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Comment | Southampton V Preston North End The Verdict
at 11:01:46
A good, professional and clinical performance.
There is not much if anything you can argue or be displeased with.
If I wanted to be picky, it would have been nice to have added to the three goals in the 2nd half and Preston were very poor (and the games coming up will give more of a test I am sure to McCarthy or Lumley) but as far as last night went, it was a job well done by all concerned - the players and the manager. If only we had been like that over Easter etc!!!!! |
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Comment | Brighton Alleged To Be Talking To Russell Martin To Replace Roberto De Zerbi
at 10:35:05
I agree with Nick that Brighton have a good recent record of taking on managers that are not necessarily riding that high with a stock value and making it work. It perhaps says more about their management structure higher up and the support they give to their managers and coaches. I am not sure we have had good leadership at Southampton since the sad demise of Marcus Liebherr and that has eroded our position in the league and our standing as a forward thinking club in football with some quite dreadful and very costly decisions over the seasons since Marcus passed away.
I don't think that the potential move of RM to Brighton is as fanciful as it may sound. With the right players and quality his vision could work. I appreciate it is not a popular thing to say at the moment, but I have not entirely given up with RM though equally I am not convinced by him. He has made some bad errors of judgement of late and his stubbornness and unwillingness to see it or apply tactics that work in games is worrying and costly but then I was not complaining when we went on that unbeaten run and my expectations for this season at the start of it were quite low because last season the team and the squad were completely demoralised and that was going to take time to turn it around.
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Comment | Sit Back, Wait, Watch And Hope Is All Southampton Can Do This Weekend
at 11:48:16
Like you, I don't worry about it Nick. It will be what it will be. We can't control what we are not in control of. Whatever the outcome, by and large (there is the odd exception) I have enjoyed this season and the championship.
I would slightly argue that the suggested harsh programme may end our automatic promotion hopes. I think you can add in the start of the season and the recent wobble and I think most Saints fans expect that the play off's is our most realistic outcome. |
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Comment | Southampton Still Not Responding To Chris Nicholl Snub
at 17:39:26
May be we the fans should take the bull by the horns (and show the club up a bit) and around the ground we hold up banners with images or the name of Chris Nicholl as the players come out and then break out into applause just before they kick off. Mind you, I am suggesting this, I have no idea how to implement or encourage this.
I suppose there is a chance that the club may still do something for the Middlesbro' game but for every day that they have said and continue to say or do nothing the more insulting it becomes. |
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Comment | Southampton Still Not Responding To Chris Nicholl Snub
at 13:17:09
I emailed the club Nick after the match on Saturday and thus far no response. I don't particularly seek a personal response but I was hoping that they would recognise their gross error of judgement and that by now they would have sent out something from the club. There was a certain irony that on Monday that they recognised Nigel Adkins birthday. I have no problem with recognising Nigel Adkins who I have always admired but compare that to a man who played for us, managed us and has paid in his health as a result of the sport he loved. Deeply disappointed with Southampton FC on this. |
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Comment | Southampton V Huddersfield Town The Verdict
at 09:32:18
I would question any football supporter no matter who you support that would not get enjoyment out of a game like yesterday - perhaps say those that would be on the losing side. It was pure unadulterated enjoyment in every form. To be honest at half time you would have been hard pushed to find someone who did not think that this was going to be the end of our unbeaten run and we were as poor as we could have been in that first half. To come back and put in the performance we did in the 2nd half is a huge testament to the team attitude, to the subs that came on, to the manager who did whatever he had to do to try reverse the 1st half performance.
But, all the joy is tempererd and cannot be ignored by what had gone on before that 2nd half. Complacency, lack of effort, poor in most departments and a collapse of form. Both Huddersfield first 2 goals were almost a carbon copy of each other. The same side of the pitch, scored roughly from the same position in the box. Echoes of the past suddenly returned. To be honest there were slight signs of this complacency at Rotherham. Confidence can be good, arrogance can be defeating and had arrogancy visited our team?
In the 2nd half, sublime, effort, tenacity, attitude, and clinical (though still worryingly open at times). A special half but we cannot still look at that with some aire of warning. Huddersfield were generous with their attacking style which played into our hands a bit. Other teams that take a lead over us will be less generous and inclined to close shop so we have to avoid giving other teams the advantage in the first place. I fear Bristol City, West Brom and others will look at that and see how to get to us and will say and learn how to make sure that they are not as open and generous if they do take the lead.
So a brilliant game, one that will last long in the memory for all the right reasons but we have to take heed of the warnings that the game gave us. |
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Comment | Southampton V Huddersfield Town The Preview
at 10:30:30
They will not be a walk over that is for sure and we will need not take silly chances with our selection. Aim to win this one and then worry about the next one.
Huddersfield away was an awful game and at that point (following the debacle at Sunderland and Middlesbro') I really could not see us as serious promotion candidates (though I was not calling for the manager to go as I knew we had to rebuild from the mess of last season). I have been proved wrong I am pleased to say but there is still a long way to go and no room for complacency. Leeds and Ipswich are not going to go away.
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Comment | Southampton At Rotherham The Verdict
at 10:55:55
Agree. A workmanlike, professional performance.
