Saint Fan CaM

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

We play so many hospital passes…no surprise that the majority end in lost possession.

Fuck me - very close to 0-1, Baz steps up to the plate.

I’m trying to draw even a single positive from this display and I’m struggling.

Corner taker tombola too now

65% possession - how many shots on goal? I’ll let you guess.

I’ve turned. Tonda out. This is so, so poor. We are crying out for another body in midfield because neither Manning or to a lesser extent Jelert are helping.

Trouble is, he finds a nugget of form and then the Nanager changes the fucking team to be even more defensive so his supply also changes. Shit.

Manning is so shit both Stephens and THB get drawn out of position to cover for him!

Archer totally rubbish

Poor FK from Scienza

Another masterclass from Manning on how NOT to close down a winger

It makes you think that the CB’s have all the power in the team to dictate how slow we play. It’s fucking horrible football.

THB has really degraded from his starting point of a pretty average passer of the ball.

Manning got a bit of extra timber by the looks - too much Christmas pud methinks.

It will be interesting to see if Tonda has done anything to react to the previous Millwall shitshow. I’m not hopeful - we’re just not that good. Loss incoming.

Makes no difference. Someone is mandating 3 CB’s for some fucking reason. Not only that but we’re suffering Stephens and Manning who just unbalance the defence and leave midfield wanting too.