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Comment | Southampton At Manchester United The Preview
at 16:33:07
One of the most feared places in the Premier League for any team to visit but with our luck
so far this season ....this is the sort of game we might win, VAR permitting. |
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Comment | Sulemana To Stay At Southampton ! Amo-Ameyaw To Go Out On Loan
at 13:48:26
Juric has never seen Sam play (but then again most fans have only seen a little more).
This season he made one start in League Cup and had a few minutes more in later rounds, and a 15 minute spell at the back end of the game at Newcastle. Three games for U21 doesn't make this season's CV look any better. Admittedly, he had good spells last season, but then again so did a lot of others - at that level .
Three games till the end of the month may give both Sam A-A and Sulemana chances to get minutes and impress - especially looking at the quality of the opposition.
IF.. either of them steps up and DAJFU then it will be good for the players and the club. Sulemana may stay, and recover some of his enormous value, and Sam may get himself a good loan at a club and get experience in a league we may end up playing in-next season. I can't see him getting ahead of our "regulars " who are struggling in the Prem. at present.
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Comment | Southampton V Swansea City The Verdict
at 16:15:14
A good review ( Nick) but interestingly our dominance showed the obvious difference between the " worst team " in the Premier League, and a typically ordinary mid-table Championship side who were rarely in the game. The influence of Russel Martin's " possession style" still remains with Swansea who (despite the result) had more of the ball (51%) , but only managed 6 shots, and one hitting on the post.
The score might have been doubled in the second half with Armstrong and Archer both shunning chances that should have been easily converted. Burnley may provide stronger opposition unless Juric can generate a better all-round performance from a squad who have been lacking real finishing skills all season. |
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Comment | Southampton Tout Sulemana To European Clubs
at 15:59:38
For once Sulemana was given the chance to show his worth and Juric will surely have been encouraged at the result. IF ..he can show up in the coming games, he will attract attention from clubs more able to utilise his skill and pace but Saints will most certainly drop a packet on any eventual deal for someone who is " our most expensive failure" , and his worth will drop even more if /when we eventually drop a level. Better to cut a deal now that later.
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Comment | Southampton FC Chairman Stepping Down
at 15:49:19
Failure to replace Jason Wilcox was a major failing. Admittedly it will be a big challenge to find someone of his caliber (as his past record was unique in the game at this level), and he might not have left, had it not been for the lure of a prestige job at MU.
Ideally we need someone who is well-acquainted with the English game. Not necessarily a proven international, but someone who knows the game at the highest level and will not deterred by the impending prospect of Championship football for a season ( or two).
Sadly, the " family feel " that has clearly pervaded Saints for almost half-a-century has prevented the inevitable sacking of Martin much earlier, and the writing was on the wall side after his blatant refusal to change the system he was so dedicated to, when working with a squad that seemingly fell below the required level for Prem. survival.
RM may have been a " Mister Nice Guy" and popular in the dressing room, but like many of his ilk couldn't cut it at the highest level and should never been allowed to continue after the humiliation of the defeat (by what was essentially) Chelsea's B side.
Many Prem. chairmen would (and some already) have acted more quickly to make the changes to stop the rot. Sadly we may already have passed the point of no return and Dragan has now moved to try and protect his not insignificant investment in the club.
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Comment | Charlie Taylor Admits He Would Have Left If Russell Martin Had Stayed
at 10:57:22
On paper , Charlie Taylor was a good buy - for the right club - who could benefit from his experience but was an obvious non-starter for RM who had his own unchangeable plan.
The few apps. he made during Martin's reign showed that he was by no means " a dud" and
showed up well given the restraints of the formation and playing situation we were in.
In the event of injuries / transfers out, he may well give good service on the occasions he's given game time and IMHO...(much the same can be said for James Bree). |
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Comment | Saints In Talks To Move On Sulemana In The January Transfer Window
at 10:47:26
(Mytchett Saints) sadly it's typical of this type of deal. Clubs desperate to get new blood in and with an extra few millions to spend are always desperate and any player can look good if he's playing in a team or formation that suits him - even if it's in another country.
It was clear from Day 1 that Russell Martin's set-up was not going to suit Sulemana's abilities, and he's been in the wilderness ever since, and even the odd sub. appearance has done little to enhance his reputation, or his value. He joins the embarrassing list of expensive foreign signings (I call it the Carrillo list).. who clearly just can't cut it at the highest level and end up going cheap, or even on free transfer. RM had no Plan B and anyone who didn't fit his system and was left out in the cold to do training stints every week and seldom ever making the bench.
One has to feel for the lad who is still relatively young, but may well blossom in Italy where attacking formations are not shunned in favour of the English defensive dogma. |
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Comment | Dom Ballard Recalled To Southampton From Loan Spell But Not Striking Answer
at 11:20:43
Dom really was a good Academy prospect. He scored goals for the U18 and U21s even at age 16 and IMHO was a better prospect than Dibling at that age. He was certainly a big goal scorer after that and (think) he scored around 30 goals for U18 and U21 in the season before his first loan out to Reading. His goal tally was greater than Dibling and JJ Morgan (before he went to Chelsea. I rated Dom as the "best" of the three as a goalscorer.
