Dusic

Not sure its primarily about defending Smallbone - afterall what has he done that needs defending? He misplaced a pass after being very good for most of the season - you would have to be an absolute tool to give him vile abuse for that. I see it as RM attacking the types of lowlifes who wish illness and death on in this case someone who is seemingly a great lad and has obviously been through a lot for a person in their early 20s. The "However...." bit of your post suggests you haven't really grasped it. There is no "however" in this situation.

Absolutely nailed this: https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/24156403.southamptons-martin-feels-sick-online-abuse-player/ Easy to see why players like playing for him.

Would anyone who knows enough about Saints to travel to Liverpool to watch us really be suprised about a selection that was fairly similar to what most had predicted, what the manager has done in previous rounds and what he basically said yesterday it was going to be?

Pretty much all managers could do better at times, and all fanbases think the stuff they do wrong is extremely obvious - its always been like it and always will. The fact is that there is also so much that he is doing and has done well, that IMO it massively outweighs the stuff he could have done better. He joined a club with ingrained poor performance where virtually every player wanted to leave and was asked to get results whilst simultaneously completely changing the style of play. He has achieved strong enough results to mean he went unbeaten for more matches than any other manager in the history of the club and by Feb have pretty much guarenteed a playoff place with auto promotion still a possibility, albeit not as strong as about 10days ago. He has been integral in signing certain players who have been amongst our best (Downes and Fraser in particular) improved players, motivated players, kept pretty much every squad member involved and created what appears to be a good team spirit. We are in a Championship season with unusual performance at the top of the league, and were unfortunate that the two others who came down were already better than us last season and had a lot of good players who they kept. Is he perfect? Which managers are? Is he doing a good job? By pretty much every criteria - yes. As for the emotional stuff - would prefer that than some of the managers we have had who barely seemed bothered.

Any chance of getting Dave Earnsburger on the pod before the end of the season? Feel like his name is etched in my memory so may as well hear from the lad. Maybe a joint app with Colt Baker?

Leeds have just been lucky tonight. Incorrect offside stops Leicester being 2-0 up, a goal out of nothing and a deflection of a terrible off-target shot. Shows how important a 2nd goal is as Leicester have massively dominated yet seem set to lose.

Shea Charles is a 6 IMO. Not trusted by the manager to do the role he was signed for.

https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/waterfords-teen-attacker-romeo-akachukwu-17-seals-500000-move-in-the-summer-to-championship-side-southampton/a979771622.html Summer signing agreed according to this. Possibly the one Andy Goldie refered to in his recent interview. Was previously linked with Man City and Arsenal but the report says we will being him straight into the first team setup whereas those clubs would sign him for their U21s. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/arsenal-and-man-city-join-hunt-to-land-17-year-old-waterford-star/a39238394.html&ved=2ahUKEwjc-vHOo7OEAxUcWkEAHdVYBZgQFnoECDAQAQ&usg=AOvVaw03xzR8citDXk499Uk9TnCF

I think we all know what happens in reality - it just hasn't progressed enough to be confirmed yet. And also no guarantee we would have a replacement for the summer because these kind of roles inevitably involve someone moving from another club, with notice periods due to the nature of the role - just like Wilcox served before joining and Crocker served before leaving.

Was really good off the bench yesterday and clear RM trusts him because he is strong on the ball and makes good decisions. Once Downes is back I think him and Smallbone are competing for a place in the first choice XI.

Find it amazing that some still don't know how these kind of conversations and moves come about!

Despite the stick he gets, we nearly always look better when Adams starts. Hope he is available.

I don't think many are actually reacting like that, just expressing disappointment that it would be so soon into a successful tenure. Its obviously a no brainer decision for him and one he is perfectly entitled to make.

Would be a huge blow as by all accounts very well respected. Has overseen a complete change ib the way we play and made significant change in the Academy. Was also responsible for the RM hire which has been a massive success. No other view to take than a negative one, not least because of the noise it generates at a key time of the season, plus impact on planning for next - which will be critical no matter what league we are in.

Key for him will be whether he can put in a good performance from the start in a league game, when he inevitably gets a chance soon...

Regardless of tactics and style, RM seems to be a good leader: consistent, clear and willing to take responsibility when things don't go well. A good combination.

Both are well known within their age group and obviously followed by other clubs so need to continue giving them game time to show a genuine pathway. Difficult as all our games til end of the season are "big games" but sure there will be times when they can feature.

"Lads, todays session will be about implementing certain things and stuff."

https://trainingground.guru/articles/southampton-aim-for-world-leading-programme-with-big-academy-changes A significant amount of change, good summary here.

We should have Bree, Edozie and Kamaldeen as starting options by the time this comes around so could make changes and still pick a relatively strong side. Doubt Liverpool will be full strength given their run of games around then too but even so its a free hit for us.

Contract up summer of 2025, imagine we have/will offer him an extension.

If Safri doesn't start a game like this then you have to wonder if he has played his last game for us?

No point flogging key players like KWP, Downes, both Armstrongs etc. I would go with something like this, a shame Bree isnt available: Lumley Stephens - Charles - THB- Meghoma Dibling - Smallbone - Rothwell SAA - Mara - Edozie

A serious one. Besides, I don't think its ever been categorically stated that he is out injured for the whole season. https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/24007379.southamptons-ross-stewart-sidelined-end-season/ Was more that he is unlikely to have time to build up match fitness having not played for so long and that it would be a risk to bring him back for the last say 2 or 3 games even if he was technically fit. In the end it may well depend on our situation as to whether they would push him or think its better to just let him fully recover and then have a full pre season.