Southampton Banter

31 Oct 2026 07:39:02
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24 Oct 2026 08:38:52
For me, this afternoon is a defining moment in our season, not in terms of whether we get promoted or not, but whether we have the performance in us to compete with West Ham for a top two finish.

Its a match-up between two of the most fancied teams in the division but IMO, we are some distance behind West Ham in terms of goal threat and resilience.

We will learn a-lot today and i have no idea which way it will go. I'm just hoping we go for their jugular. No tippy tappy fancy stuff in areas where it is meaningless. Playing on the front foot and winning the 50-50 balls.

Lets hope we play with physicality and courage and if we do ‘t get a result, let's die trying.

Go for it lads - make us proud.

24 Oct 2026 14:15:31
Same, on my last post in was mentioned about fine margins.

Whilst I am a wholehearted believer in fine margins, my point was irrelevant in comparison to the team we were under Tonda last season and the team we are now.

For me there is a distinct difference.

I 100% believe the spying went on longer than stated and was integral to the way we blew teams out of the water back then.

Now what were seeing is us without that extra edge. I'm not saying we're crap. We have a team of players that could pretty much walk into any championship team.

I'm just highlighting that the mentality from the club and wider fans was we pick up where we left off and carry on like we did. No was was addressing the elephant in the room though (I was) about what life post none spying would be.

I'm not saying Tondas s****, he's young and maybe he will turn out good.

But for me the best we can hope for today is a draw but more likely it will be an easy win for West Ham.

24 Oct 2026 17:15:34
To my earlier post.

That's what I'm talking about!

Well done Saints - an afternoon to remember!

24 Oct 2026 19:23:13
Lesleee, it will be good for you if you let go of the spygate drama. It was awful, humiliating and unacceptable. But also, its over. Tonda has shown impressive resilience in the face of fierce adversity, and has emerged intact. Many would have walked away from the heat, but he has stuck with Saints and deserves our unequivocal thanks. And the noise around the issue has subsided significantly across the division as rival teams fans have moved on.

I am not denying that you have the right to raise the issue whenever you want, that is what this forum is for. I am merely suggesting that since everyone else has moved on, it might be an option for you to consider. Great result today, proud of the team and hopeful for this season.

24 Oct 2026 20:07:28
Very diplomatically worded ExeterStdavid.

And also right!

Let it go Lesleee - otherwise you will find yourself conflicted - the more Saints lose, the more you will try to vindicate your position.

25 Oct 2026 04:39:47
Yess Millertime your call has been answered!.What a brilliant win. Congrats to Tonda,the Coaching staff and every Saints Player for executing their plan. Definitely heading in the direction we all want to see. Although in future occasions it may be necessary to adjust to various opposition tactics,at the moment Tonda has maybe found his best eleven and to field the very same next week (subject to no injuries) is a ‘no brainer'to hopefully keep the Team's togetherness and footballing ability going forward.

25 Oct 2026 07:09:41
Heh St John. You must have felt the positive vibes down under - it was like a good old fashioned cup tie. We had them on the ropes and then they fought back. The only surprise was there were just the 5 goals!! I suppose it was written in the stars that KWP would score a belter!

But what a worldie from Bree - the technique from 20 yards out was awesome - just needs to work on his finish from 2 yards out ! Mind you, I forgive him for last week after his screamer yesterday.


Keeping the same eleven that started will help with momentum - QPR are similar to West Ham in style of play.

Let's keep rolling!

25 Oct 2026 14:47:21
There are variable to everything and tbf the weather played a part.

All I'm saying is I see a difference between this season and last season and apart from che moving on (he was integral though) and the distraction of the FA hearing things were supposed to be much the same.

After Christmas, for me is where I'll determine Tonda. Time for us to see where we are and any new signings we bring in to shore up areas that might need bolstering.

QPR look tough aster smashing Swansea, so a result to them will show were adapting to change and securing back to back wins against tough opposition.

25 Oct 2026 15:33:59
I was taught as a child " if you haven't got anything nice to say, don't say anything! " I hadn't realized that it was only West ham playing in bad weather and it was brilliant sunshine over our goal. As for things being the same played 12 won 7 drawn 3 lost 2 is not far of the form we showed last season.

19 Oct 2026 07:39:02
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17 Oct 2026 14:51:27
I'm writing this before the match as I like to live/die by the sword.

