Southampton Banter Archive May 09 2015

09 May 2015 20:48:36
I think the only reason for such backlash is the start and promise shown after such a turbalent summer. If the season was vice versa and we were finishing in 7th everyone would be lavishing superlatives on team, squad, Koeman etc.same players same manager.we are where we are not because of our brilliance but this season teams have been genuinely poor across the season as a whole. I have genuine concerns for next year so really feel we all need to be supportive, get behind the team and whole club because the turbalent summer could be about to come again . let's hope we can learn from this year, use youth and purchase well or I worry.

10 May 2015 08:08:20
That's a good way of looking at it but over the course of our season the same issues would still be apparent and that was highlighted by the stat from yesterday that Pelle hasn't scored an away goal since August. So if you turned the season on its head that means yesterday Pelle would have scored his first away goal. in MAY!

Either way you look at it, that stat represents a serious issue with our creativity and striking, two key positions needed in the build-up for goals and we haven't had them.

Since we have essentially been playing the same formation and tactics as Chelsea they are the best comparison. They have three strikers, we have one, given that Long is normally sent out on the wing. They have about four or five players that can play in the number 10 role, we only have Prowsey but so far he's been nothing to write home about. Let's just hope Koeman and Reed recognises that we need a top signing to take on this role.

10 May 2015 12:56:00
i wonder how may times pelle has hit the post away from home.

09 May 2015 18:52:37
why would we sign djuricic? is he any better than gaston ramirez?

10 May 2015 19:48:13
As far as I'm aware, there was never any agreed option in Djuricic's loan contract for Saints to sign him permanently. Elia's, yes, Alderweireld's, kind of, but not Djuricic's.

I don't suspect he'll ever be seen in a Saints shirt again in two games' time. I think he's been a bit unlucky with injury and hasn't actually looked awful when he's played. He just hasn't really contributed a single meaningful thing.

11 May 2015 02:26:55
i heard RoKo has ever intention of signing both. I may be mistaken. I was once before.

09 May 2015 17:05:33
15 points from the last 14 games. Since the end of January, Saints have been dire - a bottom six club,

Make no mistake, next season is going to be a struggle. The play is predictable and slow and utterly uninspired. Took teams half a season, but they've all worked Koeman out now.

Harry Reed did all right today. At least someone put in a shift. The rest were varying degrees of disgraceful. I'd happily drive Pelle back to Feyenoord myself. Total waste of space - one goal away from home all season, in August.

1 point from the last 18 away from home. It'll be 1 from 21 come the end of the season.

09 May 2015 18:17:29
You know what qwertyell. How about you go support Arsenal or City or something. Then you'd be sure to see a lot of goals.

I know you've been trying to be that cynical bloke who sets unbelievably high standards and then complains that we don't make those standards.

The truth is there's a fine line between being a demanding supporter, and not being supportive at all.

All this negativity is not helping anyone.

09 May 2015 18:38:52
Negativity yes, but also reality, we are one-dimensional and predictable and as other posters' mentioned 'average' at best. I think it is inevitable that saints fans are going to get a little frustrated due to the start we had in the season, and conversely the end of the season has been pathetic at best

09 May 2015 19:54:09
I didn't realise it was setting unbelievably high standards to expect to be somewhat competitive against Leicester, Sunderland, Stoke, WBA and some of the other garbage at the bottom of the table.

How much did Koeman spend putting together this squad? £65 million or so?

It's undeniable that their form since January has been shocking - a seriously worrying trend with implications for the summer ahead and into next season.

I don't see pointing that out as anything other than stark realism. Glass-half-full-ism, perhaps. But things have played out in accordance with many of the concerns I've raised on here for a long time. I would have preferred to have been proven wrong.

09 May 2015 21:24:17
Glass half empty, I meant. Minor detail.

10 May 2015 13:39:29
Thanks gwertyell for printing the stats, after the performances of late I was wondering how many points we had collected since the turn of the year. I am trying to stay possitive thou. I agree it is worrying, we had a fantastic start if this is reversed next season and with the addition of euro football I think we may struggle.

09 May 2015 08:10:07
I have been reading all the posts regarding us securing 7th place, I honestly think we will but it is going to be a close run thing . I think we have a very tough game against Leicester and wouldn't be surprised if they turn us over. The Villa game is going to be tough next week and well City last game of the season don't hold your breath. Our recent form has been poor and it may mean our superior goal difference gets us home. It has been a good season but could have been so much better if we could just have scored a few more goals especially from midfield, until then we won't be classed as a top side.

09 May 2015 11:28:38
7th place is certainly not in the bag yet. We have 3 tough games left but I think that we need to take at least 3 points from them and hope that Swansea slip up. Our season up until Christmas was very good but since then we've played like a lower mid table side. I think that we need at least 3 more good players to sign in the summer as well as replacing any players that leave. I agree with Chris that we need someone in midfield that can contribute 8/10 goals each season.