Southampton Banter Archive July 24 2013

24 Jul 2013 22:10:11
Arsenal fan here,

Since you've been under pochetino I've really loved watching you play and was wonder where do you saints fans think you'll come this season?

I've got a feeling you'll be up around Everton myself

And which of your amazing young talents do you expect to shine? Ward prowse, shaw, schneiderlin, cork, jay rod? There's so many! Haha

Good luck for the coming season. Seeya!

Thanks for the kind words.

I think we are, dare I say it, optimistic about our future. The most optimistic amongst us would place us just below Europe, so like you said, Everton ish. But that's probably a couple years off if we keep all our young stars.

Next year, speaking realistically, we've got a very young team, and a very inexperienced manager. The Premiership is a tough place. No one would complain if we built on last year and got top 10. I'd be so proud of the lads if they were top 10. We're just a small club from the south coast after all.

Good luck to you too!

Oh and young talents. they're all potential super stars.

Are fullbacks Shaw and Clyne (and not forgetting Chambers of course) are worth keeping an eye on.

I think Schneiderlin and Cork have already shone and proven themselves. Ward-Prowse could have a big season if he gets game time.

I'm particularly excited to see how young Lloyd Isgrove fares. He's a pacey midfielder/winger/forward type player who could provide so much needed craft to our attack.

Cheers, think we'll finish 8th.

I reckon 10th-8th would be realistic and a brilliant achievement the top 5 are pretty much garunteed arsenal, Chelsea, man city, man united and spurs then teams like Everton get the next spots. I think schneiderlin and jay rod will really shine next season along with shaw. Ward prowse maybe another season, and I'm probably going to get a few dislikes but I don't think cork does very much in a game which is why I think wanyama has been brought in. But whether we get 12th 10th or 8th depends on who we buy next. And as for arsenal you were level with Chelsea in that you two were the best teams I've actually seen play. Wilshire is something else.

Unfortunately we won't be up there if we don't sign some decent players, we've signed 2 but I didn't think lovren looked all that good v schalke, we should raid la liga like laudrup does

You missed Ramirez why does everyone not notice he is a young player, he is 22. Got a feeling he will show his true class this season, just need a true in the box finisher to score some goals. No good playing lovely football if we don't score. How many times did we dominate games last season and then lose to one of the only chances the other team had. Must take our chances.

Lovren was good enough against Schalke considering it was pre-season!

Fonte at fault for first goal and second goal was from a corner and nothing to do with Lovren. Other than that Schalke barely got near our goal, so how you can say he didn't look all that good is laughable. He cleared when needed, and looked cool and level headed when in possession.

On the subject of new signings. wanyama had a couple misplaced passes early on but was solid when he settled. Bit concerned about his work ethic, seems to switch off at times. Also not sure about his pace? A few players managed to burst away from him. Putting it down to being rusty.

Just read all the replies and I love the optimism and the realism at the same time!

You guys really have your heads screwed on.

And sorry I forgot about Ramirez mate :). A lot of your team are young and have the potential to become superstars. And if one or two do move on, the money will more than likely be pumped back into the team.

Good to know your in safe hands and do thing the right way :)

I would be ecstatic with a top 10 finish. But. We need goals. We need to stop trying to walk it in the net.
We have bossed most of the games we have played and done little with it.

Without a darn fine striker and attacking midfielder I think we could struggle to score.
I do think our defence has the potential to concede few.

24 Jul 2013 21:06:29
Watched the Schalke game and I think it taught us a lot more than the 0-8 at the weekend. It reminded me of parts of last season, defence a bit suspect and nothing happening in the final third, midfield is good but defence and attack was weak. Early days but we've seen it all before, we dominate for long periods through our midfield, then the defence get caught out and let in a weak goal or two and our attackers can't turn our possession into decent chances on goal.
Work to be done on the training ground and in the market, there were some players out there that would struggle to get in any other EPL team let alone a top 6 side. Time for them to step up or step aside because EPL survival should not be taken for granted.

