gio1saints

He hardly ever gets picked to start. His confidence must be low. He is a last 20 minutes impact sub. Not somebody trusted to start. His job is to take risks and attack flanks. He can dribble past anyone but final product has not been there _ BUT - I feel he’s often too far ahead of his fellow teammates who are not on his speed wavelength. He’s a maverick player in a team of reliable know what they are going to do Stepford wives type players. He gets bollocked every match he plays by RM and his teammates for it. Yet persists. He is still a kid so it looks like he’s a sulker. And he does sulk. But he does keep trying over and over again to beat his man and cause danger despite the grief he gets. The lad must have sone inner strength to carry on that for sure. If he does not make it at Saints I think he either folds or goes full Sadio Mane mode elsewhere. Just hope it’s with us. He’s worth persisting with imo. I rate him as having an exceptional talent but not yet refined enough.

God help us. The idiotic substitutions which led to Rothwell scoring two goals are a big inconvenience to the “ it was the substitutions that fucked us up” narrative. Posters Literally grasping at straws NOT to be positive about a 4-2 win. Irredeemably miserable.

You can make it up. Some on here here get their kicks from being contrary on purpose. It’s called trolling. There’s some world class trolls here and you got to respect quality even if it’s in doing something as pathetically cheap as trolling other saints fans online. For those naive souls who make the mistake of “ enjoying “ a Saints win like today as if it’s the last win they will ever see us achieve - which for me is the ideal because living in the past or the future is for Dr. who & time travellers only - there is always the dyed in the wool cynic whose contempt for “ happy clappers” knows no bounds. That our saintly trolls apparently always combine both contempt for normal saints fans with apparent encyclopaedic knowledge of how-to-play -and -manage-a-football-club better than our existing players and management at any given moment is just one of the funniest things ever.

Russ says Hi, he also asked me to pop this question to the geniuses of this forum- what did you think of his subs impact scoring two goals? And was Ryan alright winning that penalty despite him meant to be on the bench? That “idiot’s” IMG_7554.MOV tactics helped win us the match by playing Ryan and putting Rothwell on at the right time to score two vital goals. If people still grasping g for things to be angry about I respectfully suggest the issue is not us smacking Sunderland 4-2- it’s something else- not Russ, not Ryan, it’s you 😂❤️

I heard if we don’t go up Itchen bridge is gonna collapse. #Saintsdeathspiralprophecies

There’s a fair chance he will start at LB and Bree at RB on Wednesday. It will be interesting to see if Ryan is given the KWP attacking / disruptive role or James - or if it’s shared. Or indeed ( and I think this is probably what most saints fans would prefer in the absence of kwp) if Russell asks them both to curb the attacking side and stay tighter defensively in the light of conceding a gazillion goals at home lately and let our talented mf and forwards get the goals.

Fair enough. He may not be as good as you wish at left back. He may be the weak link. Some of the evidence supports that. Other evidence suggests he contributes well to Russell’s formation. I personally think his defensive skill is limited - but that’s not the issue here for me because it’s not as if we have had fantastic alternatives fit enough uninjured enough or mature enough to replace him this season. We’ve been spoiled with some greats - Wayne, Gareth , Luke, but as a saints fan I’d leave it at that rather than the endless nastiness about the man.

@Fabrice29is not saying Ryan is the best Left back in the league or even in the team, he’s explained why it sometimes appears the left back is a weak spot. It’s Russell’s call not Ryan’s. Blame Russell if you don’t like the tactic that, occasionally, encourages the direct ball exploiting the space ( often ) available in our left back area. And it might not be amiss for some of you to chill with the exaggerated negative comments on Ryan. Makes you sound like Pompey fans. It’s been explained very clearly by @Fabrice29 and by @The Cat but one last time : When KWP goes forward with ball running - wherever he likes but usually on RH side and central - it is because he and the team know he is allowed to do so. He is a ( arguably THE) key disrupter for us of opposition defensive tactics. He is specifically told and allowed to do this by Russell. KWP attacking triggers an immediate response for the rest of the defence. They shuffle across - which means the LB ( Ryan Manning) tucks in more centrally, and the right CB - usually THB but can be Beds pops out a little for a temporary back three. In that moment space - and plenty of it - is obviously visible in our lb position. Less visibly so on the rh side because thats the side of play being disrupted. Given that there’s a good chance KWP will get dispossessed and a “ breakaway” is possible via a direct long ball, usually lofted, if I was an opposition manager I would reckon my players chances of successfully executing a direct pass to a forward who had to face Ryan in the obvious left hand side was higher than on the ( disrupted) rh side, where, incidentally our best defender awaits : THB. So target left back. Straight away from a height and strength and defensive ability perspective it’s no contest. THB >RM. So target left back. So blame Ryan all you like but were you to replace him with Meg - and with KWP in same free role role as before with same RM tactics - then some of you lot will be calling him “ dog shit “ etc and destroying his career before he’s even really started. RM is a pretty seasoned pro and can take the criticism - I doubt Meg could. Who else for LB instead of Ryan? Well obviously Bree - but I bet you willbe all over him like a rash the minute a goal goes in from that area. It’s up toRuss to solve that problem. Player bashing pundits like some of you far too keen to scapegoat players like Ryan, Will, etc when it’s as much /majorly our tactics that’sfundementally at the heart of the issue. Not defending the tactic - it’s clearly an Achilles heel of sorts- just trying to explain why in singling our Ryan you are largely missing the point.

