Vancouver Saint

Thanks for the link Convict - worked well. Without reading threads up to this point I admit thinking WTF Ralph when he bought on Elyenoussi and Long. When we went 2-1 down I thought, how predictable...and where on earth are we going to score a goal from in this team? All credit Long for a great assist and the winning goal... What else did we learn? Valery is not a very intelligent footballer. How stupid do you have to be to put your hands on the attacker a) when you're on a yellow and b) when he's obviously over-hit it and there's no threat? How many of us here foresaw him being sent off - and why can't Ralph see that? (In fairness, perhaps he did and realised we're out of right backs). Also Forster cannot continue to have such bad distribution or get lucky with parrying shots back to the opposition. Anyway, happy we're into the next round.

Yes. I'm excited for us. Not just about the big data analysis though...because that is already becoming a 'hygiene factor' (i.e. a necessary cost of doing business that everybody gets up to speed with pretty quickly)...more because he appears to be brand literate. That is he understands fans are irrational and support off a team is driven my emotional reasons. They have got the basic equation right and we shouldn't forget this is a two-way relationship - they are lucky to get Southampton FC as well. When Cortese advised Markus, he correctly identified that we had (then) the 15th largest brand franchise in English football...and that we were languishing somewhere in the third tier. We have a large and loyal fanbase with the opportunity to increase it globally if it's well managed. We have a relatively stable, well-run club. We have a culture of investment in youth and development of young talent (a double-edged curse as we have until now been trapped in the 'feeder-club' trap of not being able to keep our talent long enough to win anything...but that might change). And most importantly, we have a pretty solid seat at the best table in world football in the EPL, with all the profile and financial rewards that brings. Now we need to go one further and become that rarest type of elite club - where the fanbase that make it what it is have a meaningful say in the decision-making - and ownership of the success (or disappointment) that brings.

Wow. Emerged from Covid over New Year to found we'd been bought. Have spent the last hour scanning this thread and doing a background check. I am cautiously optimistic. Like others am pleased that Ankersan is there...seems like a real person with an interest in football and empathy with the fanbase. Kraft, I need to understand better. Semmens is a class act IMHO - have listened to him on TSP and he makes total sense - I sincerely hope he stays on, at least for a decent transition period - although I suspect the next announcement is he's leaving to run Newcastle. Overall, a positive move. Something had to change with the Gao regime...we were doing well to stand still with no investment and raping the clubb of talent every year...top of the 'net in vs out' table each year was his goal and he managed to achieve that. On the plus side, he was hands off enough to let others works hard to make the club work and bring in people like Hasunhutl - without whom this deal would never have been possible. The big picture multi-club model is also exciting. We have a short window to make Southampton the cornerstone of this - highest profile / most successful brand in the portfolio - and not a millstone.

Touching and candid interview. Very tough to deal with. But Sam, if you do read through these comments by some small chance - be comforted in knowing that most of the people I've known make successes of their lives have overcome some kind of adversity. I hope the same is instore for you and wish you and. your family well.

Sadly so predictable. Think the PL should carry the can for this one. Disappointing because we have momentum - and no game to watch on Sunday now. Every PL club should be able to field 13 players and a goalie from the deep pools of players they have access to. If that means giving a few youth players their first chance to wear their first team colours so be it - that's great - look what Liverpool did in their Cup game against Villa was it? I don't blame Newcastle for taking advantage of the lax rules - we'd have tried the same in reverse (but likely without their success). But the incentive should be to play the games not postpone them...if every club knew these were the rules up front (basically play or default), believe me - they'd have done more to make sure their players were all double-vaccinated early and kept as fit as possible to play.

Should be total transparency against every squad member ie are they fit to play, are they injured, have covid, or just isolating as not vaccinated. Should be simple to see if clubs have less than 13 players This Whelk - totally agree. Why should a team with say 60% double-vaxxed players be allowed to call off a game against a team with 98% double-vaxxed?

Confess I gave us no chance when I saw the line-up...six changes, Long, Valery...no Romeu...thought RH was rotating the squad to give us a better chance against Newcastle. Thought that was a massive performance from the whole team. Salisu will hopefully learn from that...he was almost certainly told to 'get up their backsides'...and it worked a treat for 40 minutes...he needed to take something off after the first yellow. Earned ur luck as Wrighty just said.

What? Are we watching the same game? Think he' s done pretty well. My problem is not this game but Brentford now without Salisu and no centre back replacement if Lyanco and Stephens out.

