Simon3737

Individual players will obviously fit more than one system, and can adapt to different teams when they move on, but our squad as a whole was bought to fit a system (at least that was the theory!). High press, hard working etc. In principle, I think this is very sensible. Otherwise, teams end up having to buy 5 or 6 new players every time they change manager. We’ve fallen into this bloated squad trap many times in the past. Most of our players are used to Ralph’s style so I think we need a manager who plays a vaguely similar style. Doesn’t have to be identical, but I can’t see our players adapting quickly to a more defensive style, e.g. Nuno or Benitez. The new manager needs to suit the players we have and quickly get them comfortable with his style of play. I haven’t paid much attention to Leeds under Marsch, so I have no strong views on him personally, but his style sounds like it could fit our squad (except Tall Paul probably).

I agree that our form suggests limping to relegation, but it’s by no means a mathematical certainty yet. We’re 4 (although effectively 5) points from safety with 16 matches left. Nearly half a season. We’ve signed some decent players in the last 2 windows who a competent manager could theoretically pick and form into a competitive team. 20 points from our 16 remaining games would probably be enough to stay up this season - if we sign the right manager, and very soon!! Odds are very much against us, but it’s still too early to give up. I think we need to accept that we have players bought to play one way, high risk, high press, and pick a manager who fits that. Big Sam etc won’t suit that (as the R#*^*p gamble didn’t work in 2005). We were supposed to have a ‘playbook’ every age group playing the same style etc - which makes the Jones appointment even weirder. Let’s get back to what we’re best at. Have a try for another 90s style Great Escape. We’ll probably go down anyway, so we may as well be positive and play exciting football again. Whats the worst that can happen?

Prediction: Tall Paul Moi JWP [no-one) [no-one) [no-one) 2 “aggressive front-footers” 5 “aggressive front-footers” Baz Bench: 8 back-footers, Caballero

Is there any coverage anywhere? Radio or stream? No link on official site. Radio Solent on BBC sounds is playing music…

Maybe the story isn’t true….🤷🏻‍♂️

Bring back the Barclaycard Premiership and On The Ball with Barry Venison! 🤪

The Peter Rodrigues piece makes up for the blatant bias in commentary! I was a foetus in 1976 so memory not the best 🤪

Thanks as ever for keeping this thread up to date! I’ve noticed that (as things stand with contract expiries), 6 months from now our entire list of goalkeepers will be Jack Bycroft and Adli Mohamed (17 year old scholar). Unless we have a load of world class 15 year old goalkeepers about to break through, this seems a pretty big problem! I don’t think any of our goalkeepers are good enough to be in the first team squad next season, but if we let all these contracts run out, we’ll need to buy about 6 keepers this summer (across age ranges). I’m guessing this is the reason behind Alex McCarthy’s rumoured contract extension offer. I’m not sure he’d deserve one otherwise.

What a thoroughly decent young man! Fascinating to hear who the supportive older players are. “Shush their fans”. Brilliant!

I think he’d be great managing the U23s/B-team. We’re clearly struggling there and I’m sure he’d build confidence and help young players develop. I assume he wouldn’t have much say on tactics due to Ralph’s Playbook, but I think his main skill is motivation, team-building and development anyway - so could be a perfect fit. I’m not sure if he’d be interested, but I think it could certainly be argued that a Premier League U23 manager in a team prioritising youth pathways to the first team is equivalent status to a League One manager.

Is the Alex McCarthy contract extension official yet?

I was thinking that too. If he’s taken a pay cut in exchange for more job security, this will have reduced our (immediate) wage bill and might not be as mad as it seems. I assume Theo made the same job security call this summer (and didn’t fancy moving his family abroad to Dubai Rovers or Las Vegas Albion or wherever). Having said that, I’d have preferred us to ‘take the risk’ of letting both goalkeepers leave next summer. Finally, I agree with those who’ve pointed out that the Club have to say he’ll be number one next season in this announcement. They’d hardly say Alex agrees he’s not the best and will step back to reserve next season.

Sack him! 🤪

He clearly appreciates our friendly kitchen staff more! 😀

I’m no expert on our finances, but would we pay £7 million for a 4th choice CB? My guess would be that they expect him to be good enough to play (at least to be in contention for the first team)

Exclusive: Alex McCarthy has been giving the motivational half-time team talks. Here he was last Saturday…. https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2020-06-04/presidents-lounge-private-message

I disagree. It seems pretty clear to me that VVD bitterly regretted signing the extension with us. He got a pay rise for a few months after which he embarrassed himself going on strike etc. Clearly his ego was big enough to quickly recover though!! He could have gone to Liverp**l for £50m, all sorted quickly and we’d have had £25m less in the bank. Financially, his extension was good for Saints (* if we hadn’t then wasted all the money) and made it harder for VVD to leave us. JWP’s extension is undoubtedly good news. Worse case is we’ll get more cash if he’s sold.

I’d go dull, solid and hardworking for this one… Forster KWP Bednarek Salisu Perraud Romeu Diallo JWP S.Armstrong Adams A.Armstrong

Whoop! 🤪

He’s an inspirational speaker… 🤪

46 points and a cup (semi) final! 🤪

3-3 written all over this! 🤪

To be positive, that’s 6 points from 11 games. If we were to keep that form up for the remaining 15 games we’d get 8 more points (6x15/11) and finish with 37. Pretty sure we’d stay up on that this season. I think we’ll get over this blip though and finish much better than that.

Sounds like he’s expecting Minamino to return from this loan having grown taller. 😀

I agree we should go for Theo and Armstrong as first choice in our ‘narrow winger’ positions. They both prefer the right side though. Are either of them comfortable on the left? I’ve always seen Redmond as a budget Theo Walcott and (although he’s improved) I still do really. Better to go with the real thing. And if Redmond improves and earns his place back, great!