Saints v Skates - Sunday 14th Sept 12pm

[RedArmy]

1 hour ago, danjosaint said:

It will be 5atb

It fucking better not be 

[LGTL]

If he plays 5 at the back again it’s a fucking sackable offence as far as I’m concerned. 

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

1 minute ago, LGTL said:

If he plays 5 at the back again it’s a fucking sackable offence as far as I’m concerned. 

Agreed. He has no balls if he does that. No excuses now at all.

Really dont know why he seems too hesitant with 5 at the back.

[revolution saint]

2 minutes ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

Agreed. He has no balls if he does that. No excuses now at all.

Really dont know why he seems too hesitant with 5 at the back.

To be fair he’s been pretty clear that he didn’t want to play with a four at the back until he had genuine wingers in. You can disagree with it obviously but that’s why he’s said he’s been playing that formation.

He’s got wingers now so you’d expect us to go to something closer to the kind of formation he would rather play now.

[danjosaint]

Depends what upstairs want him to play 

[Harry_SFC]

50 minutes ago, LGTL said:

If he plays 5 at the back again it’s a fucking sackable offence as far as I’m concerned. 

There's no way we should be playing 5 at the back against anyone in this league at home, let alone Portsmouth. 

[Verbal]

17 minutes ago, danjosaint said:

Depends what upstairs want him to play 

What does that mean? That Still's tactics are dictated to him? That his team selections are not his selections given the players available?

[Lighthouse]

1 minute ago, Verbal said:

What does that mean? That Still's tactics are dictated to him? That his team selections are not his selections given the players available?

Maybe he means like mad Nate, God is telling him what tactics to play.

[SaintNewForest]

1 minute ago, Verbal said:

What does that mean? That Still's tactics are dictated to him? That his team selections are not his selections given the players available?

It makes you wonder if there is a directive from upstairs since SR took over: Ralph, Jones, Selles, Martin, Juric and the early days of Still have all been more or less stuck to 3 at the back. Martin less so than the others, admittedley, but it still happened more than you'd expect. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

I think the whole “SR want tompkay five at the back” rumour is bollocks. Let’s can that now shall we 🤣

I reckon he’ll start with a back five tomorrow and maybe next week he’ll break into four at the back.

[Patches O Houlihan]

 

[EssEffCee]

1 hour ago, SaintNewForest said:

It makes you wonder if there is a directive from upstairs since SR took over: Ralph, Jones, Selles, Martin, Juric and the early days of Still have all been more or less stuck to 3 at the back. Martin less so than the others, admittedley, but it still happened more than you'd expect. 

Ralph certainly didn't. He played a back four the vast majority of his time here.

[danjosaint]

1 hour ago, Verbal said:

What does that mean? That Still's tactics are dictated to him? That his team selections are not his selections given the players available?

Yes its sounds bonkers but after listening to which i think is an old DOF on the radii they said the growing trend is the owners wanting to dictate the play, almost like its my club i can do what I want, granted its mainly overseas but this was openly reason Marinakis got rid of Nuno. Looking into it, Still hasn't played 5atb before, and before people say because he has no wingers well he has, maybe not productive ones but he's had the option, this also would of allowed us forming a settled back 4. Mad Nate alluded to interference, Juric did play a 5 before so was that why he was bought in, Rusk continued with Juric's shit formation where we gave up midfied exactly like Utd do. Rusk had a perfect short term position where he could've tried something different, a no loss situation for him. Also the rumour/qoute that Rasmus mentioned about the data analysts said this system will get you the most points or something like that. Hopefully all above is bollocks and we go back to a 4, 

Edited 19 hours ago by danjosaint

[sockeye]

First south coast derby in years and the BBC wants to talk about Isak and Man Utd's goalkeepers.

[Charlie Wayman]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cwyn15619dxo

[sockeye]

1 minute ago, Charlie Wayman said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cwyn15619dxo

Okay, fair enough, but I had to scroll down halfway through the front page to get to it.

[RedArmy]

Anyone know if those cunts are coming in over northam or itchen bridge? 

[moonraker]

A must win for moonrakers family.  Eldest boys 41st bd, he, I and younger son all attending and staying overnight in anticipation of great celebrations.  

[Gloucester Saint]

A joke to help relax things.

A Southampton lad in his early 20s goes on a dating app and talks to Portsmouth woman. They get on and arrange a date in Whiteley.

He heads off and his father says to him ‘give me a call after half an hour and let me know how it’s going’.

They meet and getting on quite well, and the woman shares that she’s a virgin.

The son rings his dad ‘It’s going well, but there’s one thing. She says she’s a virgin’.

Dad ‘come home now son!’

Son ‘Why!?’

Dad ‘if she’s not good enough for her own family she’s certainly not good enough for ours!’

[EssEffCee]

46 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

Anyone know if those cunts are coming in over northam or itchen bridge? 

Don't think it'll be either. Saw somewhere that the coaches are meeting up at B&Q Nursling which suggests to me they'll come down Millbrook road and past the docks.

