macca155

Whether Ballard would have forced his way into the 1st team is obviously unknown, but he clearly had potential, and letting him go was a foolish move. I said so at the time, as did many people. The caveat to that is that Dom may have pushed for the move, but considering the clubs investment in his recovery, I doubt that. A decent contract extension and a loan would have been the best solution. He was coming back from injury, and it would have been good to see whether he could hit form. Anyway he's probably better off away from the current shit show. It's brilliant to see him doing so well, maybe we'll buy him back at some point.

Another hatrick for Ballard, I could weep. What utter madness to sell him.

Ha ha Leicester again

Selling Ballard seems a bizarre move. The lad clearly knows where the goal is. Once he recovered from his injuries he was on fire for the U21s. Instead of wasting money on Downs, he was the ideal person to have on the bench as backup to Armstrong and Archer. He'd have taken his chance when it came, I'm sure of that. Good luck to him, I fear we are going to regret his sale

So that's either Jelart at CB or .... whisper it quietly, 4 at the back, and a new goalie. What is this wizardry Sudden scrambling to find a stream

We've all seen how the Jan window works. Mainly clubs manoeuvring for the summer transfer window. No club is selling a striker in form. They are pretty rare, and if a club has one they will either want big money or aren't selling. Saints could pounce on a L1 forward in form, someone like Dom Ballard for example ☹️ Leave it ....... However, Saints are scoring goals, just not enough to compensate for the porous defence. I'd prefer they focus on a solid CB who can command the area. If they sort out the defence, the play offs will be an easy reach.

You beat me to it, way too slow to be a midfielder. They all have to be box to box athletic machines these days. A half decent forward would ghost past him at ease. It's a good sale for all concern. Hopefully he'll get more game time at QPR, and realise his potential. Good luck to him.

I liked Edwards, and he certainly didn't get enough game time. However his performances have been pretty underwhelming. A good move for him but he's probably destined to be Championship level defender. Hopefully the club have a heavyweight replacement lined up. Is it worth waiting in to see .....

Downs being sent on loan, is just SR trying to avoid issues with an increasingly hostile fan base. He was finished here anyway. I bet he doesn't play much and they'll send him on another loan in the summer. Flim flam pieces starting to appear in social media, from players, about needing to stick together. That's PR trying to negate Alfie's tweet. They'll be more, but moving players on from decent salaries isn't easy. They'll only see the negativity from fans drop a bit, if they make key signings in crucial positions, and change the ridiculous system. Watching with breath not baited

100% this, on the pitch, years of conditioning, and the fact that 30K are watching you, means they perform as best they can. They know no other way. As you say off the pitch, it's a very different picture.

No way is there going to be a new manager this season. Mainly because it will reflect badly on SR, and they'll avoid that at all costs. In addition nobody decent is coming here with such a toxic dressing room. Interesting that Alfie has spilled the beans a bit on a player clique. Good luck with your interviews from now on. I doubt it as a clear cut as we think. Contracts are ending soon for some, plus for many of them, even if they do get promotion, they won't be part of the Prem team. That must be pretty demotivating. Nevertheless they are pros, and I always think they give 100% on the pitch. For whatever reason that hasn't been enough. System, talent, football intelligence, fan pressure, or good old fashioned bad luck. There are many reasons, but fans just see it as shit. I fear we must endure this for a while yet.

You may be right but I think your observation that the forwards care starved of service is 'nail on head'. If the defence falls back and starts fannying about, the midfield has to drop back as well. Thus we can all see the huge gaps between defence and the forwards. Attacks appear to rely on either Scienza, Fellows, or Robinson picking up the ball in midfield, and going on a mazy run for 50 yards. Either that or a hopeful 40 yard pass from THB. Not even LeGod himself could sustain that. No other team plays that way, it's ridiculous. When Azaz acts a pivot, playing intelligent passes either wide or through the defence. Armstrong, Archer, and Scienza score for fun. Other teams know this and force us back to frustrate him. So frustrating

Brentford like Brighton, and possibly Bournemouth, have the balls to sell a top player, and rely on their ability to recruit another. It's the only model that works for smaller clubs. In fairness Saints have done that part reasonably well. Some healthy profits on players. However they've kept huge gaps/weaknesses on the pitch. Mainly in defence, and the coaching staff have been terrible. Classic house of cards.

