gio1saints

Agreed. When RM talked about the “process” and the “bravery” required to play this style of football many supporters previously loudly deriding him are rightly turning their opinions around 180 degrees. Whats remarkable is that it’s taken only 3-4 months to convert a shambles FC into a 19 games unbeaten team. From top to bottom we exude a confidence and class as a club unthinkable last Summer. We have our team spirit and much of our pride back. Even our stewards are getting complimented! ( see Walsall forum - v complimentary about club in general and our team - more so than here!) Not one post match interview by an opposition manager on this run has failed to say “Southampton are a very good team”. We are winning matches by 4-0 like it’s normal now. Nearly half our home matches we score 4 goals now! Anyone still wants to hang onto belittling comments for what Saints are doing are welcome but I feel that I’m watching probably a once in my lifetime thing happening right before my very eyes and I’m grateful I’ve been able to watch and participate as a supporter in it. COYS! Stay present and enjoy it! 😇

Declaration of being subject bias. I like Sekou and I think once he has graduated from the schooling he’s currently getting he will be a fine player. Furthermore in which case he will be great value for what we paid and are paying. Whether the playing results from him will be fully realised at Saints remains to be seen - but I, and hopefully everyone else except his most frothy haters, sincerely hope so. I know this might sound odd but to me it looks like he is still learning his position. It seems like he’s been at Saints learning his craft ages and the logic goes we should have more evidence that he’s been “ improved” by our coaching. And that what we paid for in terms of skill goals talent and potential has not been delivered enough to date. I can fully appreciate and understand why many here feel he has made inadequate progress. By those criteria his general “improvement” is relatively scarce - a few goals and nice touches aside . Like his match day appearances. It’s pretty obvious he’s not mastered and is fluent in the disciplined style or approach or thought or physicality or concentration or positional sense of our game - yet. And you can add any number of other important details that are necessary to be the #9 in this PB system. Or the #10 as RM has occasionally tried and has said he’s used Sekou as in training. That can and has made him look out of sorts when we do (occasionally) actually get a chance to see him. Lazy is a word used a lot here for him but I personally strongly disagree - you need only look at his face to see the frustration within. That’s not lazy that’s it’s not clicking in- yet- and he desperately wants it to be : result he misses chances and looks inelegant and fails to shine consistently - and that’s a self defeating psychological factor called a barrier to performance NOT laziness. Calling him “ lazy” is frankly lazy criticism ( no excuses for that pun I know 😂) RM has alluded to psychologically informed reasons ( what others will undoubtedly call excuses ) for unnamed players apparent underperformance in previous matches. Choose to ignore that as psycho babble and call him lazy all you like might but I genuinely feel under RM he has got the ideal coach to help him release the ( invisible) mental shackles on his ability. Basically cut him some slack. He’s a kid learning to be a man, my sons age pretty much and ge has got a lot of growth ahead. Writing him off now - as many here do - would be a waste and a bad mistake. Have faith. If he makes our squad and gets on the pitch it’s not because he’s useless in training. Remember that. 😃

One notable feature starting to become more apparent to me (anyway) is how most teams coming to SMS this season set up deep and stand off defensively - allowing us possession- but then once they go behind, and especially start of second half, they attempt a high press more often. This has caused quite a few scares in quite a few matches. we look not very good sometimes but it’s quite often the oppo are putting in extra energy to regain possession early. And then what happens is, assuming they don’t score or we don’t f&vk it up somehow, is that there is a cost to this in terms of oppo energy - and we find breakthrough spaces more often. And from these we often score late goals - like yesterday. Ive seenThis pattern kind of repeat itself even away from home. Not every match but enough to be noticeable. Amd I guess that is a big factor in why we persist with the playing around at the back. We end up winning or drawing more matches that way - this season at any rate. So carry on!

Ryan Fraser just nailed his place in the starting line up next week no ifs no buts! Sam is going to have to work very hard to dislodge him. And KS. As it should be. Great loan move that - 10/10 for Saints recruitment and management.

Note on Dibling : maybe it’s just me but the way he runs with the ball, kind of ramshackle way but the ball keeps up, and he gets that bit of time and Space to himself…and then looks up and easy as you like delivers a premium quality pass….last time a young player with that kind of body shape and look did that that I can recall his name was Matthew something when he was playing his early matches for us and had that rep as being a bit special when he came on. Tyler may well be an absolute gem in the making.

I think the main difference is Shea has bee training and playing with us all season. Has got matches u set his belt and is improving. We’ve seen it can take time to get used to any position in this team and playing style ( see Mason holgate debut) let alone that critical pivot role in MF. No doubt highly regarded however

A Back four of Stephens,holgate , THB and Manning should be strong enough to stop Walsall scoring and experienced enough to do what’s required to win. Much as I want our kids to play Id rather they play up front or midfield as starters - and in the ( imo) key defence positions only when/if we are winning.

