gio1saints

Few thoughts ; 1. Lallana was a class above everyone on pitch. His vocal leadership was just another excellent ( and necessary) added extra. He can do it all- makes himself available wherever and his ball receipt, control and release is invariably excellent. Knows when to be where and how to play wherever he is. Needs young strong legs (like Les) next to him to really make it work though. 2. Les is looking good to me. He feels reassuring like he will win most his 50-50’s in MF - which is not something I’ve always been used to. A starter for me v Ipswich. His physicality buys our other players extra milliseconds of time to make those special passes. 3. Mateus is a high ceiling attacking mf. Looks technically excellent clearly wants to get on with it and play progressive football. Speeds up our sometimes pedestrian game. 4. Just like Tyler - who is why you pay to watch Saints play. He is our great hope. Must be Starter v Ipswich. 5. The return of THB. So happy for him, the armband, the goal, the performance, the penalty, the win. Fair play mate after a bit uncertain start. Straight back into the team as starter on Saturday. 6. Thank you for the Pen save and the other good save Alex- BUT- their goal was all on you not clearing that corner. 7. BBD, RF, MC and AA - lot of running from AA and RF as usual but id like to think they all have more to give in terms of quality meaningful impact. No one really said I must start v Ipswich on those performances so I’d be tempted to go CA from the left RS central and AA from the right Saturday. 8. CT provided some quality balls and experienced know how. My suggested Team for Saturday(433) 1. AR 2. KWP 3. CT 4 JB 5. THB 6. LU 7. AA 8. FD 9. RS 10 TD 11. CA Nb KWP at left back.

No he is not. Simply applying derisory epithets to him does not help. He may not start at any other club - opinion- but in terms of an on pitch encouraging voice he happens to be the best we have got ( fact). The season we went down and the squad that RM inherited was notable for its relative meek natured silence on pitch. JS cannot do it alone but in that regard he is way better than the other skippers I can recall we have had in last year ; AA, AM and FD ( oh and Che at Gillingham!) Getting sent off and mouthing off is not clever but the guy has fight in him wearing our shirt our crest ffs and for that alone we should be more respectful.

Oh yes he is.

Fecking well is. Captain Hack is our leader!

Kinhell you got the SR hate bad 😂. Last season the “hipster “ manager got us promoted playing some of, at times, the most beautiful football we’ve seen Saints play in many years. Some of the goals were a delight. In trying to recreate that so far this season weve ducked up. We lost four in a row. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 But your plan - which is essentially to start from scratch ditch the Manager and the coaching staff in favour of - blank- just anyone not hipster RM sounds more generic “that’s what clubs owners are supposed to do “in four match losing run “ than an actual plan. Indeed it’s the kind of thoughtless sort of action you’d criticise SR for because there’s no coherent plan behind it- like signing Tall Paul for instance. If only football were as easy as “ sack the manager and sack the owners” Saints are trying to do things there way despite all the odds against. They deserve our respect, at least, for that, They have that plus my support for what they are TRYING but currently Failing to do.Dont give up - don’t surrender 😇

Think you’re making too much out of it. One missed penalty and we can draw any number of bad conclusions- none necessarily correct - but most very liable to be interpreted through the dark prism that defeat always endows. It was not ridiculous to give our in form goal scorer the opportunity to take the pen. He missed - and RM has taken the blame like the man he is - but to draw conclusions about our future performances and RM “ management” from a missed pen is tenuous frankly. Would people be praising his excellent management if Archer scored? Of course not.

I’m not happy with losing every week @obelisk though if it’s me you are referencing - though I guess your comment was rhetorical. I do think first 30 was very good. First time this season I thought we are getting somewhere. If you think it was as shit as the other matches because ultimately we lost - youve got a fairly Uber pragmatic but rather one dimensional pov - ignore the perf just look at the points is pretty simple way to bash people like me up after that game - but in my eyes it’s more nuanced than that and this performance , set up, style, showed what’s still possible. Get rid of RM and it’s a fucking circus..

It was better than the Brentford and forest games. Yiu clearly don’t agree. There was improvement. You clearly don’t agree. Or more likely in your understandable upset at a bad loss you are just plain angry at everything. Most of us are as well. BUT - Team performance, player selection and formation tactics ARE heading in the right direction. Too slow? All that was really missing was the ball in the net from the penalty a 1-0 home win likely. But was not to be. As for pens- Come on man - our #1 pen taker off the pitch and you giving it large because his direct replacement took it and missed? It happens.

