Southampton Banter Archive August 23 2015

23 Aug 2015 20:30:11
Being optimistic - a draw is better than a defeat as we all know. Great to get a clean sheet

Being not so optimistic, and verging on pessimism - 2 goals in 3 games and 5 goals conceded is not great - I know injuries and we are awaiting another CD.

I've seen it mentioned many times now and I'm in agreement that I think we need another out and out striker, with proven EPL experience. What are others' opinions?

23 Aug 2015 21:19:44
Having watched what you could only call a very bottom of the list on Match of the Day game do people really believe we can be challenging for the top 6 again this season? We have ripped the heart out of the side twice in just over 12 months and so it is start all over again stuff . I can't think of any other team in the Prem that have been losing players of quality on such a mass scale , admittedly teams like Spurs have off loaded quite a few but these were players that they wanted to let go . We have lost so many players that were responsible for where we are at the moment and that to me spells big trouble as rebuilding takes a lot of time . Just hope we have the time in this division because there are no bad sides in this league just some that are not quite as good as the others and I don't want us to become one of the latter .

23 Aug 2015 21:48:14
Its not a striker, its the same problem as the last 3 years. We need a creative midfielder. Its all very well having a top striker but there is just no service or creativity. If we had strikers missing opportunity after opportunity then yeah. but we dont.

23 Aug 2015 22:35:47
Thats why we shouldve showed ambition and gone for shaquiri

24 Aug 2015 07:37:49
This week will define the clubs future. We need to sign a proven striker, a CD and keep the players we have.

I don't see the Europa Cup as a priority but the signing of two more players is a must

24 Aug 2015 08:20:48
Judging by our performances so far we are a 12th-17th position team.
Granted we have players to come back in but only one that is going to make a difference is Bertrand.
Clasie didn't exactly light the field up when he started.
I think we got lucky last year. We kept hold of spider and it now shows how good a player he was.
I'd like a new striker, attacking creative midfielder and two top class central defenders.
I know some are going to come out and say we are only a few games into the season but it's not necessarily the results that have bothered me, it's the way we are playing.
I

24 Aug 2015 10:22:35
I don't get the we should of gone for Shaqiri line I keep hearing, the club have never been linked to him which indicates it's one of those players certain supporters only want because they think he plays well in a video game. It was the exact same in January when Chelsea signed Cuadrado, all hype but has not delivered.

I agree with Esso what we need more than anything is a creative midfielder, but the fact is we have already signed him. Koeman will play Clasie as our advanced creative midfielder and that's why we are still looking to bring in an additional loan signing for defensive mid.

24 Aug 2015 10:44:52
Throw into that also the psychological implications as well, the players are obviously low on confidence at the moment, RK keeps mentioning it within the press conferences (which in my opinion is not helpful).

I think we need to add more quality not quantity to the 1st team - I'm unsure whether we've done that so far, as other posters rightly point out, it's too early to assess at this juncture.

24 Aug 2015 19:20:44
Had the clasie thought after, he will likely take Davis' postion with VW and OR holding

23 Aug 2015 18:32:38
Just watched the game ffs route 1 pelle sll game then take him off when plan a fails no plan b. Is it just me or is it a coincidence the tranfer speculation about mane and he goes off injured with a nothing foul( oh I've fallen )
And don't get me started on wanyama he didn't even turn up if I was RK I would have them both in the office at 9 am tomorrow and give them the glad tidings that the contract that they were more than happy to sign last year is going to be ho honored even if the bench gets the permanent imprint of their ass on it. Rant over
Coyr

23 Aug 2015 19:26:38
Mane went off with a concussion after Nyom unintentionally kneed him in the head when Mane fell after a foul by (I think) Anya.

23 Aug 2015 19:33:15
Mane went off with concussion, having seen what happened live I can tell you it was more than a 'nothing tackle'. Went down under a challenge and their fullback, Nyom(?) slid in and smashed his knee into Mane's head. Would've been a red card with a better ref. Give him a bit of credit, it was obvious how bad he was hurt after him staggering around and being pretty much carried straight down the tunnel and into an ambulance

23 Aug 2015 20:26:38
Mane off with concussion and Victor Saints best player by a country mile.

Support the club and forget the media. The next week is going to be full of similar nonsense, so just ignore it-and the so called Saints fans who are saying exactly what was said at the beginning of last season and then disappeared from view.

23 Aug 2015 21:51:47
Are we watching the same wanyama and saints? The only two who can hold their heads high are fonte and romeleu

24 Aug 2015 07:50:42
*romeu

24 Aug 2015 11:12:23
We didn't sign lukaku?

23 Aug 2015 18:04:40
i don't get what has gone wrong, in my opinion we should have at least 7 points by now but only have two.

23 Aug 2015 17:17:37
Who had 56 minutes for the Romeu yellow card a game sweep?

23 Aug 2015 10:33:13
Not transfer related, but I've seen a myriad of people complaining about our form in the first couple of games and how many points we've accumulated. Let's not forget that after two games last season, we had exactly the same amount of points we've got now. All we need is a new holding mid and a centre back and then we're sorted. Hopefully the VVD transfer comes through in the next couple of weeks, along with maybe Koulibably (of whom I posted about people in Napoli gear at St. Mary's a month or so ago, who knows if it's linked) - he's a class centre back with plenty of bite. Bertrand could be back for the game against Norwich which will sort out the hole Targett leaves when he galavants upfield. Everything will be fine, trust in Koeman and the club.