You're being silly if you read that much into friendlies.

Saint IQ

Defensive weaknesses seem to be similar to last year - long balls and set pieces.

Disappointed to see all our hard work in the middle of the park suffocating Schalke count for nothing by switching off and not dealing with a long ball over the top (1st goal) and properly clearing a corner (2nd goal).

At least this game showed up some of our weaknesses, also despite the loss must note how well the players have taken to Poch's game plan. It's not easy and they work incredibly hard. Nearly successful, we just need to not switch off at the back, and find a bit more bite up top. But the difficult stuff (i. e. shape, fitness, organisation) seems to be well managed.

Because we press high up the field under MoPo teams will often use the lob over the top and long pass to catch us out and get the ball forward quickly. That's why our defence has to keep it's shape and not get caught way out of position.
Add to that our full backs desire to score goals and put in crosses and this then places a lot on our center backs shoulders.
Shaw got booked yesterday for grabbing their guy round the neck because he was caught way out of position. All in a days work I know but I think our new style of play will be tough on CB's no matter who they are.

24 Jul 2013 19:55:50
Watched the Schalke game and I think it taught us a lot more than the 0-8 at the weekend. It reminded me of parts of last season, defence a bit suspect and nothing happening in the final third, midfield is good but defence and attack was weak. Early days but we've seen it all before, we dominate for long periods through our midfield, then the defence get caught out and let in a weak goal or two and our attackers can't turn our possession into decent chances on goal.
Work to be done on the training ground and in the market, there were some players out there that would struggle to get in any other EPL team let alone a top 6 side. Time for them to step up or step aside because EPL survival should not be taken for granted.

Well said!
We just don't have that X factor up front been missing a lot of sitters and you can't do that in the EPL
Good Striker
Creative mid
And a solid CB with lots of experience ever a older player?

Echo OP and first comment.

Showed we still switch off at the back. And that we are relatively toothless in attack.

On a positive. we had good shape and apart from switching off for a long ball and clearing a corner, Schalke barely threatened our goal. Players seem to take to Poch's tactics and work hard for the team.

We need a striker who has a presence in the box and will force things to happen, like a lukaku, benteke or bony.

Creative mid not essential but would be nice.

Also don't think a CB is essential depending on how Yoshida does? But ideally would get one in as Fonte/Hooiveld worry me as our back ups.

On another note - I was very satisfied with our full backs. Shaw and Clyne are obviously very solid, but Chambers looked at home and Fox seems less erratic going forward than last year (he also has a lovely crossfield ball in the locker).

24 Jul 2013 13:23:59
Kyle Naughton (Spurs) is the latest player to be mentioned with possible move to Saints.

Cover for LB & RB, young at 24, talented, English & Irish, played in the BPL, why not?

He could push Klyne and Shaw and would be good cover for both.

Maybe good for everyone as he's on the bench a lot at spurs anyway?

24 Jul 2013 11:37:11
Some of the posts on here are getting embarrassing, Dzeko, Bernard. Torres! Okay fellow Southampton fans I just want to inform you that in order to attract these kind of players you have to either have Champions League football and pay them double or triple what our current top earner is on (as that is what they currently earn). Or be situated in a tax haven and offer them even more money and hope that is all they are interested in. We will not do this. Hope that is clear. We will not sign these players in this transfer window.

Saint IQ

Funny that because bernard isn't and never has been in the champions league and is young so isn't a money grabber so is realistic

Not if a CL club like arsenal are in for him. He is a young Brazilian international and will go to a CL club. Not realistic. You're deluded.

Saint IQ

If players like him are smart then they'll do what schneiderlin did and go to a lower team to get used to the style of football and playing, gaining experience and bettering themselves as players. The danger with young players is maturity and ego, we need to be careful and buy smart, not worse.

Matt

24 Jul 2013 09:00:08
Being linked with Matej Vydra in todays paper. Make of it what you will. No news on this supposed right back yet.

As usual the echo is 2 days behind the news with articles relating to Rickie lambert to Reading. Not going to happen!