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Comment | Southampton V Millwall The Verdict
at 18:57:10
A lot of discussion about how we have dropped off in the last few games, Millwall no less than the others, and there seems to be increasing blame headed in Tonda’s direction - “is he really up to the job?” etc - whilst not forgetting the general longstanding displeasure with Jack, Manning, Gav, you name it.
But if I may suggest a rather more mundane reason, aside from the heretic possibility that the squad - the high wage bill for which a lot of people seem to equate to quality - just may not be good enough. Certainly we cannot forever paper over the cracks that exist in our defence and strikers, or lack of.
But the players all read the press which is arguing that promotion is increasingly no more than a dream. So is it not understandable - but certainly not forgivable - that the incentive to go the extra mile and risk injury etc is no longer there? i know there are many fans who think that such an attitude means such players have no right to wear the shirt. But I am beginning to see a pattern developing, ie not quite giving 100%.
So yes I agree that Tonda needs a street-fighter beside him; but not for any tactical reason, more because, with a couple of notable exceptions, THE PLAYERS NEED A SERIOUS ROCKET UP THEIR BACKSIDES and TE is not the man to deliver it.
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Comment | Two Key Areas That Southampton Need To Sort Out In The Transfer Window
at 11:31:15
100% agree.
Good DEFENCE is the foundation for winning games not offence and that is where we must strengthen.
(Witness “Boring, Boring Arsenal”…)
If you have a strong back line, the goal keeper has less to do. And it gives the forwards more confidence because they are not always having to chase the game. |
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Comment | Southampton At Birmingham City The Verdict
at 16:35:16
My conclusion from this game is that we are a team of eleven, the back up lot is only average at best and all this talk of having the best squad in the Championship is just that, talk. Witness Jason Robinson who undoubtedly has moments, but reminds me so much of Tyler Dibling, ie lots of promise and talent, but will remain in short trousers for a good while yet.
Cameron Bragg on the other hand really does show a maturity beyond his years so let’s hope he too doesn't go sideways/backwards like his fellow Academy graduates once he gets to start more regularly.
And hopefully t’other Cameron has started at last to repay successive manager’s faith in him with his very well taken goal last night, but probably like most of us, I will continue to reserve judgement on him.
I don't want to go on about how disorganised (in H1 particular) our back line was but somebody needs to tell them (AGAIN!) that, when they are being pressed, they try not to be clever, because it only needs one mistake when they are passing it around amongst themselves and it is potentially curtains. Time and time again last night, tippy tappy led to a loss of possession and Brum were all over us like a rash; just thank goodness their finishing wasn’t better.
So, on the basis of last night and the previous couple of games, my head says that 8th is the best we can achieve. But if everyone else starts to have a bit of a wobble, eg Coventry, and our entire squad gets their act together again, you never know…
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Comment | Southampton V Coventry City The Verdict
at 17:42:01
Three things:
1. Who agrees with me that AA really should have scored fairly early on by chipping the speadeagled keeper as he did memorably earlier this season. But instead hit it straight at him along the ground.
2. I cannot see Coventry surviving in the PL when they get promoted as they surely must. They remind me of Leicester couple of seasons ago who swept all before them in the Championship and then look what happened.
3. Unfortunately I cannot see us being anything other than PL cannon fodder should we by some miracle get to join them. We remain a very good championship side, but unfortunately not a tip top one and, as we continue to have a creaky defence, I don’t see that changing any time soon. |
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Comment | Southampton V West Bromwich Albion The Verdict
at 07:16:10
Sorry Nick but I think you are being completely naive about the second half.
The Baggies are not a bad team - witness how they began the season - not a great one, but not a bad one, and of course at three nil down they were always going to come at us after the interval because they had nothing to lose. It wasn’t complacency by us, they just started to get it together.
You only have to go back a few days when Millwall got the better of us at the end of the second half and this was similar, OK from a different starting point but still similar. This time though we looked tougher and our luck held out thank goodness.
But the lesson to be learned, so far as I can see, is that we have to be prepared for this sort of thing happening a lot more as the season goes on. We now have the best current form in the league so we are always going to come under the cosh. Our defence for a couple of seasons has been our (main) Achilles Heel and to get it sorted out in the wink of an eye was never going to be easy. How we deal with a desperate opposition throwing the kitchen sink at us going is what will decide whether 25/26 is a season to remember, or one simply of transition.
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Comment | Southampton V Birmingham City The Verdict
at 14:36:06
A word of praise I think is overdue for THB.
I have been on his back for quite a while because up to now he has been looking pretty lethargic for a lot of this season. But on Saturday I lost count of the number of times he towered over everyone when an oppo corner came in and headed it away: a very comforting sight.
So well done Taylor! not listening to your father-in-law were you by any chance?!) |
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Comment | Southampton At Millwall The Verdict
at 10:15:01
A couple of things:
1. I do reckon that for the players this was almost the best result insofar as it was a wakeup call. We were good for a lot of the time but ultimately the side with the greater desire won and showed that, if you want to get promoted, winning is all about never, ever, giving up…
2. Secondly I don’t think the boys or TE should get down on themselves. A few forced changes at shortish notice from a reasonably settled team and we didn’t really gel. But is that so unusual in any squad? As a result of which, without a huge extra slice of luck - and we had a fair bit as it was - winning never looked likely; and the (one point) difference between drawing and losing is never going to be as decisive as between winning and drawing.
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Comment | Southampton V Leicester City The Verdict
at 17:03:54
Am i alone in thinking that Quarshie look somewhat “ring rusty” at the off?
But what was noticeable was that he was not ignored by his playing partners, as may well have been the case with previous managers, but they continued to pass to him and as a result he got better as the game progressed.
So just an observation because overall it was wonderful stuff, particularly all the razor-sharp through passing, some of which really made me gasp in wonder.
I have no doubt we all said our prayers a couple of weeks back but I don’t think any of us saw that the Good Lord would grant our wish in quite this manner…
So please don’t anybody wake me up any time soon, I’m in dreamland…! |
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Comment | Southampton At Charlton Athletic The Preview
at 09:27:03
One point worth making is that Charlton has only let in four goals at home, the equal least in the Championship, whilst we have scored 11 away, equal second most. Maybe not yet an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object, but a draw seems more than a possibilty… |
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Comment | Two Weeks Gone Since Still Sacking Are Southampton HedgingTheir Bets
at 09:44:35
Surely a much more reasonable explanation is that THERE ARE NO QUALITY MANAGERS AROUND AT THE MOMENT THAT WILL FIT THE BILL?
So Spors and Co are taking the view that Eckert will be fine as a fill-in for a week, a month, even the rest of the season, which he no doubt has been made aware of.
Furthermore I think you should credit most fans with rather more intelligence; ie I think you are wrong about the lack of decision not impressing the fans; what will impress them is that in the end we get the right man, not how long it takes to get him. |
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Comment | Southampton V Sheffield Wednesday The Verdict
at 12:13:16
A very fair report. That said, I did think the SW were terrible and tbh anything other than a convincing win would have been disastrous
No doubt about it though Fellows, Azaz, Scienza and Jander are a cut above the rest and if they keep fit and the new manager sees this and uses them effectively, I can see us climbing up the table. At the same time I do feel that the likes of THB and Flynn Downes are much better players than they have been showing and, if given better and more suitable coaching and with OR to marshall them, really could shine.
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| | davidargyll
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