sydney_saint

As you can see, Southampton fans are known for being bashful and humble. Whilst we are all very proud of this list of achievements, as is much of the footballing world, it only skims the surface of our various achievements. Off the top of my head I can recall - In 11/12 season, Southampton secured back to back promotions, the ONLY team to achieve such a success that season - In the 08/09 season, Southampton rewrote the rules of English football by bringing the famous Dutch Total Football to England. Under the guidance of esteemed manager Jan Poortvliet, we played a thrilling style of football with a team of youngsters, many of which have become stalwarts in the English Football League. The project has wildly been considered a great success - Southampton prides itself as a family for its fanbase. There was no clearer evidence than when we outsourced to a local fan the building of a statue of footballing giant Milan Mandaric, This was a fantastic tribute to our great friends over in Portsmouth. The statue united the fanbase and was described unilaterally as 'extraordinary' - Whilst all of this obviously paints a glowing picture of our club, we as fans don't take things too seriously. This was evident when when we printed a number of t-shirts with the slogan 'Saints go Wilde'. Now I know what you are thinking. That's not how you spell Wild. Fear not! This was a humorous and witty remark at Southampton's new owner, billionnaire Michael Wilde, who would go on to have two stints running the club in a new direction. - Another outstanding example of our humor can be found in our upcoming transfer threads. If you have a browse, you will often see a reference to 'Has Skacel signed yet'. And you may be wondering, has he? But who is Skacel, there doesn't seem to be an active footballer by that name. This again is a humorous recollection of a period in our history where we had a long drawn transfer saga with Hearts legend Rudi Skacel. Fortunately we managed to get the transfer over the line and he went on to make appearances for the club.

Is this a pisstake? It only takes a researcher a couple on wiki to find out our rivalry, for fucks sake. What are they teaching nowadays? It would tell you everything to know about our infamous rivalry with Plymouth. Like most rivalries, it's partly geographic based and partly history. We share the same short coastline and as such battle for naval esteem and domination. I feel a little embarrassed saying this, given your US knowledge, but more just a reminder for fellow saints fans particularly those living abroad. But the rivalry actually stemmed from your history and the Mayflower. Despite Southampton playing a pivotal in the pilgrams voyage, arguably more definitive than Plymouth, it was the lather that got the recognition in Massachusetts and name recognition. This catapulted Plymouth to international fame, and remains one of the UKs, if not the world's (!) wealthiest city's. Around 50 years later as Plymouth was establishing itself as a global force, we challenged them to a game of feetsround, a primitive version of football. Despite comprehensively beating them by 17 foots lengths, they have remained one of the UKs most developed cities, though this contrasts against our great accomplishments as one of the UKs most successful footballing sides. They are bitter at our various footballing achievements, and we remain bitter of their huge and undeserved wealth.

Ahhhh of course. That must be why every other team in the league plays with two hardmen to great success...Like come on, just about every side plays with one hardman and one who is better on the ball. In fact, you are more likely to see two or three that are ball players then you are to see two hardmen in the centre of the park. Playing a bunch of hardmen is more likely to see you go the way of Stoke than the way of Leicester. Our issue is we need a back up to Romeu and expecting JWP to play that role is just dumb. You only gonna infuriate yourself by holding onto such unrealistic expectations of how football is being played at the moment. It's moved on. Just like it will move on from where it is now. I guess this is also why you hold such animosity to anyone who uses stats when analysing players, cos that is a more modern thing. Even though every coaching and management side is heavily indebted in stats, particularly the most successful systems at the moment, anyone who dares to also use them is just called a 'hipster' fan. I'm not sure what your views were of him at the time. But we had a player who beat his chest, roared away and charged into tackles. And most people were pretty happy to see Hojberg leave.

