Southampton Banter Archive May 12 2013

12 May 2013 20:02:01
Mp isn't a better manger than Na. It looks as if the teams style is starting to get found out. Under Adkins we had more options going forward and scored many more goals. But at least we're safe for another season!

Maybe but if anything NA has been found and would have been "found out" it was after all his team that has limped home. We shall have to wait and see what MP does in the summer before anyone Saint Skate other can say for certain that MP has been "found out". Ps I remain eternally grateful to NA

I think the style is fine, just not taking our chances over the last few games. (West brom excluded). paul

Ridiculous post. Battering sides with massive possession. Just lacking cutting edge with taking chances. It will come again. With better players next season we'll be a hell of a team. We're praised all the time yet there's always one person

Agreed. I think NA would have had us safe a couple if games ago. We'd have seen teams off such as Norwich and Swansea away, Wigan at home because he could apart playing style better than MP. I do like MP attacking style though. Just need to learn how to convert pretty football and possession into convincing wins.

I am pleased with our progress. The only slight worry is our ability to finish. Lambert in particular was far more clinical under NA. Maybe this is due to the increased pressing game being more physically and mentally draining so concentration levels dip and tiredness sets in easier.

I think it will come with time. It's not an easy brand of football we are currently playing. I get tired just watching!

I think we need to remember that MP has the current team playing to his style of play very quickly BUT I don't believe he is content that the squad can do much more until he adds to some key areas. Then, I think we will see what he can really do as a manager. NA did a great job but I believe he was beginning to show some limitations to take the team further-I believe that MP could really look a good move come next season.
Bit concerned there are rumours about NC being off in the summer. Trust this is not true and he can see his vision through to completion.

Saint Martin

Still a digraceful decision to sack Adkins in my eyes who i'm sure would have got us to safety. I actually think in many ways we were better going forward under Adkins in that we used the flanks with Puncheon and Lallana more. Now especially against the sides around us we have a lot of the ball but do not seem to cause much of a threat - need to be more direct and play to Lamberts strengths I think. Jury is still out on Pinocchio for me. Hope he doesn't absolutely flood the squad with mediocre spanish players aswell - i'd like us to keep bringing through the English players.

Not disgraceful sacking. He was astute and brave enough to sack him when he believed he couldn't do as good a job as Pocettino. He was right. What was a real disgrace was the manner he went about it and not acknowledging his great efforts and success in the 2 years. We are a much better side now. We can actually defend and if you actually watched the games (whoever says otherwise clearly must be blind), you would agree that we have been exceptionally unlucky against Man United, Wigan, Norwich, Spurs, Sunderland away. To dominate those away games (as well as beating Reading) really takes some doing. We could easily sitting in the top half of the table and we were a million miles from that when MP took over. I'm convinced we'll be top 8 next season

COYR!

No Adkins is not better then Pochettino, we play much better football under him, are better defensively and have shown we are able to beat the best teams under him, yes we've lost some games that we should have one and yes under Adkins we beat most the teams around us but I'd rather be able to beat the big sides then just consistantly beat the ones around us as it means we have the potential to be a big team

One of Adkins' big failings is his team selection and transfers. Be honest, how often did you agree with his first 11? Guly always in. Fox is the worst £2m saints have ever spent. We did well under Adkins and played a good passing game. But promotion to the Prem so soon was punching above our weight, a real shock. Fact is our best players that carried us through were Pardew's buys - Lambert, Puncheon, Fonte etc. Lallana, Schneiderlin etc were already there so who can Adkins take credit for? I love the bloke. I was gutted when he was sacked and I believe we would have stayed up anayway. But now we've all calmed down and got off our high horses, we can agree that Cortese was ruthless, but it was a step forward for saints FC. I wish Adkins well, and hope I'm wrong but in all honestly, I fear he'll slip into Championship mediocrity.

12 May 2013 17:44:18
Wer'e safe arn't we, even if Wigan win on Tuesday, ther'e game against Villa means we stay up if Villa win, also if Wigan win Villa will be below us on goal difference.?
RB

Yes but for us to get relegated we'd have to lose 12-0 to stoke.

Stoke can't get 12% possession let alone 12 goals

*13-0 to Stoke.

To go down Wigan need to win both games, which means Villa are the last team who need to 'over take' us in the table.

We're 11 clear in goal difference from Villa currently. Assuming they lose to Wigan that's 12 clear (at least). Which means that we need to lose 12-0 to Stoke for Villa to be equal on points and goal difference. However since we have scored more goals, they would need to have a better (not equal) goal difference to us. So we would need to lose at least 13-0 to Stoke.

I don't think Stoke have scored 4 goals in one game for years so no need to worry, ignoring the fact that we should beat stoke anyway

12 May 2013 17:26:48
. or should that be "thanks a bunch, Punch!"

12 May 2013 17:19:08
I know a lot of people are getting quite frustrated with the plethora of players we are linked with, but I can't for the life of me see why. Firstly, I do truly believe that most people who comment on here are just passing on things that they've heard or read. Secondly, surely it's a positive thing anyway to be linked with all these incredible players? Of course we're not going to sign most of them, I doubt we'd make more then 4 signings for the first team but still, it's nice to see that we're being linked with these guys. I mean come on, who seriously thought half of this was possible a few years ago? Southampton Invictus!

- TJ

Best and funniest comment for ages

Yes but there's positive then deluded

Ah, the bitter skates are back. Jealous

12 May 2013 13:05:04
Who would you rather saints signed
1. jorden rhodes
2. adam le fondre
3. charlie austin?

my pick is with rhodes

Think you will find that the calibre needed in the Premiership will mean that non of these three will add anything. The Saints Team needs a stronger central defence and another option forward. These three would only supply cover not be in the starting 11.

Definitely not Le Fondre, would be an absolute waste. I'd prefer Austin out of all of those but frankly wouldn't buy any of them.

None of the above.

- TJ

I don't think Le Fondre would add anything, but Rhodes and Austin would IMO also should add Callum Mcmanaman to that list, I think this would be good, potential to be in the side in the future and good cover for now

"My pick is with Rhodes. "

Will not happen. Saints will sign another forward but I suspect he will be much higher quality than you suggest. Saints are making 15-20 chances per game and not converting many. MP will have noticed this and will see that with RL getting towards the end of his carrier Saints need an outstanding goal scorer to be brought in and to take some of the pressure off other players.
Saints are starting to look jaded (mentally) in the last few games and this will not be helped by them bossing games and still not putting them to bed. Suspect MP will have taken note of this and I believe we will see a top striker join in the summer. (Relegation aside!)

Saint Martin

What? Wake up! We don't want anyone like that. Leave them for the strugglers. We're moving up!

12 May 2013 08:24:54
I understand most rumours are BS and a lot of numpties play Fifa then say who's good, who we should get and for how much. But I do get annoyed when people say certain targets are too good for us. Fair enough the mega names touted for Man City etc. But lots of others are attainable. We've beaten the likes of Liverpool and Spuds to Ramirez and Man United to Clyne. You can't say that saints wouldn't spend £25m on a player and pay him £80k a week. I believe we would if the target was worth it. Some of you need to wake up. This is saints 2013 not 2003.

I am fairly confident we won't pay £80k per week. Cortese wants a sustainable football club and with financial fair play rules huge wage increases aren't really allowed anymore.

If he wants us to get Champions League football in the future he'll have to pay wages around this, I mean even if our current squad made the champions league (which it wouldn't) they'd all want pretty hefty pay rises which I think wouldn't be far off this

Not a case of not allowed. Just a case of consequence. Maybe Cortese would take a hit in the short term to better the long term.