Holmes_and_Watson

"Interim manager Simon Rusk has confirmed Southampton will be without a number of key players when Arsenal visit St Mary's for the final game of the season on Sunday." Oh no! Not our key players! Wherever would we be this season without them?! 🙂

Neither BBD or Archer met Martin's requirements. While all of the backroom rebuilding and refocusing is fine, it means nothing if the decision makers are not engaging with a manager who has the strength of character to drive them. SR have wasted many millions on a number of flawed ideas, that have turned us from a Premier League club needing support, to a Championship club needing an overhaul.

Both BBD and Archer had the stamp of a club seeing it's top targets not want to arrive, and desperately going down the list shortly before the deadline.

It's a managers peogative to move on players who don't fit our style. However, it's SR's responsibility to know what their plan is, and not lurch from one to the next. Charlie and Perraud were both binned off by Martin (smugly, in Perraud's case, which I didn't like at the time). Both attacking and direct. Both more suited in the squad to come than several others. If SR developed some consistency, the players having to move on because of the system, would be fewer. That would leave them with things like the quality of recruitment to focus on.

Thanks for all the match updates!

Agreed. With Suarez, he's likely to use his usual "I was aiming for the crisps" as he takes a bite out of you.

I'm just sitting, eating a sandwich! I did nuffink! 🙂

couldn't rightly say. 🙂

Richarlison was the best on the park, wanted it the most, and led by example. When he went off, and Spurs started defending their third, I thought Maguire would get something. An excellent save, a couple of decent ones,ma clearance off the line were needed. Then the pedigree that only an ex Saint can bring, as Danso shored things up. Not much sympathy for Man Utd. Their self inflicted ownership, top heavy structure and dreadful recruitment continues to be funny. They did reach a major final, so not all doom and gloom. 2nd Season trophy specialist Postecoglou can ride off into the sunset, with another victory.

Luke Shaw gets the goal for Saints! Well, Spurs really...

Bruno fallen down twice already with horrendous facial injuries, caused by any touch whatsoever. That, and the thought of Postecoglou sticking his fingers up at the collective IQ point of the hacks, makes me hope Spurs get the win.

I remember all those times I was shouting "No! Don't change so much! Stick to your principles, Russ." 🙂 He made tweaks, well within what he held firmly to. He had commented that to change more, would have undermined everything he had been repeatedly trying to instill in the team. In a way, I'm glad he did that. It made it all the clearer what the outcome had to be.

Smallbone key for linking up the play. Bazunu key for icey coolness under pressure, and being the foundation of pinging the ball across the defence. Downes was our key player for RussBall and loved working for Martin. Pricier than the rest though. Armstrong - High work rate, versatility, and getting key goals from cut backs.

Still seems to be taking ages to get over the line, like watching our team attack.

Still nothing.

The point about him being here since Jan 2024 was what had caught my eye. How many recruits was he involved in if not in that January window, then in the summer leading into this season? Good to hear that his winter window was better. Even better, that there's improved oversight across the group, as per Nolan's post. Of course, the SR wider recruitment strategy for VA has now resulted in "Frenchfying" it. So, a combination is probably best.

I take it I'm missing a step. The head of scouts gets a promotion? The scouting network that's resulting in most of the squad leaving, as not being remotely good enough? I can only imagine it's an operational role, rather than being part of any of the actual recruitment shambles?

>raises hand< I know this one! No, they really don't.

Just one of those nice thoughts to keep separate for a moment, before you have to remember we'd be with them. But you are correct that the worse the teams we compete against next, or any season, is better for our chances.

Yup. SR counting each penny they put in their purse, without noticing the large hole in the bottom of it, and the trail of wasted money behind them. 🙂

I pop in to catch up with the thread and there's a shocking bit of sog racism. Given the frequency and history, I don't put it down to bad timing on my part. It's unintentional, in that sog once again unintentionally gives his real views. Very disappointing to see that on this board.

Not a surprise, but comes with the usual mitigating factors SR provides all it's managers. Interesting on French football, that he took a step down in order to have the better facilities with VA. Not to mention the "project" would have been a big draw too. They may have sent Rasmus over to hypnotise him into believing in it. He took over midway. So, SR will have left him with an assorted collection of transfer duds, mapped to a plan they've since abandoned, and very possibly with big gaps in it (as they did for us). He said that 4 of the 5 brought in under him worked out. And there's where it gets tricky. As soon as VA were in with a shout of showing their mettle, they folded. With promotion then gone, they gave up. Is that down to SR's squad? Or is that also down to a manager who couldn't get a tune out of them? Instead of a promotion push, Hognon was of the opinion that they were already at their peak, and that he helped save the season from being much worse. While there were a few exceptions, the teams that limped their way through the end of the season didn't show they were fighting for their manager, or the club. Would have allowing the manager to be key in clearing out the deadwood have allowed for a better next season? Hognon clearly knew what he wanted. We'll see how much of his views are taken up by the new manager. Like ourselves, VA could do with a manager who drives SR, not one who is beholden to their ever changing, crashing and burning, ideas.

Your cruise mates are keeping tight lipped about Trump, as he sent them as an advance force ahead of the Alaskan invasion. Try not to spoil it for them by pointing out the obvious flaws in their plan.🙂

Martin, Juric, Rusk and Lallana have achieved exceptional things in the PL, bettered only by Derby. I would expect a special SR light show as well for them.

Wrexham. Getting my hipster credentials in early, before they take Premeerr Sahccer by storm soon.