Southampton banter 3

12 Sep 2024 07:39:18
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10 Sep 2024 11:07:46
Just musing during the wearisome international break and concluded that one of our problems is we don't have what I will call a proper captain.

Stephens who has inherited the role by default has enough on his plate worrying about his own game, never mind everyone else's.

If you compare the role of a captain in cricket for example - it's quite expansive ranging from tactics on the pitch, who bowls next, field placing to team selection.

In football, there are few captains who are influencers - those who control the tempo of the game, make tactical changes etc.

It has become almost a redundant role since the days of Ball, Mills, Case (to name but a few). Aside of picking heads or tails at the coin toss what else do they do - or a better question - what else are they allowed to do?

Would Stephens say to players midway through a game, " listen guys, the gaffer has got this all wrong - let's move to 4 at the back and move the ball quicker through the lines".

I seriously doubt it and few could blame him, because he would be dropped the next week.

As I say, just thinking!

14 Sep 2024 09:28:30
I doubt it too @Millertime.

I think Lallana is best qualified for that role this season. His experience could help us dictate the tempo and he could be a trusted word in the ear of RM on selection, though doubt it would go to tactics.

Challenge is we have Dibling, Fernandes and Lallana in that position and somebody needs to step in when Adam is off. Maybe Downes.

I would make Ramsdale the leader of distribution and organization at the back and Lallana at the front.

07 Sep 2024 07:39:20
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05 Sep 2024 19:16:26
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05 Sep 2024 13:07:47
Why does he persist with Stephens and other below standard players, when we have better players waiting on the sidelines .
AB-K is not just good enough, he is an immense player.
AA simply not good enough against EPL standard defenders.
Manning, Bree average Championship defenders .
Aribo - Djenepo in disguise . one footed, poor in possession and out of possession .
I could go on .
Coupled with RMs total farcical tactics.
Poor team selection, poor substitutions, inability to adjust play on the fly, inability to adjust based on opponents changes .
Time to go RM .

04 Sep 2024 07:39:19
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04 Sep 2024 00:53:44
Just chucking this out there.we r struggling for goals atm and we all love a bit of a maverick at Saints, so I would love to see SR and RM try to tempt Memphis Depay to St Mary's, he is 30 and a free agent, Koeman won't pick him for Dutch national team while he isn't playing.he'd got to be worth a punt and he will score more than BBD and AA combined!

04 Sep 2024 02:32:55
Wages.

03 Sep 2024 10:24:22
The problem is essentially tactical awareness, adaptability and hypocrisy. RM has his philosophy and won't change, which is fair enough. He got us promoted so has probably earnt the right and has been backed by fans and owners alike to have a go at the prem with his style and this year is a free swing as bouncing back at first attempt was huge bonus for us. My problem which seems to be shared by many is that he shows no ability to change ANYTHING mid game and is no different to hassenhuttl in this respect! Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. Even arsenal and City will knock a couple of long balls over the top to turn the defence around and keep them honest, it's small and trivial but by us not doing something like that it's so easy and predictable to play against we need to score the perfect goal to stand a chance. He bangs on about bravery and courage but isn't brave enough to pick our best 11 regardless of age or how long they've been at the club, and comes out with a southgate-esque statement of credit in the bank. This is the epl there is no room for credit or sentimentality, its ruthless and unfortunately 4/5 or our current starting 11 are and never will b up to it. Hopefully the international break gives the new lads even more time to bed in and RM finds his bravery to give us the best shout of staying up! I live in hope

03 Sep 2024 18:00:59
We need to continue to stand behind and support RM. RM will get us to come good we have been building a significantly better depth of squad. We need to keep the faith and we will have a few bad games but we will start to get points very soon. My only player who I love but not at this level is Stephen’s as I am not sure he has enough to quality to play RM’s way in the premier league.

04 Sep 2024 10:11:24
I am intrigued how RM will get us to come good?
I actually think we will lose more and more and by bigger margins. A team like Man City with their incredible talent and very fast, high pressing, will destroy us.
my deep concern is that he appears to be watching a different game to all of us, blaming defeats on single errors or not taking our one chance.
If the opposition has 23 shots in virtually half our possession, we are in serious trouble.
While our possession is in non threatening positions, the opponents is high in our half.
The man is too stubborn, too deluded and has a way too highly inflated opinion of himself .
Add to that, not playing your best players and continuing with average players
Recipes for disaster

04 Sep 2024 15:27:46
It's in his hands. Cutting out the suicidal passes at the back is easy. Just let Ramsdale make the calls and put Big Les in the side to give him some height to aim at.

Then take Smallbone, Aribo, Stephens and Armstrong out the firing line for a few games and let Lallana, Fernandes, Dibling and Ameyaw have a crack.

That is very easy in the short term. Then in the mid term he has to add some variety to his game to make us harder to play against.

He can still save face by saying he realises in the Prem we have to mix it up. He is not disowning his philosophy just adding to it.

05 Sep 2024 04:29:38
Hey Millertime/s h rich &all other fellow.posters! Agree the diobolical Team selection vBrentford smacks of either total Management naivety or some favourtism.In retrospect my team suggested selection v Brentford posted on 31/8/24 looks closer.to acceptable.lI would assume Aaron Ramsdalle may need a shot of Valium if required to play behind Bednarek and Stephens again! This central weakness has been evident for months and why we didn’t sign (on a low budget) the likes.of Liverpool duo Nat Phillips AND Van Den Berg
which in my opinion would have gone some way to shoring up the back line.However we have to rely on ABK, Charlie Taylor and future prospect Ronnie Edwards in the meantime.On the plus side recent signings Lallana, Ramsdale, Fernandes, Yuri, Downes, TBH, big Les and Archer are all benefit signings.Here’s hoping the team is chosen from merit and ability from hereon.!

03 Sep 2024 07:39:17
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02 Sep 2024 07:39:16
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