If we had two 'hard' midfielders in those two positions all season we would probably go down. Whilst jwp wss poor last night, if you look at the period between the second and third goals, only him and Armstrong were moving the ball forwards. The idea of him been cowardly with the ball is stuck about 3 years in the past. Also how many players scream in each other's faces anymore? Particularly non centre backs? Footballers are pampered over paid sensitive little shits. You start screaming in their faces and they will probably down tools. The problem is we don't have a genuine back up for romeu. Diallo isn't it, and doesn't make a good foil for jwp. I'm also not convinced Diallo understands when to press as a team. There have been numerous occasions over seen jwp push up, but Diallo not.

The player who plays every minute, never throws the toys out, who works harder at his game than anyone else at the club is what is wrong? Mate, you have your priorities all over the place.

Ralph really made an error not taking Bednarek out of the firing line after the United game. He's had a really poor season and needs some time out of the side. I think there is enough of a player to bounce back, but this is now trashing his confidence.

Ings trying to pass to someone at the Etihad

Fuck me, what a disgrace of a decision that was And the excuse afterwards is just as bad really. Can't get a conclusive angle? Bullshit. They fucked up, and everyone knows it. Best just to say they fucked it up.

I think he has been below average to be honest for most of his time here. I get that he's a winger so he is going to score less goals, but he should have a lot more assists. I know football is more than goals and assists, but ultimately they do give a pretty decent indication of output over enough games. If you look at our attacking players (excluding some of the youngsters as they are only meant to be a stop gap) he is towards the bottom. This covers a wide variety of attacking players including centre forwards, CAMs, wingers etc. Yeah of course, some of these players moved on to a higher level so it is unrealistic to expect Redmond to compete with them. And obviously Obafemi is an outlier. But overall Redmond's output has been disappointing given his amount of gametime, and one game, no matter how good he was, doesn't change that. He has the next 10 games to build on it and show he can deliver more regularly, he isn't a nipper anymore. He needs to be delivering consistently now. I think Che's output is exactly what you would expect for the money we paid. A decent footballer, not quite in our top class, but performing well enough.

3/4 of those managers were pretty crap so I wouldn't call that much of a complement. I actually agree that he's a better signing than Boufal and Austin, although firmly and utterly disagree about Long. I'm saying Redmond's output is more in line with Austin and Boufal, than performers such as Armstrong, Tadic, Che, Ings. And therefore it is right to critique him on this, and that criticism of him hasn't been about needing a scapegoat, but legitimate concerns. Who knows, maybe this will spur him on. I genuinely hope so I can't stress that enough. But perhaps he is more suited to running rings around Steve Cook every week than Premier League defenses.

Why do you think the criticism is unfair? Since he joined the club he has played more minutes by far than any other of our attacking players. Yet he has the third worst output of any of the senior players, just about shading Djenepo and Boufal, and with all of Tadic, Che, Ings, Armstrong, Long, Charlie Austin, Gabbiadini and even Obafemi having far greater output. That is a sample of players that covers when we have been good, and when we have been utter diabolical like under Pellegrino and Hughes. He has been given more than his fair share of chances and more often than not he has not taken them. Redmond was excellent today. Better than excellent actually. And I genuinely hope it continues. But the criticism held against him yesterday still remains this evening. And making a mug of Steve Cook isn't enough to convince me that Redmond's time with us is greater than it has been. Now, if he goes on an excellent run to the end of the season, I will happily be the first to throw my hands up. I used to like him, but watching him more closely over the last season or two has opened my eyes and I still don't believe he is good enough for either where we are now, or where we want to be. So I think it is a little premature those claiming Redmond justification this evening. Let's see whether he builds on this, or whether he reverts back to where he has been for most of his Saints career.

I think there is a difference. Traditionally when sides like United spent big, they spent it on players that were more of a marquee signing. Players to boost their starting XI. Okay some of them, like Veron, flopped. But the intention was that they would be a big player for the club. The frightening/horrifying thing I find about City is how much their squad as a whole costs. Which gives them so more of an advantage. Look at City's bench today. Nearly 400m worth of purchases on it. With the exception of Torres, every single one of them cost more than our record signing. That would be fine if they had juniors on the pitch. But oh no. There was still around 300m on the pitch itself!

