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26 Sep 2023 07:59:51
SaintGGsy has written an article entitled, Are Southampton Now Stuck In The Lower Leagues?
1.) 26 Sep 2023 15:16:34
Great article and agree with all your sentiments.
2.) 26 Sep 2023 19:16:13
Spot on
3.) 26 Sep 2023 22:50:03
Brilliant piece SaintGGsy. You should send it the Board undersigned by all of us!
Looking back, I was recalling the number of Saints fans who were heralding relegation claiming it would be the perfect opportunity to regroup and reset.
I argued with them at the time, because I never settle for second best but half thought they may have a point. As it transpires, it couldn’t have turned out worse. That’s not ‘I told you so’ - it just goes to show how utterly frustrated we all are.
We stick it on RM - rightly so - but the players should be ashamed of their lack of football intelligence and complete lack of courage. I wouldn’t want any of them in the trenches with me.
4.) 27 Sep 2023 00:37:28
The one thing that shouts from
Your article is FRUSTRATION with a capital F . how is it that a few devoted fans on a forum, can see through the problems with so much ease.
I have never known a team so predictable, so easy to beat .
and yes, where did it all come from. Out last great manager was RK. Ralph arrived with hints of success, but once it was obvious that Plan A was his only plan, we still stuck with him, hoping that plan B would arrive .
So our frustration is born from the fact that the inadequacies of Saints is obvious to us laypeople…
So we have to ask, are SR deliberately destroying our club? Because they are doing a very good job of destroying us!
We have in Martin, one of the worst managers I’ve ever known in any sport.
His belief in himself is surreal! He has simply turned Southampton football club into Swansea, in a matter of weeks, to satisfy his desire to prove to the world that he is right!
We have to ask ourselves, why would SR want to destroy our club?
We signed some great players last year, but just like this season, we are satisfied in keeping them on the bench… What is that about, it makes no sense
I am this post with a Phew . it’s a real and bizarre situation…
Please, someone save Southampton
5.) 27 Sep 2023 18:45:44
Thanks all, and thanks Ed’s for making that into a special article thingy, looks very cool!
What a sad spot we’re in. No hope for Saturday either, but at least it’ll be available to see live for the country to witness our embarrassment!
{Ed033's Note - Thanks, terrible period for Southampton supporters.
6.) 28 Sep 2023 11:40:20
Ed’s
I love to hear your take on all this. I think it’s accepted that Martin has a rather higher opinion of himself than previous and current results suggest.
I am all for giving an up and coming manager a chance, but all of us can see that he isn’t anything like that. He plays his way and absolutely will not divert from that path, even not picking some of our best players, for what seems that they don’t fit in with his way.
Teams playing us have found us out, so much so that they all seem to be loving every bit about playing us.
I can’t imagine the team talk lasts long .
‘Get at them, they will lose the ball in their half and we’ll be in’ …
The whole of Swansea was warning us that he took them from a play off team to a middle table team .
So what are we doing? Why have we taken him on?
He is awful, and he has an excuse for everything .
It’s never his tactics
{Ed001's Note - it was clearly a mistake to appoint him, he is one of those that talks about himself so well in interviews it will impress business people. But that is a totally different environment from football and what works there is almost certainly not going to work in football. For starters football is about teamwork, so someone who is so full of their own self-importance and talks themselves up is absolutely the wrong choice to manage. The manager needs to be all about the team and not I but we. In business that is not the same. That is where they are going wrong, as are so many clubs.
The problem is that they are recruiting via an interview method and so will likely repeat the mistake again and again until they bin it. The way to move forward is to identify the guy who has the attributes you want and headhunt him at the top end. Interviewing is only going to get you a limited choice and almost entirely is going to leave you with the dregs to pick from rather than the cream.}
7.) 28 Sep 2023 14:31:54
Thank you Ed for that insightful reply. It didn’t enter my head for one minute that any football club would use this interview process!
He certainly is an ‘I’ person. As you say, he must interview well, saying all the right things.
While I’m hugely grateful for the reply, it kind of makes things worse. Surely some research into his managerial history, statistics, media coverage, players opinions, would have meant he never even got an interview, let alone the job.
He can’t and won’t last, despite some ramblings today from the club saying they and the players fully support Martin …
Thank you again and thank you for putting up with our incessant moaning.
