Southampton 1-2 Wolves - Match Thread

[Harry_SFC]

12 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

He didn’t reference the wolves game directly, was just talking about why Tall Paul and Sulemana didn’t start last week. Said they had both not done much training due to transfer logistics, but that Paul has played a lot lately whereas Sulemana isn’t quite as up to speed.

Tbf Sulemana was pretty decent when he came on last week. Weeks worth of training - get him on the pitch on Saturday. 

[S-Clarke]

6 minutes ago, trousers said:

Why are we seemingly the only club on the planet that don't sign players who are "up to speed"...?

Apart from Bree and Bednarek. (I class Bednarek as a signing in this window)

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Tbf Sulemana was pretty decent when he came on last week. Weeks worth of training - get him on the pitch on Saturday. 

I'd have a not up to speed Sulemana over our other options any day of the week. 

[Toadhall Saint]

20 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

He didn’t reference the wolves game directly, was just talking about why Tall Paul and Sulemana didn’t start last week. Said they had both not done much training due to transfer logistics, but that Paul has played a lot lately whereas Sulemana isn’t quite as up to speed.

Also said last week they had about 35 mins of trading with the team.

[The Kraken]

3 minutes ago, trousers said:

Why are we seemingly the only club on the planet that don't sign players who are up to speed...?

I checked again what Jones said, just to be sure, to summarise.

Both didn’t start last week as they pretty much only had 35 minutes of training time with the group. Ironically they both played more last week than we’d have liked. Paul has played a lot of football but has had a week of transfer logistics so doing everything bar training. Sulemana, hes played a little bit less than Paul, hes he’s had a really good week of training but we’ve had to look after him, we can’t flog him or we’ll lose him.

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

I checked again what Jones said, just to be sure, to summarise.

Both didn’t start last week as they pretty much only had 35 minutes of training time with the group. Ironically they both played more last week than we’d have liked. Paul has played a lot of football but has had a week of transfer logistics so doing everything bar training. Sulemana, hes played a little bit less than Paul, hes he’s had a really good week of training but we’ve had to look after him, we can’t flog him or we’ll lose him.

oh great, like Lavia another good player who cant actually play that much 

[trousers]

4 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

I checked again what Jones said, just to be sure, to summarise.

Both didn’t start last week as they pretty much only had 35 minutes of training time with the group. Ironically they both played more last week than we’d have liked. Paul has played a lot of football but has had a week of transfer logistics so doing everything bar training. Sulemana, hes played a little bit less than Paul, hes he’s had a really good week of training but we’ve had to look after him, we can’t flog him or we’ll lose him.

Cheers TK.

We're two and a half weeks away from March. Good job we didn't need new up-to-speed attackers as far back as 1st Jan...

Edited 9 February, 2023 by trousers

[coalman]

4 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

I checked again what Jones said, just to be sure, to summarise.

Both didn’t start last week as they pretty much only had 35 minutes of training time with the group. Ironically they both played more last week than we’d have liked. Paul has played a lot of football but has had a week of transfer logistics so doing everything bar training. Sulemana, hes played a little bit less than Paul, hes he’s had a really good week of training but we’ve had to look after him, we can’t flog him or we’ll lose him.

The downside is they've both had a week being trained in Saints' tactics now.

[The Kraken]

1 minute ago, coalman said:

The downside is they've both had a week being trained in Saints' tactics now.

The upside is, at least it’s only one week…

[Saint Matty 76]

Completely understand why he didn't start either vs Brentford given their late arrivals, but if they're both not starting Saturday after a full week of preparation then I don't quite get what we're doing.

We know our current crop of players are shit, we've spent a load of money in January to rectify that, play them.

Bazunu
KWP (Bree) - DCC - ABK (Salisu) - Perraud
Alcaraz - Lavia - JWP
Sulemana - Onuachu - Edozie

If we see Elyonuoussi, Diallo, Lyanco, Bednarek etc in the starting line-up at 2pm tomorrow then expect things to turn toxic even quicker than they should. Hopefully Stu and KWP are able to play in some regard based on his comments.

