Red

What's happened to our quick high pressing game???

For what it's worth, and I don't want to get in to any "debates" with some of our regular posters, but since moving aboard 14 years ago, this is the first time I have not managed to get a ticket for a Saints game (family, friends and I did our best). The only other time in history (well since 1974 anyway, when I watched my first Saints game) I could not get a ticket was for Channon's testimonial, but along with many thousands I managed to get in anyway! I have always managed a few games each season including this season since moving away, and almost every home and away game before that, so will be sorry to miss this one. Oddly, it was much easier to get a ticket for the promotion winning game against Coventry last season - strange as that was much more of a decider than (hopefully) this year! Anyway it's great that our/my beloved club can once again attract great interest. For the lucky ones attending, give an extra cheer for me and enjoy! As an aside for non UK fans, it would be great if Saints and Sky could agree a high quality pay per view service for live matches - understand the issues for the UK, but that does not apply outside the UK, and I would happily pay £10 to £20 a game to watch a high quality stream, rather than the sh1t you get internet streams - this must be a great source of additional revenue surely?

This! Would have posted something similar but as I said in my last post, I can't be bothered with all the usual trolls making the same predictable comments when you express your view or ask a genuine question.

Not withstanding that, who would he replace as a regular starter? Surely too good / much money for a squad player? Would you drop JRod and SRL for him right now? Not sure I would.

OK whatever - just my opinion, but I know after 30 mins I was praying for a draw at least. Not saying it was a pen, but it could have been given (also there was a low save by AB which was close). Even the commentators, who I thought were really fair, thought Reading were much better for the first 30 mins. Over the whole game, yes agree with you, we were by far the better team. My only point was that it was not "sooooo easy" - many games we have been the better side and still lost. Had we been 1 or 2 (or even 3 down) by 30 mins, not sure we could have recovered. In summary, good win and absolutely delighted, and let's learn from the first 30 min display to get even better - any problem with that?

No it wasn't - we could have been 3 down within 30 mins and deservedly so! No way we would have come back from that. Overjoyed we won and yes we played great after the first 30 mins, but let's not pretend we are Barca just yet!

David, sorry misunderstood your original point slightly. I agree totally, we will be very lucky to have on average 1 to 2 regular first teamers out of every 10 exciting prospects for a number of reasons, including "step up" ability, opportunity and luck - and this will become even harder to achieve as we (hopefully) progress. Shame really, but nothing new - just look at the amount of promising youngsters at Man City / Utd, Chelsea, etc. that are not getting a look in and probably will not unless they move to lower leagues and restart their careers. It is not always about ability alone however - Cork is a great example - never got a chance at Chelsea but I bet they would love to have him now! He clearly had the talent but just not the chance at CFC. Let's just hope those 1 or 2 are of the AL, Oxo, Shaw, Bale etc. etc. mold - I for one would be more than happy with that

David - I don't think it's a case of "who they'd replace" as much as introducing them gradually. Unfortunately our main priority this year has been survival, and in this situation you cannot afford to take any risks (leaving aside other risks we may have taken), trying out promising youngsters was simply not an option in my view. As someone posted earlier we were effectively forced to try Shaw as the alternatives were woeful (and even then we kept trying the woeful alternatives for far too long). IIRC we were under no pressure to introduce the likes of AL, Oxo, TW etc., who were given time towards the end of winning positions in games to get used the set up, pace etc. and as they excelled were given more game time. After that if they were better than the incumbent, then they were picked to start - simple as that. This is exactly what we should be doing with current crop of promising youngsters - the only sure way you can know if a prospect is better than the current player is to play them gradually and see if they progress. This of course is only possible if we are not fighting for our lives and can afford the "luxury" to do so. If we are safe with a few games to spare, I hope we try out some of our promising youngsters, and maybe next year we will be in a better position throughout the season?

Well done Mr. Perfect! Mr. Self-delusionist might be more apt? Whatever, I am not angry, upset, or failing to control my temper, in fact I am extremely happy with the result and plans for this evening and rest of the extended weekend. I just fail to understand why a minority of negatively minded trolls hijack every thread and ruin the enjoyment of the majority - particularly on a very happy day?? Only reason I am not a full member and post more regularly, which no doubt you are glad about that no doubt, is the constant crap on this site. Mods are failing miserably, unless they want less and less people to use this forum? I will take your advice and take not only the day off, but the rest of the weekend, and maybe more! Keep trolling!

Do you have to be a k n o b all the time? Take a day off, you might surprise yourself! To others - yes I know I shouldn't bite to a constant troll, but honestly if you can't be happy today ...............