{Ed001's Note - no worries mate and it is common practice to use an interview practice to hire the head coach/manager/director of football but it makes little sense to me. Any club as high up as the EFL or EPL has a wealth of lower league and non-league staff to cherry pick. Why not head hunt the best person for the job, rather than limit your options to who is available to interview for the role?}
19 May 2023 20:15:35
Russell Martin. Cannot say I have an opinion or any optimism, but he's improved the two previous sides he's been at. Poor defensive record, probably a cheap option, fits right in!
1.) 20 May 2023 20:15:27
A poor choice! Another Selles, another RH! please plz please get a manager who plays attacking free flowing football. The supporters would really appreciate exciting football.
04 Jan 2023 16:42:41
Hi Eds,
How much truth is there to the reports that we have failed to land Orsic due to lowballing?
And how concrete are talks between us and Lorient for Terem Moffi?
Any other news of potential interest or incomings aside Tennis World #1 Carlos Alcaraz?
Thank you!
{Ed002's Note - The asking price for a 30 year old is high and no club has looked to match it at this time.
Terem Moffi (S) His "Agent" (and I use that term in the very loosest of forms) has offered him to clubs without the permission of Lorient who have no intention of selling. Last summer he was offered to Borussia Dortmund who were surprised when Lorient rebuffered their approaches. This month West Ham and Southampton have been led into declaring an interest but again Lorient are clear they have no interest in selling. A move in the summer may be more likely.}
1.) 05 Jan 2023 10:18:47
I wouldn't worry about players. more concerning is a decent manager. I can't believe jones still has a job after last night's joke of a game. He's a proper muppet. Said he was surprised by the booing.when people pay there hard earn money to go ad watch that filth. Hoff ball.the board need to act now.because if he is still there come Sat. With a proper mauling by Palace in the cup. There will b a riot at St Mary's never mind booing.
2.) 05 Jan 2023 10:58:20
I am so angry upset and depressed what has happened to my beloved football club. Gone of the days of Tim flowers matt le tiss Alan shearer ad the Wallace brothers. It's a year to the day sports Republic invested ad brought into the club. Look at the state of it. BROKEN. FINISHED From top to bottom. That's why we are where we are. A sinking ship. We can't attract a decent manager. One that's gunna dig of out of this hole. Ad as for players forget it. join a club that's gunna get relegated ad play championship football? Forget it .it ain't happening. It's done finished ad over.
3.) 05 Jan 2023 11:19:47
I share your pain mate. I felt desperate last night and the morning after I actually feel worse. Most of all I feel angry because the Board has colluded in betraying the history of the club and the fans.
Miracles aside - there is no hope. We are a championship squad - plain and simple.
Like the majority of the posts - we’ve all shared bad times over the years but there has always been something to cling on to. I see absolutely nothing positive and judging by the empty seats last night, fans are biting with their feet.
Even if we somehow managed to beat Crystal Palace and Man City next week, I could not forgive the disgraceful showing last night
4.) 05 Jan 2023 11:35:41
I agree with you fully .as I said I have burnt my season ticket. Refuse to watch that utter garbage anymore!. Ad if I go to St Mary's I will end up hurting someone. Preferably Nathan Jones.
5.) 05 Jan 2023 13:36:00
This isn’t an overnight thing that we witnessed last night, this is years of coaching flair and surprise factor out of players. Name me one player in the last 4 years who has joined us and gone on to be an outstanding premier league player.? The wasteland containing players we have broken is full!
6.) 05 Jan 2023 14:28:17
Only Danny ings .ad right now we need him . He was fantastic for us. 46 goals in 96 apps. Not a bad return. He was part of are spine when we could score goals ad win games. Now look at it. Kids running around in pampers. It's like the local youth club.
7.) 05 Jan 2023 12:48:13
Reports Ordic having medical after few agreed. Is this true?
{Ed002's Note - I cannot help with medicals.}
8.) 05 Jan 2023 20:28:17
Anybody no of a decent midfielder to play alongside jwp? What about weston mckennize from juventus. See villa were looking at him
9.) 05 Jan 2023 18:47:55
Fair enough but what’s the update if any on this transfer happening?
{Ed002's Note - Giorgio Scalvini (CB) Inter, Spurs, Juventus and Southampton have shown an interest in the young centre back.
Mason Holgate (CB) Southampton offer an option.
Michael Keane (CB) West Ham have a declared interest. Someone close to Everton sad that Keane may be an option if Holgate is not available.
Mislav Orsic (LW) Thge 12M euro asking price for a 30 year old has put off most clubs - Leeds and Southampton are keen - Inter a wildcard.
