coalman

Of course. Sports Republic would never do something like that.

You don't need to do interviews when you can watch the prospective manager "Masterclass" on YouTube and have spreadsheets.

Sport Republic appear to be exceptional in identifying and recruiting people capable of spouting football platitudes in the face of reality.

The trouble with Manning is he is a full back who wants to be a midfielder. He naturally gravitates to the middle of the park leaving a gaping hole at left back. So there are times where he's productive at the other end of the pitch but we can't rely on him to hold down his side defensively.

Sooner or later you're going to have shots going in. There are games earlier this season where we didn't score what we deserved. Today we scored what we didn't deserve. It's telling we didn't really create anything clear cut. The reason we had to defend so much was we invited the pressure. Because we carry no threat. We have no out ball. Our midfielders aren't set up to turn into space as they're in our penalty area. Our attackers can't hold up the ball. Our defenders lump it forward or play a succession of soul sapping short passes before lumping it forward. There's no transition between defence and attack. And then our press is so aimless as to be non existent so whenever the other team gets the ball they're going to get to the edge of our area largely unbothered. If we continually set our team up to make it a game of attack vs defence we're not going anywhere fast.

Surely sticking with the same structure that has proven incapable of bringing in points is some form of madness? I get that Tonda had no time to make significant changes but it was telling that the rotten core of the team were back in business. QPR can rightly feel they should've walked away with 3 points there.

It's not often a football match is that one sided with the winning side having so little of the play. All our problems were on full display for the same reasons they've been there for the last few years. If anything that was an even more disjointed performance than under Still.

Let's invite all the pressure

He's the embodiment of this Southampton side, that's for sure.

- Slowest playing defenders - CHECK - Slowest ball playing defenders - CHECK - Crisp packet wristed goalkeeper - CHECK - No height up front for crosses - CHECK - Adam Armstrong through the middle - CHECK - Winger out of position in defence - CHECK - Midfield set to be overrun - CHECK It seems that whoever is in charge we're able to continue doing the same things that brought us so many records in the last year and a bit.

Jack and THB back so maximum ball watching and slow passing potential. Armstrong on his own up front. Fellows at right back. Light in midfield again. At least Eckert appears to be doing his job as the continuity candidate. Same formation. Same players. What is the actual fucking point of having a Saints manager if all we do is the same thing over and over again.

It's a tough ask for someone new to come in and maintain the standards we've been blessed by in recent times. Expect an even more disjointed effort. Lallana to be caretaker by Monday.

I guess we'll always have Wrexham at home.

This is all since we appointed Spors. Clearly Ankersen wasn't the problem and needs to be given more authority over the new manager hire..... Said no one ever.

SR "hold my beer"

We're getting worse by the week.

Lots of strong words in the lead up to this. The only problem is we're really good at talking about playing football and awful at actually playing it. On the basis of which I fully expect... More kick and run with everyone defending running aimlessly towards the ball. Then, on the off chance we have any momentum, a series of substitutions mid way through the second half that firmly put Preston on top to finish out the game in style. #southamptonWay

Playing with a back 5 doesn't seem to make us harder to score against than a back 4. If our defenders aren't up to it playing more of them seems like the wrong choice. I'd rather play more in midfield and make it harder to move the ball through us. Right now we get overrun in midfield too easily and then our not-up-to-the-job defenders have to deal with it. Then we have fewer options to pass out of defence and just wind up hoofing it up field.

Meanwhile at Staplewood

How are our attackers meant to build confidence when he chops and changea from one match (and half) to the next? The lack of a settled first 11 is really hurting us. It's nearly November. He should know who his first team are by now.

Against Blackburn our work off the ball was appalling. It was like watching a group of 8 year olds chasing a ball. We were reactive and everyone seemed to rush towards the person with the ball.

Substitutions should change the game in your favour rather than the opposition's. And shouldn't be just to give your bloated squad a sense of involvement. In his favour though is the willingness to drop Stephens, Bazunu and THB. Though playing Edwards at right back, Armstrong up front on his own or Fellows as a wing back cancels that out. We're just going into November and he doesn't know who his best team is.

Whatever we do in training doesn't work and hasn't for some time. However we scout new players doesn't work and hasn't for some time. However we recruit into leadership positions doesn't work and hasn't for some time. People come in and simply reinforce and enhance the broken culture already here. All roads lead to Sport Republic. Dragan has spent freely and the people he trusted with that money have managed the alchemy of turning gold into shit.

In many new jobs it's going to take you 5-6 months to get to the point where you're really delivering. The first couple of months are about figuring what goes where. Then where you can add some value. And, only then, can you start to make serious headway. Our recent DoFs have stayed long enough to turn the dog's arse they inherited into a bigger dog's arse then fucked off.

I'm pretty sure Lallana taking over to steer us out of the relegation zone is it getting worse.