 | News
Comment | Gavin Bazunu Deserves A Warm Welcome At St Mary's On His Return For Bolton
at 12:44:23
No issue with this article or Bazunu. He played his part in the promotion season but was clearly not equipped for the PL. We sometimes forget that he is still very young by GK standards and he is learning his trade so there is still time for him to improve. However last season we needed a GK that could perform at a higher level immediately if we were serious about promotion and not in 2 or 3 seasons. Fortunately we found that in Peretz so there was no place for Gavin.
I think a warm welcome pre kick off is fine and then pressure him and his Bolton teammates when the whistle blows. |
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Comment | Southampton At Norwich City The Verdict
at 13:13:10
I think last night showed that you need more than your first choice XI to compete for promotion in this league. We had that last season with pretty much two players for each position (except GK and RB) with little drop off in quality. There were questions whether we maintained that level following the summer but it looks like we have. We are not going to beat every team by 3 plus goals, especially away from home, but provided the squad players can do the job when called on then that could make the difference. Like mentioned above I thought Abbott was a little out of his depth particularly in the first 20 mins but he was played out of position and it was his first match. There was enough in the second 25 mins to show he has some good potential. |
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Comment | Southampton At Norwich City The Preview
at 07:37:06
While the season feels like it has turned a corner, the momentum is still embryonic. So despite Norwich’s issues I would start our strongest possible side with the aim of getting the game won by 60mins. Then key players can be rested. So Larin to start for me.
I recall Norwich were physical to the point of GBH last season and we didn’t compete with that so although Stephens was fine in Sunday I think Woody should come back in alongside Kev for this one. |
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Comment | Southampton V Portsmouth The Verdict
at 11:58:14
After the damp squib of last season this was a proper derby. On the whole the ref called out the tackles as fouls pretty well but he seemed to have a blind spot when handing out the cards to only players in red when the offences committed for both were the same. No argument with the red card and I’m sure Bragg will learn from that experience. But although the tension of the match intensified as a result I felt it robbed us of any serious attacking intent as we were starting to get on top of the skates. If it remained 11 v 11 I think we could have won comfortably.
Schlotterbeck was outstanding in defence as was Flynn Downes in front. For once, Downes was not in the naughty book. But MOTM was Finn Azaz. He had a different international break but his all round play was top class, even his tackle was just the right side of “red”.
We now have 4 months of bragging rights until the return fixture. By then hopefully we will be in ten thick of a promotion battle and the skates might have worked out the dimensions of a goal. |
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Comment | Southampton V Portsmouth The Preview
at 09:36:11
Agree with UgandaSaint. Wood is the better option for this match. Pompeys main threat will be set pieces especially with their 6’6” striker so we need the physicality of Wood over the organisation of Stephens.
I go into this match more hopeful than last season. There were too many questions over the manager and many of the players were new to the club. I think is was Scienzas debut. The news in the second of this week has also give a lift. Let’s roll with the positivity, get an early goal and push on from there. |
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Comment | Tonda Eckert Speaks To The Press About Spygate
at 18:17:39
Some managers have come out today with messages around thinking the club had been punished enough (Parkinson of Wrexham) and never calling for a ban and happy to move on (Hellberg of Middlesbrough). These comments carry some weight as both these managers were impacted by spygate more than most.
Neil Harris is entitled to his opinion but when he dresses it up as being the voice of all league managers, today has shown he has an overinflated opinion of his own standing in the game. |
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Comment | Tonda Eckert Receives Suspended Ban From The FA For Spygate
at 17:02:08
Thank F for that!
I always felt a suspended ban was the best approach to balance between sanctioning Tonda for the act at a reasonable level but to also act as a deterrent for future wrong doing.
