man f*cked it up. It was like Reuben Selles was still in charge

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 17:38 - Sep 5 with 2836 views

MattFinish

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 15:22 - Sep 5 by saintmark1976

Saintmark 1976 I was just trying to point out that game for game against the clubs we’ve faced we have done better than last season by 4 points so far. I'm obviously aware of the 4 point deduction and had we not received that we'd currently sit 8th above WHU on goal difference so I just don't understand the mass of negative posts on this site.

I’m well aware that this is going to be a seriously tough season with the 4 point deduction and possibly the two strongest teams to be relegated for a long time in WHU & Wolves.

I can’t believe the reaction on this site because we haven’t been blowing sides away. There’s been people suggesting Tonda should be sacked. Let’s not forget we went on a 21 game unbeaten run last season and we’re 4 games unbeaten this season.

I agree we should have strengthened more but we have to give Tonda chance to stabilise with the new squad. I’m confident he will and here's another statistic - he’s only lost 2 of our last 27 league games - and fans are criticising him.

[Post edited 5 Sep 17:40]

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 17:46 - Sep 5 with 2803 views

Southamptonfan

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 17:38 - Sep 5 by MattFinish

[Post edited 5 Sep 17:40]

Go on my thread where Flynn Downes says he is fuming and that the players need to step up. Do you agree with him?

That's passion for you and truth. We have just drawn with Lincoln City. As Flynn.says it's unacceptable.

Tonda has been brilliant but today he got it wrong. Mubama.is terrible and so.is Dobbin. Just tell the truth.

[Post edited 5 Sep 17:48]

Poll:

Will you get a season ticket next season?

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 17:55 - Sep 5 with 2740 views

kingslandstand1

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 15:04 - Sep 5 by MattFinish

But Will Still was our manager then and where did that get us/him
Tonda came in and was the messiah and we shot up the league.
Today it was his substitutions that was the downfall
We should still make the play offs, but with all due respect to them, we should beat teams like Lincoln even at their place

Poll:

Are you renewing your season ticket

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 18:21 - Sep 5 with 2702 views

saintmark1976

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 17:38 - Sep 5 by MattFinish

[Post edited 5 Sep 17:40]

As I said previously MattFinish, I hope that your optimism is rewarded and “yes” perhaps I and some others are being a little negative.

On the other hand, sometimes your gut feeling turns out to be the correct one and I feel that this is one of those occasions. Put simply, there’s something about S F C at the moment that to me just doesn’t feel right. Perhaps it’s the players not knowing what punishment Tonda will receive and thinking why put the effort in because he may not even be the manager soon, who knows ?

Witness Downes giving an immediate after match interview effectively saying the team needs to try harder. Lack of effort after only five games when you are carrying a four point penalty and are currently one point above the relegation zone for pity sake.

Let’s hope that your confidence is well placed and Tonda stabilises the squad and we start to perform like a team that wants a top two finish. If by the International Break that doesn’t prove to be the case, then I imagine there may well be more than the odd one or two wanting him away. After all,when push comes to shove he hasn’t a lot of credit left in his box, given that his tomfoolery at the end of last season is probably the reason we are playing Championship football this.

[Post edited 5 Sep 18:52]

Poll:

One week to go. Who will win The World Cup ?

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 18:55 - Sep 5 with 2628 views

1885_SFC

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 15:22 - Sep 5 by saintmark1976

... and lets not forget the £6.45m sell-on fee we received for Mateus Fernandes.

Old Skool is Kool

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 00:24 - Sep 6 with 2254 views

Tonyfromdk

Could be worse, could be Leicester 😂

[Post edited 6 Sep 1:19]

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 00:36 - Sep 6 with 2234 views

cocklebreath

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 00:24 - Sep 6 by Tonyfromdk
Could be worse, could be Leicester 😂 [Post edited 6 Sep 1:19]

Or Leicester

Poll:

Who is the biggest c*nt?

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 00:42 - Sep 6 with 2229 views

sledger

the man city loaner is no better than Damion downes,both brought in as centre forwards to give the team a focal point like larin does but neither are that player,just poor recruitment.