Edited 9 February, 2023 by Saint Matty 76

[Atlanta Saint]

54 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

He didn’t reference the wolves game directly, was just talking about why Tall Paul and Sulemana didn’t start last week. Said they had both not done much training due to transfer logistics, but that Paul has played a lot lately whereas Sulemana isn’t quite as up to speed.

From what I saw last week Tall Paul needs to have some jumping training, as one of the tallest players in the league he was constantly out jumped by defenders for headers. 

[Dusic]

Assuming Big Paul starts then the absolute key is to get runners around him who will run in behind the defence.

I doubt (probably rightly) that Jones will be so open as to play a 4-4-2 partnering Adams and Big Paul so that means Adams will likely be benched.

Kamaldeen is surely a cert to be one who plays off BP, wouldnt suprise me if he goes Walcott on the other side as (from Jones' view at least) he offers more of a goal threat than Edozie and is a natural on the right whereas Edozie is better from the left.

Surely this will be the first game we see the best midfield trio of Lavia, Alcaraz and JWP?

I think it will be:

 

----------GB/AMc---------

Bree----JB-----Sali----Perraud

------------Lavia----------

------JWP-------Alcaraz----

Walcott----------------Kamaldeen

----------Big Paul-------------

 

Or...if he does go with 3 CBs:

-----------GB/AMc-----------

-----Lyanco--JB----Sali-----

Bree--Lavia-JWP--Alcaraz---RP

----Big Paul------Kamaldeen---

[Atlanta Saint]

1 hour ago, trousers said:

Why are we seemingly the only club on the planet that don't sign players who are "up to speed"...?

Not up to our speed. They come to us with speed, we just have to slow them down to the pace we play at! LOL

[Harry_SFC]

52 minutes ago, Atlanta Saint said:

From what I saw last week Tall Paul needs to have some jumping training, as one of the tallest players in the league he was constantly out jumped by defenders for headers. 

Peter Crouch was the same. He said on his podcast that overly tall players (himself included) aren't actually that great in the air because they don't jump. Reckons he was better in the penalty area when attacking the ball rather than winning it from goal kicks etc. 

[HarvSFC]

1 hour ago, trousers said:

Cheers TK.

We're two and a half weeks away from March. Good job we didn't need new up-to-speed attackers as far back as 1st Jan...

The funny thing is Nicolas Jackson was our primary attacking target and it took a Bournemouth medical to realise he's currently crocked. Not many players fail medicals. We were close to spending £20m+ on an attacker we wouldn't have seen this season, so suppose we should be grateful for the cameos.

[suewhistle]

56 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Peter Crouch was the same. He said on his podcast that overly tall players (himself included) aren't actually that great in the air because they don't jump. Reckons he was better in the penalty area when attacking the ball rather than winning it from goal kicks etc. 

I also noted that Big Paul didn't seem a great jumper, but in his defence from memory I thought the balls played towards him were all a bit hit and hope, and not ones you'd attack such as free kicks or decent crosses into a danger area. Let's hope he gets better service when he plays.

[Convict Colony]

9 minutes ago, suewhistle said:

I also noted that Big Paul didn't seem a great jumper, but in his defence from memory I thought the balls played towards him were all a bit hit and hope, and not ones you'd attack such as free kicks or decent crosses into a danger area. Let's hope he gets better service when he plays.

I read he actually uses his chest a lot and prefers to control high balls with that and has good control. He headers I just think the defenders at Brentford were dropping off him and running to jump, he just needs to get used to it and get cute with having fouls etc.

Am excited to see what he can do v wolves as I expect kameldeen at least to be feeding him.

 

[Convict Colony]

Anyway I'm sick of being a teenage girl who just found out her fav band broke up this week so am back on the optimism train.

I expect a performance like the city game and big Paul scores with maybe Carlos also chipping in.

2-0 

Nathan Jones red and white army

[derry]

If we try and use Onuachu as a target for up and unders he won't win much. His strength is in and around the six yd box, getting across defenders with head or feet so we need crosses coming in from the sides hard not floated preferably from the byeline. that's why I'd go with Sulemana on the right and Orsic to come in off the left. Alcaraz is also pretty handy in and around the penalty area. Onuachu is pretty sharp close in but looks awkward further out.

