110_Persaint

Why am I listed as a guest? Fairly certain I was at least first team if not a full international back then.

Both are mediocre/average in their attacking side IMO. Should stick to being in front of the back four at all times, leaving our front four to do the damage up the pitch. Having said that Morgan is arguably the best ball-winner in the prem, and Cork's pass success rate must surely be in the late 80's - early 90's???

I blame my parents for conceiving me several decades too late Was that team better than our 03 cup final team?

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The number of people taken in by the 58k ******** is laughable.

Bayern were interested for a brief spell, so were Juventus. Then Liverpool and Spurs came in after nobody was interested in paying what was demanded. The asking price was far too high (20m euros) and most chairmen realized they would be mugged if they went for him. We overpaid for him no question about that, and the fact that he cost so much was what generated the excitement in the first place. He can prove to be worth that much one day, but was not in the summer of 2012. Some big clubs were{/i] interested certainly - but to make him out to of been coveted by world football is a bit of a stretch. IMO the sooner we begin to play to his strengths as opposed to the strengths of the likes of Davis and JayRod the sooner we'll see a world-class player in our beloved club.

Fox (City), Gazza (Swansea, Norwich), Hooiveld (Utd, Fulham) , Guly (Arsenal) Four players alone, none of whom are (or should be) regular starters at the moment have cost us a combined total of a MASSIVE 12 points, which would have us on 36 points as we speak (safe by anyone's standards). Other times (Everton, Stoke, Wigan) it has just been inexperience all over the park - when you go in front THAT is when you begin to play possession football and contain the opposition in their half. When we've already been doing it for 80+ mins we become so knackered it's crazy. I reiterate what I said in another thread - for a team short on real quality like us, pretty football should NOT be our aim! Score your goals, do what is necessary, THEN start to play and take the game to the opposition. The sooner we learn to abandon the Southampton Way to make way for what actually produces tangible results, the sooner we'll begin climbing up the table IMHO.

Practically lost my virgnity to this one when it first came out.

Based on their performance against Liverpool? Easiest three points we'll get all season. I'm going for a Rickie double and a Gaston freekick in a comfortable 3-0 win.

When will you lot realize: our evolving style of play is not suiting him! Think of when he has been at his best this season: Villa home, Newcastle home, etc. and think why he was playing brilliantly - we as a team were giving him space and opportunity to prosper. I don't know how many of you have watched Bologna games from last season (I've seen a few), but you'll notice he needs space and almost always looks to receive the ball facing the goal. He loves to run onto through-balls and have runners ahead of him. Dropping deep is what he's all about. He likes to spread the play and create as much space for himself and others as possible. Against Villa and Newcastle, for instance, we were not so keen on passing the ball around barcelona-style in our oppopnents' half. Perhaps we were desperate for the wins, but it was all out bombardment. Quick passing right from their penalty box to ours, allowing Gaston to thrive. No hanging onto the ball in their half, bandying it around between Clyne - Cork - Morgan - Shaw, no dallying about waiting patiently for an opening (which is very hard to come by in the prem). One-touch, economical football is what Gaston is all about. That is why he is so much better when Adam is playing - same wavelength - both want to play quick give-and-go football as opposed to pass it around patiently. In other games, particularly away games, our game style revolves around pinning our opponents back and containing them as far up the pitch as possible. Space is limited as a result, and Gaston finds himself surrounded by three or four players before the ball gets to his feet. Likewise he more often than not receives the ball with his back to goal and for a flair-type player he is not ready to work his magic because he is absolutely clueless what to do - no willing runners (no space), no opportunity for flicks and tricks (no space) and all he can possibly do to keep possession is pass it back to Morgan or Cork - credit to him he does not look to do that - he still tries to somehow get himself out of the tight spot he finds himself in and play the ball forward. Unfortunately our style of play means 9 or ten men from the opposing team are in and around their penalty area - even Messi would struggle to do something then (Chelsea semi-final anyone?). Those who say he is not suited to the prem are clueless I am sorry to say. He knew what he was getting himself into and he knew he wanted to play in this league because it suits his style - I am 100% certain he would be thriving now if playing for Swansea, Stoke, West Brom etc. Why? Because they play the English game: fast one-touch passing, spreading the play, not giving the opponents time or space and always looking for runners ahead as opposed to looking back to their defensive midfielders in acres of space. We've switched to a continental style (Italian mostly - I wonder why...) and although prem teams find us hard to deal with, we also make life difficult for ourselves and one of our most talented players. At Bologna they used to always have wingers in the side, not attacking fullbacks - out-and-out wingers. Gaston's specialty is receiving the ball in lots of space, facing the goal and either going on mazy runs or feeding those wingers running ahead of him in acres of space. He hates playing the ball backwards - unfortunately in our system this commendable philosophy of his bites him in the arse and makes us all turn on him when the going gets tough. He is not to blame - our style of play is.

