 | Your
Report | Southampton v Preston North End Your Report added at 23:11:53
The only downside for tonight was the injury to Bazunu. I heard he maybe out for the season. We might get away with McCarthy for one game against a poor Preston side but with matches against Leicester and Leeds to come I hope Baz’d injury isn’t the defining moment of this season. |
| Your
Report | Southampton v Huddersfield Town Your Report added at 19:16:34
Best performance in the first half was the new stadium WiFi. Whatever RM said at halftime though did the trick. I thought before the game we had a strong looking bench at that proved to be the difference today as all the subs made an impact. Great first goal from Rothwell who for once I agreed with the in stadium motm announcement.
I’m sure in the cold light of Sunday RM will look at that first half as we cannot perform like that against better teams. |
| Your
Report | Southampton v Walsall Your Report added at 19:06:35
Decent win without ever needing to get into top gear. I think the lack of intensity led to a few sloppy passes but we always had enough going forwards, especially through the excellent Ryan Frazer. Good to see the kids do well especially Meghoma who looked decent. |
| Your
Report | Southampton v Swansea City Your Report added at 18:29:27
The Russell Martin machine is purring nicely now. Even with Stephens in at right back and KWP pushed further forward it didn’t disrupt the game plan which was executed brilliantly by the players. Nice to see Joe Aribo get a goal which tops off his improvement over the past few weeks. Edozie was excellent again on the left and despite two goals for Frazer I home RM resists starting Frazer in the next game. What is also good to see is that we are not reliant on AA for goals this season. He is having a mini drought and yet we still score 5! Merry Christmas, especially with Leeds losing. |
| Your
Report | Southampton v Bristol City Your Report added at 07:08:55
It wasn’t a classic but it was a disciplined performance and one where we increasingly got on top of a difficult opponent.
In the first half Bristol City nullified any ability to play through the lines by holding a very high line, effectively squeezing the space for the likes of Stu and Charley to operate. That’s why the Saints play appeared without any forward ambition. At one point the two back lines were less than 25 yards apart.
Credit Russell Martin who adjusted things at half time by pushing the full backs higher up the pitch and asking Che and Arma to repeatedly make runs in behind. This forced the City back line back and allowed more space for Alcaraz in particular to influence more going forward.
Credit to Bazunu for a couple of great saves in the first half and a sublime goal from KWP.
Some Saints fans need to realise that RMs tactics require the team to control the match and at times that needs to be earned by working out the opposition and tweaking the approach. We will not see the wide open all out attack of the first few games of the season which might have been more entertaining but was less effective at getting results. Ten games unbeaten speaks for itself. |
| Your
Report | Southampton v Birmingham City Your Report added at 17:31:25
Lots to like about today’s performance and result. Still disappointed that we give the opposition a soft goal but after an iffy 15 mins we gradually got the control back. Nice to see THB on the scoresheet and he and Bednarek are looking really good in defence. Although Bednarek got Motm in the stadium I thought Flynn Downes was immense today and really dominated the midfield. Finally a shout out for James Bree who despite only starting his second game of the season and playing on the wrong side for him looked really good and solid in defence. He probably offers less than Manning going forward but when you have Sulimana in front of you just get him the ball and do the defensive work as you know you won’t get any help. Well done Bree. |
| Your
Report | Southampton v Leeds United Your Report added at 16:13:10
Oh look, the game plan does work when the players execute well!
Obviously the early goal help the nerves (players and fans). I also think Leeds played into our hands a little by not pressing our defence too hard - perhaps worried about Sulimanas pace.
Best 45 mins this season and perhaps in the last couple of seasons at SMS. Second half was about managing the game which on the whole we did reasonably well.
Perhaps we have turned a corner |
| Your
Report | Southampton v Leicester City Your Report added at 13:29:37
Where to start…..
The players looked lost. Unsure of what to do, when to pass, when to commit. That’s on the manager - either the players can’t deliver his tactics or don’t want too!
But the absence of of a cohesive game plan wasn’t the only issue. There was no leaders on the pitch, no one to pull everyone together after the initial goal and focus the team.
The midfield was absent without leave. That’s why the best tactic we had was Bazunu kicking it long to the two wings cutting out the midfield entirely. Smallbone was too lightweight (the 4th goal was a pathetic attempt at a tackle) and Downes couldn’t cover everything with no help.
Defensively the two CBs were out of their depth. Charles showed why he is not a genuine CB getting pulled out of position too often. It was hard for THB to make his first start against Leicester. He looked good at points but needs to be playing with a more experienced partner - never before did I think I would be hoping Stephens make a swift recovery.
Finally there were too many players who were going through the motions. KWP had his worst game for saints. Adams, Fraser, Alcaraz and Sulimana when they came on never looked like they were bothered. Perhaps they realised that whatever they did it would be pointless because of the defensive deficiencies but that is unforgivable in my eyes. Regardless of the situation you show you care and you set an example even if it doesn’t impact that match it sets the standards for the future.
Leicester are a good side but boy did we make it easy for them. Ipswich on Tuesday will also be hard given their start. I hope at least the players find something within themselves to stand up and be counted and the manager finds a way to apply his tactics in a while realising what his players are capable of. |
| Your
Report | Sunderland v Southampton Your Report added at 17:43:33
One positive from today. The fans going all that way to watch that performance and yet they could still be heard singing at the end. They deserve a refund from the players. |
| Your
Report | Sunderland v Southampton Your Report added at 17:41:33
You can have all the skill in the world but if you don’t turn up with the right attitude to work you will get beat. Everyone needs to take a long hard look at themselves after that performance. The transfer window is shut now so they are here until January at least.