[egg]

3 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

Don't think it'll be either. Saw somewhere that the coaches are meeting up at B&Q Nursling which suggests to me they'll come down Millbrook road and past the docks.

Or Lordshill Way, then the avenue. 

[EssEffCee]

12 minutes ago, egg said:

Or Lordshill Way, then the avenue. 

Possibly but I think the Millbrook road route would be easier to police as wider and more open, plus not really going through any residential areas. Loads of potential ambush points along Lordshill way.

Avenue route would be going much closer to/through the city centre too.

Edited 16 hours ago by EssEffCee

[SaintNewForest]

2 hours ago, EssEffCee said:

Ralph certainly didn't. He played a back four the vast majority of his time here.

I should rephrase; Ralph under SR was 3 at the back. 

[die Mannyschaft]

5 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

There's no way we should be playing 5 at the back against anyone in this league at home, let alone Portsmouth. 

Didn't we play 5 at back 1st half and 5 up front 2nd half one game last season? Both options Didn't work.

[FootballMartin]

From a Saints Fan to the Saints Manager. Will Still UNCUT | Southampton Manager Speaks Honestly & Openly | The Interview

Something a little different. 

 

[Chris cooper]

18 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Is this confirmed ?

Yes mate 💯 

[Chris cooper]

12 hours ago, SaintNewForest said:

It makes you wonder if there is a directive from upstairs since SR took over: Ralph, Jones, Selles, Martin, Juric and the early days of Still have all been more or less stuck to 3 at the back. Martin less so than the others, admittedley, but it still happened more than you'd expect. 

Topic of convo last night in local was exactly this .. upstairs pick the team sort the transfers & decide on what players will make them them the most money.. 

we came to the conclusion the the new lads if have worldy seasons will be sold to the likes of ya West Ham’s & Everton’s of this world !

if he goes 5atb tomorrow with what we have in our ranks now it’s a dead cert still isn’t the man who’s making the decisions.

[goodymatt]

I very much much doubt Will Still leaves Lens to drop down from a top Euro league to come and work in an environment where he can’t even select the formation. 

The wingers we had were:

Edozie - was leaving

Sulemana - left straight away

Dibling - knew he leaving throughout 

Fraser - redemption arc

Robinson - kid breaking through

Armstrong - inside forward

BBD - inside forward and leaving.

At the same time we had lots of CB options and full backs suited to WB roles.

It’s clear to me that Will thought, there’s lots of change, lots of uncertainty, let’s play 5 and try and edge the games during this period. He’s tried to move on from those players not expected to be here, rather than rely on them. Frustratingly it didn’t prove as successful as we all want/expect and we have dropped some points. 

Now the window is closed and we have motivated wide players. Let’s see if he changes. 

If he plays a 5 tomorrow it’s because it’s a derby and the international break means we’ve not had enough time to get everyone on the same page. Not because Rasmus is picking the formation and lineup.

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

13 hours ago, revolution saint said:

To be fair he’s been pretty clear that he didn’t want to play with a four at the back until he had genuine wingers in. You can disagree with it obviously but that’s why he’s said he’s been playing that formation.

He’s got wingers now so you’d expect us to go to something closer to the kind of formation he would rather play now.

I think its a cop out. Compared to the rest of the Championship.

The likes of Fraser, Edozie, Robinson and Armstrong can be used out wide.

Lets see what he does tomorrow. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

13 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

I very much much doubt Will Still leaves Lens to drop down from a top Euro league to come and work in an environment where he can’t even select the formation. 

The wingers we had were:

Edozie - was leaving

Sulemana - left straight away

Dibling - knew he leaving throughout 

Fraser - redemption arc

Robinson - kid breaking through

Armstrong - inside forward

BBD - inside forward and leaving.

At the same time we had lots of CB options and full backs suited to WB roles.

It’s clear to me that Will thought, there’s lots of change, lots of uncertainty, let’s play 5 and try and edge the games during this period. He’s tried to move on from those players not expected to be here, rather than rely on them. Frustratingly it didn’t prove as successful as we all want/expect and we have dropped some points. 

Now the window is closed and we have motivated wide players. Let’s see if he changes. 

If he plays a 5 tomorrow it’s because it’s a derby and the international break means we’ve not had enough time to get everyone on the same page. Not because Rasmus is picking the formation and lineup.

At last, someone talking some common sense 🙌🏻

[LoyalSaintSO50]

I don’t care if he goes Alex McCarthy as a false 9 tomorrow, just beat them vermin skate bastards 

[Gloucester Saint]

Q - what is the difference between a bubble bus full of Pompey fans and a hedgehog?

A - with the hedgehog, all of the pricks are on the outside.

[AlexLaw76]

1 hour ago, goodymatt said:

I very much much doubt Will Still leaves Lens to drop down from a top Euro league to come and work in an environment where he can’t even select the formation. 

