LuckyNumber7

Amazing result considering the relative strength of both teams put out, Ralph is a genius! Good performances all round but it's about time Valery started getting the respect he deserves from the fanbase, he's proving to be a very competent CB option. Tonight has shown the big difference from last season, we don't just have a team we have a squad. And the way we're playing we might just have a crack at doing something special in the cup? We're not hanging onto Broja are we...

Whilst what's happening is very sad, where are you going to house these hundreds of thousands of people? We don't have unlimited space.

Yes for some reason that game has always stuck with me as well as being one of the best games atmosphere wise at SMS, glad someone else remembers it. Others that spring to mind are the FA Cup QF against Wolves on our run to the final and the Norwich game in our relegation season, what a rollercoaster that was! Sadly SMS seems a lot more sedate these days.

If Burnley go down I'd like to see us go after Dwight McNeil.

I agree, but we are never likely to have anywhere close to Man City's success, plus the Greater Manchester area has a population of nearly 3 million. As for Leicester, again they have had a few years of success which will have boosted their fanbase, but I noticed quite a few empty seats at their game the other night. It will be interesting to see if they can fill 40000 on a regular basis.

The difference is West Ham are regularly filling their 60000 stadium, whilst we are barely able to fill our 32000. Southampton is only a medium sized city and we just don't have the fanbase that these big city clubs are able to attract. I think in good times and against the glory clubs we could occasionally attract 35-40000 but most of the time we would be left with masses of empty seats which is never a good look.

I know Vesty has been crap but thought the Leicester fans were out of order booing him onto the pitch. Can't have helped his confidence.

It would be utter madness to drop Stu, he is one of our most important players. Sure he didn't have his shooting boots on yesterday but otherwise had another very good game. Tino is a great option to have off the bench but doesn't really warrant a starting spot atm, especially when it means pushing KWP out of position. If everyone is fit then the only change I'd make is Stephens in for Bednarek, and get him winding up Richarlison.

It's easy to forget he started the season really well before picking up that injury at Man City, and he was great after coming on today. At worst he is a good squad option to have and I don't think he's any worse than Bednarek.

Haven't been following this thread but saw the title so only just read this very sad news. Minsk came across as a decent bloke and one of the better posters on here. RIP Minsk and condolences to your family.

Fantastic week, we just look good all over the pitch atm and clearly so well drilled. So glad the club stuck with Ralph through the tough times, he is an excellent coach and fits us so well. He's now showing what he can do with the right tools at his disposal.

Agreed, his all round game has come on in leaps and bounds, and he is scoring a decent amount of goals now. We have a good strike pairing in him and Broja. He really needs a song though, maybe something to the tune of the Adams Family!

Apparently the reason VAR didn't advise the ref to overturn it was that it was too early in the attacking phase, not that it wasn't a foul. Which is utter nonsense as they went straight up the other end and scored within ten seconds. Anyway, doesn't matter and I'm actually glad it happened as it made the turn around possible and oh sooo much sweeter!

So so proud of that performance, thought we were gonna be robbed with their second goal that should never have stood. So good to see justice done! Ralph and every one of those players take a bow, you were fantastic!

What a disgusting piece of sh1t. Hope he gets dogs abuse at all away grounds.

I really don't see what the big deal is. For starters it's not an 'announcement' as such, clearly he's done an interview with Kicker and they probably asked him about his future plans and he's said he intends to see out his contract with us before likely taking a break. That's nearly 2 1/2 years away and obviously a lot can change in that time. It's also as pointed out above not the first time he's said something along those lines, yet no-one got their knickers in a twist about it before. If he was saying he will be going at the end of this season that would be different, but all he's saying is he's committed to seeing out his contract which to me is a good thing. That doesn't exclude the possibility of him being sacked if things go tits up in the mean time. Management is a very demanding job both physically and mentally, I don't blame him for not wanting to carry on into his 60's and 70's. 5 1/2 years managing a PL club is a long time these days.

But that's kind of the point, lots of clubs are now shoving away fans as far out of the way as possible and making it as hard as can be to make themselves heard. Newcastle as you say and Wolves also where away fans are stretched along the shallow lower tier in the side stand are probably the worst. We are just too nice and accommodating as a club. I'm getting fed up of watching hoardes of away fans sucking the ball in and celebrating behind the Northam goal, we must be one of the best days out for away fans and I'm sure it gives the opposition a bit of an advantage. Obviously the cup games highlight it even more but even for league games when the away side bring their full allocation we have less than half of the Northam. Would be so much better if we could find a way of moving them to the sides or at least a corner, and then make the whole of the Northam our main singing end. If other clubs can manage it I'm sure we can find a way. All that said, we need more songs too.

I didn't like the starting lineup, expected two or three changes but wholesale changes like that were always likely to make it difficult for us. Haven't read the whole thread yet but people blaming Ralph for players getting injured is one of the most stupid things I've seen on this forum. Seems Lyanco could be out a while which is a shame but thankfully Broja's doesn't sound too bad. Although we were poor, you have to give Coventry credit, they were well up for it and played some nice football at times. Could easily have won on another day. On Small - I didn't think he was as bad as some are making out, looked nervy early on but grew into the game and made some nice forward runs. What annoyed me though was his laziness at tracking back, a lack of effort is unacceptable. He's a young kid though, he'll learn and improve and he certainly looks to have the tools to become a very good player. Biggest disappointments for me were Arma, I really want him to do well but he just looks so far off the required quality sadly. When he has the ball it's like a hot potato as he seems to have no control over it. Not writing him off yet, his confidence must be very low but he desperately needs a goal or two. The other was Redmond who was really poor imo. He's having a better season but was back to his old self yesterday. Shout out to Caballero for some very good saves. And Stuey for that incredible goal which I can't stop watching, that swerve was Roberto Carlos esque! Into the next round which is all that matters but hopefully some lessons learned by Ralph. Also why the hell did the lino take so long to flag for their offside goal? It wasn't even close!

People keep saying this but the problem is the Chapel is the designated family stand. If we're going to have a 'proper' home end then either that needs to change, or the away fans need to be moved.

Well supposedly, but it's never been officially confirmed so depends what you believe. If we weren't on the hunt for a genuine no.1 this summer I would be very disappointed.

What on earth makes you think that? I can't imagine he'll be inundated with big offers from elsewhere in the summer. I'm pretty certain we'll be signing a new no.1 in the summer and if McCarthy stays and signs a new contract it will be on lesser terms and he'll be our backup, which is fine.

It's actually not a 'winter break' as such, it's because this week is officially designated as an international break. Although there are no games in Europe, there are plenty of World Cup qualifiers being played around the world this week.

Will Armitage deal looks imminent https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/19879220.southampton-set-sign-cheltenham-towns-will-armitage-reveals-michael-duff/

Yeah I saw that and had seen it mentioned previously as well. Then right on cue in the Man City game I think it was Stu who went down in around the 62nd minute when there seemed little wrong, but allowed him and others a breather and to take on fluids.

Indeed he did, on his first PL start (around the 2 minute mark). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk1E15K7cvo Also scored in their 6-2 win at the weekend.