Can't believe we won a game (and away from home)! Was totally psyched for the equaliser in extra time (and probably the winner from them knowing us) so surprised and happy we hung on to win. Feared the worst when I saw the lineup. Thought we should have subbed much much earlier to put some energy back into the midfield...was thinking the worst again...why are we waiting to go behind before changing things? Broja won that for us - total class act when he's up for it. Salisu great. Walcott worked hard, so did Redmond. Great first goal from Elyounoussi. Che Adams and S Armstrong back...Adam Armstrong fit for Tuesday...OMG, do you think we have a chance against Spurs? Foster has to learn how to catch the ball from corners...we will get exploited for punching out every time. I liked big hoofs up the park instead of playing out from the back and being dispossessed or giving the ball away in our own half.

Anyone else think Lewis should be given a chance ahead of Willy C? Willy was terrible against Arsenal - couldn't catch a corner, didn't move to save the second (although that was 80% the non-defending in front of him, better goalies might still have saved that header) gave away chances on poor distribution.. It strikes me that even third choice goalkeepers have to pass some kind of standard to earn a professional contract no? When is there ever a better opportunity than now to give him a chance to prove himself. Willy had the chance and failed to rise to the occasion (sorry, I will stop it...)

I see where you're coming from but I like Ralph because he wants to be front-foot, go-forward, look to win games - I'd rather see that than a Sam Allardyce 'park the bus' from the beginning of games (I still cannot believe people on here would rather see us become Sheffield Utd or West Brom). As we've proven with some terrific performances that short memories forget - we CAN do it - but not when you're missing key players in key areas. I get the 'one trick pony, change the playbook criticism'. I just think that the issue is not the bigger picture playbook strategy, but the lack of tactical flexibility to change it when required. This includes playing players out of position (KWP and Perraud should play with Tino rested or a power-sub higher up / sitting too deep in pathetic attempts to defend a one goal lead instead of attacking for a second goal / not changing it up in some games when you need a 'plan B' from the start...although he tried this a Liverpool and it backfired / general fitness and effort in second half of games / not buying a decent goalkeeper - which was my No.1 priority at the beginning of the season). I think the solution is not to fire Ralph but to hire a rotweiler defensive coach who will counter Ralph's soft approach with some real fear-driven bollocking to eliminate limp performances. We generally are better going forward than defending - so need to strengthen our defensive frailty and make us harder to beat.

This. Now we are really in trouble. Called the 0-3 loss today...very predictable. Lack of effort second half a really poor sign. High energy press first half formula is now transparent to all...we concede more on the counter than we score and have no stamina to compete in second halves of games. Now we have no strikers and no goalkeepers. WC clearly not an upgrade. Bright side? We need a new goalkeeper and now probably a new striker in the January window. Will we get them...don't make me laugh. Am a Ralph supporter and think 'careful what you wish for' to those who call for his head. But I confess it is no fun to watch games you know we have no chance to compete in and/or will predictably throw away.

0-3 or 0-4. Aubameyang will score a hatrick. Getting tired of watching games in which we really have little or no hope. Arsenal will be well up for it after losing their last two. Hope I'm wrong but really can't understand the optimism here with Romeu and Salisu out, a new goalkeeper old or new (although WC probably an upgrade he's not match fit...nor would Stephens be if he plays). Saints podcast pundits all had us losing this from 0-2 to 1-3.

OMG Christmas has come early for the punners - can we all stop playing with our Willys now? P.S. Is the rumour we only managed to get him so quickly because he's injured true?...eye injury apparently...he's a one-eyed monster.

UN-.F........ING BELIEVABLE! I have really lost my sense of humour...how the. F can Ralph be smiling after that shambolic defence of a lead with 11 v 10. HOW? HOW? Attack is the best form of defence - when will we learn. WHEN. Just not good enough. Now we lose to Arsenal with no Salisu or Romeu.

Hmmm, interesting - but that is just one week and midfield aerial battles from punts upfield...his headed goal for Leicester was his first headed goal out of the 70 or 80 he's scored apparently - says it all.

Is it right we haven't scored a goal from open play in the last 30 minutes of any game this season? Thought I heard that from a DAZN commentator on the Leicester game. There is definitely a second-half drop-off effect with us that every opposing manager must know. Is it a lack of fitness? Too energetic / exhausting high pressing early on in games (when we score most of our...very few....goals). If we could play two decent high=pressing halves of football we'd win. Think we'll edge Brighton 2-1. Armstrong and Adams playing on the ground (no point in high crosses unless Broja is up top).

