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Comment | Can Saints Make The Champions League ?
at 12:24:41
The way the fixtures fall with the league cup, a crucial win against Chelsea and then another difficult one against Bournemouth-could see us just a point behind Man City, as they have a difficult game against Liverpool.
As we have seen over the years and currently with Leicester, it's all about momentum. At some point mane will come back into form, and in Austin we have the joker in the pack.
At 18-1 to make top four, I would suggest getting some on it before the next couple round of fixtures. B also funny to watch the tv companies scramble if we do make a charge,as after our poor run we have very few games on the box. |
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Comment | Saints Could Again Be In For Leeds United Starlet
at 16:20:42
I really hope business is done early, whenever saints have identified their targets and got them over the line immediately- they have always been a success. The squad desperately needs a boost and I feel Koeman does aswell.
If we can somehow get Gaston and caulker out in the window, and get another striker/winger in and in an ideal world a centre back/full back of actual quality who will play or seriously contend with existing starters.
And not loan deals,we need investment of actual substance and quality. |
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Comment | Saints At West Ham United The Verdict
at 13:12:03
Highlighting two horrendous defensive goals given away doesn't really tell the story. West Ham also had far more vital injuries then we did.
We dominated the game,the play and the chances and the game should have easily been over by half time. RK said the same, Bilic couldn't believe his luck to get that side in at 1 down.
I understand the need to be relaxed when the chances come as a forward,but we seem beyond casual when an opportunity arises- as though oh well there will be another one !! It's not even the clear cut chances,it's a forward move when we out number the defence- the amount of times a final ball is misplaced or possession tossed away is quite remarkable.
The so called transfer policy of strengthening the depth and not necessarily the first team was certainly not evident yesterday, we have once again became a team with zero impact off the bench- other teams change games with substitutions,ours weaken the chances of a result.
Am I the only one who couldn't believe the standard of play from Gaston, it was so bad- I have defended him and thought highly of him in the past- but now he is a complete waste of a shirt and minutes I would rather see invested in youth.
Yesterday was the chance to avoid drifting along in mid table and a uninspiring seasons, the players didn't seem to grasp it and have the desire to go after it.
I guess in caulker we attempted to get a 3rd quality centre half in at the club,that obviously failed and needs addressing as soon as possible. Would yoshida get a start in any other premier league club? And in juanimi, the club have got exactly what 5 million gets you in this market- a forward woefully out of his depth and with no impact on the premier league.
With such a shake up of the league this season, it's hard not to see this as a wasted opportunity and a thought of what might have been with investment of similar quality to Cabaye and of course a fit J-Rod. |
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Comment | Saints V Arsenal The Preview
at 16:09:11
Shame Harry Reed is so out of form in reserves, fancy him sitting and doing a job on Ozil. Don't think RK will drop Wanyama, he should but don't think he will- he doesn't want to do anything that encourages players leaving once again.
If he doesn't put a shift in though, haul his ass off at half time. I would really like to see an alternative to Davis in the number 10, consistent player and let's no-one down- but he doesn't score enough or directly assist enough in the teams formation.
At the end of the day it will be the same old story of mane needs 10 chances to score. Actually think the players r gonna take the chance to impress and battle to a 2-1 win !! |
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Comment | Time For The Senior Players To Stand Up And Be Counted
at 14:12:49
But is Davis creative enough and score enough goals for a number 10 ? That's my point, keep playing same players in same positions and get same results. And people need to let Gaston go, even when he was playing he was a passenger- useless to any kind of strategy,not enough pace to play as a forward in the Premier league. |
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Comment | Time For The Senior Players To Stand Up And Be Counted
at 01:59:40
Nail on the head. I like most fans can give Fonte a pass, we haven't signed a quality 3rd centre half since we came up,we are always buying one to replace one. I am mystified by the poor form of Caulker,thought he would be a good addition. I think a lot of Fonte's issues are what's happening infront of him and to a lesser degree behind him.
Wanyama on the other hand does not get a pass. He has always been a player that tended to turn it on for the big games and coast the smaller teams. He plays well when the team plays well, when the team plays poorly he is one of the worst. For the centre of your team that is terrible. I always suspected schnedierlin helped Vic's game,because whenever spider missed a game Vic never stepped up. And his game has gone backwards this season.
For some reason RK has chose not to bench him,everyone else has taken a turn. I love what Davis brings to the team in terms of effort and consistency, but he doesn't provide enough end product for the amount of games he plays and the position.
I would like to see Davis play deeper with Romelu and JWP given 5 games in the number 10 role. He is always moved around the pitch and never given a run of games that position, you know the effort will be there and I think with some belief and faith in given that position he could well shine.
What we also need is the dirtiest scrappiest goal of all time for mane, a dropped ball from Cech- anything just a goal, the amount of chances Mane is producing and provided- he schools be scoring most games.
