Patches O Houlihan

So will the front four look like: Larin Archer Fellows Matsuki OR Larin Archer Matsuki Fellows At least we have Leo and Edozie (and potentially Robinson) to bring on a half time if it isn't working.

I understand your thinking but Edozie isn't amazing at breaking down teams that park the bus. We'd almost be better to play Azaz left, Matsuki centre (10) and Fellows on the right if we want to protect Scienza.

What a week of football that has been. Cracking work all round. Bloody well done 👏

Pompy?!!

Danny Ings!!

That’s how we fucking play. Derby can piss off with their fouling mess of a playing style. Get in

Are Derby bringing on their mascot?!

Matsuki from a loose ball amongst a load of bodies

He’s mostly been good. But a couple of sloppy shots and that woeful corner give away. Stewart has also struggled to get onto the good crosses that have come in from the left. Doesn’t look like Fellows is confident of beating his man on the outside today - and he’s rarely good coming inside. I think we’ll see Matsuki before long.

manager wanted a tactical chat…

https://www.vipbox.sc/football/southampton-vs-derby-county-1-live

Peretz is nominated for Championship player of the month (March)

Tonda wasn't born when the Premier League started.

If by some miracle we did achieve an FA Cup win, would we be the first non-top tier English team to get European football? I think we would be in the PL era. Presumably, bearing in mind the extra predicted income, this would enable our PL war chest to be larger if we were promoted... It's the hope that kills you as a Saints fan... Need to keep reminding myself that most likely we'll get a dodgy ref decision and suffer a crucial defeat somewhere in the playoffs.

This. Under Will Still our frustrations with the team grew, to the stage that many were worried about relegation. There was chat that our core of experienced players didn't fancy it and wanted to keep playing Russball. At the end of dismal matches many players would show visible reluctance to approach the fans. But Leo would charge over and throw half his kit into the stands for kids. At the time I was concerned that this behaviour might be seen as cynical, and self-serving by his team mates, as he became a firm fan favourite when everyone else was getting chewed out. But in every interview the warmth and generosity of spirit just pours out of him, and the candid changing room video post Arsenal win show him behaving generously with the team in just the same way. This relentless positivity and warmth must have helped buoy the atmosphere in the team. On top of that there was a willingness to always receive the ball and always try to do something useful with it. There was no hiding during that period, he was always showing for the ball and willing to get hoofed up in the air again. When Azaz was still finding his feet Leo was pretty much setting up all our positive play. Since January I agree it is tricky to pick out our best player; so many have been performing really well and consistently. But the season didn't start in January. (If it did Peretz would be in with a shout) This period also revealed that we could still play well and win without Leo. But for me after some thought it has to be Leo because of what he did for us in September and October, as well as his efforts under Tonda. He gave us hope when it seemed a silly thing to have.

Will you be interested in watching the semi do you think? Or does that depend on who we play? ...even though of course we are guaranteed to lose no matter which team we draw. 😉

The loans system is a bit weird like that: Bree & Charles played great on loan, played great with us Ronnie Edwards played great on loan, not so much with us Bragg - not great at Crawley, doing great so far I think it must really depend on the circumstances of the player and the destination club. So many ways it can not be a great fit. Having someone who can consistently get young players loaned to the right clubs would be a considerable financial advantage to the club in the long run.

The loans system is a bit weird like that: Bree & Charles played great on loan, played great with us Ronnie Edwards played great on loan, not so much with us Bragg - not great at Crawley, doing great so far I think it must really depend on the circumstances of the player and the destination club. So many ways it can not be a great fit. Having someone who can consistently get young players loaned to the right clubs would be a considerable financial advantage to the club in the long run.

The loans system is a bit weird like that: Bree & Charles played great on loan, played great with us Ronnie Edwards played great on loan, not so much with us Bragg - not great at Crawley, doing great so far I think it must really depend on the circumstances of the player and the destination club. So many ways it can not be a great fit. Having someone who can consistently get young players loaned to the right clubs would be a considerable financial advantage to the club in the long run.

Koeman made that run 'tongue in cheek' to rip the piss out of Jurgen Klopp who had been full of it on the touchline that day.

I'm hoping that Tonda will have rammed this lesson down their throats and everyone will do their best to avoid that atmosphere. Certainly that was the way all the players were speaking in interviews last night and Tonda is very clearly 'walking the walk' judging by his interviews.

For me it is not just about the merits of Manning v Welington - but also how they interact with Leo ahead of them. Manning likes to get forward, can be quite physical for a smaller guy, and is a streetwise Championship player (he was using all the tricks against that handy Arsenal nipper last night) Welington is probably a better pure defender and literally speaks Leo's language (but not just in a speaking style, but having played with creative futsal types plenty earlier in his career) I think Leo feels more confident to be forward with Welly behind him, and Leo's defending can be a little powder puff at times despite putting the effort in, so that is probably a net benefit. Even the set piece delivery we don't take a step back when Welly plays - we have Bree for right foot options, and Leo for left foot options. I think it is pretty even between them and down to form and fitness. Great to have the competition in the squad - having four good midfield options feels like such a luxury at this end of the season.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002ttbh/the-fa-cup-202526-quarterfinal-southampton-v-arsenal

Miserable little f**kers 😠 ...also Rasmus' team of course

I think that's a bit unfair - he has played (and defended) bloody well the last few games. In the red button section of the iPlayer post match THB was interviewed and if you haven't seen it, it is well worth a watch. Credits Tonda with giving him some personal positioning coaching which is responsible for having turned around his form this season. Maybe Tonda has given Manning some tips on defending too. That said Welington can be a great option for us.