Chuba Akpom (S) Ex Arsenal player who has never found his niche. His agent, and I use that in the broadest terms, has offered him to Southamton and Norwich City in recent months. Southampton could push.
Terem Moffi (S) Lorient are not looking to sell but his leech of an agent has been going from EPL club to EPL club looking for a buyer - certainly he has spoken with Southampton, Arsenal, Everon and West Ham.
10.) 06 Jan 2023 09:32:53
Thank you Eds002. Very comprehensive
11.) 06 Jan 2023 13:13:20
Akpom incoming? Archer going on loan from Vila to Boro and medical today. Could this happen now?
12.) 06 Jan 2023 16:05:19
Another name in the frame? Daizen Maeda at Celtic: maybe a good word game n from Maya when he was at SM recently. Anything in this Ed’s?
{Ed002's Note - I really don’t know.}
07 Nov 2022 17:30:55
Jones now looks a near certainty. Think we can all agree this is not what we had in mind when looking at potential replacements BUT
Potter, Cooper, Mick Beale even, have been wanted by PL clubs in the past and have to varying degrees shown that they can do it.
But given who Villa, Wolves and Brighton have just employed and the potential, name-drawing ability and potential, it does feel like we're preparing for life in the championship already, which is gutting.
Having said all of this, Luton have tended to play counter-attacking football which would suit us, passing around the back has only caused us problems, and they've gone from the bottom of the football league to a championship play-off final almost entirely under his leadership which Nigel did similarly with us.
We need to back him, but the problem is given the time to work with a squad who will largely be unaffected by World Cup call-ups, if we don't hit the ground running and take 12 points from our first seven games after Christmas, we are done for.
His first seven after the WC are BHA, FUL, NFO, EVE, AVL, BRE, WOL. Horribly important introduction to the PL.
Very sorry to see Ralph go, but things can't really get worse.
1.) 10 Nov 2022 15:47:23
I have to say I didn't know a lot about him and didn't think we would go that route but after looking at a number of his interviews I think he fits well into the ethos of our club. He has a proven record of working with younger players and he says all the right things for me. Passiontae but more importantly he seems to be a man manager. I think he will be tuff where he needs to be but he will also put an arm around his players and get them to buy into the project. Getting players to fight for him is what he is looking for and I hope he gets that. We hadnt heard of Poch when we sacked Adkins, I remember thinking who is this guy and being extremly P****d off with the appointment. Oh how I was proved wrong. We have to get behind him now and show him how good our support is. I'm actually excited to see how the players respond to him. Ralph should have gone along time ago but I trust in the new owners and I imagine we have been looking at Nathan for a long time. I'm actually excited to see us against Liverpool (Although i'm under no illutions). Natahn is now our leader, let's all get behind him and get us fired up the league
2.) 17 Nov 2022 01:52:31
I have a similar take and support your comments 100% Saint Ben Basingstoke.
3.) 15 Dec 2022 21:13:36
There’s this attacking bloke who plays for Morocco who has had an amazing World Cup - his name rings a bell - Boufal I think it is. Be great to see him in a Saints shirt!
07 Nov 2022 17:30:55
Jones now looks a near certainty. Think we can all agree this is not what we had in mind when looking at potential replacements BUT
Potter, Cooper, Mick Beale even, have been wanted by PL clubs in the past and have to varying degrees shown that they can do it.
But given who Villa, Wolves and Brighton have just employed and the potential, name-drawing ability and potential, it does feel like we're preparing for life in the championship already, which is gutting.
Having said all of this, Luton have tended to play counter-attacking football which would suit us, passing around the back has only caused us problems, and they've gone from the bottom of the football league to a championship play-off final almost entirely under his leadership which Nigel did similarly with us.
We need to back him, but the problem is given the time to work with a squad who will largely be unaffected by World Cup call-ups, if we don't hit the ground running and take 12 points from our first seven games after Christmas, we are done for.
His first seven after the WC are BHA, FUL, NFO, EVE, AVL, BRE, WOL. Horribly important introduction to the PL.
Very sorry to see Ralph go, but things can't really get worse.
SaintGGsy's banter posts with other poster's replies to SaintGGsy's banter posts
03 Oct 2023 21:59:35
Much like Leeds, unconvincing, fortunate, but a win.
A few good changes - funny how playing our two most creative players makes us that much better a side, a clean sheet! And good to see a few occasions where we were being pressed in our own third, and Bazunu/Bednarek just booted it away rather than risk getting intercepted 20 yards out.
