Saints vs Man City - Match Thread

[Gloucester Saint]

8 hours ago, CSA96 said:

Don't worry, everyone

 

Taylor’s definition of ‘done well’ is very different to ours. I wouldn’t call losing every single match, very heavily in some cases, ‘done well’. Any more than a blue steak in my local pub would ‘well done’.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

46 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Taylor’s definition of ‘done well’ is very different to ours. I wouldn’t call losing every single match, very heavily in some cases, ‘done well’. Any more than a blue steak in my local pub would ‘well done’.

Yep, “We've actually done well against the big teams, and we won't roll over at home” just look at those results

Big teams: SFC 0 v Man U 3, SFC 1 v Chelsea 5, SFC 0 v Spurs 5, SFC 1 v Newcastle 3, SFC 0 v Villa 3...and still Man City and Arsenal to come

Even the little ones: SFC 0 v Brentford 5, SFC 1 v B/mouth 3, SFC 0 v Brighton 4, SFC 0 v Burnl............

Thank fuck we're no pushovers at home.

[gio1saints]

An overused phrase from all the managers we’ve had this season is “ trained well”. Rusk used the phrase to describe Wellington today. 
 

Given we get beat most every week i make the connection that what successive managers at SFC have called “ trained well” is actually bollocks. 
 

Somebody ought to tell players and the managers that what they are doing is the opposite of “ training well”. My definition of trained well is when, following that training, the team performs well, and wins. If the training is rubbish then the performance will be as well. 
 

So, I have no hopes for the last three matches until I hear that the new manager thinks that the training is and has been shite that the sports science is and has been shite and turns the place upside down to start again. 

[Pamplemousse]

In fairness, we did play pretty well (for us anyway) against the top two, Liverpool and against Arsenal. Went ahead in the three league games we've played.

[Verbal]

Everything will be fine. Nothing can possibly go wrong.

[Doctoroncall]

6 hours ago, Verbal said:

Everything will be fine. Nothing can possibly go wrong.

Depends on your definition of wrong. 

[tdmickey3]

18 hours ago, gio1saints said:

An overused phrase from all the managers we’ve had this season is “ trained well”. Rusk used the phrase to describe Wellington today. 
 

Given we get beat most every week i make the connection that what successive managers at SFC have called “ trained well” is actually bollocks. 
 

Somebody ought to tell players and the managers that what they are doing is the opposite of “ training well”. My definition of trained well is when, following that training, the team performs well, and wins. If the training is rubbish then the performance will be as well. 
 

So, I have no hopes for the last three matches until I hear that the new manager thinks that the training is and has been shite that the sports science is and has been shite and turns the place upside down to start again. 

Well, at least the last 2 actually trained all week and not gave players day off to get their hair done

Edited Wednesday at 13:20 by tdmickey3

[gio1saints]

We will “train well” again this week then probably get hammered by Man City. 

A lot of supporters concur that Saints are noticeably less fit than the opposition, most of the time. We have also been noticeable slower both physically and mentally than our opposition. We have also been noticeably unwilling to go all out to win 50-50 challenges and invariably get out jumped for headers. Our passing is noticeably less crisp than the opposition and our shooting …well I should say our absence of shooting on target, tells its own story. Our inability to mark, often from straightforward positions like set pieces has also been noticeable. 

I just wonder - and it begs the question - what exactly is the “ training well” line that all three managements have used as a default pre match interview line? This delusion has been going on under three successive manager/ coaching teams now this season? It’s clearly NOT. “ training well”.

Training SHOULD BE :  Training in improving stamina or how to run faster, or how to jump higher, or how to concentrate better, or how to defend set pieces better or how not to get outmuscled off the ball or how to shoot and score more often or how to tackle like your job is on the line more than the last match. It SHOULD be detailed specifics on the next opponents and required tactics and strategy accordingly. 
 

Nobe of this happens to anything like the necessary standard this season. So why do we still get fed this pointless nonsense on “ trained well”. I wish they’d retire that phrase until it means something. 

[Barton Saint]

Absolutely 

Should be made to watch the Barcelona v Milan games over and over

What football and entertainment is all about 

[Thereisonlyonemickychannon]

0 - 11

Might as well go for that record too.

