OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint

When Ralph came in, the whole feel around the place was immediate. When Koeman came in, it was the same. These people are managers but they're also motivators and can arguably get the best out of players straightaway. No excuses about needing time. Watching Everton on the box over the weekend was interesting. There's a team full of crap that seem to be trying hard and now look like they'll get some good results. I just want RM to put a rocket up some of our player's arses and motivate them to look like they care. Whether it's his possession football, hoof football, wing football, channel football or whatever f**king football, I want our players to go out and play like they want to win. So sort it out RM. Motivate them.

Has anyone noticed any difference since it was announced we've employed a new set piece coach? It's our corners/free kicks around the box that are particularly frustrating. Manning can often drop the ball in to the right spot but everyone is so static in the penalty area. It needs people to run on to the ball and attack the corner. Because nothing's happening in the middle, it was noticeable against Middlesbro, they resorted to a number of short corners which ended up passing backwards to the halfway line.

Ralph knew cowboys had taken over when he diplomatically said he would be at the club at most two years. That was less than 20 months ago. All this 'trust the process' crap. We've a manager seriously out of his depth who doesn't seem to recognise the talent in the team. I was annoyed when Edozie was subbed in the last couple of games - today he didn't even make the starting line up. When he and Stu Armstrong came on we were better, but we were playing the bottom team in the league and they outclassed us.

It's some kind of joke but had a laugh reading it. On a more serious note, Joe against Ipswich looked good for 10 minutes then faded into oblivion. It's a concern that RM thinks he can can play a defensive midfield role. He really shouldn't be anywhere near the team.

Agree. Sometimes it takes a little longer for the manager's penny to drop and although we've been shouting out for Charles to play in a defensive midfield role and THB and Bednerek in central defence for a while, here's hoping RM might have noticed that in the second half of Ipswich we were fairly solid at the back. From there we can build. Middlesbro won't define our season. But win this game and then Leeds and the season will look a lot rosier.

Love this list:- https://www.metroleague.org/southampton-f-c-best-players/ Joe is no.23

Work colleague wanted to show me their goals from last night. They think RS's high press is excellent and is working really well. Maybe we should be taking tennis balls to our matches!!

Apart from the obvious move of Charles to defensive midfield (well, obvious to all of us except RM it seems), I also don't get what Edozie has done wrong to keep getting subbed. Perhaps give our Sule Messi a run from the start to show why he's our most expensive signing and Fraser on the bench.

Many of the forum saw it ages ago bit hopefully RM will stumble on the fact that you play Shea in a defensive midfield role and we look better. Playing AA in other than a no.8 role is pointless. Smallbone is awful. Can't stand Sulemana but perhaps play him and Edozie to start with Fraser coming on as sub. Fail at Middlesbro and RM's countdown could begin in earnest.

Holgate must be truly shit in training.

Vaguely recall Micky Channon said something like that. Totally agree. THB & Bednerek at the back. Midfield shored up with Shea in a defensive midfield role and Alcaraz/Smallbone/AA looking for quick passes through to Edozie/Fraser and we're on to something.

See it didn't take long for Tall Paul to get off the mark for his new club. Can't make up my mind whether he is truly crap or we just didn't give him a chance and play to his obvious advantage. At Stamford Bridge earlier this year, he actually looked ok but his touch is generally awful and he can't last 90 minutes.

Agree, the pressure is building but there is a good squad at St Marys and competent footballers. We've got rid of a lot of the dross. It's been unfortunate that Jack Stephens and Bednerek have been injured at the same time and a bit concerning that RM doesn't think Holgate is up to being in central defence hence Shea did the job last night, but I agree Shea has to play in midfield.

But that's the point a lot are making. They can be the best defenders in the world, but if the tactics/coaching is all wrong they look very ordinary. Also there didn't seem to be so much tippy tappy passing sideways by the centre backs and Baz last night. There tended to be more of the Baz hoof, which to be fair to him, usually found his player.

Lazy Saturday, so reading pre-match and post match comments and despite the rumour, there's a lot of common sense written on this forum. When the team was announced, we could all see the midfield was light. Shea has to be the defensive midfielder. And Shea, THB (despite that early mistake) and KWP are intrinsically good players so why are they looking so ordinary? The coaching is wrong. And unless he's injured/knackered, don't take off your best player. And as for Sulemana being our saviour, his attitude stank. He can fuck right off. Everton, after that Leicester game, was one of my worst in recent memory but that was almost funny with the crowd chucking their freebie scarfs away. Yesterday was depressing. The drive down and back through the M3 was shit and the players (other than AA and Edozie) didn't seem to care or know what to do. Sort it out RM

Heard he got injured. Back to Mason Holgate on Friday! 🤫

I'm more hopeful. Bit like when we lost 9-0 (for the first time) and then went on a good run, surely RM must be able to work out a plan to bolster the defence and make his possession football more penetrative. A fit, focused Sulemana would be a massive addition and THB & Bednerek in central defence with Shea in front of them look pretty solid. Must admit, I got Manning all wrong. Thought he looked good in the friendlies but he needs to take his skates off and start defending properly because he's looking a real weak link.

Heard him referred to as the "Bargain of the Transfer Window" and while there's that nagging feeling we let him go too cheap, Downes coming to us was probably also part of the deal. Bit like Maddison also looking good at Spurs. Play with players who can putt away your passes/crosses/corners and you look a whole lot better.

This is particularly frustrating. AA plays much better as a no.8 and crap as a no.9, and RM has seen this in previous games so why play him at no.9 again? Shea played well when covering for Stephens the week before and before that he did well as a defensive midfielder (almost in the Wanyama, Romeu mould), but when he came on, why put him at right back? And how on earth did he think three lightweights in midfield (Smallbone, Downes and SA) would work? Like you say, put Charles in there to add some muscle. RM needs to learn from mistakes and build on what works. Next game we should also have Che and Harwood-Bellis ready. I'm thinking this is just a blip. Remember when Ralph's team lost 9-0 (the first time)? After that didn't we go on a good run?

I'm also pleased this was a drubbing rather than a 2-1 defeat (though maybe not if I'd trekked all the way up there). Can't make excuses, need to address these frailties. Point is, SR have brought in Martin because that's the style of play they want the club to play. We are stuck with the tippy-tappy build from the back tactics, but that squad of midfield and defence should be more than good enough to keep out the opposition when we don't have the ball. And they need to sort it out quick. Next game Leicester at home on a Friday night. 🤫

Read this flight was being tracked by 312 people and the 9th most tracked flight in the world....transfers and transfer deadlines really have taken on a new dimension these days.

Everton seem to have the full team out to conquer the mighty Doncaster. They've also just subbed on their new £30m striker to settle it. Here's hoping this year they go down.

Or worse still, some tall guy called Onuachu 😀

Paintsil is 5ft 7ins. What with Fraser and AA, we'll have Snow White sniffing around next!

I was at both Leicester games last year and the only reason we won was because this guy couldn't hit a barn door from 2 yards. Sadly, I think they'll have someone better in that position when we play them in a couple of weeks.