First 30 minutes was the best weve played all season. We outplayed Man Utd and should have gone in 1-0 up. My view is we can build on that first half hour. It was a massive improvement on Brentford and Forest albeit nil points nil goals. Anyone can’t/ won’t accept that but just wants to pull trigger on RM - I get it- fine - but no new manager comes with a points or goals scored or conceded guarantee - whereas that first 30 v a good team had promise for me and looked like something RM can build on. Frankly one bad pen miss and the match turned. Should not mean the entire fan base turns on RM. Obviously does to his detractors on here but I hope SR do not get swayed into binning him for another newbie or old timer and what will probably be season of managerial changes because we ARE favourites for relegation after all and when that’s ever more apparent later in year whoever has the misfortune to replace RM will get the same criticism once more from same people on here. Surely it makes more sense to back him and what we have seen improving in terms of starters - especially the new and the younger ones - and to give his new formation (s) and new player(s) time? Oh and stamping out the bad stuff?

I think that the formation will be fluid all match. Sometimes it will look like a back three others not. Pointing to what our starting line up is going g to be is a bit like that ( paraphrased) Mike Tyson line- “ everybody has got a plan until you get punched in the face” We may start back five but hyper aggressive- we may start with a back four more conservative. Depends on how much running our players do! I personally think player selection will be the clue as to starting intent. Hope it’s positively aggressive myself. NB prior to the Forest match I’d of grabbed a point all day long from this fixture. Losing to forest though has cheesed me off and I would like to see a reaction at home- and to go for the three points not like the stupid U formation thing of last home match.

One version might be : Ramsdale THB - JB - JS YS- AL - Flynn -Mat - KWP TD CA.

I think this set up would suit Saints. And the type of players we have. If you get to watch the highlights all the goals are very “ Saintsy”. It’s a 3-5-1-1 basically. Insert whoever players you like in it but I think it might be interesting…

Wonder if RM watched what a great job Italy just did on France. From being the most disappointing team at the Euros to an excellent demonstration from Luciano Spalletti of next generation football tactics. Im certain this match would have given Russ food for thought versus a full strength France team, at home. Italy, despite conceding yet another early goal ( 13seconds) won 1-3 and it could and probably should have been more. With players most of you have never heard of - though Tonali and Arsenals new boy Calafiori were excellent tbf. Italy played a kind of 3511 against one of the scariest teams in World Football - Mbappe & friends - and made them look impotent. I think it’s VERY well adapted to Saints and this season in the EPL. You get a chance watch the match. I’m sure Russell and his coaches will be studying it because it was a Masterclass. PS. Good article by the ever Italy enthused James Horncastle on the match and tactics in The Athletic if you’ve access. PPS: reason I’m even commenting on it is that Italy were so disappointing at Euros - bit like our start but - Spalletti did not get the sack and, well, his generally unheralded players gave him a result and a performance that’s incredible - Italy had not won in France since Julius Caesar times don’t think 😂. Of course it’s only Match Day one Nations League bollix - but it was France in France and that’s always going to be tough. So there’s hope for Saints yet!😇

Games til he gets sacked or inadequate points by when he gets sacked by is a morbid subject of discussion - perfect for many dark-humour loving Saints fans. 😈 Half sister to that narrative suggests these last three matches have taught many fans nothing they did not already know (and fear) about RM, the team and its ability in the EPL. He was not good enough he is still not good enough - to summarise it politely. Opinions do seem mixed though and there is still some belief (or vain hope) in some ( like me) that RM and team have learned and are learning valuable lessons the best way - through bitter experience. The (perhaps vain) hope is that, surely, avoidable mistakes can be better avoided and the less avoidable mitigated somehow by improved tactical set-ups, formation changes, replacing players, giving starlets and newbies a chance etc etc. All possible without unduly compromising PB footie principles. But there’s also a quite noisy school that fears he will never change and Saints be relegated with fewest points ever etc etc. What cannot be changed with a magic wand swapping out a few players and removing a CB or playing 3 forwards and so on is the squad and team morale or indeed the manager and coaches morale, ultimately everyone’s belief. If that goes it does not matter what formation or who starts we are beaten. I happen to believe this is our strong suit. Given the time and the support ( from us especially) I feel that the new team spirit and the bond between players and manager - and fans - developed only in last 12 months, could be massively influential this season. It could make a team and a club and a support that on paper might appear inadequate versus most the rest overcome and defy the bookies and the rest of those already having us down as relegated. Lose the fan support and it just makes it 10X harder - indeed I’d say impossible to stay up without SMS being at max positive volume for every home match and our excellent away fans doing there stuff on every trip. We have a fair chance IMO if those two happen and the team pick up results.