When will you lot realize: our evolving style of play is not suiting him! Think of when he has been at his best this season: Villa home, Newcastle home, etc. and think why he was playing brilliantly - we as a team were giving him space and opportunity to prosper. I don't know how many of you have watched Bologna games from last season (I've seen a few), but you'll notice he needs space and almost always looks to receive the ball facing the goal. He loves to run onto through-balls and have runners ahead of him. Dropping deep is what he's all about. He likes to spread the play and create as much space for himself and others as possible. Against Villa and Newcastle, for instance, we were not so keen on passing the ball around barcelona-style in our oppopnents' half. Perhaps we were desperate for the wins, but it was all out bombardment. Quick passing right from their penalty box to ours, allowing Gaston to thrive. No hanging onto the ball in their half, bandying it around between Clyne - Cork - Morgan - Shaw, no dallying about waiting patiently for an opening (which is very hard to come by in the prem). One-touch, economical football is what Gaston is all about. That is why he is so much better when Adam is playing - same wavelength - both want to play quick give-and-go football as opposed to pass it around patiently. In other games, particularly away games, our game style revolves around pinning our opponents back and containing them as far up the pitch as possible. Space is limited as a result, and Gaston finds himself surrounded by three or four players before the ball gets to his feet. Likewise he more often than not receives the ball with his back to goal and for a flair-type player he is not ready to work his magic because he is absolutely clueless what to do - no willing runners (no space), no opportunity for flicks and tricks (no space) and all he can possibly do to keep possession is pass it back to Morgan or Cork - credit to him he does not look to do that - he still tries to somehow get himself out of the tight spot he finds himself in and play the ball forward. Unfortunately our style of play means 9 or ten men from the opposing team are in and around their penalty area - even Messi would struggle to do something then (Chelsea semi-final anyone?). Those who say he is not suited to the prem are clueless I am sorry to say. He knew what he was getting himself into and he knew he wanted to play in this league because it suits his style - I am 100% certain he would be thriving now if playing for Swansea, Stoke, West Brom etc. Why? Because they play the English game: fast one-touch passing, spreading the play, not giving the opponents time or space and always looking for runners ahead as opposed to looking back to their defensive midfielders in acres of space. We've switched to a continental style (Italian mostly - I wonder why...) and although prem teams find us hard to deal with, we also make life difficult for ourselves and one of our most talented players. At Bologna they used to always have wingers in the side, not attacking fullbacks - out-and-out wingers. Gaston's specialty is receiving the ball in lots of space, facing the goal and either going on mazy runs or feeding those wingers running ahead of him in acres of space. He hates playing the ball backwards - unfortunately in our system this commendable philosophy of his bites him in the arse and makes us all turn on him when the going gets tough. He is not to blame - our style of play is.

Anybody else feel this way? With the way we dominate games and pin back our opponents we should be comfortably winning and yet our goal scoring record as of late (ever since we shored up defensively) has been really, really poor. IMO it is time to let go of the "Southampton Way" and do a West Ham - all hoofball, all direct, all ugly but with one golden little thing called END PRODUCT. So frustrated after today FFS.

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Fantastic player, always a favourite of mine... and always sensed a greater goal threat whenever he was brought on late on when we were chasing a game. See Saint Charlie, instead of b*tching about who "stole my idea" (an uber-creative, extremely original, groundbreaking, earth-shattering idea nonetheless) I merely responded to the ongoing thread with my thoughts on a player, and moved on. Stop crying over spilt milk ffs. Honestly some folks like yourself and Dig Dig need to grow up and stop taking life so seriously.

Big Target Man, Useful and Versatile Squad Player, Mr. Super Sub OR Useless, Overrated Rubbish Player Never Worthy of a Place in the Starting Lineup? Discuss. Saints Career Apps: 110 Saints Career Goals: 12

About 80% of forum members here said, when asked whether we would stay up or not earlier in the season, something along the lines of: "Yes, confident on the condition that we strengthen in January" Interestingly enough that was precisely my viewpoint as well. Now that the holy grail that was January 2013 has passed us by and we've done anything but strengthen the squad, how do you view our prospects on staying up? Personally, I feel much less confident. A thread-bare squad, weak as hell second-string and virtually no decent backup to a number of positions all over the pitch. Add the fact that the likes of Reading, Newcastle etc. are beginning to find some form it could be a long four months ahead.

Just watched some highlights from their Stoke game. Absolutely BATTERED them second half. On-form and on-song at the moment. And let's be honest - if we ever had a "bogey team" Wigan is it. Can't see us not scoring but reckon they might just have too much in attack for us. Give us a point now I'd say.

Blimey you lot aren't half cynical about all this. Cut me some slack! First of all I am NOT Nicola - my English is far too good. I didn't "take" the decision to sack Nigel. If it were up to me I would not have "made" that cruel, unjust and untimely decision. Second I loved and still do love Nigel just as much as any fellow Saints fan. He was, is and always will be a legend in my book. Third I was merely stating a fact that MP is a better tactician! I remember saying to myself at HT yesterday "come on MP, don't 'do a Nigel' and make a half-time change ffs"... turns out he not only made one but TWO changes, both ATTACKING. Instantly went up in my estimation and earned my respect. Not just the changes, but like others here have mentioned the formation, gameplan (shut out Carrick), etc. were all spot-on and a stroke of genius IMO. I just can't for the life of me think NA would of done something similar (Liverpool game anyone?)

Let's not forget the man who masterminded our second half performance at Old Trafford and give credit where it is due. Would Adkins have had the balls to make that double half-time substitution that changed the game? Seriously doubt it. Pochettino already proving to be a better tactician. Not missing Nigel at all!

We outdid our New Year's Day 2004 performance at OT. That's saying something. Brilliant.

Oh shut the f**k up joe, you're one of the worst trolls on here. Just because some people in this world don't worship money and base their whole life around it like you gives you no right to slag them off and be condescending. You seem to have this attitude with anyone who disagrees with you on anything (the Mayuka thread the latest example). Why don't you go back to your pathetic little money-worshiping life and leave the rest of us happy and content knowing some things in life are more meaningful and valuable. How so many trolls are left to roam these forums unchecked by the mods is beyond me.

Can't express in words how happy I am that Zambia are out. Come back home Manny we've mised you! Our need for you is even greater now that we've let another transfer window pass by us having done f**k all.

It has to be. Glasgow's one of the more intelligent posters on here and is not shy of a bit of sarcasm every now and then. IMO a 50% match fit Lallana is miles better than any other Guly replacement we currently have (not to mention Guly himself). Frankly Pochettino would have to be quite mental to replace Guly with anyone else of the dross that is our second-string team at the moment.