[Dark Munster]

So I hear Man. City are having a terrible season. And they could well end up finishing second and winning the FA Cup. If we had a season like that our unborn great grand kids will be talking about it years from now.

No one is going to be talking about our season years from now.

Oh, wait 

[Mr X]

It's going to be carnage! Double figures carnage! 😭

[Holmes_and_Watson]

49 minutes ago, Mr X said:

It's going to be carnage! Double figures carnage! 😭

[Charlie Wayman]

I am feeling really sorry for the travelling fans already. Their loyalty rewarded by abysmal performances. They deserve more but won't get it this week. 5-0 because even Pep has a heart. He'll not want to humiliate a caretaker manager and he has little to gain by going for broke.

As the old war song went;

When this bloody season's over
No more misery for me
When I trash my season ticket
Oh how happy I will be
 

Edited Wednesday at 16:51 by Charlie Wayman

[sledger]

my only hope for saturday is they get a two goal lead early then coast the game

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

14 minutes ago, sledger said:

my only hope for saturday is they get a two goal lead early then coast the game

They’ll certainly coast the game but still go on to score another 3 or 4 or…….

[Vancouver Saint]

Completely apathetic. This team and this season has managed to grind 56 years of support into disinterested apathy - I never thought I could be this dissociated with the club I've supported all my life. There must be an award somewhere for maximum brand equity erosion or something that SR would win hands down.

Man City B to win 3-0...boring boring stroll in the park for them...us trying to park the bus, which is really a very badly battered VW camper-van.

[IFHP]

11 hours ago, Charlie Wayman said:

I am feeling really sorry for the travelling fans already. Their loyalty rewarded by abysmal performances. They deserve more but won't get it this week. 5-0 because even Pep has a heart. He'll not want to humiliate a caretaker manager and he has little to gain by going for broke.

As the old war song went;

When this bloody season's over
No more misery for me
When I trash my season ticket
Oh how happy I will be
 

Well we won’t have far to travel this weekend as we are at home .

[Whitey Grandad]

17 hours ago, Barton Saint said:

Absolutely 

Should be made to watch the Barcelona v Milan games over and over

What football and entertainment is all about 

I agree and I haven’t even watched it yet.

[macca155]

I think for some time teams have been going easy on Saints. Perhaps not consciously, but pros will have no appetite to humiliate their fellow pros.

Saints have surprised a few teams like Palace and West Ham, but generally they are easily beaten. There is no glory in unnecessarily thrashing a broken opponent.

City will contain Saints and maintain a 2 or 3 goal lead.

Just need to grind this season out and get it over and done with.

[Saint Fan CaM]

1 hour ago, macca155 said:

I think for some time teams have been going easy on Saints. Perhaps not consciously, but pros will have no appetite to humiliate their fellow pros.

Saints have surprised a few teams like Palace and West Ham, but generally they are easily beaten. There is no glory in unnecessarily thrashing a broken opponent.

City will contain Saints and maintain a 2 or 3 goal lead.

Just need to grind this season out and get it over and done with.

Mmm, don’t know about that. If that were true then our two 9-0 humiliations wouldn’t have come about and we wouldn’t have stuffed Sunderland 8-0 or whatever it was. Not only that but there is every likelihood that this team will end the season with a relegation and joint lowest points tally ever whatever the score. No, I think the players in this team should be contrite if not broken already, however unfortunately I doubt any of their careers will suffer in the slightest as a result of the debacle we’ve been experiencing.

[east-stand-nic]

6-1 City. Nailed on.

[Challenger]

The club should make some kind of jesture for the remaining home games to ease the pain for the shite served up this season. A gift should be placed on each seat, maybe an abacus or jar of Vaseline.

[Tom57]

49 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Mmm, don’t know about that. If that were true then our two 9-0 humiliations wouldn’t have come about and we wouldn’t have stuffed Sunderland 8-0 or whatever it was. Not only that but there is every likelihood that this team will end the season with a relegation and joint lowest points tally ever whatever the score. No, I think the players in this team should be contrite if not broken already, however unfortunately I doubt any of their careers will suffer in the slightest as a result of the debacle we’ve been experiencing.