Have you read what people say to me when I ( and others) simply state opinion on RM and team that is not anti or negative? There’s some respectful objective assessment but also plenty of personal abuse. I’d love an informed debate on the issues but with many posting there hit n run nastiness on here it’s so difficult. Your well meaning post is essentially victim blaming in that regard Hypo. Know you mean well but it’s NOT my fault for pointing out there’s an alternate pov - and consequently that I should get the abuse thats coming to me and stfu despite the anti saints craziness of what’s sometimes said.

SO …..I hear you …you’re saying I’m not a pretentious fracking wNker cubt for pointing out the inarticulate insanity of some of the anti RM posts on here - but I do use long words on occasion… so just gotta simplify what I say and make it much shorter. I think most of all - and you did not say it, but i can read between the lines - your advice is do NOT defend RM or the team from unfair criticism on here - and I should be fine and not get a bunch of personal abuse. Thank you. Message received. 😂

Smug and pretentious poster here: 🤫. If you come online and post “RM is a fracking idiot a cubt fracking useless piece of shit “ or words to that effect - that’s ok on here. Thats not smug arrogant or pretentious. Or even abusive. It’s just fact innit and standard match day industrial language. Especially match day posts. You will get likes, smileys and are in good company. Nobody will bat an eyelid. If you come on and say “ I don’t agree with your characterisation and here’s why “ - well for a start that’s a long word so poster MUST be a smug pretentious cubt most likely also a pribk (I’m sure there’s a fancy name for being a cubt and a pribk at same time but that would just piss you off more if I used it) plus they must be a happy clapping fracking wznker etc. Go away we hate you essentially for use of long words, having an alternate pov and occasionally being annoyingly right in showing up the nonsense bollox speak for the bollix it is. It’s a bit of a shame really that the debate gets bogged down by the name calling. 😁

Or don’t.😂Great riposte! ION: All Saints match day threads are X rated PG required stuff 😂😇. FREE BONUS CONTENT : And any Saints match day thread where we lose is the equivalent of XXX rated because the minority ( 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣) of posts put on there + the likes for that minority of XXX stuff (🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣) are impressively widespread despite it being from a tiny weeny minority of posters (🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣).

Keeps us up he will likely be in demand-and you may get your wish for a new manager. So in that scenario : max 9months time. If we go down he may also be gone this time via the Kompany route - again max 9 months time. So, looks like a win-win for you sooner or later within 9 months. As for renewing his and coaching staff contract - this see how it goes thing is wishful thinking and not how football works. NOT renewing their contract after last season is virtually the equivalent of asking them to leave - and leave they would. NOT renewing the contract after last season would be regarded as a massive ( and perverse) vote of no confidence in the results of his and his coaching staff methods. If you think telling your manager essentially you don’t rate him or his coaches in the EPL but you’ll give them a few matches see how it goes is going to end well you might be disappointed. Sounds fine in theory but not only would RM and coaches be undermined but the playing squad would be left wondering wether they should bother listening to this bloke & these coaches cos the owners don’t rate them and they will probably be gone in short while. So- maybe mistake- in your book - renewing the deal for RM & staff - but quite honestly SR did not really have much choice so it’s not something that should be used against them - or RM and the coaches either.

I like SamE a lot & believe he can elevate his level. This loan to a decent attacking side will help him find that level. RM has determined that Sam still needs time and frankly, it’s hard to disagree : He did not show any improvement on last year in pre-season - not fitter not faster not quicker thinker not more confident not more powerful - It was much the same- but with worse finishing and worse final ball. Others given the chance looked starkly more impactful on the eye - SAA and TD especially of the forwards and even BBD held the ball up better and did score “ that” goal v Lazio. Bringing back Wee Man and borrowing Maxwell Cornet are sensible /pragmatic calls. Both can do a job - Wee Man in particular has high levels of football intelligence - and we still have the livewire that is SAA. Will be watching Sam E play and like all Saints fans - and the club - hoping he has a brilliant season & comes back a star that must start.

