Saint Fan CaM

Boro look like they’ve got a man more than Saints. Total dominance.

Yeah on 85 minutes too. It’ll make not a jot of a difference.

4-0 thanks to crisp packet hands dropping an easy save. Cunt.

3-0. First through Bazunu. Second two through Manning. Utter shite players.

Interesting to watch back the Downes shot. He and Jander were stood deep between the centre circle and the oppo box when the ball came across and so they had to run 20 yards to get to the ball to shoot. If one of them had stayed back and one waited just outside the box the shot could have been taken prior to the defence resetting, which might have given Downes the goal. They stay back because we’re so light in midfield.

Fellows misses an absolute sitter!

We’re starting to turn the screw. Have to say Quarshie has made some superb tackles and passes.

Great chance missed by Downes

It’s all Boro. No answer from Saints.

Manning goes missing once again - Quarshie saved him

WTF is Manning doing? Completely absconds his duty as a left back.

My word our defence is a shambles.

Boro look a good tidy side - can’t see us keeping a clean sheet.

Manning - you absolute arse - ALWAYS without fail passes back to Bazunu. He is such as coward of a player.

Fuck me, Manning stopped a cross.

The Boro guy who’s injured is taking an age to get off the pitch, then from the corner Saints lose the ball and suddenly Boro break with 10 men. Where’s the freaking defence again?!

Does the Middlesbrough stadium have under pitch heating? If not I can see a postponement on the cards.

Yes, someone beat you to it above. If the player is not ‘remotely close’ to being a part of our first team it begs the question why he’s an employee of the club. Presumably as a favour for his Dad. This seems a somewhat strange aspect of the clubs football operation - a small point, but perhaps indicative of the unfocused shambles at senior management level we’ve been witnessing for years under SR.

Saw that Kelv Davis’ son is returning to Saints following loan. Is he a striker?

Of course they do - it ensures the key performance metric for the spreadsheets is possession % is high.

Got family with us so the chances are I’ll not be watching. I still care about results and want things to turn around, but I have zero confidence they will. Not only has Tonda’s methods to get us to play better been found out, but the insistence on a rigid back 5 (3 CB’s) is completely stifling attacking intent and increasing risk in defensive situations. The crying shame is that while we don’t have the competency for the high % possession passing around at the back and conversely we DO have high competency in the forward line in Jander, Scienza, Robinson, Fellows, Azaz, AA, Matzuki and even Archer if he was utilised properly. Our tactics therefore are at odds with the competencies within the squad - it’s so fucking frustrating to witness, but even more so when you realise that a change of Manager will not change the new ‘Southampton way’. We’re stuck with this crap until Dragan either sells up or he ditches SR…both highly unlikely.

I posted the below in the match thread, hence the reason I voted ‘yes’. Not because I believe wholeheartedly in Tonda’s ability, but because I truly believe the Manager is not the problem as such…they’re all being forced into constraining the team with the formation/possession philosophy. Two observations watching that debacle… 1. It is as clear as day that SR/Spors are dictating possession based football, with the defensive line involved substantially in any build-up play. 2. The ‘5 at the back’-–is used a consequence of our defenders not being good enough to consistently delivering observation no.1. A change of Manager will not sort out the above. No self-respecting Manager will work under the conditions offered by SR, hence the ‘yes men’ like RM, Still and Eckhert will continue to struggle. The team bar Manning, Stephens and a missing CF is good enough for a top 6 finish, but that will only happen if SR/Spors take the shackles off.

Two observations watching that debacle… 1. It is as clear as day that SR/Spors are dictating possession based football, with the defensive line involved substantially in any build-up play. 2. The ‘5 at the back’-–is used a consequence of our defenders not being good enough to consistently delivering observation no.1. A change of Manager will not sort out the above. No self-respecting Manager will work under the conditions offered by SR, hence the ‘yes men’ like RM, Still and Eckhert will continue to struggle. The team bar Manning, Stephens and a missing CF is good enough for a top 6 finish, but that will only happen if SR/Spors take the shackles off.

Rubbish waste of a professional football stadium. That level of performance would more at home at Eastleigh’s ground.

THB nearly headed us forward