In terms of the two 9-0s I think the first was a perfect storm of a Leicester team who weren't going to win any cups or the league that season, but were still very good, combined with us being terrible. The record was a sort of 'title' they could actually play for and win, which they actually mentioned to each other at half time and were actively aiming for. The Man Utd one was a case of them almost not being able to not score that many goals. We had a very inexperienced team out that day with players like Tchaptchet, Ramsey, and Jankewitz who were also very low on confidence and in poor form as well as being down to 10 men very early, and 9 later on. The 10 that were left on the pitch being quite attacking too, with Ings, Adams, Djenepo, and S. Armstrong making up 40% of the team for most of it. When Bednarek got sent off, Martial was even telling the ref he got it wrong and the Man Utd players genuinely looked sorry for us. It's almost not worth it for the top teams to go for massive score lines as they'll never be remembered for that, rather for however they did in the leagues and cups, or maybe for any results they get against each other. We're obviously at the end of the season now so it doesn't matter as much, but imagine if against Arsenal they go for a massive scoreline, win 10-0 but Saka picks up a nasty ACL injury from overexerting himself keeping him out for a year and damaging their title push next season. It's better for them to sit on their 3-0 lead and just play out a safe game that doesn't affect their later games. We just don't register on their radars, and I think a lot of them and their fans would rather beat another big team 2-0 than a smaller team 8 or 9 nil. Man City beat Ipswich 6-0 but I doubt they'll talk about it much again, whereas Leicester and us will bring up our 9-0 and 8-0s lots of times. It's the teams that eventually finish ~7-10th you have to worry about with record losses unless you're playing half your U21s.

[Saint86]

I've tried to set my expectations low for this one... And then i can't be disappointed so here goes... City need goals to catch Arsenal. Against that. we really have been shocking in recent games.. no ideas, team can't defend, no belief, and they've pretty much well and truly given up / look beaten / waiting for it all to be over. I've therefore set my sights low - We're getting pumped. Could even be the first double figures in the prem.

And with this in mind, hopefully i won't be feeling disappointed come Monday... heck, if we keep it respectable i might even be happy? 🤣

[macca155]

2 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Mmm, don’t know about that. If that were true then our two 9-0 humiliations wouldn’t have come about and we wouldn’t have stuffed Sunderland 8-0 or whatever it was. Not only that but there is every likelihood that this team will end the season with a relegation and joint lowest points tally ever whatever the score. No, I think the players in this team should be contrite if not broken already, however unfortunately I doubt any of their careers will suffer in the slightest as a result of the debacle we’ve been experiencing.

Different time different team. Both 9 0s were isolated results. Plenty of wins in those seasons, Liverpool, Chelsea and City amongst others, to make other teams wary of Saints.

As Tom57 said, Saints are so bad they don't register on anybody's radar. Get the job done 2 or 3 nil, leave without any injuries or needing a shower.

[Barton Saint]

Training has been vigorous this week 

a clean bill of health 

So no hope whatsoever 

[Saint Fan CaM]

2 hours ago, macca155 said:

Different time different team. Both 9 0s were isolated results. Plenty of wins in those seasons, Liverpool, Chelsea and City amongst others, to make other teams wary of Saints.

As Tom57 said, Saints are so bad they don't register on anybody's radar. Get the job done 2 or 3 nil, leave without any injuries or needing a shower.

I think if the players give everything we might get away with 3 or 4-0. If they start the game with a mindset that includes leaving without injury and looking forward to a shower then it’ll be 6-0 plus. I would bet my left nut that there’s no premeditated decision by the oppo manager or players that they’ll ’take it easy’ on Saints - switch off and we’ll be spanked good and proper without any feelings of remorse.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

29 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

I would bet my left nut that there’s no premeditated decision by the oppo manager or players that they’ll ’take it easy’ on Saints - switch off and we’ll be spanked good and proper without any feelings of remorse.

Indeed, once they're clean out of sight and, say, 4 goals up, they'll just try and ease their way through the last 30 minutes......OK, last 85 minutes. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Wonder if Pep will be blowing smoke up Rusk's ass like he did with Martin. 