Big two weeks for RM to work out which players can do a job for him and which are the ones to be consigned to reserve status. |
| Your
Report | Southampton v Queens Park Rangers Your Report added at 19:03:37
I agree with Deano on calling the ref out. Yellow cards for nothing challenges and but nothing for blatant serious lunges. It’s almost that the poorer quality of referees at this level would benefit more from VAR than in the PL.
On the match QPR clearly came for a nil nil and we struggled to break them down at times. Only when the ball was moved with a bit of pace and purpose did we unlock their defence and it resulted in the two goals. I thought Sam Ano Ameyaw looks a little bit overawed from starting. There was some nice bits but his decision making let him down. Bear in mind he is only 17 then his time will come but he is better as an option off the bench. Ryan Fraser looks like he has a point to prove and we needed to get the ball to him more after he game on. Great finish fro AA for the winner - he looks like a striker with confidence now and every bit the player we hoped we had bought from Blackburn. Hope Stephens injury is not too bad but he seemed really upset as soon as he sat on the pitch so I think he thinks it’s bad.
Not perfect but 10 points from 12 while still evolving is a decent return. |
| Your
Report | Southampton v Queens Park Rangers Your Report added at 19:00:01
I agree with Deano on calling the ref out. Yellow cards for nothing challenges and but nothing for blatant serious lunges. It’s almost that the poorer quality of referees at this level would benefit more from VAR than in the PL.
On the match QPR clearly came for a nil nil and we struggled to break them down at times. Only when the ball was moved with a bit of pace and purpose did we unlock their defence and it resulted in the two goals. I thought Sam Ano Ameyaw looks a little bit overawed from starting. There was some nice bits but his decision making let him down. Bear in mind he is only 17 then his time will come but he is better as an option off the bench. Ryan Fraser looks like he has a point to prove and we needed to get the ball to him more after he game on. Great finish fro AA for the winner - he looks like a striker with confidence now and every bit the player we hoped we had bought from Blackburn. Hope Stephens injury is not too bad but he seemed really upset as soon as he sat on the pitch so I think he thinks it’s bad.
Not perfect but 10 points from 12 while still evolving is a decent return. |
| Your
Report | Sheffield Wednesday v Southampton Your Report added at 09:12:33
A decent start. Some nice play and I can see us dominating a fair few matches in terms of possession and higher up the pitch. Despite all the possession we didn’t create that many clear cut chances but it was difficult given SW had 10 players camped in their own penalty box at time.
We will have to improve our set piece defending as we seem a bit small and lightweight compared to SW. I’m sure similar teams that have less skill on the ball will see set pieces as their main threat against us this season.
Tella and Edozie looked bright on the wings, defence looked solid for the most part, JWP and Smallbone pulled the strings nicely in the first half, I thought JWP went missing a bit in the second until he popped up with the run and assist for the second goal. If AA hadn’t been credited with the goal he may as well not have been on the pitched but as mentioned it was very crowded in the box which also meant it was difficult for Alcaraz.
I know it is likely that Lavia, JWP and one or two others are likely to go. I hope we can keep Che Adams who is a proven goal scorer at this level as was shown for the winner.
Plenty to look forward to. |
| Your
Report | Sheffield Wednesday v Southampton Your Report added at 07:29:43
A decent start. Some nice play and I can see us dominating a fair few matches in terms of possession and higher up the pitch. Despite all the possession we didn’t create that many clear cut chances but it was difficult given SW had 10 players camped in their own penalty box at time.
We will have to improve our set piece defending as we seem a bit small and lightweight compared to SW. I’m sure similar teams that have less skill on the ball will see set pieces as their main threat against us this season.
Tella and Edozie looked bright on the wings, defence looked solid for the most part, JWP and Smallbone pulled the strings nicely in the first half, I thought JWP went missing a bit in the second until he popped up with the run and assist for the second goal. If AA hadn’t been credited with the goal he may as well not have been on the pitched but as mentioned it was very crowded in the box which also meant it was difficult for Alcaraz.
I know it is likely that Lavia, JWP and one or two others are likely to go. I hope we can keep Che Adams who is a proven goal scorer at this level as was shown for the winner.
Plenty to look forward to. |
| Your
Report | Arsenal v Southampton Your Report added at 22:47:24
Shame this level of performance hasn’t been seen more this season.
I don’t have an issue with the half time change as both full backs were on yellows (as was Alcaraz) and Martinez and Saka were getting a looking dangerous. They weren’t anywhere near as effective out wide second half. The mistake was taking Lavia off towards the end which seemed to disrupt the team more and lose focus for the two late goals.
Look we have been poor for most of the season and deserve to be in the position we are. Most likely we are watching championship football next season. But being a Saints fan is never dull and watching some great entertainment tonight should be appreciated with credit to all involved. |
| Your
Report | Southampton v Brentford Your Report added at 23:09:42
I hope the irony was not lost on anyone tonight that on an evening where we struggled to get only one shot on target, Nathan Tella was scoring a hatrick for Burnley.🤔 |
| Your
Report | Southampton v Brentford Your Report added at 23:09:39
I hope the irony was not lost on anyone tonight that on an evening where we struggled to get only one shot on target, Nathan Tella was scoring a hatrick for Burnley.🤔 |
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