mrfahaji

Another thing to note for their second goal is that we weren't initially overloaded. When the ball broke following Lemina's slip, there were 5 Newcastle players beyond their penalty box breaking forward, and 6 Southampton players coming back. I watched it back a number of times and I think Bertrand is the only player that I couldn't find fault with (he reacts quickly, busts a gut to get back, and only leaves Kenedy unmarked because he has to close down Gayle). All the others either have a pitiful amount of pace/fitness, couldn't be bothered, failed to track a run, or lacked any sort of commitment to win the ball.

Very enjoyable (not sure that's the right word, actually) as always! I remember Strachan talking about players being 'brave', and specifically being 'brave on the ball'. I think that's what this manager has well and truly drained from this squad (maybe Sims & Boufal haven't quite lost it, but give it time) - at a time we need players to stand up and be counted, they are all too afraid to be the one who loses possession.

Ha, ok fair enough!

Would be interesting to see him re-appear and add his thoughts on the backlash!

Your starting tone sounds like you are going to argue against my post, but you've pretty much agreed with what I've said...

Not sure that works for me. I detest the Premier League, I only follow it because we're in it! Often I fast forward MOTD to our match and then turn it off. The reason I want us to stay in the PL is all about what it means for Saints-related stuff (better players, being able to watch all games, not feeling like the club have completely screwed up all the recent progress), nothing to do with interest in Richard Scudamore's "help the top 6" project.

I know, awful situation. The only argument I can think for keeping him is that the board want to appoint someone in the summer who isn't available now, and by appointing someone to help avoid relegation we will end up missing out on said target. So keep fingers crossed Pellegrino finds a way of keeping us up and then be in a stronger position in the summer. I think that's too much of a risk to be honest, and I don't understand why we can't get someone on a short term contract with a big survival bonus. I can only think that the board are too tight to do, or are blind to the precarious position we're in (i.e. still think we'll be absolutely fine).

They spend every day with this manager telling them what to think, how to play etc. Do you think they get to match day and not only do their own thing, but still maintain good cohesion and keep a good tactical shape? This idea that the players should somehow be able to shake off the shackles of any poor management and turn on the style for 90 minutes is incredibly optimistic and ultimately, wide of the mark.

The trouble is, after the last few seasons, we have understandably adjusted our expectations and budgets towards being a mid-table Premier League club. We also have a squad full of players who do not see themselves as Championship players - regardless of whether they have demonstrated it on the pitch - because we have attracted players to us on the basis that they wanted to sign for a mid-table (at least) Premier League club. Those things point to either a mass exodus, an unsustainable wage bill, or maybe both. It's depressing that the most likely route is essentially starting again as a bogstandard Championship outfit. After many seasons of progress the board's stubborness and smugness over the manager is going to cost us EVERYTHING. So disillusioned with Saints right now.

Accurate reflection from Shroppie above, and that's from someone who has defended the team/MP a little in recent weeks. MOTD comments from Lampard and Jenas were pretty much spot on, the trouble is we could have said the same thing right at the start of the season. The game reminded me a little of our home match vs Watford. They were 'at it', physically and mentally on the front foot. While we were static, safe, and generally sh1t, with no idea of how to deal with them or how to change things.

To be fair to Lemina, he has had a couple of incredibly good games this season, even if he was terrible today. As for the second goal, I haven't seen the highlights, so only going from what I saw at the time, but didn't he slip? If so, I know you could make the argument that it was a rash decision to take a shot but I wouldn't be too critical of someone losing their footing. We nearly conceded shortly before because Lemina was dawdling on the ball. But it did also feel like nobody was making any runs, no-one moving into space calling for the ball. It was still poor from him, without a doubt, but I also think that kind of thing happens because there's a malaise amongst the whole team. No-one wants the ball, because they don't want to be the one that loses it.

The strange this is, Pellegrino seems to spend his entire life worrying about what could go wrong. So you'd think, given that Jonjo Shelvey was so influential in our home match vs Newcastle, he would have been super worried about him this time out and put a plan in place to deal with him. But he didn't. Because he doesn't seem to proactively plan for anything. He doesn't set a defence up well enough to be a side that wins 1-0 through a set piece or a counter attack, he doesn't target opposition weakness with his team selection or tactics, nor does he, perhaps most surprisingly, identify opposition strengths and make selections or tactical changes accordingly. What value does he actually add as manager? I think our main trait is not taking risks and keeping possession, but we don't even keep possession very well! As for the players not being up for it, it's true there isn't a 'spirit' and a 'fight' apparent in our squad, as maybe you can see with Brighton, Palace and Swansea at times. But really, players 'not trying' often just goes hand in hand with how well drilled they are and whether the tactics are right. I'm not saying the players are blameless, but there causality of "playing well" and "trying hard" isn't always obvious.

On Final Score, Dion Dublin just referred to Pellegrino saying that relegation was "a nice challenge" for us. Has he actually said that? Jesus christ. Dublin also said "Southampton are a nice club, there's no room for being nice". Quite.

This is the galling thing. After so many good years it felt like we were on the crest of a wave at the start of last season. We had a dip last year but it could have been just that - a blip - but the board have made it the beginning of the end.

Yeah but we only lost 1-0. Better goal difference from that. Pellegrino = Master.

Yep, don't know why everyone is panicking, there's loads of games left.

Burnley doing a Burnley at West Ham. If it stays that way it will make our game with West Ham massive. Which is lucky because we seem to pull out all the stops in those games, just like today.

For the second time this season

Stream's broken. I feel like I've been spared.

It was so predictable though, I didn't feel remotely confident about getting anything from the game today, because Benitez is tactically astute and Pellegrino is sh1t in every measurable way as a manager.

That was just a shambles all round.

Oh, another defensive manager I just thought of - Benitez.

Yeah exactly. Why doesn't the manager tell him "either practice your shooting or never ever shoot"?

Because no one is making any forward runs, or making themselves available. It happened earlier in their half, and now it happened in our own half. Players are either afraid or they don't know what they are doing. In other words, they are Pellegrino's team.

That's the thing, he's not a defensive manager, he's a cautious manager. A defensive manager makes a team difficult to beat and sets up tactics to be effective from counter attacks, set pieces, etc. Mourinho is a defensive manager, Puel is a defensive manager, Pulis is a defensive manager. Pellegrino doesn't set us up like that. He just worries about everything and tries to cover all the bases. And the team is an embodiment of him. They play scared and they play without purpose.