Better. Not brilliant, but we found a way to win and are level on points with fourth place all of a sudden.
Not everyone can do it on a mild Tuesday night in Stoke!
1.) 03 Oct 2023 23:26:16
When you have players in your team that can attack, especially at speed . subconsciously it keeps the opponents much more on the back foot.
It’s been a very long time since opponents feared us.
we need those days back again .
plus when necessary, hoof it up the pitch!
Well done saints
2.) 04 Oct 2023 06:46:06
Who would have thought it? Playing your best players, in their best position, scaring teams with pace, and playing it long out of danger and we actually win a couple!
Be interesting to see how we do against Preston and Hull, those games will be a better barometer of how far we have come.
A super computer has us finishing 5th. The dreamer in me says:
6th after 15 games
5th after 20
4th after 30
3rd after 40
Then we beat Leeds on the final day to get promoted in second.
I am sure reality will wake me up soon!
3.) 04 Oct 2023 08:34:28
Pace is the way to keep opponents on the back foot. Still think RM is holding back Sulemana and playing Alcaraz in the wrong position, he’s not a centre forward. When Stewart is fit Alcaraz Adams and Mara are destined to be bench warmers, likely one it 2 will leave in January. Two things concern me, if RM decides to fully return to possession only football after 2 wins and the woeful form of Manning. He looked really good for Swansea but has been consistently awful in a Saints shirt.
4.) 04 Oct 2023 09:31:09
That's true.
@2408 How would you switch things up to get Alcaraz playing his best?
Downes or Charles as CDM
Stu as CM and Alacaraz as a CAM?
Or another combination of formation change?
A front 3 of Sulemana, Stewart and AA should be pretty lethal.
It is frustrating. If we had kept Perraud and not had our 4 game shocker with RM tactics, we should be looking at 2nd or 3rd, now probably 4th or 5th.
We need to beat the teams around us, something we have not done for 2 years.
5.) 04 Oct 2023 13:48:58
If you play the front 3 you quite correctly suggested there is only room for 1 creative midfielder. Stu is an excellent player at this level and doesn’t lose the ball as much as Alcaraz. We are going to need a strong squad as the season progresses. Personally, I would play KWP on the left and Bree on the right. Bree is very experienced at this level and does not give the ball away plus is good in the air when defending deep far post crosses. As for Manning, I’m shocked how quickly he has deteriorated in form, maybe a spell on the bench or u21s may help him focus again.
6.) 04 Oct 2023 17:01:03
Back to back wins changes the hearts but not the minds. We feel better - sure, but have the demons gone away?
I don’t think so - post match RM talking about ‘total football’ which I interpreted as total b***cks.
He spoke about the players trying to run before they could walk - HELLO, most of our problems have been caused by players not running - ambling from side to side - 3 or 4 yard balls to safety. Trouble with that is - many couldn’t find a player in the same coloured shirt.
Even Stu (brilliant free kick) was awful at picking a pass last night (watch it back if you don’t believe me) .
Good for Bazuna - clean sheet - just about. But he’s learning his trade and will be prone to throwing one in the back of the net most games. His distribution is much better when he gets it upfield.
But the weaknesses are still too apparent - Downes and Smallbone are light weights and just not good enough at this level. What does Wilson bring to the bench?
And as for commitment, the last word must go to the travelling fans some of whom it seems sold their shirts to pay for the rail fare!
7.) 04 Oct 2023 19:31:58
Yes this makes sense. So Stu starting and Alcaraz as a super sub to get the midfield balance right.
I agree with you on Bree and KWP. Manning and Holgate have been failed experiments so Bree deserves his chance, especially with the Larios setback.
8.) 05 Oct 2023 13:42:39
I think that what is great to see is that Stuey is finally getting the recognition he deserves. Always enjoyed him being in the team, always looking up, looking for the run, chasing back.
Martin is still worrying me with his rhetoric, it’s obvious he’s struggling with the idea that his way is wrong. Knowing his history with Swansea, each game will be a fingers crossed he’s abandoned it, because he sure didn’t change at Swansea : but then the difference is, he is expected to do well with our squad.
As 2408 pointed out, with regards to Manning,
he is simply not good enough. It’s the basics of football he’s getting wrong?
His positional sense, man marking/tracking is awful .
Meanwhile Perraud on loan .
KWP left back and Bree right back (as per 2408) is a must! But dropping Manning is admitting that he made a mistake, and that does not tie in with his beliefs .