This is a nice team view of our beautiful first. Especially for those who hate all that fannying around we do🤣https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4DdXSQMMFV/?igsh=YTMxMzhwdHpncWJv

True. Our style does create a lot of XG and tbf we are pretty good - not rubbish at converting chances overall - it’s just we seem to out concede the XG for opponents with regularity and that’s been the problem all season.

Bit like the philosophy the 70’s Brazil seemed to play to- Basically we will score more than you.

I see what you mean and you are right - I did take the OP comment at first sight as not giving RM any outs on what to say at press time. Sry. IMO this “issue” seems to define the club this year under RM. What you, and many others, call not making sufficient or adequate adjustments ( or “ learning by our mistakes”, ) to our style/tactics/set up pre match and in-match is a reasonably fair and accurate call. But in its defence I think there’s a very clear ( rightly or wrongly) football philosophy reason for that which RM and team are steadfastly attached to : Saints prepare for each match thoroughly by watching previous oppo matches, analysing the strengths and weaknesses of the team they are facing at granular level , then talking to the players and the player units about the likely scenarios tactics players they will be face in match etc. RM and his back room team pick an 11 to start accordingly. We all know this. So the “knowledge” is there for change if desired. And even fans not football professionals and coaches can see with our own eyes what’s going wrong and why on the pitch sometimes. If and when we are taken by surprise by the tactics ( Bristol City good example) the speed of reaction can be criticised. Some of the BEST all time managers see things quicker know how to counter it quicker and have also trained their players in the mental, technical and tactical flexibility required to adjust playing style mid-match. At Saints we have a team very well drilled in one style of play but with relatively limited ability - or and this is the key part- even desire - to play differently. The message is that playing in this style they will score more than the opposition. Because most of the time the opposition will not have the ball. The issue seems to be that it’s an all or nothing approach. RM cannot just drop it and play 442 or some other way because that gives the lie to every thing that went before. In the purest sense he is right. IF we have the ball they cannot score - we are the only team that can score. And with teams of similar ability we should win more than we lose. Sticking to that philosophy even when being defensively bad as per recently may cost us Promotion . OR it may propel us to the EPL as a force to be reckoned with. That’s the risk Saints take. Personally I’m happy to go for it this way. There’s something naive faithful and noble - dare I say Saintly about us at same time that appeals to me as a long term supporter.

So what do you want? His head on a stick? You don’t want him to take the blame for when we play bad? It’s some kind of trick? He does not mean it? He’s lying? You want him to call the players out by name and say they are shit? God your post is so unthinking it’s not true. He just cannot win with you can he!

I’m still surprised that we get 30,000 people to home matches. The minimum the adults are paying is something like £20-£25 and more for posh seats. Walk around the stadium prematch there’s queues to buy £55 replica tops ( now half price!) people eating £12 bowls of food with there £6 pint in hand.. Simultaneously theres people in Southampton rely on food banks, live on the streets. Child poverty in Southampton is high. The number of local kids going into higher education well below national average. The incongruity of those two facts is uncomfortable were you to think on it for too long. If the new Northam is going to happen, I hope that it puts the work of the Saints Foundation square centre as a net end beneficiary from it. I’d like to think that would help coalesce support for it from all us- the Saints fans who can choose to afford to go the SMS, buy the pies, the shirts, the beers - and the many of our city that simply do not have that choice. If done in that way I’d hope support would be overwhelmingly high.

It’s extremely sad for Will, Saints and for every supporter that “one of our own” has had to do this. Literally no one is immune to the nasty personal stuff that gets posted every day online by our own “fans” about RM & our players, and anyone who defends them. You’d think it was supporters of other clubs trying to destroy player, manager and supporter morale with the vile stuff but no, it’s as likely to be a saints so-called “ fan” as anybody else. More likely in fact on here. The list of Saints players who are meant to show maximum loyalty to the club yet are ritually abused by some supporters grows longer. RM was 100% correct - it’s idiots and unhappy people projecting their unhappiness onto others. Only upside is that it’s a human condition not limited to Saints fans to be like this. Not everyone is like that, fortunately. Anyhow- COYS ! - a morale boosting 3pts and a good performance do everyone the world of good!

Like a scratched 70’s album stuck on the same tune. You have one line of hatred for RM and it’s incorrigible in you. Even now trying to dress it up differently using this concept that he is thick as shit. I’d love to see you and him in a face to face debate. After you had called him all your names and stuck your tongue out at him you’d be out of content. You could try telling him about your Phd in negative shite but he’d then just smile pitifully at you, offer to shake your hand (😂) and walk out.

This using that handshake thing as a proxy to attack RM in general is fake. Say you don’t like him cos we lost 3/4 matches and are getting frightened we might not go up but don’t hide behind nonsense like snubbing handshakes. if your insight is correct and keeping a level head is his problem then no doubt some will get their wish and we can go for manager number 4 in a calendar year which will be a bundle of laughs and handshakes all round I’m sure. Or just support your team and manager these Final run in games when we need it most ffs.