[Convict Colony]

19 minutes ago, suewhistle said:

I also noted that Big Paul didn't seem a great jumper, but in his defence from memory I thought the balls played towards him were all a bit hit and hope, and not ones you'd attack such as free kicks or decent crosses into a danger area. Let's hope he gets better service when he plays.

🤣 deleted it as the joke was too shit even for me

Edited 9 February, 2023 by Convict Colony
I've got comedy standards

[eurosaint]

3 hours ago, LaptopSaint said:

 

Don't panic, Captain Mainwaring... I don't disagree for a moment that he's brought most of it upon himself, and the rants have been ridiculous. I wouldn't have appointed him in the first place. But he inherited a squad desperately low on confidence and with a crap record throughout 2022. And it's pretty clear he's not going to be sacked any time soon. So the personal hate is all a bit small time IMO. And when I'm in the ground I'll support the team for 90 mins and boo afterwards if I feel like it. 

We’re pretty much on the same page tbf !

I will be supporting the team throughout the match but as I’m 6,000 miles away I won’t be booing in the stadium (couldn’t offload my ST before I left home which kinda sums up the apathy at the moment) but as I never ever boo anyway it’s immaterial !

Anyway as my support for the Saints goes well beyond my dislike of the manager I’m really hoping for an unlikely win on Sat 😇

[austsaint]

5 hours ago, eurosaint said:

I think that he’s brought most of it upon himself with boasting how good he has been and constantly bigging himself up !

Actions speak louder than words and his actions have been abysmal !

All this talk of stats being in his favour is crap  and I now refer to him as the “Stat Twat” 👺

 

You could argue that an over-reliance on statistics and algorithms (by Ankersen and friends) has resulted in this mess.  AS it would likely in most job selection processes.

[austsaint]

1 hour ago, derry said:

If we try and use Onuachu as a target for up and unders he won't win much. His strength is in and around the six yd box, getting across defenders with head or feet so we need crosses coming in from the sides hard not floated preferably from the byeline. that's why I'd go with Sulemana on the right and Orsic to come in off the left. Alcaraz is also pretty handy in and around the penalty area. Onuachu is pretty sharp close in but looks awkward further out.

Yes, strengthens the case too for specialist full backs, ie KWP and Perraud - both who have good "Onuachu" crosses in their kitbag.   If he plays JWP more forward I'd like to see at least two pacy "front four" players.   Sulemana a must - then in order of preference Orsic (who needs to lift) Edozie, Arma.

[saintant]

2 hours ago, derry said:

If we try and use Onuachu as a target for up and unders he won't win much. His strength is in and around the six yd box, getting across defenders with head or feet so we need crosses coming in from the sides hard not floated preferably from the byeline. that's why I'd go with Sulemana on the right and Orsic to come in off the left. Alcaraz is also pretty handy in and around the penalty area. Onuachu is pretty sharp close in but looks awkward further out.

Spot on. He'll be really dangerous if we get balls whipped into the area around the six yard box where he can get his head or a long leg there ahead of defenders - he has scored a lot of goals like this without barely having to jump. Long balls would be better played to his chest for him to control and bring others into play. Have a feeling Jones will use him in completely the wrong way.

[Simo is back]

We'll beat wolves comfortably 3 or 4 nil . Then go on to lose the next 3 

 

 

[James G]

I listened to some of Talk Sport earlier, and they were all over this game, and they're basing themselves there on Saturday. Nat has really rubbed them up the wrong way

[HarvSFC]

There was me thinking "To be honest with you, I’ve listened to people and it’s been to my detriment. That’s not my team out there." Was moving the attention away from himself. Guess I misread the situation.

Here's some classic Jones:

 

 

 

[Osvaldorama]

5 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

Tbf Sulemana was pretty decent when he came on last week. 

The Welsh David Brent will soon coach that out of him 

[Chez]

5 hours ago, revolution saint said:

I thought the presser was OK, nothing special but nothing to get too worked up over either.  It's points and performances that matter anyway.

