coalman

If only it was only twice

You honestly want no part of the medication I'm currently injecting myself with 😉

Every so often our players are going to rouse themselves to "prove" that they've still got it. I have the sneaking suspicion that Wednesday is going to be one of those days. Followed by lots of chest thumping and press interviews. After all if they're not careful they might get a manager who makes them work hard. 2-1 to Saints (because clean sheets aren't our thing)

A good start would be to get rid of any player brought in by Martin. Start with the ones who had previously played for him. The culture is so bad I'd seriously consider terminating the contracts of several of them on the spot even if it meant paying off their contracts.

There aren't many players who leave everything in the changing room in the same way.

The difference between a competent data scientist and someone pretending to do data science is enormous. Then your shit data scientist hires equally shit data scientists while they all sit around circle jerking about how they're data driven. Or, you have a "visionary" leader that hires data scientists to support their gut instincts. Neither of these situations results in data being used effectively to good outcomes. Sadly, I think Southampton have managed to create an organisation that suffers from both these dysfunctions.

It's only a positive if they recognise that we have the players to pepper opponents with crosses but that only works if we have centre forwards who can score from them. 3 years on we really shouldn't need to keep relearning that Adam Armstrong alone in the middle doesn't work (or that like for liking him with Archer also doesn't work). And, that Stewart needs to be used sparingly if we're to avoid breaking him again.

On the one hand we created a lot more yesterday (including some in the second half). 22 shots (7 on target) to Hull's 9 shots (3 on target). We looked better when we moved to 4 at the back. The trouble is we completely surrendered any initiative we were creating with our suicidal playing around the back. Then compounded it with 2 players ball watching the player they were up against from the subsequent corner. Honorable mention for Peretz's hologram impression dealing with the header though his earlier save at 0-0 was top notch. Throw in the decision to remove our best crosser of the ball when they brought on our only centre forward able to get on the end of crosses and we turned a totally winnable game into a narrow defeat. We also had Manning drifting around in his usual ball watching free role away from his actual position so we'd always be at risk any time they got the ball down their right wing when combined with the ball watching central trio. While we're giving away so many easy chances and have such obvious vulnerabilities we're always going to be at risk of this kind of result. One would hope that the lessons taken from that game are pretty easy for Tonda. 1. 4 at the back and don't get overrun in midfield. Dropping Wood would be a good start. 2. Manning replaced by Wellington (or any footballer who can play left back) 3. Downes replaced by a midfielder who is allowed to pass forward. 4. Play Fellows in his best position and keep him on the pitch. 5. FFS STOP CUNTING AROUND AT THE BACK

He was hired by Sport Republic. Chances are he's not _that_ promising.

Just make Lallana/Garner interim manager, wait until he wins his first five and give him the job full time. By which time we'll be safe.

He'll need another week of rest after the shift he put in today. Sorry, did I say "shift"?

Manning thinks he's a winger.

Jelert, THB, Wood and who is the 4th?

The skills he learned chasing the ball around the pitch as a 6 year old are still strong.

To be fair, golf does seem like a great way for them to maintain the fitness to play walking football. Though I bet these cunts hire buggies.

I find it hard to believe we haven't blocked a single cross. Oh, wait....

He's Tonda the Friendly Ghost.

It's the 3 Bs innit? Beckenbauer, Baresi and Bellis

It's like someone put Casper the Friendly Ghost in a turtleneck and told them to wander up and down the touchline.

I'm going with aimless like for like subs around 60 - 65 mins.

Remember a couple of months ago when we were concerned about only showing up for the first half? I miss those days

Free header from a corner. Whatever next? At least we'll be able to shut up shop in the second half and hold on for the result.

Manning doing Manning things. At least the post match interview writes itself. "I thought it was two games. We were on top until they scored. We just need a bit of luck"

If only that's what manage actually meant. Also management is about organisation. Leadership is about culture. Prick. https://www.etymonline.com/word/manage 1560s, "to handle, train, or direct" (a horse), from the now-obsolete noun manage "the handling or training of a horse; horsemanship" (for which see manege, which is a modern revival of it), from Old French manège "horsemanship," from Italian maneggio, from maneggiare "to handle, touch," especially "to control a horse," which ultimately from Latin noun manus "hand" (from PIE root *man- (2) "hand").

I'm pretty sure it will be the same excuse as every week. That we trained well, played really well until they scored and were unlucky we didn't score first.