I want to categorically state that this is NOT me being negative towards Tonda, I know people don't agree with and some just are too stubborn to agree with me lol

But surely alot of you can see a distinct difference between the team we were under Tonda last season and the team we are under Tonda this season?

I'm not saying we're s*** by any means but for me it's 100% clear that lightning form/way of playing where we were blowing teams out of the water was down to spying, spying on way more teams then was let on.

Fast forward to today'l and we don't have have that. What we do have is an expensive team/high quality championship team/players and experience from last year. I think largely that's what getting us through this season.

Does any of that matter and what's my point? No, none of it really matters. Only that everyone was liken Tonda to being a god, when actually he's alot more average then people have him credit for. He's young and he has time to improve, but I think people need to accept that last season was a fake unfair/advantage that we had and now we're seeing how we perform within the same non-cheating constraints that everyone else has i.e. not be able to spy/learn beforehand.

On a different matter JWP. There were concerns/disgruntlement with bringing him back as he doesn't offer much asides from his deadball. With that I would have to agree. It blows my mind why he's on the pitch and not taking every deadball situation, sure Manning's ok at it too, but if JWP is not he pitch just leave it all to him and let him get back into the swing of it, manning cam offer other qualities on the pitch whereas if JWP isn't on deadball, what's the point ting this

17 Oct 2026 17:13:52
I for one have, have never likened Tonda to a managerial God. I'm not convinced by his tampering or tactics. And the tippy tappy football drives me mad - we should have ripped up that playbook when we got rid of Martin.

Today, case in point - a miserable draw which has taken the sparkle off the week we've just had.

That's said, none of the performances were great and certainly not convincing.

However, it was like the script was written for Bazuna - one of the few clean sheets he ever kept at St Mary's.

Back to Tonda, does he know his best starting eleven - I certainly don't and nor do any of the Saints fans I keep complaint with.

Next Saturday, we will have to perform otherwise we will be trampled over by a very confident West Ham side.

18 Oct 2026 08:27:21
Lesleee I think you are overstating it.

Without the 4 point deduction and terrible penalty denial we would be on 23 points and top of the league right now.

That's with us missing Jander, THB, Charles, Robinson and Stewart in the line up from last season, plus the uncertainty of spygate punishment hanging over us.

I am sure the spying gave us an unfair edge but we also do not have the same quality off the bench to turn 1 point into 3 anymore. Plus, more quality teams in the division.

The next 3 games will pit us against promotion rivals and will be a big test of our level.

18 Oct 2026 09:25:42
I agree SaintThatAKick.
The referee missed two big calls - the pen and the sending off incident.
On another day, that would have been 3 points.
Talking of recent former players, I would add KWP to that list - with him at RB we would have far more threat down the right flank and whilst Bree wrote himself into Saints folklore with the winner against that lot down the road, his miss yesterday was one of the worst I've ever seen.
I also don't rate Bragg - he reminds me of Smallbone - lots of huff and puff but no real end product or purpose. That's where Matty Fernandez would have made such a difference too!

On a slightly different subject, it's interesting that those who wanted away haven't necessarily prospered (other than their bank accounts). Tyler Dibling is a bench warmer at Everton who rarely gets game time and to be honest, is unlikely to get the nod over Grealish.

18 Oct 2026 22:17:54
Agree on all points Millertime.

Think we are in for a fun promotion chase.

Hope for autos but Saints vs Boro playoff final would be electric.

21 Oct 2026 06:05:23
With regard to Tonda's performance this season-I would say he's done a pretty good. Job so far (considering his personal circumstances).I would also say that there are at least half a dozen Managers' in the Championship-who if given the Saints Squad would have achieved similar points achieved to date if not better. I would include Bolton's Steven Schumacher on evidence of. his away Team set-up(including not many noteable Players)to leave St. Mary's with a point.

Reading that we are currently scouring the Markets for a proven no.9 to accompany the "Bagsman”if not eclipse him ( if promotion is a realistic target).Personally,we could also be searching for another lively goal scoring forward,at. midfielder,def. midfielder, and a strong young accomplished C. Back to partner Schlotterbeck. More good news. Princewill Ehibhatiomhan———-looks promising if Tonda is brave enough to afford him the right opportunities,!