doddisalegend

What full backs smashing endless crosses into the box? 3 upfront trying to interchange? trying to keep it tight as a unit in our own half and pressing only occasionally? the only difference is one holding midfielder instead of two which should make us better as an attacking force but doesn't because none of our midfielders seem to have the nous to actually get in the opposition box. I'm well aware a large number of posters have selective memories, were in their minds, last season we played some sort of high tempo, high pressing attacking football but its quiet frankly bollix.

Except our tactics are practically the same as under Koeman despite people trying to make out they aren't, the rotation is totally sensible given the large number of games we had , seeing as we have constantly rotated we clearly haven't played certain players regardless of contribution unless you don't rate VVD or Romeu. So yeah its very easy to blame the players unless you think the manager is sending them out with instructions to lose concentration, **** up simple passes, miss the goal when hitting the target is easier and putting in endless **** crosses.

So if Fonte is the issue the club should just get rid. Let him **** of to Everton or where ever he thinks he will be happy and lets move on.

Of course you can blame the players they are highly paid professionals who should be able to play the way the manager tells them when they are asked to play. Blaming the manager is an easy way to deflect from the fact some of them have been playing like a bad pub team players for most of the season.

Well it would certainly be a good way to get that last big payday move he seems to be craving...after all it worked for Osvaldo

Which would set a dangerous precedent though. Personally I'd rather the club laid down the law or even stuck the trouble makers in the under 23s. Seems to me that its very easy for players to put the blame for their own **** performances on someone else maybe these overpaid dicks she take a long hard look at themselves.....

Why? He is our player and he is playing well ( albeit at a lower level) if he is going to get a decent amount of game time I can't see how playing in our first team in the PL will be any worse for him than playing in a crap Blackburn team experience wise.

Another thread from December 2015 http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?55635-Has-Koeman-lost-it&highlight=koeman+lost just a few quotes from the first page "Not saying he can't change things around but he's been poor on a number of levels recently, baffingling tactics poor subs, poor motivation of players. It feels like he has run out of ideas & lost interest, def wont be staying past his contract, I think we need a change after this season." " I don't think it's much to do with koeman, it's a lot to do with the personnel we have left. Morgan is a huge loss that we haven't recovered from and we don't have enough pace to scare any teams. We've tried a few things now and most of the games recently have been depressingly similar and boring." "He says we're taking too many risks, I say we're not taking enough. At one point today I saw the ball go into Long who was ahead of his man out on the wing, but instead of running on past him he took a touch and laid it off to Davis. Just strange. Also bizarre is the fact that Mane is played so deep, he takes it past 2, 3 sometimes 4 players when he gets it - so stick him up front, let him take it past one and be through on goal! There were some very good passing moves from Saints today and some very good chances created. Biggest plus - Gazzanigas confidence will absolutely skyrocket and we may start to see more from him. I'd keep him in goal for Spurs." # "Get a grip seriously mate. This is a result of the board flogging the spine of the team every season. I have zero time for people on discussing "Koeman out" style topics, utter joke and an unreal level of bedwetting" "I don't want rid of Koeman, but he has been abysmal this season. I think he's been easily pleased, not taken responsibility, made too many changes, weird tactics and got most decisions badly wrong. But sacking him would be a short term fix and make us just like every other club. I can handle a sh1t season, but he needs to learn from it, sort it out and move forward. I don't mind finishing 13th or 14th if we try and play some decent creative football, give some attacking players a chance, but right now it's just tedious dross." not to many signs of people praising Koeman's exciting attacking football

To be honest it looks pretty much like the football we served up most of last season....

Just saw this seems the club are starting an annual youth tournament in the summer. Hadn't seen anything posted about it so thought I'd share. https://southamptonfc.com/news/2016-12-16/announcement-southampton-launch-southampton-cup Interesting idea maybe we can hoover up some young up and coming talent out of it.

Before the Everton game Solent interviewed a couple of saints fans at the game they seemed rather articulate and sensible in their opinions that I wasn't sure they were real saints fans after so much exposure to this place..

Cheers trousers All sounds very familiar to the current threads just swap Koeman with Puel and those quotes could have been written yesterday.....

If anyone could be bothered to dig them out I bet the Koeman threads from this time last season would make interesting reading.....

I doubt the club are even entertaining the idea of sacking Puel. I think his targets were stated to be a top half finish (still attainable), a cup semi-final (which he has managed) and getting out of the group stage of the Europa ( which he hasn't achieved but only by a fine margin). On top of that he has re-established the clubs much valued path way from the academy to the 1st team. I'd imagine the club are satisfied with things given this Puel's 1st season in the PL. The club aren't generally known for short term knee jerking. If we sacked every manager who was **** over mid winter Koeman would have been fired (twice) and poch wouldn't have made through one full season.

Yeah you probably would

So you are upset about our European shambles but want FDB who did so well with Inter in Europe this season...

Even if the owner is looking to sell do you really think it is in her best interest to let the club fall apart so she can sell it for less?

Mmm more stellar reffing this afternoon....

Stuart Taylor.

No Gazza is on loan in Spain.

Warming up for the match day thread I see.....

We can't he is injured and has been for a while.

I think he can be rightly criticised for his kicking god knows Kelvin got plenty of stick for it. Professional keepers should be able to kick properly when he gets it wrong he puts the whole team under pressure. If I'm honest I'd rather we didn't keep giving it to FF to punt up field anyway we don't have the players to win the ball in the air and hold it up so we just give possession back to the oppostion 9 times out of 10. I'd rather we played the ball up the pitch which we are capable of doing very well at times.

I do wonder if he is playing with injury he wasn't this poor last season so I wonder with our number 2 keeper out if he is having to play with a niggling injury.

I could understand that for out field players asked to change position or player differently but he is a ****ing goal keeper its not like his job really changes no matter who the manager is maybe. Maybe Puel has asked him to actually move of his line occasionally or move when trying to save a shot....