I'd like to see:

Bazunu

KWP - DCC - Salisu - Perraud

JWP - Lavia - Alcaraz

A Armstrong - Mara - Sulemana

Put A Armstrong in simply because he's not bad at pressing and could set the tone for the performance.  I'd probably leave Onuachu on the bench because I'm not sure he'll be fit enough for 90 mins and would rather he come on towards the end of the match.  If KWP isn't fit then Bree I suppose.

my thinking too. Was not impressed by Onuachu, but more importantly, I thought Mara looked really good in the Newcastle game (should never have been take off) and Armstrong caused them problems out wide with his pace and work rate too. Jones clearly didn't see it, as he dropped one and played the other down the middle in the reverse fixture. 

[Saint NL]

What time will Nathan be sending the drone up to get the game postponed this week?

 

I'm guessing 3:27pm.

[egg]

Fantasy scout line up prediction still has Bednarek in the team: 

 

 

Edited 9 February, 2023 by egg

[SNSUN]

1 hour ago, egg said:

Fantasy scout line up prediction still has Bednarek in the team: 

 

 

It's getting closer to a team most of us want to see. Still some question marks though but closer than we've seen so far. I still wouldn't put it past Jones to go with 3 CBs though.

[Baird of the land]

6 hours ago, egg said:

Fantasy scout line up prediction still has Bednarek in the team: 

 

 

Hope that’s wrong, that defense is an accident waiting to happen

[Miltonaggro]

Only a day to seeing untainted Jonesball for the first time. Actually really looking forward to seeing Nats stats into hard facts. 

[Saint_Ash]

I'd go with - 

-----------------Baz---------------

Bree-----ABK-------Sali-----Perraud

---------------Lavia-----------------

--edozie------Alcaraz--------Sule--

-------------JWP-------------------

---------------------Tall Paul-------

Edited 10 February, 2023 by Saint_Ash
Clean up

[Saint Fan CaM]

This one holds an extra level of expectation in that we’re all on the edge of our seats waiting for the revelation that is Total Jonesball.  He has promised it and given that his footballing knowledge far outstrips mine, I’m expecting to see a transformed team and an immediate impact resulting in three home points.

In the real World, I’m expecting a calamitous affair as the players either don’t understand what’s required or have stopped listening to NJ’s babble or both. I’m expecting a defeat as Wolves are just the type of team that bully our lads into submission…they provide no thinking time for our players on the ball as our slow build up play will suit them completely. It will turn ugly by half-time I reckon.

Saints 1 - Wolves 3

Cant wait. COYS!

[bobby_charles]

Jones: "I could have stayed in a mining community, been a PE teacher and had a nice life, married a nice Welsh girl. Beautiful. I didn’t. And that’s nothing against Welsh women."

 

 

Now I know I shouldn't want us to loose just to hear the post match presser, but if it is anything like this peach of a comment I am more excited than the game.

 

 

Edited 10 February, 2023 by bobby_charles

[saintant]

43 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

This one holds an extra level of expectation in that we’re all on the edge of our seats waiting for the revelation that is Total Jonesball.  He has promised it and given that his footballing knowledge far outstrips mine, I’m expecting to see a transformed team and an immediate impact resulting in three home points.

In the real World, I’m expecting a calamitous affair as the players either don’t understand what’s required or have stopped listening to NJ’s babble or both. I’m expecting a defeat as Wolves are just the type of team that bully our lads into submission…they provide no thinking time for our players on the ball as our slow build up play will suit them completely. It will turn ugly by half-time I reckon.

Saints 1 - Wolves 3

Cant wait. COYS!

I'm expecting a similar set-up and game to the debacle that was Nottingham Forest. I think that was the real Nathan Jones at work and let's remember he alone thought that was a good performance. More of the same coming tomorrow I suspect.

[Toussaint]

Plenty of opportunity to stick the boot into NJ on other threads, is anyone actually looking forward to the game?  I am, I'm working on the basis NJ is here for the rest of the season, so, we have to deal with it. Villa home was one of the best atmospheres in years, hopefully we will get a bit more of that tomorrow. No matter what anyone's opinion is of our manager, its not in anyone's interest to see him fail, he fails we all lose. 

[suewhistle]

Hurrah! The trains appear to be running normally. This means no driving and the ability to have a decent level of pre-match anaesthesia to numb the pain..

Like Convict Colony my default and preferred attitude is optimism: some on here surprise me by still not having topped themselves, but for once they have some justification. I'm old enough to remember Branfoot and this feels as bad.