[HarvSFC]

Rusk keeps having digs at the fans in his press conferences after the Leicester game. Him, the squad and the owners have had the easiest ride of their lives considering they're sat on 11 points after 35 matches. The fans who went last week rightfully decided to air their anger last week, as despite Fernandes going to Portugal, he was still our most dangerous player on the pitch and a half fit Fernandes is better than a fully fit Smallbone. Plus, the performance last weekend was shocking. However, his comment today "I don't get to stop the game and announce on the tannoy the data behind why." Was just weird. The game's done, leave it.

Rusk isn't blameless this season either. He has been a first team coach for the most part. But, there hasn't actually been any evidence of coaching since Wembley last year.

Anyway, onto the game. It's going to be a really dull Saturday. Manchester City are going to pass it around our strolling players for fun. We'll be chasing shadows all afternoon. It's going to be really dull. It won't be a heavy defeat, as Guardiola's City team have never really hammered a team despite them being capable of doing so most weeks. 

[beatlesaint]

5 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

Rusk keeps having digs at the fans in his press conferences after the Leicester game. Him, the squad and the owners have had the easiest ride of their lives considering they're sat on 11 points after 35 matches. The fans who went last week rightfully decided to air their anger last week, as despite Fernandes going to Portugal, he was still our most dangerous player on the pitch and a half fit Fernandes is better than a fully fit Smallbone. Plus, the performance last weekend was shocking. However, his comment today "I don't get to stop the game and announce on the tannoy the data behind why." Was just weird. The game's done, leave it.

Rusk isn't blameless this season either. He has been a first team coach for the most part. But, there hasn't actually been any evidence of coaching since Wembley last year.

Anyway, onto the game. It's going to be a really dull Saturday. Manchester City are going to pass it around our strolling players for fun. We'll be chasing shadows all afternoon. It's going to be really dull. It won't be a heavy defeat, as Guardiola's City team have never really hammered a team despite them being capable of doing so most weeks. 

His sarcastic comment about stopping the game really fkin annoyed me. Still we have gone from conceding 3 big chances a game to 1.5 so that’s great news……oh wait, no, how can it be - WE ARE STILL F’KIN LOSING EVERY WEEK !!!!

The third bloody idiot in the managers chair this season!

[Football Special]

49 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

His sarcastic comment about stopping the game really fkin annoyed me. Still we have gone from conceding 3 big chances a game to 1.5 so that’s great news……oh wait, no, how can it be - WE ARE STILL F’KIN LOSING EVERY WEEK !!!!

The third bloody idiot in the managers chair this season!

Seems to have a weird smugness / arrogance for someone who's been part of such an embarrassing season, those idiot fans know nothing you don't need to justify your decisions to them Simon! 

Anyway back to this game,  LIMITED TICKETS REMAIN, BOOK SOON TO GUARANTEE DISAPPOINTMENT 

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/last-chance-for-man-city-tickets-2425

Having to discount corporate packages as businesses don't want to invite clients and be associated with our losers 

[IFHP]

1 hour ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Wonder if Pep will be blowing smoke up Rusk's ass like he did with Martin. 

And Ralph previously- a couple of times now Pep has said we were the best side they’ve played after giving us a beating yet some fans still hold on to those words . 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

28 minutes ago, IFHP said:

And Ralph previously- a couple of times now Pep has said we were the best side they’ve played after giving us a beating yet some fans still hold on to those words . 

I'd much prefer bitter, hurt rants about poor decisions, us being over aggressive or downright lucky, as an opposing manager talks about our win.

[Pamplemousse]

2 hours ago, HarvSFC said:

Rusk keeps having digs at the fans in his press conferences after the Leicester game. Him, the squad and the owners have had the easiest ride of their lives considering they're sat on 11 points after 35 matches. The fans who went last week rightfully decided to air their anger last week, as despite Fernandes going to Portugal, he was still our most dangerous player on the pitch and a half fit Fernandes is better than a fully fit Smallbone. Plus, the performance last weekend was shocking. However, his comment today "I don't get to stop the game and announce on the tannoy the data behind why." Was just weird. The game's done, leave it.

Rusk isn't blameless this season either. He has been a first team coach for the most part. But, there hasn't actually been any evidence of coaching since Wembley last year.