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 01:30 - Sep 6 with 2174 views

Tonyfromdk

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 00:36 - Sep 6 by cocklebreath
Or Leicester

Thanks for the spell check, don’t know what I was thinking 🙈
Russell Martini though is thinking himself to a P45

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 10:42 - Sep 6 with 1742 views

jopreston

The game was lost today with amatuer subs. The first doublke change was crazy as the two taken off were starting to get into the game more and more and two coming on were worse. The next double change was simply like for like to give people pitch time. TE treated this game like a training session and was totally unnecessary.

Call me a bed wetter, I do not care. This team with this manager doing these things will not finish top two, not a chance.

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 11:25 - Sep 6 with 1698 views

Tonyfromdk

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 10:42 - Sep 6 by jopreston

Okay, you’re a bed wetter..
Yes it didn’t go to plan, yes he made the wrong subs.
If we stuff Swansea next week and our subs change the game, then he’s a tactical genius.
We’ve only played 5 league games, losing just the one.
We have 41 games left, get a grip and support your team.
This is Southampton, it never gets done the easy way.

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 13:40 - Sep 6 with 1558 views

saintmark1976

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 10:42 - Sep 6 by jopreston

You aren’t a bed wetter jopreston, just a realist.

I posted before a ball was kicked that the effects of last season’s spy gate tomfoolery would not be shaken off quickly and at the moment I can’t see any evidence to change my opinion.

By any logical metric the summer window has not been good. Yes, we may have parted company with a few players either permanently or on loan, but what are we left with ?

Does anyone other than those serial happy clappers really believe that the current squad is better than that which finished last season ? If so, I really would like to know exactly what they base their views on.

Solak has done what he is perfectly entitled to do, after all it’s his club. He’s given instructions to the board to sell what they can, buy or loan cheap replacements and use the surplus income generated by so doing to balance the books.

After just five games we are already at least six points adrift of the league’s top two and only one point above the relegation zone and still the elephant in the room remains, what will the F A. do about Tonda ?

[Post edited 6 Sep 13:41]

Poll:

One week to go. Who will win The World Cup ?

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 13:53 - Sep 6 with 1505 views

kingslandstand1

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 11:25 - Sep 6 by Tonyfromdk
Okay, you’re a bed wetter.. Yes it didn’t go to plan, yes he made the wrong subs. If we stuff Swansea next week and our subs change the game, then he’s a tactical genius. We’ve only played 5 league games, losing just the one. We have 41 games left, get a grip and support your team. This is Southampton, it never gets done the easy way.

You are absolutely right Tonyfromdk re the 41 games to go, and like the Millwall game, I can actually see us doing something in that game (maybe not 5-1!), as hopefully Tonda did learn from what all (most) are saying were mistaken substitutions and don't settle for a 1-0 win and rely on keeping the opposition out
However if he plays those same tactics re substitutions there will undoubtedly be questions asked.
As you know we are a fickle bunch down here, but ultimately we all love our club and after last season I'd say we all expected to have better performances, especially yesterday

Poll:

Are you renewing your season ticket

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 23:00 - Sep 6 with 1239 views

MattFinish

You don’t get automatic promotion by dropping points from winning positions. on 11:25 - Sep 6 by Tonyfromdk
Okay, you’re a bed wetter.. Yes it didn’t go to plan, yes he made the wrong subs. If we stuff Swansea next week and our subs change the game, then he’s a tactical genius. We’ve only played 5 league games, losing just the one. We have 41 games left, get a grip and support your team. This is Southampton, it never gets done the easy way.

That’s exactly the point I’m trying to make Tonyfromdk

I can totally understand that people are unhappy with some of the performances so far and I agree too that at this stage it looks as if we haven’t got the players we needed to replace Harwood-Bellis and Stewart but it’s early days yet for sure. Solak has been criticised for selling THB & Stewart but in reality neither wanted to stay. I agree we particularly need to get an experienced striker. Danny Ings is a free agent and might be worth a punt to bring on for Larin every game. He’s probably fitter than Stewart

But the criticism of Tonda on this board is ridiculous. He has a 59.6% win rate since joining the club and has only lost 3 games in the last 30 league matches yet he has a couple of dodgy performances and people are calling him a tinker man etc. Last season he had a 62.5% total win rate, which was better than Frank Lampard at Coventry with a 60.87% total win rate. This season he has a better points record than Nuno Espírito Santo and but for the 4 point deduction we’d be sitting in 8th place above WHU on GD

The criticism is crazy

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