Two unfortunate injuries hampered his progress, but now that he's back I hope he might be fit enough to get 45 minutes in the Swansea Cup game. There's a lot of space between U21 and senior football level but it will be good for the new manager to take a look at him, before " decisions " are made. |
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Comment | Southampton V Brentford The Verdict
at 11:05:29
Not a lot more to say really. The squad (overloaded by all accounts) is still incapable of finding a winning formula. Quite frankly, they weren't better than Leeds last season, and only the win in the play-off got us the promoted. That squad was composed of 5 loan players and a group of promising kids and was clearly not good enough for the Prem. and as of today we see that neither Ipswich of Leicester seem capable of getting clear of the drop zone either.
Martin's tactics may have worked for the best part of last season, but were totally unsuitable at the highest level, and the mentality of the players who suffered consecutive defeats week in and out has clearly affected their performances. The strike force is pitiful.
The most we can hope for is for some brave results before the end of the season, because most of this squad would likely find it difficult in a very competitive Championship league.
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Comment | Saints Confirm Signing Of Brazilian Left Back
at 13:05:09
It will be good to see if he is a defender - who can defend. For many years past we have been obsessed with attacking full backs who lack real pace to get back - and defend - when they come up against a fast winger.
It means that we have yet another left back on the books and obviously look to see who will depart in addition to KWP who is out of contract at end of season anyway.
A free transfer (wait for the groans from the back) doesn't mean he's no good but that we (hopefully) have got ourselves a player without having to pay a transfer fee to Brazil.
Historically, we' ve had some good deals - especially at the back. Stuart Williams and Peter Rodrigues cost us nothing in the 1960's...and Joe Kirkup was in a part/ex deal from Chelsea. Later, Ivan Golac came from Yugoslavia. McMenemy got a low cost deal to bring in Mark Dennis and later Dean Richards (R.I P. ) was a freebie from Wolves. Ironically we had some good FB's who cost next to nothing. David Peach from Gillingham. Jeff Kenna began as a trainee, Jason Dodd came from Bristol as a boy. Local lad Nick Holmes began as a full back and Frannie Benali only needed a bus fare to get to The Dell, and Wayne Bridge came by train from Winchester.
Never disparage free signings. They cost little and maybe you find a diamond in the rough.
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Comment | Do Southampton Cut Their Losses Now On This Season And Cash In On Kyle Walker Peters
at 17:00:59
Agree with.. landsdownsaint ( opening post) .
It's time for him to move NOW. He's too good for the Championship and in 6 months time he can walk away - for nothing. He will have to be replaced anyway so why not now?
Thanks Kyle, a good servant to the club in difficult times, but we need to get whatever we can for him in the January window. |
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Comment | Southampton V West Ham United The Verdict
at 09:58:41
I think the decision to have Dibling on the bench was the right one because he is still 18 and struggling to adapt to the physical demands of the Prem. and playing 90 minutes games is not advisable and may burn him out by the Spring.
Although the records show that Bowen scored the winning goal, I think that Fabianski was (in part) just as responsible for their victory as he made a couple of point blank saves that (on another day) might have seen Onuachu going in with two goals at HT. I thought we looked the better side and only our poor finishing robbed us of a win. 18 shots was the second best shot tally all season where we have often failed to even get into double figures. Those who us who recall what " attacking football " looked like were doubtless encouraged, although it's clear we need to see a few critical decisions regarding the future of a few players who are presently in the squad.
Juric may be allowed to add a few new names in January, and we will surely see a few departures, either on loan or permanent. I'm sure that we will fight whilst there is still a possibility of survival, but at present it looks like a very big "ask" . |
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Comment | Southampton At Fulham The Verdict
at 10:37:14
less possession against a team with strong attacking ethic and who might have scored except for Ramsdale's efforts. Good to see some Saints attacks and ventures into last third. One point well-deserved, but the Fulham boss will see it as a game lost, I'm sure.
I was not overly surprised (Nick) at subbing of Dibling at HT. He has worked his socks off for the last 3 months and often been the standout player but he is still only 18, and the tough Fulham full back didn't give him the time of day and he was outclassed quite often.
He is still a fine talent, but should not be pressed into a 90 minute stretch every game, especially over the busy Christmas / New Year period. Might show up well versus WHam on Boxing Day. Others who showed up well include Wood who is beginning to look the real deal. Jan. B took to the captain's role well, and Fernandes took a lot of punishment
(often unpunished by a weak referee) and Ugochukwa looked a bit raw, but was not afraid to get in and mix it up a bit. Why did Simon Rusk wait so long to sub. on Onuachu as Adam Armstrong was hardly in the game. |
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Comment | Southampton Appoint Ivan Juric
at 08:42:33
It's easy to prejudge managers /players on the basis of past achievements, but there is a huge difference between playing and managing. We have seen legendary names like Gerrard, Lampard and lately Rooney struggle to manage even mediocre club sides and it's obvious that personal success doesn't automatically translate to managerial success as soon as they set foot in the door, and such has been the case many times in the past.