RM noted that Bree is unavailable until Feb. Any number of possible permutations arise out of that if you assume KWP is “rested” IF JWP is rested I’d rather Meg gets a chance at LB and either Stephens or preferable Manni g starting at RB. If Manning is RB I’d be happy with Stephens at CB Wh THB for example. NB not to rule out Mason but I’d rather one of ours normally starts this type of match.

It is interesting but makes sense. He is obviously thought of as a high value asset. I don’t think many big clubs however would want to take a chance on a kid in such a pivotal position.. In any case the player is probably not essential at SFC . We sold them Lavia and we already have Shea, Flynn and Will in this DM position. And for such an important position I don’t think we would just chuck a 19 year old in anyways even if he came. He’s better off actually playing for someone like Birmingham or QPR imo.

I think the point being made is that you can independently appreciate the character of a man without having to connect it to the team performance for which he is responsible. It’s quite often the case, not just here, that a persons character is conflated with their job performance : for example Manning makes a mistake = he is a pr&ck. It goes the other way too - Manning scores a winner = he is brilliant bloke.😄. Many during or after match posts here seem to follow this what you might call logical fallacy. We all do it. 😇

??

AA is Southampton’s most successful captain in our entire history.

Where is it available to watch / read? Cannot see it anywhere on OS or online

I’m meant to be reffing in Hamble Sunday…should I bring a snorkel? 😄

I like the look of Mao Hosoya linked by the DE. Always good to have a J league star in the squad for International profile. And if he scores some goals even better. 😇. Transfmkt it has him as a £1m - for current full Japan International. Cheap. But Sunderland also interested. Surely we’d make that back in international shirt sales alone 😂

Kwp being rested in this cup tie might be a double edged sword..

Pointing out one rare and unique exception does not change the point- which is that it’s incredibly rare for deals to close on NY day. So we probably should not read too much into it that we did not sign a Striker accordingly. Not denying it would be well received by fans but that it did not happen by now is, frankly, no surprise at all. More of interest to me is who gets left out of squads so as to not get cup tied on Saturday!!! That’s worth looking at.

I think this is an excellent point. KWP is the best RB in this league bar none.Attack or defend. Every team we’ve played have had to work hard to keep him at bay. If I was an opposition manager I would concentrate on the other flank wherever possible. By his own admission Ryan has played poorly at times early on - BUT - has got his place back via injury and the last two matches have shown more of what was expected and playing better. Small but unpopular point, : much of his apparent deficiency is arguably ( means maybe not necessarily so before you go full abuse mode) due to KWP having more licence to go wherever he likes up front but mainly right and centre. Ryan has clearly been told to stay narrow by default usually to support the defensive set up in case of counter attacks and interceptions etc. It’s rare he overlaps at LB for instance. His defensive responsibility in that regard is a curb on his natural attacking strengths and may explain in part why he’s got most yellow cards this season for us. - and not looked as good because this role is not optimal for his skill set m. If he plays v Walsall and KWP rested and allowed more freedom I would not be surprised if he scores or assists. Will check the price out as should be good. 😎. Fire away all you who hate him Happy to discuss with normal fair minded Saints fans though. Think proof should be in the pudding because- in light of above he’s not as terrible as many of you make out. In fact he’s a very decent player who supports our system well and selflessly.

Interesting Echo article on him today. I had not remembered his goal or assist stats from Swansea last year but if the last two games chance output is a thing to go by he may just lose his scoring Cherry very soon ( hopefully!) I’m not sure if by “chances” they mean shots on target or merely shots- but, on average this season, saints would have scored at least one goal from 9 shots and 3 goals if those 9 shots were on target. So, Ryan, and Saints, are rather unfortunate to not have an assist or two more to his name from last two matches. From the Daily Echo: He notched five goals and provided ten assists in a Swansea shirt last season, but has only managed to make two assists so far at Southampton. Across his last two appearances, Manning has created nine chances (four against Plymouth and five against Norwich City) - the most of any player.

Think @Wade Garrettand @Dusicare both right. I think we already bought that goalscoring Striker we absolutely need - but he’s out for the season. I think we are very unlikely to buy another - UNLESS he’s relatively cheap - and UNLESS we lose Che. In which case then who is to say wether keeping Che but losing his fee is better than buying a cheap unknown striker, more money spent but no guarantee? At least with Che it’s the devil you know might go the reasoning. Overall I’d hope we plump for another striker myself - as it’s not just for January but hopefully next season in the EPL. As well as- and this has not been mentioned previously - god forbid AA gets a bad injury - In which case someone complimentary to a squad that may include a still unfit Ross Stewart.is not just a maybe idea but sound squad management.. Does not mean Sekou is out but it does mean we have an alternate to Sekou up front - instead of no proper goalscoring striker alternative and forced perhaps into a makeshift solution which may- or may not - work at a critical part of the season.. it’s an insurance policy but basically. A Very Sensible but optional one. We could save money not doing it. Though and still go up. Wonder who wins the argument in the Office? Or we could try carrying on this false nine thing which to me is not our best solution albeit we are unbeaten with it. Arguments for and against I guess.

