LuckyNumber7

Goztepe game has been moved due to the heat. https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/23653255.southamptons-friendly-goztepe-moved-open-training-cancelled/#comments-anchor

Think you're being very harsh there. I believe when they signed they were 18 and 19 respectively? Don't think Larios was half as bad as people made out, he just looked to lightweight which is hardly surprising at that age. He wasn't ready to be thrown in at the deep end like that. Edozie showed a lot of promise at times but lacks end product. That is something that can be worked on and hopefully will improve with experience. IMO he could shine in the Championship. To write them both off as failures already seems very premature. Baz was the biggest disappointment. Had plenty of game time time and at no point looked good enough. Again he is still young so we have to hope he will improve.

Southampton born and bred, was recently exiled up in the midlands for 3 years and couldn't wait to get back home. Bit weird if supposed Saints fans from Salisbury and Basingstoke are shitting on the city as they are hardly Monte Carlo themselves. I think it certainly helps if you have a strong connection to the city as ultimately SFC represents the city of Southampton, but anyone who chooses to support and invest in Saints when it would be so much easier to follow one of the glory clubs is welcome as far as I'm concerned.

That's not what happens when you get relegated though is it. I'm surprised that people seem to be surprised that our best players look likely to leave. Players want to play in the PL and injured or not, everyone knows Tino is quality and with his age it's not that much of a gamble. However that fee quoted is a joke. Absolute minimum of 30M should be the starting point, unless he has a release clause.

Yikes that looks a really tough start, we play all the relegated and newly promoted teams in the first 9 games. Six weeks to get ourselves ready!

After a good start in their first year, Hummel are churning out some hideous kits for us. I really miss seeing Saints play in proper, simple red and white stripes. Far too much mucking around and just because we wore this vile design once 30 odd years ago doesn't make it traditional. Only positive I can say is it's better than last year's kit. Oh and at least it looks like the back isn't plain.

Charly is one of the very few players I would be gutted to see leave. Hope he gives us one season in the Championship, if we don't go up then fair enough.

It was like that all season at home especially, evidenced by the fact we only scored a pathetic 17 goals at home. Even in the abomination of a season just gone we managed more than that. Also despite losing VVD in the second half of the season people seem to forget that we brought in Caceres who was a reputable international CB that even post Saints has had a successful career in Serie A. Yet Puel inexplicably played him just once, choosing Stephens instead. The cup run was undoubtedly good but the league campaign was largely turgid, depressing shite. Finishing 8th with an unusually low points tally papered over a lot of cracks.

Damn. Can't stand West Ham and their scummy fans.

Just had around 100 or so of the alphabet mafia marching past my flat in town, drums and whistles and loudspeakers etc, disturbing the peace. What is it they want? In 2023 what can a straight person do that a gay person can't? The vast majority couldn't care less who you are attracted to or sleep with as long as it's between consenting adults so why do they continuously have to shout about it and shove it in our faces? Go and be with whoever you want to be with but just shut the f*ck up about it.

Didn't see the game today but anyone who thinks he's staying is deluded. Don't think anyone should begrudge him a move, been a great servant for the club and always given his best while the quality of players around him has got weaker and weaker. Will be strange not seeing him in our midfield next season.

Jokanovic is a decent shout tbh, not sure what he's been up to lately but has a good record in the Championship. But a big no thanks to Hughton and Mowbray. Hughton did get Brighton promoted but went very stale in his last year or so and then was a big flop at Forest with the same team that Cooper got promoted. Quite a dull and defensive brand of football too. Mowbray has plenty of experience in the Championship but his record is nothing special and he's a miserable bastard, don't think I've ever seen him smile. Potter and Rodgers will believe they can still get a Prem job so never realistic options. I'm on the fence about Martin. A bit underwhelmed but he clearly has something about him. If we give him the right squad of players to fit how he wants to play, I think we could do well.

I don't really understand the positivity towards Vieira. Only thing he really has going for him is his name but you need far more than that to get promoted in a long gruelling Championship season. Everything else about his managerial career so far screams mediocrity at best. Not to mention his defensive style of football, which after the last few seasons the least I want is some entertainment. In our situation there's certainly no perfect candidate out there, but I think I'd rather have Schumacher tbh, at least he has actually achieved something and his ceiling is unknown. Vieira feels very meh to me and what does he really know about life below the PL?

I'm assuming that includes cup games. When you use just Premier League games it feels more representative... P131 W37 D38 L56 F151 A192 Absolute dross for almost 7 full seasons now, averaging just over 5 home wins per season.

Championship is probably his level and we'll need some characters like him. Think if he stays he could do well next season.

In 2005 I was absolutely gutted and admit I cried a little, having gone through all the great escapes with heroes like MLT and Pahars it was a horrible feeling as Premier League was all I'd known. Feels totally different this time as apathy has long since taken over and I feel no real connection with the club or vast majority of players. Even when Forest took the lead last night I felt nothing tbh. I'm actually looking forward to the Championship and a great purge of playing and coaching staff, and hopefully feeling a connection to the club again. Think it will take a while for scars of the last few years to heal though.

So many contenders, but I think Forest at home was the worst. Up against the worst team in the league (bar ourselves) in a vital game with a new manager and all we did was hoof it aimlessly for 90 minutes and didn't even have a shot on target. There have been so many games this season where we just haven't turned up or had any discernible pattern of play.

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/23493755.on-loan-midfielder-targeting-dream-return-southampton-squad/

Down in National League South, Weymouth on the verge of one of the greatest escapes. Literally been in the relegation zone all season and looked cut adrift, currently beating Dover which would keep them up on goal difference.

There's no way in hell Emery would have left Villarreal to come to Saints. Also as good a job as Emery has done, it's mainly because Villa have much much better players than we do.

Assuming we go down, I think he'd be a decent free transfer for the Championship and offers plenty of versatility. I wouldn't keep him if we stay up though.

I understand the despondency at throwing away the lead late on, I was as gutted as anyone and still am. But those saying we bottled it, we still had another 10 minutes to hold on for the point after their equaliser despite being out on our feet and Arsenal having all the momentum. Would have been so easy to crumble and concede a winner. As frustrating as it was the team still deserve credit for last night.

Bournemouth were recently 2-0 up at Arsenal and lost 3-2 deep in stoppage time.

Absolutely gutted to throw it away so late although not surprised, but that is still a very good point that none of us expected. Still not enough though.

If he had a goal ruled out by VAR, considering it's not used in the Championship, I'm not surprised he got pissed off and earned a second yellow.