Indeed some of the most successful manager / coaches since the Millennium had little or no playing career of note; Wenger and Klopp are prime examples of this. Ivan played much of his football in lower level clubs in his homeland and Italy but seems to have succeeded in helping certain clubs an so now that Ivan on board we can hope that irrespective of results we might see a brand of attacking football that has been absent since the departure of Ronald Koeman.
An interesting observation is that having invested 100 mill. or more in the club, perhaps Ivan may have been Dragan's personal choice as they both seem to hare the same European heritage?. Regardless of that decision it remains to be seen if he is the solution to rectify our problems as we sit in the Last Chance Saloon until the end of the season.
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Comment | Southampton Linked With Ex Danish National Team Manager
at 08:40:19
Although Hjulmand seems to be an outside choice, his career path has given him a lot of contact with Ankersen.
If we assume he can talk football - in English- that would rule out language difficulties with team talks, and (Nick's comment ) about someone familiar with the Premier League to assist him ..(?) ..perhaps even Adam Lallana... who is surely in his last playing season, but has won almost everything with Liverpool and had an England career, and more recently coaching experience with England's youth team(s) and has a " spiritual connection" with Saints for whom he played (and captained) for in many seasons. |
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Comment | Southampton Planning To Keep Faith With Russell Martin But Why !
at 11:05:32
This is a question being asked by every Prem. club and media critic - and why not?.
Let's face it we have already created a new record for the worst season start of any Prem. club since 1992 and don't seem to be learning anything new from our successive defeats.
Perhaps the fact that the players have been so indoctrinated into "Russball" that the thought of bringing in another coach would mean they would need to "unlearn" that formation and play the old fashioned way that requires them to run with the ball towards the oppositions goal - and take shots and even force the keeper into making saves.
I used to like that. Back in the good old days. Rapid movement from one wing to the other, and attackers who weren't afraid to take on a defender, instead of passing the ball back to their CB, so as to avoid being tackled . Now I can safely leave the TV and go take a short toilet visit or put the kettle on for another cup of tea, safe in the knowledge that they hadn't completed the standard 50 passes before making a half-hearted attempt at getting into the final third. That's the problem when you employ managers who had careers as defenders; Puel, Pellegrino and now Russell Martin. They are obsessed with defending . A clean sheet is almost as valuable as a WIN to them. ( remember what they were?).
Bring back Ronald Koeman - even for a season. He knew how to score goals and so did his teams. Right now we even have strikers who can't find their way over the halfway line.
A return to the Championship might even be a blessing for everyone. |
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Comment | Southampton At Aston Villa The Verdict
at 15:55:07
The same procedure in the last match ..and every match. Theoretically, "Russball" deprives the opposition possession, but does nothing to encourage attacking efforts, yet opponents had more scoring chances. In last 5 Saints had; 9, 7, 10, 6 and 4 = 27 shots.
In those same games opponents have had ; 8, 27,22, 26 and 28 = 101 shots (yes) 101.
Goals scored 4 ....goals conceded 12 . Points gained =1 Points lost= 14. ' nuff said !
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Comment | Southampton At Brighton The Verdict
at 14:31:28
The " Armstrong incident " has generated reactions from almost every Prem. side - and a few more - but AA was not involved with goal-scoring incident, and so VAR seems to have "created " a situation in their own mind with " obstructing the keepers view ".
Ironically, the Brighton keeper was quoted afterwards as saying - that he didn't know why the 2-1 goal was disallowed - and thought that Brighton had "got lucky" on the day.
The " Downes incident " ...already on a yellow card he was adjudged to have fouled the player who stopped in front of him and then fell to the ground. That didn't deserve a second yellow. IF ..two fouls meant two yellows ..Brighton would have lost at least two players in the first half from their "over -zealous tackling." They committed 20 fouls in the game but had just ONE card ..until the last 2 minutes.
Although we've have had some bad calls so far this season, I don't believe that all refs are corrupt, but is there a subconscious element of .." they lose every game and will certainly go down - and so the points are more value to the other side?.
As for the game ...we were rubbish in the first 45, and were saved by the posts on a couple of occasions, but the second half performance was at least worth the one point .
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Comment | Southampton Ready To Trim The Squad In January To Free Up Space For New Arrivals
at 11:31:27
There are half-a-dozen players on the books who are being blatantly ignored and who (aside from drawing salaries want to play football weekly yet can't even make the bench.
RM insists there is no Plan B in his thinking and he is dependent on his " closed group" who are now mostly; injured, off-form, or will be suspended for the Chelsea game.
Listening to him, they are all his " favourite children " and are all highly-professional and good in training . So where is the problem Russell?
3 or 4 of these players have not featured yet, let alone started games this season, and as many fans are almost "anticipating" defeat before the kick-off, what's wrong with giving them some game time. Players who come up against top sides will either DAJFU, or fail to meet the notional " Prem. standard ", regardless of the result. We surely can't get worse.
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