Southampton Banter

04 Jul 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - newnameoldideas has posted a new article entitled, Why United Keep Missing Midfield Targets

26 Jun 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - BlueNose1878 has posted a new article entitled, Why Promise David Could Suit Everton

21 Jun 2026 20:59:18
Thoughts on selling Charles?

He is a big game player that would be sorely missed.

Though, we have more strength and depth in DM than we do at CB (THB) or LW (Leo). An early sale would help us bring in a 9 also.

19 Jun 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - OptimumShots has posted a new article entitled, Everton Need One Clear Squad Plan

16 Jun 2026 22:57:43
{Ed's Note - thefutureisoldgold3 has posted a new article entitled, Wolves Face a Reckoning After a Chaotic Season

13 Jun 2026 14:08:09
Just caught up, thanks for ammunition to use next season 😅👌You best believe I'll have my popcorn on standby.

I'm crazy, a skate, unloyal 🙄, I'm a Pompey fan, just because I question things.

No, I'm just not a standard terrace mentality fan, who says one thing then piss and moans and cries sack the manager when it all goes wrong. Obviously not SaintHugh/Jar though, because they would never call for a tactical genius to be sacked, right, right?

The only thing I'm guilty of is looking too far ahead, granted. There are only a few people in here that look and see patterns and pitfalls for why we are a yo you club, up and down the leagues.

People here are currently praising and loving our board for backing Tonda. The same board who have put gambling companies after gambling companies on the front of our shirt, the same board who also hired Juric, Jones, Selles, Martin ect, how quickly you forget.

NO ONE here knows the extent to which the cheating was relied upon and just how much actually went on, compared to what the club has disclosed. We DO know interns were forced. Those are facts. So you can't truly claim Tonda is this or that until the performances start coming in next season, which is what I have been saying all along.

Stewart is gone now and unless we replace like for like, we've lost 10+ goals next season, Larins done well and holds the ball up the way I like, but he won't carry us all season

The key signing is Scienza. HE has been the driving force of this team and our performances, not Tonda, or rather not just Tonda. He would have been hard to keep if we went up and now undoubtedly he will go. It will be hard to find a replacement, but if Tonda can, that will go some way to convincing me more of his 'prowess'. Yes there has been other individuals standout performances, but Scienza has been the catalyst for much of what we did last season, not Tonda.

Let's not forget SkateLeslee that Russel Martin also went on a 20+ unbeaten run, so by your own logic RM is also a 'truly talented manager', yet we know that's not the case. Ruben Selles also had all players praising him, I guess he's world class too 🙄 People see only what they want to see.

You all also think because I question Tonda and highlight things that I'm negative about him and want him out. Not at all, I want him to be what you all think he is but he has to prove that and he hasn't yet. Too much of last season can be explained away and its why I don't get naively carried away like you.

There are too many red flags for both him and the board to be completely backing either of them. Next season and how we push on from here is where we should be judging them.

A decent chunk into next season if I'm still arguing against Tonda is when you can call me crazy (if we're doing well), until then, time will tell.

14 Jun 2026 08:17:09
Yes Scienza was good this season, but let's not forget we have Robinson coming back from injury. He looked like a real prospect before his injury and another season in the championship we only help in his development. It's not all dome and gloom there are some real reasons to be positive, after all we are supposed to be supporters of the club.

14 Jun 2026 15:49:53
Robinson's ok and has flashes of brilliance, but nowhere near the consistency and talents of Scienza at the moment.

Meaning if Scienza goes, which I definitely think he will, we lose that as Robinson isn't currently at the same level.

Irs not doom and gloom in spreading I'm just giving realistic insights into the 'prowess' behind Tonda.

There have been many variables and things that can be explained away.

It's about maintaining/replacing/replicating or improving upon those variables of Tonda is the man people think he is.

As I've mentioned I'm not convinced he is but we will see going forward.

Scienza, Jander, Shea and Stewart (already gone) are key to what we achieved last season and it doesn't look like they will be here next season.

14 Jun 2026 16:51:24
Well I'm a glass half full. We still have all of the above minus Stewart. Robinson could prove to be better than Scienza. We still have the same people in place that brought in the above players and Fernandes previously so trust they can do it again.

Sure they made some mistakes but so does every club. I don't know why you brought Tonda up I never mentioned him.

15 Jun 2026 17:25:09
The fact you will have popcorn ready in response to any Saints Demise, will surely fuel speculation you are a skate or / and disloyal.

