13 Dec 2017 21:38:58
Something serious has got to be done now. We all saw this coming in the summer or at least those of us with some form of insight.

We will be in the bottom 3 by 1st Jan. There has to be some major changes of personnel at the club too or else we are out of the PL.

Puel failed because he did not have the players. That should have been obvious.

What is the solution? Spend money quick and get 4 or 5 new players in.

1.) 13 Dec 2017
13 Dec 2017 23:00:17
And what players in what positions would you sign to help improve the squad?

2.) 14 Dec 2017
14 Dec 2017 01:14:18
Gt I understand completely I have been saying for ages that we should have kept CP and given him this season to sort things out. He has done well at Leicester, he has. Every time I say anything on here I am told that I am being negative and people like me are doom mongers. I just feel I am being realistic but there you go. We will struggle this season to me it seems obvious, being positive is great if you see that there is something to be positive about. I see nothing to give me confidence that we can improve our situation! At least not with this manager. Ready to be shot down but that’s the way I see it.

3.) 14 Dec 2017
14 Dec 2017 01:17:11
Just as an extra little statement, I watch all the matches now looking at the teams below us hoping they get beat to keep us in the PL . Surely after our last 3 seasons that shouldn’t be happening.

4.) 14 Dec 2017
14 Dec 2017 09:59:05
Couldn't agree more Saint Chris. It's now become a case of who are the teams below us playing and are they likely to get points. But with Crystal Palace unbeaten in 6 games, West Ham taking 4 points against 2 of the "top 6" clubs. We have Spurs, Chelsea and Utd to play over Xmas, so it's not looking likely that we'll be taking many points.
MP has to play this tactically. The teams that we should be beating he should play his best 11. Judging by the draw on the weekend, I'd say this was probably our best 11. Maybe bring out Cedric for Bertrand and play a 3-4-3 with attacking wing backs. This formation works for our team.
We have a large squad so rotation shouldn't be a problem if we're worried about fatigue. JWP and CS can rotate amongst each other. RB/ MT/ SM can also rotate. Our 4 main CB's can rotate amongst each other. Our 4/ 5 main CM's can rotate amongst each other. TD/ SB/ NR can rotate on the wings. And CA and MG can rotate up top.
I think if we go with this, we should have no problem finding results.

5.) 14 Dec 2017
14 Dec 2017 19:14:54
Hi I have been a saints season ticket holder for longer than I can remember, I done something I have never done before I walked out of st marys after 38 mins I was so apalled at watch I was watching. But this team was absolutly disgracful
no pressing no pace in the game I have been saying for many months on this site you can't play Tadic, Boufal, in the same team we can't aford to carry them both they both take to long getting the ball forward Tadic is to frightend to shoot unless its an open goal and boufal has to beat the same player 3/ 4 times by then he has 2/ 3 players closing him down.
we are used to balls down the wings and crosses coming in for the C/ F to have a go at not this pedestrian rubbish were watching now. they were shooting on site last night and they still carried on with the same crap This manager is clueless he dosent know what his strongest team is he rotates far to much he is tactilly niave his substitutions are baffeling he has no idea what he is doing the quicker he is sacked the better but on saying that the way this team is playing it might not matter who the manager is the results won't change unless the system and personel changes

Dissilusioned.

6.) 14 Dec 2017
14 Dec 2017 21:11:19
Well I don’t think any of us were expecting to see that type of performance last night. They say it’s the hope that kills you and I guess that’s why last night was such a downer. It comes on the back of magnificent performances against Everton, Man City and Arsenal where we deserved a 7 point return rather than the 4 we ended up with. Bournemouth was a bit of a wobble as we seemed to revert to our pre-Everton style of slow and deliberate, but even in that match, we had several brilliant chances to score enough goals to win, even if they were awarded a penalty in the first half.

But last night, sheesh. Everyone (not just on here but football journalists too) seem to lay the blame at the feet of MP which I think is entirely unfair. He cannot be held responsible for eleven players failing to turn up and deliver over the course of a match. The whole side were terrible. Cedric on his return looked to have such a thick layer of rust that 90 minutes was not enough to shake it off and Lemina…. someone had slipped him something because he looked hammered last night. Worse than his cameo against Bournemouth. Boufal got a rare start and perhaps predictably failed to make the impact we know he can. Charlie showed a bit of frustration and fight but at the end of the day, he’s missed a couple of gilt-edged chances against Bournemouth, Arsenal and last night against Leicester that could have made a huge difference to the outcome of those games so he’s probably as peeved with himself as everyone else. Ok, well maybe not last night as even if he’d scored a hat-trick, we were playing that badly that we would have contrived some bizarre way to concede another.

So its all doom and gloom now is it? Relegation zone here we come by the new year? Well, I’m still not buying it. Surely the team has shown us enough over the course of the previous 4 games to suggest they are capable? Surely last night was the aberration, not the 4 performances that preceded it? Yes we have some very tough fixtures coming up, and yes, its depressing to be in a situation where we are keeping an eye on the teams below us and hoping enough play poorly enough to keep us out of the bottom three. I agree entirely with that, but I still don’t see a quick fix. let's not forget that we only finished 12 points above the drop zone last season. We have a new manager but virtually the same team as last year with the same problems. January is not the best market to buy players of quality at a reasonable price. It would be nice to add a name or two, but not to panic buy. Even if we don’t bring anyone in, I believe we have enough to finish mid-table. It’ll be hard going at times but I think we’ve shown enough.

A change of manager at this stage is also unlikely to improve things. Someone new, having to start again, in the middle of a season, with the same team of players that have struggled to score now for a season and a half. And even at the end of the season, do we fire MP as we did CP last season, or do we give MP the second season so many of you suggest we should have given to CP? I say, judge MP on where we are at the end of season. Judge MP based on our best performances as well as our worst. Consider results and performances in context rather then on a game by game basis.

