Midfield_General

Never heard of him

Anyone know why the second half hasn't started yet?

The European games in the week were using the largely automated version of VAR for offsides, the same system that was used in the last World Cup. Seemed much quicker and clearer in getting to decisions, with much less deliberation and the image then shown quickly to prove the decision in the 3D/ Hawkeye style, rather than the flat lines drawn on the pitch. Seemed loads better, quicker and clearer, presumably because it takes out a lot of the human involvement and discussion out of the process. If that software is good enough to use in World Cups and the Champion’s League, then surely there’s a strong argument to use it in the PL next season. It seems streets ahead of the ‘human’ version.

Standard reporting that Brentford are sniffing about and might still go for him in January: https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/brentford-fc-carlos-alcaraz-southampton-crystal-palace-b1111814.html

Saints' very own Francis Begbie. The wee lassie's got glessed, and nae cunt's leaving the Saints Bar corporate hospitality area 'til I find oot which cunt did it

Stoke claiming that the PGMOL have apologised and said it should have been a pen: https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/23837440.pgmol-tell-stoke-penalty-southampton/

Whenever I think of Stoke I think of Cameron fucking Jerome. He’s not playing, is he?

Well that was a pleasant surprise. Actually looked like a football team, with a shape and a defence. Thought Bednarek was excellent. Good positioning, calm under pressure and some good interceptions. Bazunu didn’t have a huge amount to do but couldn’t do anything for the goal and his distribution was superb. All three goals really well taken. Nice to see Adam Armstrong starting to thrive and look confident. It might be his level but if he keeps this up there’s no reason why he can’t have another 20 goal season, and I never thought I’d be saying that. Not perfect by any means - we still gave the ball away way too much and looked weak in the tackle in midfield at times - but it felt pleasingly back to basics, which it needed to after the car crash of the last few weeks, and damn it feels good to win at home. Leeds were shite, mind.

Might be a few other lines from that sketch that will come in handy watching us at the moment. As Smallbone slowly knocks the ball square five yards for the hundredth time with no urgency or pace - “Faster! Faster you bitch!”

If I could give you an extra like for the team talk, I would

Lads. He’s on a £10m a year pay off for the next four years and he’s already turned down two Champions League clubs - Lyon and Rangers. He is not coming to the Championship. I think the sooner everyone accepts this, the easier it will be to take when we appoint the Man City ladies youth coach to replace Rusty.

No no no, they’re the problem, didn’t you know?? Not Martin or SR or Wilcox or the players - no, it’s all the fans fault that we’re an absolute embarrassment.

I don't believe you There's no way you've got any mates

Russ Meyer had the right idea

All in all it’s not been a great week for people called Russell

Why? It was Holgate’s fault for allowing the chance in the first place but a competent keeper still saves that. He’s fucking rubbish.

The thing is, we’re now not scoring any goals either. After the Norwich game it felt like ‘OK, this might be a rollercoaster and we’ll concede a lot but we’ll also score for fun, it might at least be a laugh’. Now - we’ve scored 1 goal in 3 games, and we look absolutely lost going forward. We’re not out scoring anyone playing like we are at the moment. We’re barely creating anything.

I blame the fans

I’m not sure how we/ he’d get on in the Prem is something we need to worry about too much at the moment, to be honest.

Embarrassing. Again. That’s it.

Perhaps a bit fairer to say that patience is finally running a bit thin after years of shit being served up and swallowed. Enough’s enough and all that.

The table we’re ninth in? Yep, that’s the one. Ninth isn’t an automatic promotion spot, is it. And it’s weird that you don’t mention the L column - that won’t make it go away btw.

Yep. Expectation levels in this job are much higher than he’s had in the past. He can’t just win a few, lose a few here and expect to be given a pass. Rightly or wrongly (rightly, in my opinion given our squad and resources), the expectations from the fans are to be challenging for automatic promotion if not winning this league. That means winning most games. That’s what he took on when he took the job, that’s the performance expectation level he’s going to be held to. Contrast that with what he’s actually delivered so far and his complete lack of track record to point to, and it’s not difficult to see why people are already questioning whether he’s got the ability to do it.

Potter's already turned down Rangers and Lyon, both regular Champions League qualifiers. He ain't coming to the Championship, unfortunately. He'll wait it out for the Premier League sackings to start around November/ December time. My money would be on Everton if they suddenly get an injection of cash from the takeover. Perfect sort of club for him.

Still fuming, so let's have a proper deep dive into that interview 👆