Has there ever been this big a gap in resources in the English top flight though? Man City 25 player squad cost them 810m (+eye watering wages). United are second with a squad that cost significantly less at 630m. Who in turn have spent nearly 50m than third place which is Chelsea. Most of the teams in the EPL squad have cost less than 250m. I dunno, for me that is not a good thing, and certainly not something I think the media should salivate over. Yes, there will also be a gap, but for me the size of the gap is disgusting.

What I don't like is those (mostly in the media) purring over the fact that City can bring someone like De Bruyne off the bench. Or if they had needed them the likes of Aguero or Mahrez like it is some sort of achievement. This isn't something to be lauded over. It is signs of a broken football system.

It's definitely going to be CIty in the next round. We are the sort of jammy draw they will get especially as they are away to Dortmund a few days earlier.

Not really. My current view of him was been determined by over 150 EPL appearances for us. Not on one game of football. In the same way I won't feel vindicated when he plays shit in his next game. IF he goes on, scores goals, creates goals and has a cracking end to the season, sure, more than happy to. In fact I would genuinely be thrilled to be wrong. But those feeling vindicated right now have either a very low bar for success, or are incredibly knee jerk.

I'm one of Redmond critics. Not because of what he's done in a half, but because of what he's done for most of his saints career. I think it is more knee jerk those feeling vindicated because he's played one half well. I'm genuinely thrilled he's playing well. He could well have given us a rare cup semi final.And if he goes on an amazing run of form I will tattoo I was wrong on the side of my dick. But that was championship level defending from Bournemouth. Outside clubs like Sheffield United or WBA, most epl sides would defend that. But hey, let's hope he keeps it up

Aaannnnd once again Redmond comes off the bench, plays terribly, and is rewarded with a start the next game. That has happened multiple times in the last few months. There is absolutely no incentive for him to fight for his place in the side and improve his performances. Hopefully though he may play better against a side more his level. Other than that the side looks good.

And some of us with even longer memories remember that most of the time he has been with us he has been poor. I'm gonna repost this, because I think it tells the story of Redmond. No attacking player has been given as many chances as him over the last 5 years or so. And our return for how much we have played him has been woeful. You stick most championship attacking players in our side and play them regularly, and I bet most of them would still have a better return than Redmond. Redmond- 11,841'- 19 goals, 13 assists Armstrong- 4,886'- 11 goals, 8 assists Che Adams - 3,020'- 8 goals, 7 assists Danny Ings - 6,158' - 37 goals, 8 assists Shane Long - 9,339' - 27 goals, 20 assists Djenepo- 1,963' - 3 goals, 2 assists Tadic- 9,617'- 21 goals, 30 assists Charlie Auston- 3,157'- 16 goals, 3 assists Gabbiadini- 2,271'- 10 goals, 0 assists Obafemi- 813'- 4 goals, 3 assists Boufal - 3,072' - 3 goals, 4 assists

JWP pressed. Diallo didn't. Press only works if we do it as a team

In fairness to Bertrand, Minamino is giving him absolutely no support.

That was shocking from Minamino before. Defence got pulled across. He absolutely needs to be back there but wasn't even in the frame.

Lol are the commenters actually critisicing JWP for going down the middle! He scored! If it was De Bruyne who went down the middle they would still be jerking him off

I know the thinking. But that wasn't my point. I would rather have played Watts. He's looked handy in his couple of appearances and so that rewards positive play. I'm very tired of Redmond continuously making his way into a starting XI without earning it.

Once again Redmond back in the starting XI. Did he earn his way back in? Did he fuck. And that's the problem with him, he never has to play his way back into the side. I would rather have played Watts. It rewards poor performances.