We were not doing what they wanted when we went 25 unbeaten. Ever heard the phrase if you don’t stand for something you fall for everything? I am still surprised at the level of negativity present in Saints fans after the entertainment they’ve had this year- especially after that shit show last year. I really don’t think people know when they got it good. That we are “only” fourth in this ridiculously strong league this season but with all still to play for is not the fucking end of the world some here would have you believe. Get a grip on yerselves and stop crying.

Way I see it we are actually trying to do something which the rest of the leagues don’t want us to do. They want us to remain in our place.And no it’s not meekly subscribing to that underdog narrative that’s been our traditional meat and drink for so long either.. what’s happening is different. We got a taste with Poch. Another glimpse with Ralph. Now with Russell we are going full Monty. It’s so different. Upstarts trying to play like we are and trying to change the status quo must be encouraged - but only up to a point. The leagues must appear competitive. Then we must be ransacked for our best players and forced to start again. That Cycle has repeated endlessly for Saints. We are all fed up of that happening but some of us have got Stockholm syndrome and we have actually fallen in love with the whole shit show. And are scared if even trying anymore. We are disrupting that system and lots of people- including our own fans clearly, are unhappy with that. RM and JW are showing that a bunch of relegated players in a defeated club can be trained to play differently. And that it can be effective. That’s not good for the moneybags clubs to see. And, like RM, I’d rather lose playing in that disruptive style - a style that expresses our football integrity and frightens the powers that be - than furtively fumble around the Championship or EPL begging for points here and there playing dross, mediocre, characterless pragma-football with no identity apart from ultimately being “ plucky losers” . RM, and Saints, are going for it. All-in. And I’m happy with that. Do it right & play properly or don’t bother is my attitude. IF we go up I’m happier for him and team to go toe to toe with anyone and lose than go cap in hand and get repeatedly fucked over as we have been for decades by the bigger clubs and stay as the bottom feeding sad cases at the wrong end of league.

Wished I could have been at the dinner Whitey. Could not agree more with you about the great work that the Saints Foundation does. Many Saints fans don’t realise that the Foundation IS the official SFC charity and it currently has around 23 ( give or take) different programmes to help those most in need - in Hampshire. Not enough credit given imo to this end of our club work. It’s one if not the thing I’m most proud about re SFC. We can win lose or draw a football match this weekend but the Saints Foundation is always out there irrespective doing good deeds.

Saints under RM play unincisive uninspiring football? Some of you have got the memory of a goldfish. And refuse to look at the facts telling you exactly how many goals & how many forward passes we make compared to rest of the league. None so blind as cannot and will not see. You mistake not letting the opposition have the ball with being not incisive when the whole point is to rip through teams - which we have done time and time again with incisive passes created by that possession based football which frustrates YOU and the opposition so much. How would you describe last season then? Incisive? Goals a plenty? Thrills and spills? Entertainment? Proud of the way your team played? Excited going to SMS each week to see another shocking performance. No, it was Rubbish with a capital R. You don’t know how lucky you are our team is competitive and respected - and the name of Southampton FC does not provoke sniggers but rather respect from the football world. But not from some of our football club supporters used to what exactly? The glory years 1982/3/4 when we were last a real force to be reckoned with???

Was going to reply but @Dusichas done it so much better!

Dang! And I would have gotten away with it if if wasn’t for those pesky kids! Another success for Scooby-Doo and the gang. 🤣

Russell Martin is virtually the antithesis of an Old-school Manager. But he is just one of a tidal wave of similar coaches appearing across the world taking the best from the past and melding it with contemporary sport science. What we have with RM- is pretty unique though and I’d rather concentrate on that rather than what we do not have. Support Enjoy and spotlight what is good rather than constantly attempting to undermine him is my view. Every criticism of him could be levelled at any manager at various times in any league. He’s as stubborn, arrogant, medal-free, egotistic, nepotistic, inflexible, classy or classless, over flexible, tactically all over the shop, one dimensional and over fixated with stats and hipster thinking as most every other manager. Go to any fan forum and you will find a supporter criticising the manager for the above. I stead why not try being grateful for what’s been done that’s good instead of ( as some here do) exclusively trying to turn every misstep into a court martial offence. Anybody would get peeved off at such a fickle fan pov. I know I would.

Just suppose you chanced upon a dusty old bottle of scrumpy outside the exits of SMS on a bleak Saturday early evening . A disappointing display and defeat has blighted another evening and week ahead. You open it and instead of cider a red white and black suited genie emerges - and not only that but its got a passing resemblance to Kevin Keegan - but I digress, the saintly genie offers you a choice of one, but only one, of the above titles. He adds that whichever you choose will be marked upon your gravestone for eternity next to a Saints crest. Not only that but if you should ever try switch then a lightening bolt will strike you dead there and then. The moral of this made up modern fable should be clear : we are all fainthearts, fools, cynics and lovers of Saints at different times. But if only one was to be on your tombstone forever which, genuinely, would you wish for? 😇