Saint86

Yeah I agree. For me, the people knocking him are being ridiculously harsh. He was an absolute nuisance the whole game - winning flick ons, battling for the ball, bringing others into play, and holding up long balls to get us up the pitch. West ham are one of the most physically strong sides in the league (particularly defensively), and they really struggled with him. People also forget he has barely played all season, is it seriously realistic for him to come in and starting pinging the ball in the back of the net as if he's a striker in a good vein of form? A lot to like from TP. Would hope we keep him and play him regularly now. There were a few instances yesterday where a bit more fluidity in the style of play would have seen runners in behind or flick ons coming off for us.

I know we didn't get the win (or a draw), and I know that that is bitterly dissapointing and not good enough for what we need - but let me put that all to one side. That was simply a much better performance. We were comfortably the better team overall, more shots on target, more clear cut chances, higher possession... We've conceded a fecking crazy gang goal after about 6-7 headers and a sloppy corner from Suga. West ham have had 2 shots on target all game. There are a lot of positives to take from that game and how effective we were. But it was a bit like a preaseason friendly re the players learning the tactics and rust to shake off (onuachu). Onwards and upwards I say.

Just watched part 1 of his initial press conference. How nice it is to have a serious, intelligent/thoughtful, and mature manager again. Its like a breath of fresh air has blown through the club. All of Martin's nonsense baggage that he carried around with him has evaporated. Back to having a serious football manager again! We're going to make a real fist of staying up i reckon. I'm optimistic at least. Very interesting that he said the reason he wanted this job was because he wanted to manage Southampton. Building on the fact that he said prior to that how he's basically been watching us for 2 years ever since he originally stated at Torino. Work with a couple of Croatians at work and they've got very similar mannerisms - one in particular that i noted is that when asked a question or querying something that they might not like / understand, they'll suddenly raise their voice and the intensity of what they're saying to query it, it brokers no nonsense for the next reply - like you've stepped on a landmine and they better like the next words you're say. You can tell Blackmore isn't used to it, properly tiptoed around him with his questions 😄. Should keep the players on edge and wanting to perform for him - something they defo need.

Is there likely to be points deductions for any of the teams involved this year do we think?

Were people moaning about Woods. I thought the fanbase was pretty unanimous that getting Woods and Edwards in so cheap was excellent business as its two promising young CBs that should see us in good stead - particularly if we got relegated.

That was a pen? Catches him 2nd foot on the line? How has that not been reviewed? And why were the commentators so quick to dismiss it? Certainly worth a closer look and a bit of discussion ffs.

Wonder if we can work it out a deal where we swap cornet back and forest decide they really don't need jwp.

We really are seen as a soft touch for all the refs this year. Chance to give some soft decisions to the other teams and, "even out the luck"...

Now that would be a nice January loan.

My goodness. A yellow for Fulham? 😱😱😱

Was obvious he wasn't concussed, was rolling around holding his mouth. Shockingly weak from the ref.

This ref has been pretty poor tbh. No cards for all of Fulham's cynical off the ball fouls (on our counter attacks) is a joke given the card he gave Downes. And stopping that attack there for a non head injury 🙄

Sadly sounds like dibling's already got his eyes on the exit door after the way he was previously treated. Been a few stories leaking out lately (could ofc be agent related). But he hasn't signed a new contract and his performances have dropped off, ties in with the leak that he's pissed off at the club 😢.

Lampard currently giving a masterclass in how bad a manger he is 😂🤣 Pompeys top scorer has basically doubled his tally for the season in less than 45min, Coventry looking utterly clueless and lost trying to play passing football, but with no intensity and they keep just giving it away.

Is that the latest one with the score by Matt Bellamy (Muse)? Been meaning to give it a listen if so (spot the massive muse head 😅). We long since passed into living into a sort of Orwellian society sadly - Its a shame that book isn't mandatory reading in schools (over the likes of Shakespeare and Bronte). Why on earth they think its not requisite reading for today's world i've no idea. I just looked it up on audible... Far from being something people should read, it actually comes with a fucking trigger warning in the blurb 😄

Sadly this is about par these days regardless of which branch of the uniparty you vote for. Both the Tories and the left have been pushing clamp downs on free speech for years now and their are precious few people standing up for it. The result is that it's been undermined and taken away a little at a time, with the threat of punishment as a favoured censorship tool. The most recent examples would be the police now arresting journalists if someone finds something they've written to be offensive, or indeed this online safety bill.

The only evidence I can find for bitcon is that he was promoted from director of performance, to the title of "Head of Football Operations", nothing seemingly from the club indicates he is director of football and they consciously do not include him on their leadership page listing. By the accounts I can find, the club chose not to hire a DoF and instead split wilcox's duties between Parsons, Mowbray, Martin, and Bitcon. With remaining influence from rasmus. Which to me means that we don't have anyone calling the shots directly, certainly not with a demonstrable good track record, and that we are basically relying on Mowbray's experience and ability (diluted down to a quarter / fifth - subject to rasmus) to chose the next manager.

Southampton fc doesn't have a formal director of football in place. https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/meet-the-saints-leadership-team

I don't think anyone other than Martin will be getting this relegation on their CV.

With no DoF in place, someone like Moyes would be a steady hand in fairness. Think he'd be good for younger players as well. Will be interesting to see how this goes. Moyes, Corberan, Rohl, Potter are all decent names to be linked with. I am not sold on the danish gareth southgate however (okay, that may be harsh), but for me he simply hasn't done it at a serious enough level and i include international football with Denmark within that. We need a manager experienced in english football... Get this right and its not inconceivable that we do make a fight of relegation and at the very least go into the summer in a good place for the championship promotion push next year. Cock this one up with another SR managerial masterclass and we'll be on an extremely low ebb going into the summer, huge toxicity between the board and the fans, and have half the team fighting each other to be first out the exit door again.

He wouldn't my pick because his sides are defensive as hell. But anyone turning their nose up at him from an ability perspective is being harsh. He's a good manager tactically and his sides are very well drilled. Although i'd argue he's the opposite of Martin in that instead of having a prescribed system, his system feels like its whatever will work to counter the opposition... I don't think he'll suit creative players like Dibbling and Fernandes either, but obviously could be wrong on that.

Would be another spectacular own goal by SR if so.

Pretty much unforgiveable, that having taken that long to sack Martin, Rusk is now in charge of this game. Really does make it look like he was sacked on a spur of the moment decision with no plan in place.

No danger of rusk getting the job then.

Had totally forgotten about this - Is it on TV? Edit - unsure why I want to put myself through it if it is 😂