9.) 06 Oct 2023 08:15:18
Now I understand why RM does not like Bree. he is a vegan! Haha
Sorry that was terrible!
I suspect RM knows he has made some mitskes and I am sure someone is keeping tabs on fans comments and briefing him.
His style is not to admit he is wrong, maybe he feels fans or players would lose trust in him, if he openly admitted it.
There have been signs of change that I am grateful for e.g. using more pace, playing it long out of danger and featuring Sulemana.
Seems we are 2 or 3 changes away from what most of us think is the best team available now.
1. Manning out and Bree in
2. Adams for Alcaraz as CF, with him coming on when Stu tires as CAM
3. Maybe Charles in and Smallbone or Downes out for some.
Would that be a fair reflection?
18 Aug 2023 16:15:18
So this window we have give or take received €150m, spent €12m and probably decreased our wage bill by €300k a week.
Of course that won't all go into transfer budget, we need to be sensible now we aren't a PL side, but I would think we can except to apportion a good €40-50m into strengthening the squad some more.
I'd also now expect McCarthy, ABK, Lyanco, Perraud, Djenepo, Onuachu and maybe Aribo to go in the final few weeks for a rough total of €60m, with another €300k off the wage bill.
This means all in all, purely on players we are €200m in sales and €30m in annual wages better off. I'd want at least a quarter of that being fed back in to buy players.
What that also illustrates is we have zero need to sell Tella, Adams, Sulemana, KWP if they aren't pushing to leave. Why sell Tella for €18m when a suitable replacement for us would probably cost more anyway? Same with Che. Unless we think we can genuinely improve and I don't think we can.
So that leave us short of a full back, centre back, centre mid and maybe one more attacker, plus a goalkeeper, however I do not see us being that busy in the final two weeks of the window.
Shea at Luton would be my pick as competition in goal. He's now third choice, came up last season, 32, experienced, what we want, and would be a few mill at most.
Chambers/Holgate and Spence would also be very useful additions having done decent work in recent years, have experience but by no means over the hill, even just on loans.
If Downes is coming in, then he, Charles and Alcaraz is a pretty bang on midfield, and I don't think we will get another forward in unless Che or AA leave, in which case it'll probably be Piroe for €20m.
So I don't think we're miles away, but given the players we've been linked with, if we do lose a striker, I'd hope our final few weeks look like this;
Shea (LUT) GK - €2m
Spence (TOT) RWB - Loan
Holgate (EVE) CB - €10m (maybe tricky if Everton want a forward in return, in which case Chambers on a loan?)
Downes (WHU) - Loan
Piroe (SWA) - €20m if Adams/Armstrong leave
Total spent in the window around €50m, clear out the players who don't want to be here, make bank and see where we are at Christmas, but with that potential squad, we should be top 4 at worst.
1.) 19 Aug 2023 09:28:04
@SaintGGsy Completely agree with your pragmatic positivity.
As it stands, our first 11 is on paper very good with impact players on the bench.
If we get a good price, the players want moves and we have top replacements, I can stomach 2 of the following but prefer not to sell.
ABK for Harwood-Bellis
Adams or Tella for Piroe
KWP for Spence
I assume loans are muted because the players are willing to give 1 year and hope for promotion but not 2 or 3. I think that would be the best case scenario for ABK, Adams and KWP also, in all fairness
We have 9 forwards and wingers competing for 3 places at the moment. Onuachu and Djenepo can go. Hard to justify new forwards unless they do, though I hope for a Lambert style player.
We have too many LBs so one can go. Not sure on Aribo. Wage too high for a squad player so would give youth a chance here or bring in a tough leader to steady the game in the last 20 minutes.
The below team should be top 6 at least. If we had a Fonte or Lambert style player then top 2. Lacking a few fighters to get stuck into set pieces on a rainy away day but let's hope we get those players in too.
COYR
KWP/Spence
ABK/Harwood-Bellis
Bednarek
Manning
Smallbone
Downes
Alcaraz
Tella
Adams/Piroe
Sulemana
2.) 19 Aug 2023 11:27:46
We still need to replace Romeu, until we sign a CDM we will struggle against the better teams. As that midfield three are great ball carriers but we need someone to do the dirty work like Marsden and Chaplow used to do.
3.) 19 Aug 2023 20:11:22
Excellent Summary Saint GGsy -
The only one that may need to be sold, as his contract is running down is Che Adams. If you say value today £15 million, divide that by say 40 games = £300k a game, plus paying him circa £50k a week so £350k a game, that's too rich, so either extend his contract by say 2 years, increase his wage to say £65k a week and we have cover, either selling him next year, without receiving Zero, or if he does really well, extend again.