Anyway, onto the game. It's going to be a really dull Saturday. Manchester City are going to pass it around our strolling players for fun. We'll be chasing shadows all afternoon. It's going to be really dull. It won't be a heavy defeat, as Guardiola's City team have never really hammered a team despite them being capable of doing so most weeks. 

They'll ease off at half time and rest a few for the FA Cup Final.

[Willo of Whiteley]

City will be at least 3-0 up at HT, then as mentioned above ring the changes and rest players.

[die Mannyschaft]

We're half way there (only play first half then 5 subs) then living on a prayer 

Saints 1-4 115 City

[BarberSaint]

5 hours ago, Football Special said:

Seems to have a weird smugness / arrogance for someone who's been part of such an embarrassing season, those idiot fans know nothing you don't need to justify your decisions to them Simon! 

Anyway back to this game,  LIMITED TICKETS REMAIN, BOOK SOON TO GUARANTEE DISAPPOINTMENT 

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/last-chance-for-man-city-tickets-2425

Having to discount corporate packages as businesses don't want to invite clients and be associated with our losers 

 Padded seats? Not rooms?

[Patrick Bateman]

6 hours ago, HarvSFC said:

Rusk keeps having digs at the fans in his press conferences after the Leicester game. Him, the squad and the owners have had the easiest ride of their lives considering they're sat on 11 points after 35 matches. The fans who went last week rightfully decided to air their anger last week, as despite Fernandes going to Portugal, he was still our most dangerous player on the pitch and a half fit Fernandes is better than a fully fit Smallbone. Plus, the performance last weekend was shocking. However, his comment today "I don't get to stop the game and announce on the tannoy the data behind why." Was just weird. The game's done, leave it.

Rusk isn't blameless this season either. He has been a first team coach for the most part. But, there hasn't actually been any evidence of coaching since Wembley last year.

Anyway, onto the game. It's going to be a really dull Saturday. Manchester City are going to pass it around our strolling players for fun. We'll be chasing shadows all afternoon. It's going to be really dull. It won't be a heavy defeat, as Guardiola's City team have never really hammered a team despite them being capable of doing so most weeks. 

I just wish they'd all fk off. Most dislikable Saints team and back room staff in my history. 

[Pamplemousse]

Wasn't Rusk at Forest last season as their set piece coach, and they were the worst in the league statistically?

And had the best team in the National league at Stockport and got sacked. And look where they are now, knocking on the door in the Championship.

Another 'data-driven' SR appointment? It's got Rasmus's fingerprints all over it.

Edited 13 hours ago by Pamplemousse

[tttdcs]

8 hours ago, BarberSaint said:

 Padded seats? Not rooms?

Padded rooms/cells, stop you escaping after 10mins

[LGTL]

Rusk is a complete bellend. Hopefully he fucks off in the summer along with the rest of the useless wankers. 

[Football Special]

No chance Haaland was going to miss out on this one 

[sockeye]

6 minutes ago, Football Special said:

No chance Haaland was going to miss out on this one 

Wonder if the nods will clap his goals like last time

[rallyboy]

Yeah, even as an oasis of excitement in a vast desert of toothless, sideways and pointless miserable irrelevance, I despise being exposed to quality football or individual brilliance live at SMS and certainly wouldn't acknowledge it.

 

[Andrew Watson]

Lose 6 - 1.

[SaintsBarry74]

3 hours ago, Football Special said:

No chance Haaland was going to miss out on this one 

Lovely news

[miltonroad]

5 hours ago, LGTL said:

Rusk is a complete bellend. Hopefully he fucks off in the summer along with the rest of the useless wankers. 

That pre match press conference was a tough listen. Spouted absolute bollocks. “We can’t be all things to all people”; get the fundamentals right and “see where the universe takes us”. Oh fuck off mate; Stockport fans thought you were shit. 

[bobby_charles]

Right hear me out, in true Napoleon style fuck the defence just attack. With this in mind let's start with a front 4. Archer fraser on the wing tall Paul and stewart in the middle. Midfield les downes and matty just marauding around kicking people like the arsenal team of 1933 in Harry Enfields sketch.

Erm think that'll be alright.