The scoreline in the 1st half would have been greater say for some excellent goalkeeping by the Rotherham keeper and the woodwork. Smallbone was a little slow in getting going but once he did he was influential. KWP as you say had a quieter day and looked a bit out of sorts but it was not a bad performance. The 2nd half was largely just played out and from a spectacle was quite dull to watch.
Good away support and a better range of songs are starting to filter through - I even heard a rendition of the Woolston Ferry which I have not heard for a while. I still haven't worked out the words to the Stuart Armstrong song but did my best to go along with it.
Rotherham one of the quietest home supports I think I have ever known. A poor footballing side really but I respect they have limitations of squad and finance and they probably are doing the best they can. I don't know if their keeper had a really good day or that is his normal standard but if the latter then it won't be long before he moves to a stronger club.
Given my car overheated and spewed out coolant and I needed to get the AA, thank god the football and result saved the day for me. |
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Comment | Southampton Legend Steven Davis Retires
at 22:35:06
A great signing. A true professional who never let us down no matter what was happening in the team or the club. For the most part a quiet unsung jewel in the crown.
Thank you Steve for everything you gave us and gave the game. Enjoy your next chapter whatever it may be. |
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Comment | FA Cup 4th Round Memories 28th January 1984 Fratton Park
at 22:43:12
For me, one of or possibly the most memorable day as a Saints fan. I remember it as if it was yesterday. That season, that game, the football we played. There have been memorable moments since of course, but for me, nothing thus far has ever matched it. |
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Comment | Danny Ings Doesn't Want To Drop To Championship Claim
at 13:36:59
I don't see him returning to us and never thought he would - though I could quite easily be proved wrong - I am on most occasions. I never got any feel that he particularly liked playing for us or felt any affinity with Saints other than seeing us as a part of his career and a salary - and for that he is no worse than many but other than if he gets to the point that there is no other option I would be shocked to see him back at St Marys. To be honest I am not bothered either way. |
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Comment | Big Crowd Expected For Walsall FA Cup Fixture As 3 More Blocks Opened
at 16:05:35
I just hope we take it seriously. I am still one of those (old fashioned I admit) that believes your club should go out with the intent to compete and if possible get to the final. FA Cup used to be a big thing and something to look forward to, now it comes across as an irritation to many clubs. Dilution of the competition first started when Man U were excused from playing one year so they could focus on the European Championship competition. From therein it has been eroded bit by bit. |
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Comment | Southampton At Norwich City The Verdict
at 21:44:35
Strange as it may seem but this result and outcome did not surprise me. It is not a disaster and I for one am not complaining about our run or recent results and performances. Our points lost away from home are or could be costly but overall I am satisfied with our progression and this report seems a fair assessment. |
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Comment | Southampton At Queens Park Rangers The Verdict
at 22:16:54
Overall a fair assessment Nick. I thought we were frustrating and I always felt that QPR could get a point. They are better than their position suggests. But, we just don't put games to bed and we were very slow to get going. I know when you have not lost for 15 games it seems trite to say it, but if I am honest, I cannot say I am enjoying alot of our football - I find it dull and boring in much the same way as I did when Puel was in charge. But, then I think I need to be careful of what I wish for because we are getting results. |
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Comment | Southampton At Watford The Verdict
at 09:58:37
I was not at the game and I have not seen any highlights so in terms of the game itself I cannot really comment. But, in the recent away games I have been to, the most recent being Huddersfield there appears to be some familiar traits. An air of complacency, a lack of converting any pressure into goals, relying on a single goal to get us through, too pedestrian, slow and ponderous sideways back passing and then the inevitable. That said, we are not 12 games unbeaten and that cannot be sniffed at, at any level but all the factors mentioned contribute to us having to chase the pack rather than lead the pack.
But, the point I really wanted to make is your point on the fans choice of songs and so called support. I have to agree with you Nick and others that have commented similarly. I do not get this endless singing of Pompey related songs which are tiresome and boring and I cannot see how they support the team. I obviously have not seen or heard the Wesley Hoedt abuse but given many have mentioned it, it is not acceptable and again does not really help our team. I don't know what has happened with our vocal support - the numbers that are attending away games is tremendous but the choice of how they give that support has become almost acidic in nature - I have noticed it in the last 3 away games - great support in numbers, deteriorating nature in the way that support is given.
I am old, so may be that is my problem that I cannot buy into some of the songs. Pompey have always been rivals but I have never noticed so much focus on them as there is now in our choice of song or chanting - I don't really see how it helps.
The above said, there has been criticism of the home support with phone lights and the response to a goal. Though I cannot relate to it, I don't have an issue with that. It is the 21st Century and things change and just because we didn't do it in the 70s or 80s it doesn't make it wrong now - at least it is not abusive. |
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Comment | Southampton V Cardiff City The Verdict
at 17:33:48
A really good result and by all accounts a good game and performance. I was not able to make it but other members of my family said I missed a good game and a convincing win. May be I should stay away as I went to Huddersfield last week and that was quite disappointing. It has been a good week for Saints with 2 wins against teams that are no mugs. |
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Comment | Maya Yoshida Is Back At Southampton
at 23:36:39
I always had the greatest respect for Maya Yoshida. Yes, he was far from perfect as a defender and an error or two could be costly but he never shirked his responsibilities, he stood in post Fonte. Van Dijk era admirably and he even scored the odd important goal. You could see he loved playing for SFC and never complained (as far as I could tell). |
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