We have some great youngsters coming though, and with your suggested £40 - £50 million to cover say 3 players, either Harwood-Bellis or McAtee from City, Pireo and maybe another Goalkeeper if we sell McCarthy (is there a god)?
And Spence on Loan with Downes (ideally with an Option to Purchase) we are good to go.
Ballard
Diamond Edwards
Dibbling
Doyle
All to be integrated too!
02 Aug 2023 19:53:16
Well ridiculously the new season starts in 48 hours. And I'd have liked us to have gotten more done in the market so that we had a settled squad moving into the season, but it is what it is.
I'm happy to see the club playing hardball over fees - pay us the money, or you don't get your man. Easy. And good that we aren't messing about with the odd few million (which is a stupid comment in itself) - Liverpool not paying another £5m for generational talent Lavia and West Ham not getting close to our JWP valuation is hilarious. And good riddance to them.
I still fully expect the following to leave;
Sulemana (£12-15m), DCC (£5m to Lyon is done), Onuachu (£10m), Perraud (£15m), ABK (£25m), Salisu is done for £18m, Lavia (£50m)
I expect the following to go but there doesn't seem to be any imminent movement and maybe we end up holding on to them;
KWP, McCarthy, Lyanco, Aribo, Che, Tino, Djenepo, Alcaraz, Tella, JWP
I think near the end of the window we may lose KWP, Alcaraz, Che and JWP, but still we may end up getting near £180m if we sell 8-10 of the above.
We need;
- A Goalkeeper to battle Bazunu
- Another CB - Lyanco, Stephens, Bednarek might all stay, but Salisu, DCC and ABK likely all going
- A strong centre mid, Romeu ilk, Championship experience, maybe two if Lavia and JWP both go, we look very light in there. Downes and/or Skipp?
- A forward. Piroe the obvious candidate
Total outlay around £50m, bank the rest, can use in January if necessary but also keep if we have a mare of a season and aren't totally screwed for the next few years.
But amazingly the following may well be our squad on Friday;
Bazunu; Livramento, Bednarek, Bella-Kotchap, Walker-Peters; Ward-Prowse, Charles, Smallbone; Alcaraz, Adams, Tella
Subs: McCarthy, Stephens, Aribo, Armstrong x2, Mara, Smallbone
Squad: Bree, Lyanco, Edozie, Larios, Manning
Expecting Perraud, Djenepo, Onuachu, Sulemana and Lavia not to play for us again (or play fleetingly) and be sold in the coming weeks, mainly to Ligue 1
But that's still a very big and talented squad, and any decent offers for players we can afford to palm off, hopefully we accept. And I think that squad, if we keep the majority of it, is Top 3 at worst.
Despite that, prediction for Friday - 1-1.
1.) 03 Aug 2023 09:17:25
Adams Tella and Adam Armstrong scored 69 goals between them in their last season playing in championship. Add Alcaraz, Mara, Sulemana, Edozie Onaucha Djenepo Ballard and Amo into the equation and that has got to be potentially the most productive strike force in the championship.
2.) 03 Aug 2023 11:13:47
I agree, we have the potential with these guys to score lots of goals, while playing attacking football.
I’m hoping that we play our best players in their best positions. As I’ve said before, we have Tella as the perfect ‘yardstick’ for our season.
Firstly, he must be in the starting 11 - and if he’s not scoring or even getting the opportunity to score, then we need to up our game.
We’ve certainly done a good job of clearing the deadwood, most due to not being good enough and some to trill the wage bill.
On Friday, if we go for a win, that puts the messsge out there, we are not in the league to make up the numbers.
Get the ball out wide, get it to the bye line, get it over the top, run at them, run past them…
Time to start playing entertaining football.
3.) 03 Aug 2023 17:21:53
I share everybody's thoughts.
I would love to get Piroe in (even just so Leeds do not get him) . He could replace Adams well. Our attacking threat is top 3 potential.
I would take Matt Grimes for JWP.he will bring some leadership and experience to bring on Charles, Smallbone and Alcaraz. Aribo and Stu have experience for the last 30 mins.
I am happy with KWP and Manning as wing backs. It's CB and GK that worry me, especially with playing out from the back. Any ideas for signings?
If we sort those I am predicting a slow start, then reaching the playoffs.