I couldn't care less,

Another FACT of course, is what Tonda did do was improve on the 12 points in 13 games that WS managed.

16 Jun 2026 17:05:31
Damn right I wouldn't sack Tonda, every single club in the top 4 divisions cheats in one way or another. You have zero clue as to the level some players, coaches and managers will go to win and your indignant righteousness doesn't mean a single thing to someone who wants to win. How do you even watch a game with players diving, grabbing and feigning injury, there must be toys everywhere.


The fact Peretz, Larin and Bree have all signed so quickly with glowing praise for Tonda speaks volumes and that's enough for me.

Stewart, well I think he's a bit shortsighted, his career would possibly be over if it wasn't for our back room staff and Tonda nursing him trough the season. He can't even play 90 mins and definitely not twice in a week, put Stewart and Larins stats together and you have a monster. But Stewart wherever he goes will break down as soon as he starts playing 90 mins, he's the loser in this. Bad agent.

Anyway, do try to enjoy the season or not.

17 Jun 2026 10:57:30
Well said Hugh. All teams cheat in some way or shall we call it bending the rules?
Stewart had to be salary and fitness, wonder if we offered an appearance based 12 month extension?
We need 2 more centre forwards, one at the end of his career and one raw youngster. A experienced number 10 to alternate with Azaz and replacements for whoever leaves.

17 Jun 2026 22:13:08
Hugh you're talking about something completely different.

That type of cheating, whilst infuriating, goes on in full view.

Whilst big money teams such as Man city who break financial rules will always get away with it, because they will always just throw more money at it.

Money talks. Don't like Man city cheating, maybe don't buy products that supports the Arab Emirates.

Ours was a blatant attempt to know things about the match we were going into.

I'm not sure how you don't see it. I don't really care about the actual doing if it, more of going forward and wether Tonda can perform without it, that's been my point all along.

That you've been praising a guy that you don't know for sure how much he relied upon cheating and now that he can't, will he have the team playing the same.

Scienza, Stewart, Che, Jander all gone too (You'll see) so for me I can't see it being the same

18 Jun 2026 09:00:15
Get over it and stop using examples of players that at any time would be looked at as being sold for big money. They're good players, if they leave it'll be because of above market valuations and it won't be sideways moves.

When players do sideways moves just to get out, that's a problem.

And Stewart is obviously under the illusion that nobody knows he's 100% injury prone and he's fucked if he gets injured at the World Cup. His agents advice has been very poor.

You just want to create problems and if I had to guess, I'd actually think you're "press" looking for a story or creating a story.

18 Jun 2026 23:42:12
No, I'm a realist.

Like I've said a few times, a lot of you have blinders on. You're excited Tonda is staying because you think we're going to repeat what we did this season i.e. carry on where we left off.

All I've been doing his highlighting the variables that aren't going to be present next season.

Instead of acknowledging them, you just assume it will all be the same, which means you're also going to piss and moan when things don't go that way 🙄🤷

19 Jun 2026 22:10:05
So Leslee if watching the opponent train is cheating, why is it allowed in every league in the world. except the EFL
the EPL signed a deal for television rights allowing open viewing of training sessions, mic'ed up players/coaches, plus real time watching of the dressing rooms

Your obsession with the fact Tonda relies heavily on 'cheating' is just beyond understanding.

Please let's have a sensible answer. not your world looking out from a hole. talk about tunnel vision.

Scouting is prevalent throughout the world. so for instance if Pep declared he has every opponent watched. would you say. 'there you go, that's the reason for his success'.

Just enjoy the way players, fans and owners are getting on board.

We are bored with your drivel, it has no sensible foundation other than obsession with ideas bordering on insanity!

12 Jun 2026 16:46:49
I'd be interested to know if Stewart not extending his stay with us was his decision or the clubs. I think with Larin we were able to rest Stewart and saw his best injury free spell with us.

It will be interesting to see where his career goes from here and where we go. To my mind we need a like for like replacement in the 25-28 year old range.

12 Jun 2026 23:05:25
From small bits and pieces I have heard, it's more to do with agents getting in his ear, with a big pay day in mind.

We wanted to extend but were too slow.

11 Jun 2026 19:33:46
If Eckert is banned by the FA.
*.It would be great to appoint Rob Edwards - he is a very experienced Championship manager and was well on the way to getting Middlesbrough promoted last season until he left to go to Wolves. Imagine the meltdown at MFC if we were to appoint him!!