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RobM

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  1. This is brilliant. A team who nearly got relegated and struggled to score goals, signs two players who struggled to score goals, from a team who got relegated as they struggled to score goals.
  2. This for me too. Possession heavy football but can’t keep a clean sheet and haven’t yet signed a goal scorer, and the results over preseason are with a number of players who are considered too good for the Championship, so probably won’t be here for long. I’m predicting a season of dominating games in a mostly pointless way.
  3. IMO all it proves is our squad has been the problem for a while, and we still haven’t addressed the obvious weaknesses such as scoring goals. It’s like Groundhog Day. Martin will need more games to get his style across, but it’s all pointless if we still don’t have anyone who can score.
  4. Where on the site is that? Seems utterly bizarre so hard not to be cynical. One of the car parks is the school and I can't imagine they wouldn't want the income.
  5. IMO it started in previous seasons, not this one. This year is a cumulation of mistakes made over a few years, all coming together at the wrong time. If we had been better run and invested better in previous seasons we wouldn't have had to lose and replace so many players last summer, so we may have had a better foundation this year. This was then exacerbated by poor transfer dealings and focusing too much on youth and potential, rather than actual ability and experience to replace the EPL experience we lost. This was made worse by backing a manager who clearly needed to go. We made that worse by replacing him with Nathan Jones. That was made worse by allowing him to remove any form of an identity, ignoring 'the playbook', and having sixteen different formations to learn per-game. Players who weren't good or experienced enough were now utterly confused. We made it even worse by yet again spending our money badly in January. It's just one bad thing after another... but if we had been better run in previous years and made a better managerial appointment last summer, maybe we'd have had a chance this year.
  6. I'm sure we could convince Potter (money talks), but he doesn't offer the style of football we say we want. He's pragmatic and often defensive - not quite to Puel levels, but certainly not a fun style we'd all enjoy, win or lose. Just look at how Brighton changed after he left, and look at Chelsea's style since he took over. It's hardly something to get excited by. I don't think we'll splash the cash for a manager anyway, if we had that mindset we would have thrown a longer contract at Marsch. We've tried appointing a young and upcoming Championship manager and that didn't work. I don't think Sports Republic care for names like Gerrard etc (those idiots would think they've got more footballing knowledge and pedigree anyway), so I think it'll be somebody from abroad and we'll all have to wait and see if they're any good in the Championship, and if they can make the step-up to the EPL.
  7. I agree with the core point, but that's not how modern football works any more. Players like JWP are the exception rather than the norm. There is no loyalty, 'caring' is contracted and temporary. How many modern players kiss the badge in their first games, and then leave the moment a better offer comes up? Even very young players are like this - clubs like us give them a chance they've never had before, and they're off as soon as a bigger team comes in. It's just the way football is. The best we can hope for is paying closer attention to the mindset and strength of character when we recruit players, so we don't bring in soft, pathetic, moaning little princesses like Bednarek. Look at Lavia, he could be thoroughly pissed off behind the scenes, or we could be taking a beating in a game, yet he goes out to win every ball and win every game. We need more of that. I'd like to go back to having a clear style and identity across all Southampton teams, which of course must evolve with the times as football itself does, but evolves consistently and consciously at all levels. One of the things that has killed us this season was the number of times we've tried to change things, be it the multitude of different ways we attack and defend set plays, or simply the quantity of changes to the formation and tactics we apply. Ralph had a specific style, but increasingly ignored it. Jones himself could go through half a dozen styles in a game. We've had flirting obsessions with 3 at the back. Selles then comes in with a Ralph-like style and it changes again. How the heck do you recruit players and create pathways for the academy like this? For all I'll criticise Ralph for, I fully agreed with his 'automatisms' point, in that being so well drilled means you do things instinctively, you know where other players will be, you know how to react to different moments (/triggers), and you don't have to think on-the-fly about which of our various formations we're playing at that moment in time. If that means it'll take longer to rebuild and establish these principles, I'll accept that and a longer period in the Championship if, and only if, there is a clear plan and consistent, visible, improvements.
  8. The comments about him being sure it was the right time for Ralph says a lot too. It implies Ralph wanted out, like he was tired and didn't have any more to give. It would align with the comments about Ralph not being interested in the Rangers job as he wants a break from football. It's probably why he seemed so negative and fed up in the last few months, which can't be any good for team motivation, especially with such a young team.
  9. There is... I know somebody who used it at the weekend as so much of hospitality was full of Newcastle fans, who were a little happy with themselves after the first goal. A few of them were louder and more drunk than others, and to be fair many stayed quiet other than celebrating the goals. The person who sent the text did so just before half time and got a very quick reply from somebody asking for more info, at half time the 'Stand Manager' appeared and was talking to another steward about it. They'd quickly identified who the fans were - I guess from CCTV of the celebrations? All the Newcastle fans except the really mouthy ones re-appeared for the second half. The difference is the club also sent in some of their security team (the contractors they use) to keep watch and put more stewards there, and they did stay a lot quieter. Part way through the second half something must have happened and one of the stewards and security team were talking to the Newcastle fans, but ultimately they let them stay. Part of me thinks this is fair play. The presence of security and stewards kept them quieter and no harm was done. Another part of me thinks this proves a point, and the club are happy with this situation and are willing to take the risk if it means more profit. My fear is these things explode quickly, it only takes one argument and suddenly you've a massive fight on your hands, and then it'll be too late and the home fans will get the blame.
  10. Purchase history only prevents the first ticket being bought, unless you reset it every season. Otherwise you just need to get away with it once and you’re set. Realistically we can’t stop the tickets being bought. Even if you make it a lot more expensive, or mandate membership, the total cost will still be on par with an Emirates ticket. People will pay it. IMO it’s on the stewards to control. I bet we’re seen as a soft touch and easy place to get into, so if the stewards do their job properly maybe that will change and people won’t bother trying. Hard to see that happening given the helpful, obliging service away fans receive today.
  11. You can’t excuse Ralph’s performance on a lack of a striker. We bought a list of defenders, including players with a good amount of competitive experience, and we’ve only kept one clean sheet. The striker problem is serious and was a failure of our board, but it’s made a lot worse by the fact we keep conceding. It’s not like we are solid defensively and just need to score one to win.
  12. RobM

    Saints Player

    Do you have a link to it you could share?
  13. RobM

    Saints Player

    Huge thanks for this. Got a quick response and renewed fine, so all sorted.
  14. RobM

    Saints Player

    Thank you both. Seems a bit of a risky move to just send them money and hope the service keeps working! How do you get added to Telegram then? The invite they emailed has expired. Are they @SaintsPlayer on Telegram?
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