At least I've got a dose of football on Sunday afternoon as well to sweat all the angst out of my system..

[Saint In Cornwall]

No trains Salisbury to Southampton so it’s a 4 hour drive for me. 
I know it will be worth it to experience the euphoria of a dominant win for Saints.

 

[derry]

Have those effin idiots that keep putting up their example teams not yet worked out that we have two massive problems, we don't take our chances so we don't score enough goals and secondly we concede and lose to one or two goals in every game. The biggest problem by far is not scoring ourselves. Every time I see Adams touted as a striker or even a lone striker I know we are looking down both barrels, as a defeat is probably on the way. We cannot play players that continually fail to do their primary job and squander our really good chances and in the grand scheme of things provide not much of anything else. Adams is a failure, it just isn't going to suddenly change. It is what it is. We cannot afford to play him on the off chance. Especially as he is not improving.

[Saint_lambden]

They're likely to go 4-4-2 again as it worked so well last weekend so I'd match them up and put big Paul up top with Adams. 

------------------------------Baz-------------------------

--KWP (if fit)--------DCC-----------Salisu------Perraud--

--Edozie------------Lavia-----------JWP------Sulemana--

--------------------Big Paul---------Adams---------------

In to 'em, fuck 'em up etc. 0-1 loss, Jones sacked, too late for replacement to save it. 

 

 

 

[revolution saint]

1 hour ago, Toussaint said:

Plenty of opportunity to stick the boot into NJ on other threads, is anyone actually looking forward to the game?  I am, I'm working on the basis NJ is here for the rest of the season, so, we have to deal with it. Villa home was one of the best atmospheres in years, hopefully we will get a bit more of that tomorrow. No matter what anyone's opinion is of our manager, its not in anyone's interest to see him fail, he fails we all lose. 

I'm definitely looking forward to the game and we've got a few players that I really want to see do well.  For the first time in ages we appear to have players that can actually beat their man - Alcaraz, Sulemana and Edozie all seem capable of going both sides and I think we've really lacked that.  We haven't had a big presence in the box for quite a while either so I'm looking forward to seeing Onuachu after a proper week of training.  Orsic is still a mystery even though he's been here a month or so.  There's a lot to look forward to.

I hope we put out a decent side and the players do what Jones tells them to do.  Not because I think he's a genius but if he fails then I don't want him having an excuse and blaming the players.  More than anything I want to see a win and a good performance where we create chances. 

The manager situation will take care of itself; I don't like him and so far he hasn't done anything to suggest that he can turn things around but I'm getting a bit fed up of concentrating on him solely.   

[Fitzhugh Fella]

I wonder how many on her will “take” a defeat tomorrow if it definitely means Jones gets sacked that night? 

[S-Clarke]

11 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

I wonder how many on her will “take” a defeat tomorrow if it definitely means Jones gets sacked that night? 

Not at all, I want him gone as much as the next person but I could never accept a defeat. The best case scenario for me is a really poor/scrappy/backs against the wall win, with no tactical acumen on show. That prompts SR to get rid of him and we hire a new manager on the back of a win.

I can but hope.

[Miltonaggro]

1 hour ago, bobby_charles said:

Jones: "I could have stayed in a mining community, been a PE teacher and had a nice life, married a nice Welsh girl. Beautiful. I didn’t. And that’s nothing against Welsh women."

 

 

Now I know I shouldn't want us to loose just to hear the post match presser, but if it is anything like this peach of a comment I am more excited than the game.

 

 

I think he’s over estimating his abilities again. 

[West end Saints]

No first team players at all involved with B team today

[saintant]

12 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Not at all, I want him gone as much as the next person but I could never accept a defeat. The best case scenario for me is a really poor/scrappy/backs against the wall win, with no tactical acumen on show. That prompts SR to get rid of him and we hire a new manager on the back of a win.

I can but hope.

No chance of him being sacked after a win. The only scenario I see him going is if we play poorly and suffer an embarrassing defeat where we offer little or nothing. Anything else and Rasmus keeps his man in place.

[saintant]

3 minutes ago, West end Saints said:

No first team players at all involved with B team today

Not even Janny B....shame!