goodymatt

Interesting read and thanks for sharing. Confirms we formally approached them over the weekend so he absolutely was our first choice. I guess the speed of appointment already told us that. Luton having the weekend knowing it was coming also might suggest Ralph was gone regardless of Newcastle result, as per the Athletic’s view? Also interesting that the leaks of the news were south coast related, not Luton as we had rumoured on here. Something we are getting used to since SR got involved. I guess that leaking to the media is ok when we know we are appointing someone but the Ralph rumours all season hasn’t been a good look. Definitely sounds like we’ve been after Jones for some time and had agreed that the World Cup break was fair for us and Luton to manage the change best. Just a shame we’ve wasted so many points in the interim. It’s encouraging that we’ve gone and got our fist choice but it remains a high risk approach.

Perhaps he’s been in talks (informally) with Saints for a month?

Mixed bag yesterday. Awful positioning for their first goal (his feet movement in opposite directions has cost us a few goals this season e.g. Wolves) but he then made 2 excellent saves later on. The one where he dived across and stopped Salah finishing was an incredible full stretch save tbf

We haven’t really shown that 5 at the back can work other than one half at Arsenal. Think it will be a long afternoon, as always at Anfield these days for us and many teams.

I don’t think he’s chucked the diamond out first game away at Liverpool with 3 CBs on the pitch. Need actual wingbacks to play that system and we only have one fit to make the entire squad.

It’s very interesting that Jones mentioned his father in law was giving him pointers whilst watching the Newcastle game “for when he goes in”. So perhaps the rumours of us approaching during the summer were correct and it’s not that he wasn’t ready to accept (as rumoured) but that perhaps we weren’t ready to make that call on Ralph at that time? Might just be a slip of the tongue (or maybe they watched the game back on demand together?), but it could suggest he’s been waiting in the wings for a bit. Hopefully that means he’s seen a fair amount of us this season and has a head start on what he thinks we need to change, outside of the obvious no clean sheets and no goals. I’m sure we would all love to see an identity back in this team, when Ralph and Poch instilled our new ways of playing it was a breath of fresh air. I think this video has been shared before on this forum (perhaps even on this thread), but it’s a 2 hour podcast (also on apple etc) interviewing our new manager on his playing career and managing career, whilst he was taking a break post Stoke sacking. I’m half way though so far and it’s proving a good insight into his character and background. Well worth a watch even though it’s a long one.

Players have shown the early signs of buying into his ideas Gutted for Prowsey but will help his prep as he’s an ultimate professional, Prowsey is going to give his all to the new project Scored very highly on Rasmus’ metrics and appreciates he’s not a big name and it’s a more calculated data driven appointment Wants to address the clean sheets issue and then build to be an aggressive attacking team Will review the squad, see if there are underperforming players that he can get more out of but has support to add players. Meeting to be had with board soon. Gives his all to a football club and is confident he will be a success. When asked about being a good choice for if we went down he wouldn’t entertain relegation and it hasn’t been mentioned during his interview process. Sure I’ve missed bits, but generally a composed and well managed press conference. But more encouraging.

Extra 3 players going to this tournament, with fitness issues around Philips and Hendo. He’s the best free kick taker and would score a pen if needed unlike some. Poor form this season is true but this is largely down to missing a decent CDM partner for many games due to Romeu sale and injury to Lavia IMO. He’s not been able to fully play to his strengths and it has made him overly cautious without that protection. Other players are being picked on historical form, such as Maguire but Prowsey’s 15 PL goal contributions, running further, intercepting lots etc are just forgotten. For his position and in a hot and cold team like Saints, statistically he’s been good enough to go to both tournaments. I think Southgate has just further demonstrated that if you’re a Saints player you need to move to a perceived bigger club and be a bit part player, a la Philips in order to guarantee selection. I wouldn’t be surprised if Prowsey wanted to do that in the summer, which would be a crying shame. I’m definitely guilty of some Saints bias, but generally I think he’s unfortunate to have missed both major tournaments.

Stuey

Walcott has 2 cleared off the line and Armstrong hits the bar with DCC not able to guide in the rebound. We’re getting closer but pens are approaching fast.

Pens

Am i right in thinking Wednesday haven’t had a single shot in the second half?

Yesterday was an example of us missing big chances and leaving gaps as we searched for a goal. I think that doesn’t help Bazunu. However, statistically he is conceding a lot of shots on target, very much like Gunn and McCarthy were doing too. Bazunu at least sweeps and plays out better than both of those, albeit with the odd poor clearance (one per game in the last few matches). You can see he has a lot of potential, but it’s hard to disagree that this was probably the riskiest of positions to go with youth and at the moment I’m not sure the risk is paying off. I’d bet a lot of money that he will go on and have a much better career than McCarthy though.

I thought Gallardo was still working for River Plate until December, so if a new manager was in charge by this weekend it couldn’t be him? it’s encouraging if we have Ralph’s replacement already sorted. Changes behind the scenes, has to be Semmens right?

Ralph’s last home game? Will be interesting to see what he does at the full time whistle.

Full Redmond article from the athletic here for those who are subscribers: https://theathletic.com/3757881/2022/11/06/nathan-redmond-southampton-besiktas-future/?source=user_shared_article Does sum up the way the fanbase seem to think about Ralph now. He came in and energised the whole club but his one dimensional tactics were found out and we’ve never been consistent as a result. Redmond talks about no attacking output from all that pressing and I think that’s a good benchmark for the players losing belief in the only tactic that’s worked well for Ralph. Ultimately Ralph has been a likeable character that has performed well with no budget but his ideas have run out and we are desperate for a fresh start with a new manager. In hindsight this should have been the summer, it has to be during this World Cup break to give a new manager time to implement his ideas during a mini pre season. It’s taken me a while to see it but it’s time to change.

That’s a cheap pen that, would be fuming if that was given against us. Also not sure how their keeper didn’t save the pen!

Forest grab a late equaliser. Late winner for Citeh too.

We are pretty low quality wise atm but I did see plenty of fight in the Bournemouth and Arsenal games. Gritty though, not all out attack to go and win games like Leeds have shown this afternoon.

Comes across really well in that interview. This very sad story explains why his career stalled a bit at Bayern and why he ultimately needed to come to Saints to get momentum back in his career. Playing well for Spurs by all accounts, just wish we had got true value for him when it was time for him to move on from our stepping stone.

Ralph mind games perhaps? 😉

I wonder how replacing him is going? My bitter side hopes that Chelsea eat him up, as is their way.

https://instagram.com/stories/southamptonfc/2957478386757031257?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Can’t see Romeo Lavia at the open training session today, I thought he was now back training with the first team?