If last night had come on the back of other worrying performances where the team hadn’t shown up, that would be terrible, but instead, it comes after the team have galvanised and picked up points against some of the toughest opposition and Leicester are no exception. There are other annoying factors like the end of a promising run, CP being Leicester manager and seeing them win 4 straight and leaving us behind and the performance as a whole, but for me, the worst part is the surprise. I didn’t see this coming as we’ve played so well lately. And on reflection, that has to be a positive doesn’t it? The team has shown what its capable of more often across this season and last than what they showed last night. So my hope is still there that we’ll come back stronger and better next game (can’t get any worse) . I’ll just have to cross my fingers that my hope is repaid, or chances are it’ll hurt twice as much.

7.) 15 Dec 2017
15 Dec 2017 08:45:24
I think a manager should be judged on the results so far, not the best performances, it's about consistency not the odd result, as relegation would be a real factor if we only considered the better results.

I wonder where we are actually going to pick up points, too many games we have played this year where a win was what was expected and we either lost or drew the game.

We are looking like a side that are struggling and will continue to struggle, I think there is some tactical naivety from the manager.

4 wins so far just isn't good enough.

8.) 15 Dec 2017
15 Dec 2017 09:01:51
Trouble is your statement that we could have had more points from our recent games is a getting a little monotonous now. How long have we been saying that and don’t you think other supporters from clubs that are struggling are saying exactly the same thing. Like him or loathe him Sam Alladyce was brought in to turn Everton around, he is doing it. We brought Pearson in a few seasons ago to get us out of a hole and he did it.

In the PL these days survival is absolutely vital and if we are in the bottom three in the new year we will sack the current manager, I am certain of that. There will be very few managers available to sort the problem out and some won’t be interested. Maybe a phone call to Gordon Strachan may already be pencilled in Les Reeds diary, I am pretty sure he would put a rocket up the behind of a few of our under performing players.

Can’t see the current manager getting the motivation we need. If we get relegated which may be possible it could take many years to get back as the Championship pound for pound must be one of the most difficult leagues in the world to get out of. Just don’t understand why so many supporters can’t see we are on this slippery slope and have been for quite some time.

One final thing, when is anybody going to realise that FF is not a PL goalkeeper, the other night he was trying to keep out shots with his legs as though he was going to get penalised if he used his arms. Good point blank shot stopper agreed but all round his ability is below the standard required.

9.) 15 Dec 2017
15 Dec 2017 09:13:59
I do admire your optimism Figo, and I must admit if we play well everyone comes to the page full of cheer and praise. If we play terribly as we did on Wednesday everyone comes to this forum with criticism and that is how football fans work.

Anyway, you seem to be under the impression that it isn't actually that bad, that we have been playing well. Apart from the Everton match, who played as bad as we did against Leicester we haven't played well or smart at all. Yes, we were "unlucky" to some extent. But the Manc and Arsenal game we spent most of the match with 11 players behind the ball defending.

And that has been our problem this season we take the lead and don't look to extend it and that has cost us a lot of points already. I was looking the other and games that we should've won or we dropped leads, we would have an extra 10 points, which would make us level with Spurs / Burnley and if that was the case this place would be a lot cheerier but we've dropped points.

I don't want us to become one of these clubs like Swansea, like Crystal Palace who sacks their managers as soon as they have a bad string of results. However, that being said I can't take anything positive from what MP has brought into the club. He's been in charge now for half a season and still doesn't seem to know the best 11.

For example, he's insisted on playing VVD and WH, who haven't kept a clean sheet together. He's dropped, Jack Stephens who always performs and is always consistent. He waited for 10 or so games to give Charlie Austin his first start - and when he got it he scored a brace.

He doesn't seem to understand the Premier League, ultimately he and says and coaches how he likes but as soon as our squad steps out onto the field they can play how they like. I could go on about how bad his tactics are and go into detail about every player's weaknesses but I won't bother.

Two seasons ago we seemed like we had the tightest group of players and it was great, to see a squad that wanted to play for each other. Now it looks nothing like this. Obviously, I don't want us to sack the manager and bring in a manager like Pulis. However, if the board want to replace him at the end of the season I would recommend that they thoroughly spend time researching and have the new manager in mind before they sack him then wait a month to hire an inadequate replacement.

10.) 15 Dec 2017
15 Dec 2017 17:44:15
Hi Guys, I know everyone is entitled to their opinion,
But i'm sorry Figgo, I have been racking my brains out trying to find the matches you think saints played a good gam, e I mean apart from the Everton match saints have been under performing all of this season so far, we have fallen so far down from the football we were playing under M Pochitino we look like a different club. I know we have sold a lot of quality players but we have also purchased players, the difference is apart from VVD most have been inferrior to what we sold. The team we are watching at the moment is far to slow in getting the ball forward theirs no pace, no desire, no urgency, there is no one able to open up defences Tadic and Boufal are just not good enough in fact I don't know what their role is, I don't know if that is the teams fault or the way the manager wants them to play. But if things don't change ie the system or the personel, we will be looking over our shoulders for the rest of the season our only saving grace seems to be that at the moment there are a few teams below us which appear to be worse than us. this MP is cluless, he has no tactical knowledge, is not sure who is best team is, takes far to long to make substitutions, and i'm sorry to say this Les Reed, this is your appointment so you better start looking in your little black book for some one who knows a bit about footbal and get shot of this clown.

11.) 16 Dec 2017
16 Dec 2017 17:24:17
Surely another goalkeeper to replace "one shot" Forster!