Fonte and his defence now play a game knowing one mistake and the game is lost,because our forwards can't score with a bag of rice on their backs and likewise the forwards know if they don't take a chance in the first 20 mins- the defence will collapse. |
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Comment | Saints At Crystal Palace The Verdict
at 11:47:38
With the league being so tight this year lowering ambitions is a dangerous game, lose multiple games in a row and a slide down the table takes you past mid table. Swansea are falling thru the league,and who thought Norwich would suddenly find themselves in the bottom 3.
I think we will turn the corner,but as fans I think we are correct to have lofty ambitions and desire the top 8- just as the players should not be content for mid table.
I still maintain RK has been unlucky in the timing of classie injury,built his whole pre-season on him being a central cog and we have been chasing our tail in midfield ever since. It's abundantly clear how well spider made Vic look playing alongside him every week-his game hasn't improved and he hasn't stepped up. Top midfielders have great games when their team mates are not,they drive the team and can sometimes win games- Vic only shines when the team is winning.
I'm also starting to fear for the identity, spider leaving has left just fonte and kelvin behind from the players who made the journey from the depths. We no longer seem to have that spirit and togetherness,and the lack of academy members in the first team squad only makes that worse.
Funnier things have happened in football though and he way this league has gone, who fancies back to back wins at home for Saints ? Toby own goal b nice aswell !! |
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Comment | Saints Aim To Make It Four In A Row And Overtake The Eagles
at 22:36:05
I fully understand the need for positive thinking and to look forward and not back. But I also agree it's unlikely every team above us will lose and I also fear a bad result.
The argument about the squad is a valid one, personally I feel they did strengthen the depth and I think this was in preparation for a Europa league campaign that would allow youngsters and fringe players opportunitys.
I also think it's a fact that while we have strengthen the squad,the actual first team is undoubtably weakened from last season. Key players in key positions have for the most part been replaced- the one glaring exception has been schnedierlin-who was the captain on the pitch without he armband- all the play went thru him and likewise the whole defensive structure revolved around his position and play. That position is hard to fill,hence why we got 25 million for him.
I still trust koemans judgement and pray that classie will become the player we all expect, all our recent foreign additions have struggled adjusting at this time of the season-the only difference being is classie didn't have the benefit of a pre-season as his untimely injury lost all the hard work.
I really do have to also point out how little Wanyama had contributed in the absence of his partner, I don't think he has justified his supposed price tag or progressed in his consistency from last season.
I trust in Korman and hope he has a plan for Saturday and 3 points to set us up for another three against Poncho !! |
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Comment | Saints Supporters Need To Keep Calm And Carry On
at 14:25:27
I feel this seasons frustrations are one of "what could have been". We have been spoiled a little with back to back successful seasons for a number of years, so it is hard to accept something less.
But also feel as long time saints fans we are allowed to move on from the "don't forget where we were 5 years ago brigade". We ended up where we did because of mismanagement at the highest level, but we also had to endure continual relegation battles and poor football in the 90's.
It's important not to forget the past, but it's also important not to dwell there- if you stand still people pass you by. Relegation talk is overkill, but take a look at a spiralling Swansea- lauded and tipped for top 8- about to lose their manager and unable to win a game for love or money.
Yes one goal against villa would see us sitting 7th, but that doesn't mean we should not be worried about an almost identical losing run as last season.
I truely believe the club re-invested money wisely the season before, but this season concentrated on improving the depth of squad which they have- but you will struggle to find many fans who think this years first team is stronger without spider and clyne. As the midfield continues to struggle for balance,shape and consistency- I would suggest spider was worth every Penny of the 25 million to the team, and probably more !! |
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Comment | Saints V Aston Villa The Verdict
at 15:53:51
We repeated the same mistakes as Wednesday. Liverpool were there for the taking as were Villa. When you are on top you have to capitalise, inside 20 minutes of both games- we should of been at least 2-0. Look at how many goals Liverpool converted from chances, look at how many we had yesterday to get one scrappy goal.
Pelle and mane have no threat to losing their starting position. Shane long can score and work his butt off like he did at City,but he knows next game he will be dropped for Pelle. Mane starts because he guarantees pace,he could and should be a 20 goal minimum striker.
Yoshida and now caulker have been slammed for poor defensive play, yet as fans we stand and applaud a striker missing a glorious chance-often as yesterday not even working an average keeper.
The club obviously expected J-Rod to challenge Pelle this season. But I also feel Koeman needs to switch formations when playing poorer sides. 3-5-2 has destroyed teams on occasions he has started with it(not a half time shake up with wanyama at the back). Mane playing thru the middle with Pelle and long coming on for 30 minutes would be destructive against half the league.
It would also allow a better midfield balance, wanyama and classie are not offering the protection and drive that schnedierlin spoiled us with.
As Micheal Owen knows well if you don't score you don't win !! The season is in real danger of sliding away, yes we have come a long way in 5 years- but that doesn't mean we should just accept players not playing for the shirt and putting a shift in for 90 minutes. |
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Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 0 | | Comment Votes: | 21 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 21 |
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