07 Apr 2023 21:48:01
What do we think will happen with Tella next season? On the brink of leading Burnley to promotion with us going the other way - he could be pivotal to a potential promotion push, but would he be happy having done all of the hard work to still end up in the championship?
Burnley would probably be happy to pay £15m for him I'd think, just wonder whether it would be worth keeping him instead of taking the money and blowing it all on a load of crap.
1.) 08 Apr 2023 09:20:07
Tella should only be sold for 20mil+, will smallbone doing well on loan we already have championship level strikers, take the money for jwp etc and build from there with these players we should be able to score our way out of the division
2.) 08 Apr 2023 19:44:16
Somehow still think scoring will be an issue for us! The squad is ok, needs to be hardened - we will almost certainly lose JWP, Salisu, KWP, Lavia, and maybe a couple of the recent signings we’ve made who want a quick get out - and need a steely midfield and some players who can improve us and take us back up.
I don’t think we will be anywhere near the top two of the championship this time in a year, and don’t think we can conquer the play-offs, but maybe I’m just not used to us winning games!
3.) 08 Apr 2023 20:49:55
As for recent signings .they were sat next to me in an ocean village restaurant this week, and openly discussing with his wife that Spain was where he wanted to go, as in next option WHEN he leaves ., so I’m guessing he had a relegation clause added. Perhaps the Ed’s could confirm that such clauses are allowed
Happy to provide receipt of meal time and location if not believed!
{Ed002's Note - They are allowed but very rare and typically only apply to wages.}
4.) 08 Apr 2023 22:58:44
Thank you Ed .
I was quite amazed how he and his wife were openly discussing his next move.
18 Feb 2023 21:02:56
First off, best of health to Cesar, that looked horrible.
Now with that team selection I was not hopeful, but Stu and Moi were excellent in the 4-triple 2. AMN and Bednarek, weird, but a second clean sheet of the season, fine.
Chelsea are probably one of the worst 'teams' in the league, given they are a set of individuals, and Leeds are also down there. We definitely got lucky. BUT. We are still within touching distance, which is massive given wins for Everton and Bournemouth today.
I would really like to know what is happening with Aribo, Edozie, Orsic and Caleta-Car - they would all be in or near my strongest XI - but in two days Selles has shown more than Jones did in 3 months.
I keep saying we are gone and each time we pull it back, but 19th v 20th next Saturday. A win and we could be out of the relegation zone. Absolutely ENORMOUS game - trouble is we don't tend to turn up in those; positive, we are away from home. But what a win for us today.
1.) 19 Feb 2023 11:13:58
I agree the substitutions were strange but we don’t know any information about certain players physical condition . I thought Walcott was excellent when he came on, superb cross which Armstrong should have finished. Mara flatters to deceive, he’s got to learn the art of getting his body across defenders. We did give the ball away a lot in the last 30 minutes, a little more care with the final pass and we could have bagged more goals. Thought Bednarek, Lavia and Onaucha were superb. We’ll done Rueben Selles.
11 Nov 2023 21:52:55
Came here to say a very similar thing. Our next ‘tough’ game is the reverse of this fixture in February. Till then I don’t think we play a team in the top half. In this league we will slip up somewhere along the line but what a month or so.
Reflecting now on our losing run, in perspective they don’t look so shocking. Boro hadn’t won a game but are now mid table, Leicester and Ipswich are first and second, and the only real shocker is the Sunderland game which I still can’t fathom, and maybe that took a few games to come back from.
Maybe we all overreacted a little. Some more clean sheets would be nice, but ultimately losing on two long away trips and at home to the top two aren’t anything to be too ashamed of, and we now seem to have a settled and organised lineup. Also excellent to see Stewart on the pitch. Way things are going we might be able to offload Adams to a struggling PL club in January for too much money and invest wisely.
I’d like to think we can now go on a 20+ game unbeaten run but the championship doesn’t work that way, though shoring up a top 6 spot whilst keeping the top 2 within arms reach would be a nice place to be come the new year.
Go the saints! I’m actually enjoying supporting this team for the first time in about 7 years ?
27 Sep 2023 18:45:44
Thanks all, and thanks Ed’s for making that into a special article thingy, looks very cool!
What a sad spot we’re in. No hope for Saturday either, but at least it’ll be available to see live for the country to witness our embarrassment!
{Ed033's Note - Thanks, terrible period for Southampton supporters.
