04 Jan 2018 17:15:41
Don't you think it's amazing that VVD is the main reason we have been playing so poorly this year due to disruption according to Krueger and his fellow cronies. I find this statement extraordinary considering all this began last season when CP was here and we still got to a major cup final and finished in 8th even though I must admit the last games of the season were pretty grim. They then sacked Claude Puel ( who seems to be doing a pretty fine job at Leicester) and are now making excuses for our current tragic situation as VVD being the cause. I find that pretty insulting to the supporters who turn up no matter what to every game. We are more intelligent than they think we are we know the main real reason the manager. Look what Allardyce and Hodgson have done from hopeless positions, I think that says it all.

1.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 20:12:48
The contents of this forum show that we are not more intelligent than they think. We panic, over react and scapegoat people and the board/ club in general, as well as refusing to accept when we, as fans, have got it wrong as well (ie Puel) .

2.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 20:59:51
123 what's your definition of 'intelligence' please?

3.) 05 Jan 2018
05 Jan 2018 15:51:16
Hi guys, It's good to see so many people posting though it's a shame that it's because the team is performing so poorly and we are all so concerned. I agree that RK's comments regarding VVD are ridiculous, I believe that a lot of the discontent stems back to CP's sacking, I must admit when I heard I was astonished, we reached a cup final, finished eighth what more was a guy to do?, perhaps that triggered VVD and others what on earth was going on? I also believe that we have lost quality players and failed to replace them but I also believe that we have failed in our style of play. Under MP we introduced the fast tempo high pressing game which was totally revolutionary in the UK and we closed down from the front when we lost the ball and then went on the attack for whole 90 minutes and other teams could not match, hence why Spurs snapped up MP after only 18 months. Now other teams have adopted it, Saints unfortunately now have gone completely backwards, we are poor at ball retention, we invite teams to come forward, and we fail to mark correctly either finally or man to man. Look at Spurs boxing day Harry Kane gets his first 2 goals unmarked 3 yards out, it's quite simply pathetic. When we do go forward it is so slow with so many backward or sideways passes which just demonstrates lack of movement by the players without the ball and also possibly too many players fearful of losing the ball. How many times have we quoted Redmond failing to track back, Spurs 3rd goal Redmond loses the ball just outside their box watches Son go and score with his hands on his hips, no attempt to get the ball back. Compare this to e. g. Harry Kane wonderful footballer, look how many defensive headers he makes for the team or good tackles just outside Spurs box, every game and look how many superb passes he lays on for Alle and Son, this is the modern game. David Moyes commented recently the minimum he expects from a player is to give everything for 90 minutes, how many Saints players this season can we say that? I was really proud of our performances against Man City and Utd but these should not be isolated incidents, this should be a given, but look at LFC away, totally pathetic, not one shot on goal. I'm not being negative here but brutally realistic, no we are not the best team in the league but we are not the worst, look at LFC very skilful players but give everything for 90 minutes, skill without effort is nothing. Man City when they lose the ball they hunt in packs and get it back, how far does De Bruyne run every game and who thought Raheem Sterling would be the player he is now? Let's look at Burnley, small club, small budget, 8th place and they deserve to be there, beat Chelsea at home first game of the season defending Champions that wasn't a blip, they don't park the bus, every player gives absolutely everything, I watched them beat Everton away and in the build up to their goal they strung 34 passes together, look at Jack Cork now a player we felt wasn't good enough. I coached youth and adult teams previously and guys football is not complicated, what you lack in talent but make up in team spirit and effort can take you a long way. Premiership players are at the top of the tree 're pay etc and they know what their jobs are, too many of ours are simply not putting in enough effort combined with a manager who constantly rotates, baffling substitutions etc, maybe that will stop. What frustrates me about this team is we should not be in this situation! and everyone has to accept responsibility. Do I believe we can escape relegation? ABSOLUTELY there are 16 games and 48 points to play for and I believe the only team gone is Swansea but the 2 other places could be any one of 8 but we need to start playing as we did against City and Utd, create better chances, work 100% and we can get out of this. One final thought we should have sold VVD in the summer, most fans would have accepted £ 78 million was a huge sum of money and we snatch their hands off. By the way LFC you bought the wrong player Toby Aldreweireld as we all know is a much better player and he has been stalling on his contract at Spurs. Anyway I am still not convinced by our manager so let's get a result at Fulham and move on from there. Coyr.