Vancouver Saint

Is this deal done or not?

Ha! Didn't realise the game was on today and missed it completely - sounds like I missed nothing. I've been a Saints fan for 58 years - I never thought I'd be so disengaged in this club. From a quick scan let me say let's get real on the Bazunu thing - two good saves in two games does not make him the top-of-the-Championship quality we need. No doubt this will give the management team a reason not to follow-through on getting the new 'keeper we so desperately need...unless someone tells me that deal has already been done?

Well - we can't complain about taking just a point from that. Birmingham the better team for 60 minutes. Terrible goal to concede (four headers before a poncy header in) - as normal really poor defending. For once we were the better team in the last 20 minutes - much better energy and chances - fair credit, saving Scienza to come on as the impact sub against tired legs a good mix-up plan. I thought the substitutions were good. Still don't like our three at the back...when the wing-backs don't get in behind as was happening first half (Fellows not 100%? - Robinson did okay but was cutting inside not running past defenders) the formation doesn't work and we give up the middle of the field where the most danger comes from. We are still bang average without a better goalkeeper, commanding CB and killer target striker. Stewart coming back would be a boost.

Poundshop Prima Donnas - brilliant Milton. Love the name btw...takes me back to when I first watched the Saints, partly for the footie and partly watching the 'Come-and-have-a-go-at-the-Milton-agg-a-ro' crowd! Have never made it to St Mary's yet living in Canada but suspect there's nothing similar tolerated anymore...

I'm sorry, but it's unbelievable that people are still defending Bazunu. If it were a one-off thing I'd forgive him, and I don't believe anyone sets out trying to be bad - but Bazunu is the complete opposite of a commanding goalkeeper that gives you confidence at the back. He has no command of anything except the six-yard sideways pass to a defender. He doesn't come for crosses. Can't command his six-yard box for corners. Lets shots go through him, past him or under him with frightening consistency. His finger-tip last minute save against Wrexham in the first game was a one-off. You just know as a Saints fan that when you need your keeper to make a big save to win the points...Bazunu isn't going to do it. Their first goal today was well struck but a better goalie saves that without too much fuss. WE NEED A BETTER GOALKEEPER! End of.

Soooo predictable. I was going to say we are a very very average team, but we are much worse than that. That is a terrible result and exactly what we deserved.

Woeful first half. Need much more courage, directness and composure to make the right last pass - or just bloody shoot! Let's hope Bazunu doesn't get a shot on target.

Writing before reading...talk about Jekyl and Hyde! What was that first half team vs second-half team?! Looked brilliant the first 40 minutes or so completely dominant and scything through them at will - but second half - OMG what a transformation the wrong way! Bazunu simply not good enough - what keeper at this level cannot command his 3-yard box in the middle of the goal for corners? Defence looked TERRIBLE the minute they were put under any pressure. That could and probably should have been 3-3. Tons of work to do...including the manager. "Southampton should never have been in this position (5 minutes to go and looking likely to throw away a 3-0 lead)" says the West Brom commentator - too right! I am obviously relieved we won and let's take the positive...but so much of the brilliant first half was undone by a dire second half performance.

Good result and both teams could have scored more - big let off when they missed an open goal from five yards with 20 minutes to go - that could have completely changed the outcome of the game. We still look really shaky defending leads. Will we ever make an effort to stop a cross coming in? Or give ourselves an outlet to relieve pressure when we're parking the bus in the penalty box. Aribo subbed on again? Must be a mandate to play him to put him in the shop window...it's the only reason I can think of. Was watching a Birmingham City stream and commentators were remarking how we looked 'flat on our feet' - and that was right after the Romeo and Aribo substitions!

At 1-0 up Adam Blackmore commentating says: 'Now can we see what mettle this team is made of - can we defend and keep a clean sheet?' The answer is emphatically NO! Bazunu is an un-goalkeeper if there is such a thing. Just so weak in so many aspects. And the Tonda Eckart miracle-man myth is also exploded...we looked ver ordinary. Millwall the better team - did they have three games in a week like us?

Well that was different! Hadn't planned to watch it - it being 4.30am in Vancouver but was awake - glad I tuned in. What a first half. Goodness, almost looked like we were much the better team in a competitive football match. Listened to the Charlton commentators who had an interesting observation: they said we were ruthless against an ineffective high press from them but much less effective when facing a low block...very true

OMG that's funny - my grandson is 6 - his dad, my eldest son is the one inflicted with Saints-supporteritis - a chronic disease as we all know. Would be an amazing thing if they actually met on the pitch! There's actually quite a big Saints supporters following here Vancouver being a port city and some Southampton imports...

This the saddest post of all. My little grandson trots out for his practices in a Saints shirt - fortunately for him nobody has a clue who Saints are here! But seriously, your post is the saddest of all because we are losing a whole generation of supporters unless we turn things around dramatically...

You know it's time for the manager to go when you're almost willing your team to lose to make it unequivocally clear just how bad this team is. Not all his fault - the recruitment has been terrible and missing our best player in Shea Charles today, not much luck with woodwork yada yada - but the bottom line is we're tactically inept, we play slow predictable football, we can't keep a clean sheet, we can't score, we can't do the basics like take corners or defend them, we can't improve individual players and we certainly don't look like a team - with a manager who doesn't ever seem to smile, inspire or energise...it's time Will, thanks for coming out.

I think we all started off wanting to like him and wanting to give him a decent amount of time to make things work. Many of us have been pretty patient. My patience has expired. Not just because of incompetent management...from basic tactics like slavishly sticking to 3CBs/5 at the back...punting crosses into midget impotent strikers against giant CB opposition...inane in-game substitutions...always-the-same outswinging corners that end up being a breakaway on our goal...no movement for throw-ins...basic stuff that tells me this guy has never played the game... Not just because I can't think of a single player he's made a better player (Charles was doing fine on his own)...but I can see a ton he's made worse or lost/pissed off... But because he's just a bit of a misery really isn't he? For a young man he brings very little energy and enthusiasm into the room (or so it would appear from a distance). And don't mis-read me - I'm not advocating one of these false positive types where every friggin thing is about taking the positive (Canada)...oops, is that my inner voice speaking out! We all know just how crap our club is atm...it's not an easy job...but I'm thinking does this guy have the ability to lift others when things are really shit? I so want to give him the benefit of the doubt - I think he took the job in the first place to be closer to his partner who has a serious illness - that itself says something about his character that deserves respect. But perhaps it's a distraction too much? He certainly doesn't seem to be getting any joy out of his players or managing Southampton FC. If this post / PNE is the beginning of a turnaround for his fortunes and ours, I'd be the happiest person...but is there anyone out there who can see and brave enough to say so?