25 Sep 2023 21:20:03
There is definitely something amiss with our club. It seems so rigid - we must play this way or else - why can’t we bomb down the wings, cross it, big Paul with headers or knockdowns. There are reasons Sulemana and Alcaraz aren’t playing, why our best players aren’t performing.
I don’t know what it is, and I don’t think it’s just down to Martin, but problems feel deeper than we are seeing on the field right now, and it’s worrying.
{Ed033's Note - Thanks for the long post, i'll put it up tomorrow morning as an article
28 Jan 2023 22:20:34
Another winger with pace and little end product. GIVE US GOALS FOR GOD’S SAKE.
Doesn’t need to be anything magical. A half season loan deal to keep us up, and we’ll be in a much more inviting position if we stay up. Look what Gabbi did - none of us had heard of him and he had a spurt for two months which kept us up. Don’t sign a striker, we won’t know.
Che Adams and Adam Armstrong will not keep this side up. Mara has potential but isn’t going to bag 10-12 goals in the last 19 games. Maybe Orsic at striker is an option, but relying on JWP and Perraud for goals is a death sentence.
Also, generally speaking, it’s worrying that our 1.5th team (not quite a full second string side) barely beat a team in the championship relegation zone. Doesn’t exactly bode well.
26 Jan 2023 20:47:33
Saints fans: sign a striker
Saints board: signs a winger
Saints fans: close! Now get a striker to score some goals!
Saints board: signs a midfielder
Saints fans: ok, good player, now we need goals!
Saints board: James Bree
{Ed014's Note - ??
30 Nov 2023 21:38:32
Need to start somewhere. Yes we aren’t convincing but we are at least winning. And I’d rather that than playing well and losing. We need to hope confidence builds, and our unbeaten run stretches past 20 games.
An indication of where we are attacking wise. If we had conceded one goal more in each game played, we’d be 20 points worse off and only outside the drop zone on goal difference.
BUT we’re fourth, and are finding ways to win or avoid defeat. We’d all have taken this position after we were trounced by Leicester. Stewart’s injury record is worrying and with Che out of favour, we need a goal scorer in January, else with our run of fixtures to come, I’d half hope to be pushing the automatic spots by 2024.
09 Sep 2023 13:16:41
Our best 11 based purely on names should be something like;
Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Larios, Charles, Smallbone, Alcaraz, Sulemana, Adams, Edozie
Arguments to be made about the best CB pairing, Downes, Stewart when fit and A Armstrong (who I don’t fully like as a midfielder - I’d want Alcaraz as the further forward mid with two behind him really) .
But that above XI with any one of a few players changed within it should win this league at a canter IF we can learn to adapt and not keep giving the ball away 20 yards from our goal
20 Aug 2023 20:09:27
Think Perraud is off and Larios is injured, but also far from impressed by Manning. If KWP goes, our strongest outfield area on the pitch (full-back) will probably become our weakest!
14 Jul 2023 21:29:44
Not going to read too much into a July warm-up against a UCL QF side, thought we held the ball okay, think Martin will be working from that and building upwards.
Interesting to see the players involved. Some of them I thought would be off by now, but it seems we have set prices on our players and won’t cheap out. Which is great. Lots of reports like ‘Liverpool won’t stump up £50m for Lavia’ - good. He’s worth that, so pay it or bugger off.
West Ham offering £25m for JWP is absolutely taking the piss as well. If none of those prices are met, good. We’ll have a good team. And those that want to go will clear up the wage bill.
30 Jun 2023 00:20:40
The one thing I think with Tella is, he was on fire last season and the fans absolutely fell for him. We’ve never done that, and after all that work to get a team into the Premier League, to then go back and be stuck in the championship again must be quite soul destroying.
£20m for him I’d take, JWP will surely be off, as will Orsic, ABK, Onuachu, KWP, DCC, McCarthy, Lavia, Perraud, maybe Che.
Tino we don’t need to sell and the numbers being quoted are pathetic. Those above we can either let go or are PL quality and will probably want the move away.
Get a couple of battle hardened Championship players in - ST, CM, CB, build a spine, gain some resilience, play nice football, and hope we end up somewhere in the top six.
Bazunu, Tino, Salisu, Bednarek, Larios, Aribo, CM, Stu, Sulemana, Alcaraz, ST, with A Armstrong, Mara, Edozie, Ballard, Bree, Lyanco - given that’s a major clear out, still, I’d like to think, a decent squad.
The one issue we will have is being ready for a tough, 2 games a week grind for 8 months, which a lot of those won’t be up for.