Southampton Banter

07 Mar 2021 12:34:50
I agree with Manny, players must be committed to the club although I feel with Ings injury record I would be surprised to see one of the big six going for him . on yesterdays game good to see s better performance which showed how we can play once we get our injured players back, also great to get a clean sheet and hopefully the keeper and back four can get to the end of the season of as one unit. whilst others have commented that McCarthy should play Forster's record of only conceding once in six games gets him my vote this may well change however on our visit to Man city, however good city are they probably won't go to the end of the season winning every game.

07 Mar 2021 07:39:20
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Chelsea - A Liverpool Perspective

06 Mar 2021 07:39:15
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 5th March 2021

04 Mar 2021 20:19:53
I agree with other posters regarding Ralph's constantly playing players out of position and hopefully we will have some back from injury this weekend to make his selections easier, however I do hope he persists with Forster as in five first team games has only conceded one goal and deserves a chance to build on those performances.

05 Mar 2021 00:02:25
First time of posting in all the years I’ve been following the threads, so bear with me.
First of all, neither Forster or McCarthy are good enough at this level. Both are tremendous shop stoppers on their day (on off days, well . we all remember the Carabo cup final with Forster on an off day) . Given their height, neither command the six yard box well enough, uncertain whether to come or stay home. Their distribution is generally woeful - when did either turn defence into attack - McCarthy looks confused, scared even when clutching the ball before he all too often bowls it out to a defender under pressure. Forster is marginally better but again, decision making far too clunky. I would give Forster the nod against Sheff United on Saturday, if only to earn his £75K with a clean sheet.
Goalkeepers aside - I cannot let the opportunity to vent about Redmond pass. He is not deserving of the shirt - huff and puff and basically pointless. It’s churlish to say this but at times I would rather play with 10 on the pitch than have to see that pathetically smug grin of his every time he messes up (which is a lot by the way) .
Controversial - but I will say it anyway - what’s up with Bertie? He’s not the player he was - risk averse (always backwards and sideways) and if he does get forward he rarely beats the first defender. Playing like someone who is not having to compete for a place.
Finally, and with great regret, I’m questioning Ralph. Lovely, lovely man but someone who has run out of ideas. Team choices and substitutions have all the hallmarks of desperation. His persona on the touch line is of someone on death row. It’s just plain horrible to see him suffering like that and in many respects I do blame the senior players who are showing little to no leadership on the park but wax lyrical afterwards about how they must do better next week.
When Saints lose it spoils my weekend but somehow, I never get the feeling it effects players in the same way. Then I turn on the rugby and it makes me want to weep at the way footballers in general, including ours die and return to life every time someone knocks into them. I would really love it (think Keegan) if Ralph. sent them on a week’s boot camp with the Royal Marines. For God’s sake toughen up - it’s embarrassing at times.
Anyway, I’m done and fear not, I won’t be back any time soon with ridiculously long rants which change nothing. Actually, I do feel better for getting it off my chest. Best wishes to all Saints fans and maybe, just maybe, we’ll get to enjoy another trip to Wembley this year.

05 Mar 2021 17:34:15
Hi Millertime, good to read your first post. When I posted recently anti Ralph’s decision making, suggesting he could be sacked, I expected a backlash from pro Ralph people. in fact there was no support.
Redmond is as good an example of what on earth is Ralph doing? In Redmond and to a large extent Djenepo, you have two players who are not contributing towards the team winning, quite the reverse. So many attacks are broken up by these two, losing the ball, poor passes, stopping and going backwards! We could have Messi up front and still not score! Because the simple fact is the front are not getting the ball!
What does Ralph say in the paper? Goals have dried up and we need more goals from midfield
Dried up? JWP not playing and important balls, Armstrong trying,

If he plays Redmond tomorrow after his absolutely appalling game v Everton then Ralph has lost it.

He needs to get Bednerek and Vestergard back together! I don’t care if Salisu wil be a ‘superstar of the future’ . he’s nit know and we need these two playing together!

Enough .

06 Mar 2021 13:01:13
I agree with keeping Bednarek and Vestergaard as our central defence. I was thinking that maybe it's worth trying Salisu just in front of them in a 4 1 4 1 line up.

07 Mar 2021 11:11:40
What a difference getting players back, especially KWP. We looked to know what we were doing, well drilled and playing like before. Bednarek and Vestergaard together again. I can’t fault Forster either. Much more the team of before. Great game - what a screamer from Che. We need to back this up now with a good performance at City.

07 Mar 2021 11:18:39
I wonder if Jack Stephens could be converted into a 6? He’s got decent feet and is strong in the tackle. Plus he’s now 4th choice CB. Could he do a job if required?

03 Mar 2021 07:39:06
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 3rd March 2021

02 Mar 2021 17:12:00
Another disappointing result against an Everton team who are having a good season, It appeared we tried to hold them to 1-0 until the last ten minutes and then tried to snatch a point we cannot rely on Ings to score others must step up and do there share, is JWP the captain we need as he seldom seems to score other than free kicks we really need someone to get goals from the midfield in open play.

02 Mar 2021 16:52:36
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Top 10 - British Centre-Backs

01 Mar 2021 20:54:06
Half time Everton 1-0 up. service to Ings and Adams non existent. Redmond and Djenepo breaking up everyone of our attacks!
Vestergard and Bednerek great centre back pairing who concede few. So what if Salisu is fit, don't break up that partnership! If anything get Salisu RB . those two know each other and play superbly!
Feel sorry for Danny and Che . awful service!
Remind me of what Redmond brings to the team?

01 Mar 2021 21:45:07
Redmond is having a shocker.

01 Mar 2021 21:51:38
89th minute for the first shot on target.

01 Mar 2021 23:06:35
Danny and Che taking up positions, running for passes . nothing arriving! Redmond absolutely awful, with the ball and without the ball! Breaking up more of our attacks than their defence! Djenepo not much better but excellent at RB!
We must play Bednerek and vestergard at CB’s .

02 Mar 2021 11:19:30
Fundamental basic of football - if you don’t score you can’t win. Our service to the front two is non existent. Redmond and Djenepo (other than a great goal line dribble) are providing zero service; in fact they are losing the ball. Armstrong is trying to work openings. Ward Prowse- zero contribution other than dead ball situations. So we have a midfield providing virtually zero service. Get the ball to Ings he’ll score - don’t get it to him he can’t score.
No matter how well we are playing, no service to the front men means we can’t win. 1 point out of 27! That is serious relegation form!
It’s broken so it needs fixing! The senior players are not performing so get Tella in from the start .
Vestergard and Bednerek- get that partnership back, it was. Superb.

02 Mar 2021 12:31:37
I still can’t understand Bednarek at RB. He looked like Bambi on Ice until he move back to CB. RB is our main issue. Kayne Ramsey has earned a contract, so play him. That gets Djenepo up the pitch (albeit he looked better at RB, but a red was pending as he flew it all the time) . We need to improve the squad for next year. Lemina and Elynoussi both could contribute so keep them. If money is the issue, get some free players in, there’s a lot out there with contracts ending in the summer.

02 Mar 2021 13:05:13
Bednerek and vestergard formed a superb partnership and Ralph should not split them up, even if saints think Salisu is the second coming! Those two formed the foundation of our good run. Incidentally Redmond wasn’t in the team either!