Like your theory that if you don’t think RM is an idiot then you must be a sycophant or over defensive eh? 🥳

I personally think that he could be dropped too - but not because I agree he’s crap - but rather for technical reasons : not playing 3CB’s every match. Being replaced by Lallana further up the field seems an obvs move to me in such 433-like formations. Arguably we’d lose no on pitch tempo-determining leadership but gain ball retention ability and offensive impetus, especially at home. Him and Flynn don’t give the ball away too often and when he gets tired we simply put Les on. Oh, and this has the added benefit that Saints do not need to sack RM and his team (giving them millions to go on garden leave ) whilst we hope to find someone willing to work at Saints. There are many tweaks twists changes adjustments revisions substitutions tactical variances and flexible amendments call it what you like available to RM. Anyone who thinks he is too thick or too arrogant to avail himself of them are mistaken imo. Time will tell.

Fair enough. Small point- I do not claim he is revolutionary. In response to his insistence on playing the way we do being called footballing insanity I agreed. It’s insane is probably a synonym for “ way different than what fans and managers are supposed to do when they go up.”. RM has not invented anything. All he is currently doing is trying his best to get our team playing a possession based style. He is simply more determined ( or stupid depends on your take) than most other managers to make it work. His “ changes” happen though- sometimes belatedly like Saturday hooking AA and WS - other times it takes a few games- such as last season reverting to a 5 on a couple of occasions- belatedly or not he does tinker. Just not enough and fast enough for some is all. I wonder if he were sacked tomorrow how many matches the new manager would get to acclimatise to the EPL with this squad before some on here demand he is sacked and shower him with nasty abuse? Three? Ten? Three is already enough for Russell on this forum,m for some.which, to me, is laughable.

You are probably right. What RM and SR are doing is sporting insanity. I’m delighted at the epithet. Whats maybe going to upset you and the anti RM bandwagon that’s rolling rather nicely is that RM will probably find that description inspiring. Anyone anywhere that’s ever tried to do things differently has been called mad at some point. And usually they get run out of town ( or burnt at the stake!). Does it mean RM and Saints are destined to fail - as you and so many others on here predict? Probably. We are very very likely to get relegated. And the nub of this issue to me is how do you want to go down? With principles and ideals you are prepared to proudly live and die by - or like last time in a no idea chaotic mess? I do t feel Saints fans should get too upset by the defeats as long as there seems to be some progress and development. It’s easy to be blind to that when we lost theee in a row - but certain things already areevident and - Tyler is a star, Yuki is a star, Mateus has quality, Ramsay is seriously better, RM has hooked AA and WS off at Halftime!!! I see these small individual things all clicking at some point. My patience is just longer than most of the responses I will get in here of course. And my acceptance that either way we will prob go down. So I’m going to enjoy seeing how it pans out and not join the booing and nastiness that’s inevitable. Dont be frustrated and angry. Be proud Saints.

Maybe I am. Except that past was only four matches ago . This notion that RM cannot and will not make changes to the team and tactics is - to my mind- a misunderstanding of his football philosophy. Examples: He started Ramsdale when he could easily have bedded him in and played AM, he hooked AA and WS ( both big favourites of his allegedly) off at Halftime last match. Unprecedented. That he cannot and will not make changes that some are taking as fact on here is simply, blatantly not true. Are you looking forward to us playing 433 v Man Utd? If he starts with 5 at the back incl Capt. Jack he will get crucified on here… But will we also get murdered on the pitch playing a more open game? I’ve no idea what’s a good formation for Man Utd is cos if we play like we have done we are sure to lose - but if we play more attacking it’s probably the same outcome maybe even more goals conceded - we let Cardiff youth score 3 against us the other night don’t forget. My hope though is we do go more front foot - drop the third CB insert Adam Lallana as the new on pitch keep calm person from MF, drop Will for Mateus and give Tyler a start instead of Joe. As for up front- give AA a chance to redeem himself at SMS but between Archer and BBD on current form I’d choose Archer- but playing more central. And Cornet will get at least 30 minutes - probably for AA if he’s not scored.