Onwards. Early goal killed it - did others notice our win percentage chance was 2% after Liverpool's first goal! We needed Liverpool to be off their game and for us to play at the top of ours to get anything out of this - unfortunately they were on absolutely top form and pretty much everything fell for them. Their second goal would have been called back for handball if it were us - that's how it goes. Hindsight is a wonderful thing - I'm not afraid to admit I was happy to see our 'crazy' formation before kick-off - told me we were going to try to take it to them, yet still have five at the back if needed. So, it didn't work because we never got a chance to get settled - Bednarek got nutmegged for the first goal. Positives for me...we kept going. Lyanco looked good to me (don't get the criticism on here). Salisu solid. Perraut played well. Tella did well both going forwards and running back. We should have scored - Armstrong could/should have had a couple. Anyone who plays the game knows how difficult it is to maintain energy and drive when you know the game is lost - 3-0 down after half an hour and the game is gone. Broja, Adams and Armstrong together against lesser teams could be a winner.

Agree with all this. I'd give Forster a chance to pull off one of those special performances - McCarthy deserves to be dropped after those two weak goals against Norwich. We still need a new keeper. The game will be determined more by Liverhampton than us...if they turn up gung-ho we'll lose 0-3 or worse...if they have a Euro hangover, or just can't be bothered we might battle out a 0-0 draw. Would love to see us do a Watford all the same.

I said this before the start of the season. Can only think the contract situation with Forster blocked goalkeeping options? No excuse now. I have had time to settle about today's terrible second half performance and I'm still angry. Taking Adams off for Walcott was criminal...and Romeu the rock too...madness. Too many bad performances all round. But we let Norwich win a game we should have won comfortably. Worries me that these dropped points and lost momentum will cost us. Apparently the average end of season position is 2.6 places up or down from where you are after 11 games...so on this performance we'll be 16th.

OMG - that was terrible! I'm so angry. We've had some bad second halves but that has to be the worst ever. Some of our worst performances of the season. McCarthy terrible. Dialio terrible. KWP terrible. Walcott - seriously? Ralph - wtf were those substitutions...I get Broja for Elyenoussi who was also terrible...but Walcott, c'mon...take off Romeu? Lyanco is fine but why do that. When we knew we'd likely have control. of the ball why wouldn't you feature Redmond, S. Armstrong or Djenepo - some serious questions here about selection. TERRIBLE!

First goal will be huge. Think Norwich will be up for this and put high energy in to impress their new manager - hopefully we will more than match them and not be complacent. If we score first...then...add a second (yes, I know we don't do insurance goals)...I reckon that will be enough to put them back in their box.

Yes, you're right - that's what I meant.

Hmmm. Before the new manager thing I'd have said 0-3 or 1-4. Now I'm less certain. Let's see who comes back fit from the international break (with the chorus on this - waaaay too many bloody international breaks at the moment - not interested). Last game against Villa was revealing. Armstrong way off the pace. Livramento had his worst game by a mile - let's hope it was just a temporary blip. We missed Redmond's creativity whatever the Redmond-haters on here think. JWP...works hard but putting every corner into the 6-yard box is becoming predictable for opposition goalies (they've even rehearsed the quick boot up the park to take on Bednarek). KWP is good, Lyanco looks promising, Salisu a beast, Romeu a beast (but needs a fast, creative midfield counterpart..Dialio arguably better than JWP in this respect) A Amstrong looking sharp, Adams a grafter with an occasional worldlie in him but needs to score more, Broja a proper No. 10 and the most threatening of all I reckon. Elynoussi putting himself about a bit more, but I kinda feel is interchangeable with Djenepo. Feel / hope Walcott has one last hurrah run of goals and great form to give us. So it's more even than it should be. If we score first we should win, but if they do the crowd there are going to be right behind them and it will be much closer than it should be.

OMG that was TORTURE! Classic us...should've been out of sight at half-time...9 shots on goal 1 on target says it all... Looked very leggy second half. Can't understand why Ralph waited so long to sub Elynoussi off, although S Armstrong had one of his worst caemos and is still clearly not match fit. Even the DAZN commentator was saying Che Adams was tired with 20 minutes to go...and we were struggling to hold the ball up top - why on earth not bring Tella on and defend by attacking?! McCarthy man of the match - made a match-winning save at the end. Happy we got the points, but my goodness it's no surprise we seem to have mastered the formula for losing points from winning positions - giving teams that should be dead and buried hope.