Also, if you think we're sub par so far - we're equal on points with Chelsea who have an incredible team. Never thought we'd say that 5 years ago eh?

23 Aug 2015 18:07:17
I do see what you mean but our performances have left a lot to be desired. I haven't been impressed with much and our defence has been atrocious. Yes I know we are waiting for players to come in but it really is taking a long time. Is this because we have our hearts set on specific people or people don't want to come to us? It certainly makes me twitchy at the moment.

23 Aug 2015 07:14:35
As a lifelong Saints fan and season ticket holder, I've come to accept that the likes of Wanyama and Mane effectively use us as a "stepping stone", even Lallana, Shaw. Loren, Chambers and Oxlaide Chamberlain and Calum Chambers, plus of course Walcott and Gareth Bale.

I do however question the Saints negotiators for the contracts, surely we can insert clauses that are punitive so that the players get financially punished if they insist on leaving early.

The Liebherr Family have been fantastic, our Academy is superb, we have a Top Top manager in Ronald Koeman, our ground is family like, we have a great following and maybe we have to accept that the top six sides Man City - Chelsea - Man United - Arsenal - Liverpool and Spurs have the financial clout and "gravity" to attract the better players because of the massive wages that they pay.

Look at loyalty. we are never going to get another Sir Matt Le Tiss, so let's enjoy what we have and allow the management team to sort out the mercenaries. find a few loyal servants and carry on growing some great players. McCarthy - McQueen - Slattery - Gallagher will all make the grade.

Virgil Van Dyke is a monster, let's hope we get him. Trust in RK. he will sort it! Up the Saints. come on you Reds.!!

23 Aug 2015 12:24:24
I'm sorry I really can't understand all the hype about VVD. Very poor from some matches I saw him play in European competitions. Maybe our system and the dependable Fonte can improve his game but I'm not convinced.

23 Aug 2015 13:26:41
Hi Vick - Have a look at the clips from last year, 10 Goals and a fair few Stonkers from long range free licks. He is fast and direct. We have been blessed with some wonderful - Free Kick takers over the years Matt Le Tiss - Lambert as an example, at the moment Davis is stepping up. !! He can't hit a barn door.
VVD is an ingredient that we don't have, I think once Bertrand gets back we will be more balanced, but having VVD will lock up that central area.
McQueen reminds me of Nicky Holmes another fantastic player that any Saints side would like to have again.

McCarthy is in my opinion a winger, not central defender and I think he is quality.
Fonte is still doing a cracking job, but he needs to have some support alongside. To loose Alderwerield and Schneiderlin at the same time as Clyne is a massive re-build. RK will get it sorted, have faith.

22 Aug 2015 23:22:39
Despite the ongoing havoc caused by the Wanyama rumour. I know fans may be angered and worried, but there is NO reason to say racist comments and abuses against another human let alone a footballer. Why would a player want to play for a team where fans would throw harsh, hideous abuses at over a stupid rumour? Its really heartbreaking to see a group(thankfully a minority) reacting in such a disgraceful manner. Great to see saints fans standing against the atrocious action. Massive shame imo #KickItOut

23 Aug 2015 08:22:29
I myself haven't seen such comments, but shame on them if it's true. If he does go however, I have faith that we will already have several ideas on who his replacement could be

23 Aug 2015 09:20:43
How can u have faith we have replacements lined up, made a massive cock up by not having back up incase toby did go, that's evident by the fact were chasing 2 sub standard cbs in vvd and vlaar, now i'd take koubaly but feel its paper talk. People need to come to sense there is no incentive to become top 7 side, board will sell well but buy poorly we generally do, martina, soares are not up to the grade, granted clasie only played once against vitesse are looked very poor, vvd . a monster. have u seen much of him he's crap and no step up from yoshi. Wanyama will be gone for little more than we paid then what whose next mane. The board need to accept things move on and although not breaking bank we need to spend and restructsure and yes it may cost 40m but that's a small price to pay if it means staying in epl at 100m a season and due by recent games we've a lot to worry about, I feel even roko is struggling knowing he hasn't the squad, he could have midfield 3 vic/clasie/oriel. I rate Stek poss even more than fraser as an alrounder. Defence Fonte,Bertrand, rest are only good enough for squad not first team, Pelle, Jay(if he ever becomes same player like owen never did) Mane again that's it all the rest squad players So that's only 8 poss 9 with Jay good enough to fill starting 11 so please Les find us quality rb,cb acm, and 1 more cf then I think we will be a force again esp at home

23 Aug 2015 12:29:53
How can you judge Martina and Cedric when they haven't even played 10 games for the club. We've barely gone past the first month of the premier league, not even 3 matches played in the league and you've already start knocking them down. Not every player can adapt to the EPL with a snap of their fingers.