It won't be as clear cut as suggested. They'll be a set vision influencing, appointments and overall strategy. Tonda will be working within that. Classic senior management, set the parameters, but keep a distance to avoid being tarnished by failure. However, they'll be one hell of an inquest at Marchwood today. SR aren't stupid, they know the heat is on them. Particularly with a likely horror show at FP coming up. Tonda is probably safe until the end of the season. Hopefully SR react to the recent debacle's and give him more latitude. The problems are all in defence really. Buy/loan a goalkeeper, and experienced defenders, then Tonda might just stand a chance.

Oh sweet Jesus, just landed, having a week away, and I've just seen the score. What on earth is going on. I know we all have our own culprits, pretty unanimous on some, but they aren't that bad. That is a truly disgraceful performance. Major shift in attitude required. Goalkeeper required asap, but also a DoF to act as overlord to Tonda. He isn't coping clearly. This is just panic stations. I shudder to think what Pompey will do to us on their manor. They are almost as shite as Saints, but they'll expose the weaknesses just like everyone else. I suspect SR are sharpening the knives before this reflects on them.

Towards the end yesterday, the crowd were getting vocal about the slow ponderous play. The players could sense it and I bet SR execs could hear it. Last time that happened we had the ridiculous resigning of Romeu, a pathetic attempt to keep the crowd quiet. That backfired, so goodness knows what stunt they'll pull next. Can't wait to complete my match day experience survey. Clearly Tonda is being micro managed from above, and given corporate AI shit to spout after every match. 'If we beat Middlesbrough, all will be well' ... wel that's not happening. Boro will know exactly how to neutralise Saints. So that's bollocks. Yet in this mad league, a run of a few wins will transform the season. Like everyone I have zero faith in SR to enable that, but trying not to give up just yet.

I thought the Millwall defence was a cut above ours today. Solid, dynamic, and they did the basics well. Game saving block at the end as well. Decent performances from Bragg and Matsuki. Usual story at the back, defended quite well, but this garbage sideways passing, and lack of urgency, is doing my head in. In isolation not a disastrous performance, a point against a decent side. However when viewed with recent results, it continues our grim slide into mediocrity. There is a transfer window up now, so that's an opportunity. Let's hope they take it.

Plenty of teams play 3 at the back successfully, it's a formation that's been around for years. Problem is our CBs simply aren't good enough, the midfield is easily overwhelmed, and it becomes 5 at the back for sustained periods. I hate to admire anything AI, but that Chatgpt analysis seemed pretty spot on, 'passive play is overwhelmed by championship intensity' ..... sounds familiar. I keep going on about Bragg, but the Charlton game was pretty unique. Bragg has a physical presence, and an eye for a forward pass. That's was all our forwards needed. Downes and Jander are blockers and disrupters, very good ones, but their instinct is to pass sideways. His lordship is right, the defenders are not coached in the basics, there isn't a leader. It isn't working so Tonda for all our sakes just try 3 in the middle and drop a CB.

I'll grant you that, but equally he'd have passed straight to a Brum player on several occasions. He isn't the answer, that is warming the bench at Newcastle. Baz is playing because his distribution is excellent. That suits the so called visionary football, that someone at this bloody club has tried to impose for the last 4 years. I thought Baz had one of his better games yesterday. A few decent saves, and the goal was more down to the clown show in front of him. However, as you rightly say he isn't a natural shot stopper, neither does he dominate his area or defenders. Nearly every game we see a better goalkeeper at the other end. Every team Saints play now, works to get crosses in, and take pot shots at every opportunity. They know exactly where our weaknesses lie.

He was one of the architects of the Charlton win. When he came on at Norwich things improved. One of the positives, so play him

Well we didn't lose, so there's that. £105 million spent , players on big wages, just enough to avoid relegation. That isn't sustainable. Dreadful 1st half and the dirge will continue until Tonda bolsters the midfield. Bragg looked fresh and in charge when he came on, he has to be way more useful than Stephens or any 3rd CB.

Commentator called that. Identified Robinson(Jack) on Fellows, then said Southampton struggle with recycled balls. Desperate

Normally you get a whole bunch of comments on forums, usually bollocks, but if we can all see this why can't they. Birmingham like Oxford, are doing nothing to facilitate this lethargy and general shitness. They've got their own problems containg even the mildest of attacks from Saints.

Just a bizarre setup. Robinson playing in front of Fellows, as a result Fellows is completely out of the game. Manning has Azaz sort of in front of him. As a result Manning is being pressed into mistakes, as us Stephens. Midfield two are overwhelmed, they are chasing the game. The defence is under constant pressure, so we know exactly what will happen.

That didn't last long 😂