| News Comment | Do Southampton Need To Recall Bella-Kotchap For Liverpool Clash by YosemiteSaint at 18:22:03
My best guess is that the rift between ABK and everyone else at the club is too far to bridge. Premier League managers find out how to overcome such stuff. But managers whose imagination doesn't extend beyond the Championship apparently find ways to leave proven talent on the wayside. |
| News Comment | Do Southampton Need To Recall Bella-Kotchap For Liverpool Clash by halftimeorange at 13:24:47
I'll be reasonably happy if we aren't slaughtered on Sunday but, I'd actually be more surprised if RM alters his possession at any cost philosophy to limit what Liverpool can achieve rather than what he wants us to. Not relaxing the total rigidity of his policy has cost us several points this season and we now need to scrap for everything irrespective of whether we kick the ball into Row Z instead of trying to retain it. I think RM has sold some players short. Ryan Manning, for example. Okay, he's not a world beater, he's on the slow side but, he does in my opinion, seem prepared to give of his best for the club and I think that if he was told to get rid of the ball forwards instead of trying to retain it he would be more effective and not so maligned by many supporters. Up front we're blessed with speed, Archer, Armstrong, Sulemana even Fernandes, they're all quick. We currently create very little so fast play from back to front has to be worth a go. I'd also like to understand why Onuachu and Archer aren't ever on together. It's a combination that might work. My guess is we'll never know. Maybe Russell is using Saints to hone his skills in the hope that a bigger club with more skillful players will come calling. I doubt it as there'll be a negative record on his CV at the end of this season that will last for years to come. |
| News Comment | Do Southampton Need To Recall Bella-Kotchap For Liverpool Clash by underweststand at 12:19:02
No player could refuse the chance to play against Liverpool and make a name for himself. Either he will make a name for himself and get a move back to a European club in January, or if the predictable scoreline happens, he'll be as guilty as the others if we lose big time. If he ends up putting Mo Salah in his pocket his transfer value will soar and we will get a profit on the deal. Most of the games upto the New Year are against top 8 clubs, so there is nothing to lose but to see his real potential. |
| News Comment | Do Southampton Need To Recall Bella-Kotchap For Liverpool Clash by StRipper at 11:34:04
Sadly for him and us, it would look as if ABKs football career is over. What a beast of a player he looked in his first season. Just like Larios, who missed the whole of last season. ABK has barely been able to play a minute of football since October '23. So whether it really is his shoulder or actually his heart injury, he's clearly unable to play football at a competitive level any more. Which was why he failed his medical to go back to Germany. No doubt at some point he will be released. He only has 2 years left on his contract. Its definitely going to be a challenge for our defence on Sunday, but as Block 8 said, we do have other options. Whoever we have in defence, this game is likely to be won or lost in Midfield. If we continue to fail to create chances and we keep passing it about in our own third just to keep possession, we'll get picked off as we have in every other game this season and it could get ugly |
| News Comment | Do Southampton Need To Recall Bella-Kotchap For Liverpool Clash by Bowlercow at 10:39:14
If ABK or any other centre back comes in to replace JB that would probably mean our captain would be shoe horned in at LB He would then be face to face with Salah Now that frightens me If he is fit and training we'll I would select ABK & THB as our first choice centre back pairing anyway |
| News Comment | Do Southampton Need To Recall Bella-Kotchap For Liverpool Clash by Block8 at 10:13:27
If the rumours are true ABK is refusing to play in the U21 side, so there will be question marks over his fitness. Match fitness is the only reason some of our first team squad appear at U21 level. We have Wood, we have Edwards, who can also play football (note for RM there) Charlie Taylor can play CB and is a very experienced defender but we all know it will be Jack. The only upside to this is we just might drop this ridiculous hybrid centre half/central midfield role that leaves us badly exposed to counter attacks. Liverpool have the pace and passing ability to run through our press easily. Funny how they can top the PL without p*ss*ng about sideways and backwards! |
| News Comment | Does Shea Charles Prove That Russell Martin's Player Judgement is Flawed by Block8 at 09:59:52
I'm not so sure that the decision to loan him was a bad one. In all honesty he looked a little short, in my opinion, whenever he played and had a lot to learn. He is now doing that under a very good coach and it was noticeable how much our from dipped under ralph when he left us! Same with Edozie though but he is another who will improve with more game time and bit part playing is of no benefit. More importantly and something some on here have highlighted is the poor choice of squad replacement. Why on earth we resigned Fraser is astounding to me, I honestly don't think I've ever seen him take anyone on? And as for the forwards panic buying and quantity over quality has left us with a massive squad of limited ability and value, overall. This may or may not be the managers fault depending on who sanctions the signings. It seems strange to me that RM's strategy requires players with a high technical ability and yet we sign workman like players and he seems to pick a team with a high work rate perhaps because of this. Not sure Le Tiss, in his prime, would have got into this team? |
| News Comment | Does Shea Charles Prove That Russell Martin's Player Judgement is Flawed by onetowatch at 16:21:51
Sorry Jesus and Mascott, certainly not hindsight, I and many other, have posted several times mentioning SC. His physicality along with his composure and distribution are key characteristics in ensuring he will have a successful career. Last season I was continually dumbfounded last season when WS was FDs CM partner with SC sitting on the bench time and time again. I thought then, RM does not recognise real talent. He keeps the ball well, uses it well, tackles, and looking at the assists he has been involved in this season, he's comfortable in trying to get the ball forward before, simply keeping it. Your incorrect Mascot, aa lot of us thought the loan idea was a poor one.... |
| News Comment | Does Shea Charles Prove That Russell Martin's Player Judgement is Flawed by SaintPaulVW at 15:40:51
Not sure you can really lay into Russell Martin for continuing to pick Jack Stephens. Every manager we have had has picked him! There must be something about Jack that we 'civilians' just don't see. Shea is thriving but he's playing in League 1. Think more of our young players would do far better with proper developmental steps rather than the odd 10-20 minutes now and again in the PL. |
| News Comment | Does Shea Charles Prove That Russell Martin's Player Judgement is Flawed by Jesus_02 at 11:37:42
Shea has bags of potential however its worth noting that Wednesday are 15th. We need to be realistic, RM got us promoted at the first time of asking , if you would have preferred us to stay mid table and play Shea and Edozie more that's you preference. Im getting a bit tired of this "RM is stubborn and not changing his tactics" as well. Do we have the players to play percentage hoof ball? Do we have the clinical attacking players to play on the counter? Im not sure we do |
| News Comment | Does Shea Charles Prove That Russell Martin's Player Judgement is Flawed by kingolaf at 10:54:08
Manager has to change, along with the ridiculous footballing philosophy of the board. Our possession game will never be good enough to survive in the Premier League. Martin is a one-trick pony that is getting found out every week. He has to go. If he doesn’t leave, it will be the supporters that do, with me at the front of the queue. Not spending a small fortune every season watching the garbage Martin is serving up. |
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