If anyone’s interested in the FA technical thinking behind modern goalkeeping theory - which is pretty much text book Bazunu and Saints PB football - check out the vid below. The play is now Saints signature approach so it may help to be informed about what’s the actual rather than made up theory. Watching it should help answer some of the “why does he do that” questions of Baz and Saints play in general from the back. Not if it’s right or wrong to play like we do but just more of the theory behind it. It does not of course explain why he occasionally makes a mess of a save-able shot or like the other day a back pass! On the criteria they outline it’s clear to me why RM and many Saints fans ( incl. myself) rate Baz so highly and feel he has a great future. He is an “A” student of this style of goalkeeping play, ( note I still consider him a student) and at age 20/21 is certainly very advanced in it for his age relative to the league and even worldwide. NB. Cue the usual sarcasm and abuse from some simply for posting this as an info guide but I’d rather you save it for your match day rants at Saints, PB football, RM etc. 😏.

Interesting point patches - the point about reflexes in particular. I do think good reflexes can be inherited - like any particular gene handed down from generation to generation but Im not sure if it’s been medically identified yet! ( unless the discovery of fast twitch muscle counts) I also think goalie reflexes can be improved by diet training etc as egg Saint says Overall, I think modern sports science probably trumps you on this. Athletes are generally stronger fitter faster than they were 50 years ago. Things like hand eye ball coordination training. Even eye spatial awareness training ( remember Clive woodwards infamous training ideas?) didn’t even exist then but nowadays it’s trained and standard practise. Athletes can jump higher run faster and for longer. There’s no strong argument to say that reflexes of a goalie have not also improved. And for it to be “significant” means only a millisecond don’t forget. Without the tech data to hand I’d be confident that Baz’s reflexes are better than that of a comparable 20 year old div 2 goalie in 1960. NB. Equipment tech has evolved too. That heavy laced often water sodden leather ball being kicked around in the 1969’s has been replaced by lightweight fastertravelling versions. Ditto boots. And pitches. The goalies reactions to perform the same task as a goalie of 50 years earlier by necessity need speed up - and I think they probably have.

The narrative for the season so far has been one of learning a new style of football and ( hopefully ) gradually getting better at it. That appears to be happening. A sweetener to the story is that the PB football that this style is based on takes more out of the legs of our opponents than of us. That also appears to be true given the above average number of late goals we score. We’ve also been told that it’s a long season and that injuries , suspensions and plain fatigue will all play a part. Squad depth in which case is vital. And that our squad is relatively stronger vs the rest of the league. The proof will be shown in these last 21 matches. We have delivered c 2pts per match to date and the stats suggest we will do at least, and more likely better, in these final 21 matches. Consequently I’d envisage somewhere between 42 and 48 points to be the most likely achieved tally in these matches. Major injuries to key players excepted of course. Anything under 42 would be disappointing imo given our form. 42 points is par and above 42 is what I hope/expect. A total of 95-100 should mean automatic promotion - but if it’s not fair play to the other two.

Quite ironic that in your first post you dismiss the “useless bunch of refs” as essentially biased towards bigger clubs. so a hard NO to sin bins. But in your very next post you argue that decisions should be left to the referee more and VAR less or not at all. Do you mean to say that VAR is even more useless and biased to big clubs than the referee alone? That’s what I’m getting? Or that both referees AND VAR are useless and biased? Quite a bold statement either way seeing as VAR was supposedly designed to remove or at least reduce referee subjective bias on key decisions.

Nice reframing of the situation. There’s only one reason I can think of why Ryan Fraser cannot play RW for example, or Amo for that matter instead of KWP. That reason is that RM does not ( currently) think they’d be better than the current KWP and JS at RB solution. Otherwise why is super sub Ryan Fraser for instance or boy wonder Amo not being given run outs at right wing already? And ditto we have KS back in four weeks so what’s the big rush? Question I ask myself is : would KWP at RB plus a new right wing be better than : 1. KWP plus Jack Stephens at RB ( the current status quo) ? 2. KWP plus James Bree at RB? 3. Ryan Fraser plus KWP at RB? 4. Amo plus KWP at RB? 5. In late Feb, Kameldeen plus KWP at RB? That I cannot get a clear answer leads me to feel this search for a right wing is maybe not so mission critical as people might think.