http://nutjob.eu/njtv1.html seems pretty good and English commentary

I don't think the results and player performance was the main reason behind NA's sacking - they were certainly factors, but IMHO not the main ones. Rather, I believe NA did not buy in to and fully embrace the overall NC approach (The Southampton Way if you like), as the article portrays there was a certain set up and style that NC always wanted from day 1 - 4 3 3, attacking, attractive football - the Barca model if you like. Both AP and NA did not embrace that fully, particularly in L1 - add to that under AP we failed in the first season, and were woefully unprepared in the second, NC had enough and made a change but do due to AP's performance, rather not embracing the "Project". With NA, he still does not embrace "The Project" completely, but is very successful and thus creates an issue for NC, and who knows maybe NA convinced NC that the Barca way would not get you promoted from L1?? Success continues the following season and NA does try a few "strange" formations which did not really work - and I am guessing there were many heated discussions between NC and NA as to why NA could not get "The Project" to work and was he the right person to drive the club forward after all?? Ultimately NA delivers but by this time knows "The Project" is not for him and hence the comments on our greatest day after the Coventry game. Upon reflection NA thinks what the hell, I will go for the NC gig and he plays the new formation and it nearly works for the first few games (bar incredible bad luck and poor substitutions - maybe he just lost his nerve at the last minute?). Eventually after 10 poor results NC wants to get rid, but NA pleads that if he is allowed to play his way he can rescue the situation, which he slowly does but it ain't the Barca way!! All is well for a while, but NC decides the only way to true greatness is "The Project" and ironically by getting limited success via the NA old fashioned approach, NC is convinced his gut feel is correct and whilst NA might keep us up and even achieve a modicum of success, he will never truly embrace "The Project" or deliver the holly grail - so get rid! As for the timing, who knows - I personally think most good businessman act immediately they know they need to make a change, and that is what happened. He has gone for MP as he totally embraces the Barca way and "The Project", and I am convinced NC would even accept relegation as a necessary evil to get the right system in place if needed. After all if we were totally comfortable playing the Barca / 4 3 3 system for two years prior to PL, would we not be a lot more comfortable and not have wasted the first 10 games? Before the usual on here get all arsey, this is just my opinion, I have no inside info or fact, or Heinz/HP - if you not agree, fair enough. I did like NA and do find it strange that he was not acknowledged for his fantastic achievements by NC and the club, but who really knows what really transpired?

So if the dark lord NC is in it for profit, he would sell Clyne for 7M, Shaw for 15M, RL for 6M, AL for 10M, Gaston for 10M (cut his losses), Spider for 10M - there's close to 60M - even before considering the rest of the players, and cost of selling the club and other assets. Represents a great return on investment, and a mighty bonus, and free to move on to the next investment! Anyone else think this more than a money making exercise for NC? Just asking like!

Agreed. Quite how Sturridge is better than SRL completely baffles me - yes he scored today, but missed more, and if today was about trying new fringe players that would otherwise not get a chance, then a perfect opportunity for Ricky?? Could have been brought on for the 2nd half to show what he had, with no risk. The FA are a joke, as exampled by cow towing to has-been Rio, when this was a perfect opportunity to try a new and upcoming CB (not suggesting a Saints CB BTW). Only saving grace is that old saggy chops was not in charge!

Isn't Targett supposed to be almost as good and a similar age? If so, get him playing once we are safe (hopefully that will be with a few games left), and if he proves his potential, then sell Shaw for £20M and get a super quick goal scoring machine in :-) ..... oh and yes, slightly (but only slightly) tongue in cheek!

Remember it well - we were told it was sold out at the gates well before kick off, and managed to climb over the wall with thousands of others, so I am sure the real attendance was nearer 45 to 50K - people were standing just outside the pitch etc! Put £20 in the charity bucket in lieu of not paying for the ticket!

Oh dear, oh dear - how many more threads or ways of having a pop at NC? Honestly, just deal with it - he is the chairman, and if you don't like it go support some one else. Is anyone perfect? Some people have such shot memories or maybe just live in a happy la la land! I for one am ecstatic, that we are still around and in the top flight!!! .... and for that I can tolerate the chairman being the great demon some think he is! Just grow up.

Wow - just had a look at the Sunderland remaining games - if they don't win today (one nil down but with a one man advantage), I really think they will struggle big time, specially if we get something at their place! They are very much in it!

That explains soooooo much

This! Seeing as where you are based (GS), why don't you support one of the two teams in your city that never loses?? ..... oh yes, wouldn't give you anything to moan about about!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But then that's what miserable internet trolls are all about! There is nothing better than going completely OTT when your team comprehensively stuffs a so called top side! Get used to it GS (and your like - we know who you all are), you are going to have to be very creative to criticize the might Saints next season.

Dear me - Delgado was a brilliant talent and would have been a great PL player and scored a hat full - only problem was he was crocked with a dodgy knee - which is our issue due to a poor medical (or as some believe ignored by the evil one!). He was not a bad player at all, just not fit enough - very big difference! How you can judge Mayuka without him having had a decent amount of game time is beyond me - maybe you are a football genius after all and I know the square root of sweet fanny adams??

Think this settles the Al vs JRod debate for now at least - and yes I know both are playing today, but for LM role it has to be JRod without a doubt.

Not by me! Thought JR was far better than AL, and made the goal. Unlucky not to have got a 2nd - didn't see much from AL. Really don't understand the AL love-in? Yes, he has been superb in the past, and when on form - right now he is not on form-simple! There is of course an argument that we should stick with our better players and hope they will soon rediscover their form - maybe, not sure I am totally convinced by that myself, but please let's not pretend he is the Messiah!

Sorry, trying to combine two messages in one! I really like AL and when on form he is great (not a god but great non the less). As for the captaincy part, I just don't get it - he is not a natural leader, and I do not see him rallying the players during a game (specially when we are down, or performing poorly). He is no Roy Keane, and I just think someone else (Fonte, Lambert) would be more effective - just my opinion. Also it seems that AL performs better when he does not have the responsibility of captaincy (I say seems as I have no proof, but it seems that way to me!). We don't seem to have anyone who can "kick our players up the backside" when we are struggling in a game - as someone said in an earlier thread, it's all pretty patty football, but where is the "Norman Hunter" when we are in the mire?? I reckon, if we had Roy Keane as our captain we would have won this game - simple!

Hollicks - we were much better when he went off and JR replaced him (who BTW made the goal, and nearly had one or two more). What is this love-in about AL?? OK he is great when on form, but he is not on form now, and no way should be captain - can't rally himself, never mind the rest of the team. Should be Fonte or Spider IMO.