goodymatt

Some Rotherham stats: xG Against - 2nd most in the league (1.62). Actual goals against is 21, worst in the league. xG For - joint least in the league (0.74). Actual goals for is 9, third worst in the league. 5 away games played, 5 defeats, scoring just twice and conceding 13 goals. The only team in the league without an away point. Meanwhile Saints have the second highest xG For in the league (1.85). Actual goals for is 1.6 per game. I want and expect to see a comfortable win here, opportunity to close on the poor goal difference. There is no better team to play at the moment. Unlike Boro, it’s not a better side that was clearly going to turn a corner. 3-0 Saints.

Joint top scorer for the league (unless the dubious goal panel take one off him). He’s not so bad after all! I like his work rate and his finishing yesterday was fantastic. Where has this calm finisher been? We are used to seeing him hit everything first time and hope. Maybe that’s just the difference in time you have in the championship. I also liked his QPR goal too. Don’t think he’s captain material but he’s contributed 8 goal contributions in 9 games, he deserves to be in the team more than most.

Agreed Stephens is not going to play LB. Do think Manning slips and gives chances away in pretty much every appearance though. Even today, he managed to stand on the ball in the box but got away with it. Overall a much better performance though, hoping he stop these individual errors/moments of bad luck.

We need to build on today’s win with another three points. Stoke will take confidence from their late winner after being 2 down. Sadly I won’t be able to make this game, despite it being my closest fixture to home - it’s my wife’s birthday and the offer of tickets to Stoke away were not well received! Play like we did first half today and we should be able to win this one. 1-2.

Sounds like Juan Larios has had another setback and will be out for another 2 months.

I think we went with Stewart just because he was cheaper than Piroe. How can Martin say Piroe was never as option due to the talent we already had but then go and sign a new striker who will be ‘brilliant for us’. Jacob Tanswell (Athleic) tweeted recently that Dragan wanted more control on spending, which would support why we went with the cheaper option. It was reported Piroe was interested in coming here but Leeds wanted him more, I think we would have stepped up our interest if Che had been sold earlier in the window. It’s a shame it didn’t work out that way, as he will walk for less in January or nothing at season's end.

We are so fragile at the moment. Now trying to play more conservatively but that’s just killed our attacking threat whilst still making defensive mistakes that cost us. We inevitably end up chasing games and giving teams multiple big chances. Leeds are flying at the moment, we are playing with fear. It’s very hard to see anything other than a Leeds win. The only way we can win a game like this is if we get our first clean sheet in 20 games and Che Adams actually scored his 1 chance a game. Going to be a difficult watch, I think. 0-3. Assuming the presser is today, anyone know what time?

You’d think these 2 would be starters every week at this level

I’m hoping it’s Holgate at RB and KWP at LB, rather than a back 5. Overall a very conservative lineup looking to end the losing streak. I would have liked to see a proper AM and a proper winger out there though.

Rumours that the pitch disease has returned. Women’s games have moved back to Snows stadium whilst the groundsmen try and sort it.

Bit early for this after just 7 league games, but I’ll play along. What about someone like Giovanni van Bronckhorst? Didn’t he get Aribo scoring in a euro cup final?

Can you summarise for us?

Edozie stat mentioned during the Leicester game that he had completed the most dribbles in the league so far. He beats players so easily and it’s good to see him getting some goals now. If he can give us some consistent end product he will be a key player for us. High ceiling IMO, think he will come good.

Bazunu KWP Bednarek THB Manning Charles Smallbone Fraser Alcaraz Edozie Adams Sulemana, Stu, Armstrong to all come off the bench when the time is right. This game is all about showing we can actually defend. I’m really not too confident about this one but surely we will show improvement? 1-2 and a much closer game would be my guess.

I’m struggling with us losing 5-0 to Sunderland and then changing nothing. How can a manager just blindly keep things the same, definition of insanity? Going forward I’m seeing positives but defensively it’s absolutely horrendous. One of the best squads in the league getting ripped apart like we are bottom of the league again. We are also playing with more fear now, giving the ball away much more often. We don’t have the ability to really control games, despite all the possession, evidenced by the number of goals conceded direct from a kick off, I can count at least 4 already: Plymouth, Norwich, Sunderland, Leicester. That’s 66% of games! Worst defence in the league, 16 goals in 6 games with a 50% save percentage. I’m sure it will get better over time, getting used to the system, players back fit, settled team etc. I’m also pretty confident that time lost will cost us promotion, certainly automatics.

https://x.com/southamptonfc/status/1701931280051351999?s=46&t=7raSKCMt6LV8RJ1C2d39WQ Many of the international players have returned. I spot THB, Stu, Charles, Doyle, Smallbone, Mara and Edozie on this clip. Also KWP who wasn’t mentioned by Alfie house as a player he saw training when he went to watch the other day. Kamaldeen features, wonder if he is ready yet?

For some context on whether yesterday’s defeat is a ‘blip’ or if Martin-ball is going to be an issue, that was Martin’s first defeat in his last 14 championship games: W10 D3 L1. It was some defeat mind, can only hope that draws attention to making defensive minded tweaks to resolve, whether that’s THB coming in for Holgate or Charles starting every game to give us more defensive cover in midfield. Charles nearly scored 2 headers from corners yesterday, he’s useful in both boxes aerially. There’s been lots player change, lots of transfer distraction and we are still learning this new style. I’m still backing the process but yesterday was a disgrace. We can’t be losing 5-0 to any team in this league.

If he’s back on the grass and working up to match fitness, his medical might have found a fully healed Achilles? My Physio wife says it’s a bad injury but over time can fully heal, fingers crossed. Biggest impact is likely to be to his pace, if it doesn’t heal perfectly then less spring for sprinting. I’m sure we don’t sign him if the medical gave any concerns. Seemed like we took the full day to do as extensive a medical as possible.

Turns out it’s a 3 year deal according to Saints OS. Wonder if we wanted to reduce it to cover for injury risk?

Good news for Leicester

I’m thinking that because the players we were linked with (Drameh and Johnson) aren’t coming to Saints that KWP must be staying?

is there a scenario where we go up and have THB and ABK as our CBs then or do we think he’s done at Saints and hopefully this increase the fee we get next summer? Do PSV have an option to buy?

Maybe he saw him or he did see him? Oops?

Wolves - fell through Palace - going to Etike as first choice, Che is likely their back up Bournemouth - going for Daka Seems most likely he stays now but a late move from Palace wouldn’t be a surprise if Etike doesn’t happen.