No doubt those down the road and in the North East will be wailing again that Tonda should be hanging from the relevant tree but their whining originally was a key contributor to the harsh EFL sanction. Hopefully now they can pipe down and focus on the football. |
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Comment | Daniel Peretz Pulls Out Of Israeli Squad With Injury
at 12:54:15
Agree with Peterx. If Rambo has been showing the levels we know he can in training he should play if Peretz cannot. It will be a test of Tonda’s preseason statement on the GK order but hopefully he will not cut off his nose to spite his face. That said it may not be Tonda’s decision when we get to the match…. |
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Comment | CEO Phil Parsons Praises Loyalty Of Southampton Supporters.
at 18:55:07
Tonda might have been architect in chief of the act but the way the club handled the fallout was shameful. They recruited a bunch of lawyers who hopefully have since been disbarred for all the good they did and failed miserably in getting on top of the public story. I feel that this was a major contributory factor in the severity of the punishment.
Tonda’s best way to forgiveness is to get his team playing well and winning which, for the most part, he is achieving. Parson’s and the club haven’t really done much yet to recover from their part in this mess. |
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Comment | Could Southampton Look To Repeat Managerial Solution Of January 2000
at 18:44:47
This all assumes Tonda getting a lengthy (6months?) total football ban. While I didn’t really like Parson’s “I don’t know” answer to the question about contingency planning it would be a dereliction of his duty to not have plans for various scenarios including one like this article suggests. Even if he isn’t prepared to disclose them publicly. |
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Comment | Southampton At Wrexham The Preview
at 13:00:02
The smug Wrexham owners have done Tonda’s team talk for him. Not a good look given their team lost 6-0 last time out. |
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Comment | Southampton V Swansea City The Verdict
at 12:43:12
On tbe penalties I think the ref got both decisions right. Yes the Swansea man made the most of it but Bree did get the wrong side of him on the cross and had to hold him back.
The main positive for me was that we didn’t fold after conceding. I put this down to two things. 1) the players stuck to their task much better than against Lincoln and weathered the storm when Swansea had the momentum 2) Tonda didnt “spreadsheet sub” Scienza and Larin on 60 mins. Both were having success against their defenders who were tiring. Lo and behold we got stronger as the second half went on. Their substitutions only happened once the game was won.
Schlotterbeck was immense last night both aerially and passing out. Wood just doesn’t have the skills or confidence to consistently play through a press (one exception was his pass to Bree for the second goal). I wonder if Abbot is the right option when we play teams who like to press- it’s certainly not Stephens.
I agree on the comments about Downes and no booking was a bonus. Proper Captains display. Finally what has happened to Peretz distribution? Every long clearance seem to go into touch last night. He needs to switch on or the calls to give Rambo a chance will grow louder. |
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Comment | Tonda Eckert Should Base Goalkeeping Choice On Ability And Form But Are His Hands Tied
at 13:51:55
Apart from the financial aspect which we cannot know, from a footballing viewpoint I think you are looking at this to linear. Tonda has committed the the current roles as GK. So Long being the confirmed Number 2 doesn’t automatically mean he steps up to be Number One if Peretz is injured for a few games. There is different mind set to being a substitute GK knowing in all likelihood you are not going to play. Ramsdale is someone who expects to be a number one and doesn’t have the mindset to sit on the bench every week. If Peretz is injured Tonda could (and should!) promote Ramsdale to start games while keeping his commitment to Long to be the Number Two. |
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Comment | Southampton At Lincoln City The Verdict
at 22:07:17
Forgot to add, my weekend cheered up slightly when I saw that our ex manager is finding life in league one harder than he thought. I don’t expect it’s his fault though.
Also I’d like to see what sanction the EFL will apply to Portsmouth for the behaviour of their fans. By current precedent it should be an immediate relegation.
Oh and what a strike by Welington. Take a bow. |
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Comment | Southampton At Lincoln City The Verdict
at 21:58:21
Very fair write up. Lincoln know they aren’t going to out play the better sides in this league so they play to their strengths. There are plenty of other sides that play a similar way so Tonda better figure out a way to counter this soon otherwise we will drop more points against teams we should beat. |
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