SW11_Saint

Ipswich will end up nicking this 0-1 I reckon…

I guess Spors & Still think differently, so you’ll just have to suck it up…

I suspect he’d just say “sometimes 2, sometimes 3 - depending on the circumstance and opposition”. Wouldn’t really reveal much…

He’s the James Acaster of football…

I think that’s just who he is. Laid back and steady - not too excitable either way (when things are good or bad). Not a bad thing to have a cool, focussed head.

So you’re blaming last season’s record solely on someone who played only half of our league games? No one else involved?

Agreed.

I think this is just how modern football is. The DOFs are the real power brokers, and will make recruitment decisions. If the manager/coach is around to confer with, great, but if they aren’t they’ll go ahead recruiting based on their strategy anyway. Wilcox had similar power from what I could see.

And it seems clear they are going to play him. But he’s been offered terms based on what he offers on and off the field as Spors said last night. I’d also challenge whether ANY Saints player (bar Matty F) deserves reward based on ‘performance’ last year…

Reading your examples again I’d say it’s only the Tiler, Dier and Xakha examples that are relevant - where players were systematically targeted due to performance. General ire at the ways teams perform or clubs are being run happens all the time. The TAA example is just frustration at star player wanting to leave.

Well, as Spors clearly pointed out it’s not all about what happens in games, it’s about his presence/leadership in training, supporting young players and generally around the club.

I rest my case…

Really, what interesting revealing answers do you think you get to those three? I suspect you’d get three bland, corporate responses…

I’ve been a fan for well over 50 years and have been aall over the country. My point is the fixation (and fury) some of our fans seem to have with Stephens & Bazunu - despite Still & Spors clearly having faith in them both. I they think they are worthy of inclusion I’m happy to see how things go. I’m never going to be proud of fans being vindictive toward our own players. You seem fairly comfortable with it being the norm though. Each to his own…

Exactly. Supposition…

It’s all relative…

Not on here where those two are concerned! Thankfully at SMS the fans are more supportive to whoever is turning out.

Guess they’re not signing Danny Ings then. Not sure he has a new club yet? Surprised Burnley haven’t gone back for him…

Still more than capable of doing damage to us!

I often wonder if other clubs spew such bile & hatred upon their own players, or is it just a ‘Southampton thing’?

“He has zero knowledge outside his position and even then has no idea what that is or any tactical awareness.” Right - so from sitting in the stands, you know exactly what coaching acumen Stephens has? What he does/observes in training? What he’s learnt an out tactics working under about half a dozen managers? Worth noting this is a guy who has been asked to move out of his comfort zone and play fullback and even midfield on occasion too. To say he had ‘zero knowledge’ is just ludicrous.

Because we knew we were going down, and Ramsdale would be off. Bazunu is the obvious choice to be #1.

You know this how?

No. Honestly, people just need to get over this obsession with Bazunu & Stephens. It’s getting ridiculous.

Someone give me an *incoming* rumour. Come on, anything… I need something to fixate on until Saturday…