The wingers we had were:

Edozie - was leaving

Sulemana - left straight away

Dibling - knew he leaving throughout 

Fraser - redemption arc

Robinson - kid breaking through

Armstrong - inside forward

BBD - inside forward and leaving.

At the same time we had lots of CB options and full backs suited to WB roles.

It’s clear to me that Will thought, there’s lots of change, lots of uncertainty, let’s play 5 and try and edge the games during this period. He’s tried to move on from those players not expected to be here, rather than rely on them. Frustratingly it didn’t prove as successful as we all want/expect and we have dropped some points. 

Now the window is closed and we have motivated wide players. Let’s see if he changes. 

If he plays a 5 tomorrow it’s because it’s a derby and the international break means we’ve not had enough time to get everyone on the same page. Not because Rasmus is picking the formation and lineup.

Most of the squad was here during the break. If he can’t change now because of not enough time, then when will he?

we have a midweek game coming up, so next week will be out of the question.

 

[Matthew Le God]

17 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

we have a midweek game coming up, so next week will be out of the question.

The midweek game isn't the next game after Pompey. Our next game is Hull on Saturday. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Matthew Le God

[LGTL]

1 hour ago, goodymatt said:

I very much much doubt Will Still leaves Lens to drop down from a top Euro league to come and work in an environment where he can’t even select the formation. 

The wingers we had were:

Edozie - was leaving

Sulemana - left straight away

Dibling - knew he leaving throughout 

Fraser - redemption arc

Robinson - kid breaking through

Armstrong - inside forward

BBD - inside forward and leaving.

At the same time we had lots of CB options and full backs suited to WB roles.

It’s clear to me that Will thought, there’s lots of change, lots of uncertainty, let’s play 5 and try and edge the games during this period. He’s tried to move on from those players not expected to be here, rather than rely on them. Frustratingly it didn’t prove as successful as we all want/expect and we have dropped some points. 

Now the window is closed and we have motivated wide players. Let’s see if he changes. 

If he plays a 5 tomorrow it’s because it’s a derby and the international break means we’ve not had enough time to get everyone on the same page. Not because Rasmus is picking the formation and lineup.

What difference does it being a derby make? That’s even more reason to play 4 at the back, get our better players on the pitch instead of another shit centre half, and smash the horrible wankers into next month.

If he goes 5 at the back tomorrow and we lose, it’s absolutely unforgivable.

[beatlesaint]

3 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

The midweek game isn't the next game after Pompey. 

Yes, our League Cup game is in the second week of fixtures for this round.

[die Mannyschaft]

Had this t shirt on the bubble and in  Fratton Park last time. Probably won't get awsy with it tomorrow but its back out.

[OldNick]

18 minutes ago, LGTL said:

What difference does it being a derby make? That’s even more reason to play 4 at the back, get our better players on the pitch instead of another shit centre half, and smash the horrible wankers into next month.

If he goes 5 at the back tomorrow and we lose, it’s absolutely unforgivable.

Should we change when the players are used to a 5 at present. A massive game to change formation, a formation that has created a shed load of chances

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, OldNick said:

Should we change when the players are used to a 5 at present. A massive game to change formation, a formation that has created a shed load of chances

They don’t look used to it, we have been very average at best.

we are playing Portsmouth, not Bayern Munich. We have better players who won’t make the bench, ffs

 

Edited 6 hours ago by AlexLaw76

[OldNick]

Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

They don’t look used to it, we have been very average at best.

 

Perhaps but we have created chances. Is a 4 more solid, we just dont seem to work out how to get clean sheets. I doubt any of us expect Pompey not to score. Its a sad state. Personally I think Wood should play as he has the physical presence to combat their C/F 

[OldNick]

I have just been listening to Total Saints Podcast, and listening to our own Steve grant (forgive if I've got this wrong) that he feels that the fans shouldnt be segregated as in a bubble. IMo that would be insane, after the Stoke game quite a few Stoke fans were itching for trouble as they mixed with our fans walkingaway from the ground, imagine if that was Pompey,it would be bedlam as both sets of fans would be up for it. Stokebrought half s many os Pompeys 2700. Crikey the last home game against them was bad enough with the Car showroom and our fans trying to get at them. To methe tougher the segregation is the better, I dont want to see fans of either side being bloodied. 

[musesaint]

Saints expect every man to do his duty. 
 

Nothing less than a win is acceptable. 

[die Mannyschaft]

1 minute ago, musesaint said:

Saints expect every man to do his duty. 
 

Nothing less than a win is acceptable. 

Here, here

[EssEffCee]

12 minutes ago, OldNick said:

I have just been listening to Total Saints Podcast, and listening to our own Steve grant (forgive if I've got this wrong) that he feels that the fans shouldnt be segregated as in a bubble. IMo that would be insane, after the Stoke game quite a few Stoke fans were itching for trouble as they mixed with our fans walkingaway from the ground, imagine if that was Pompey,it would be bedlam as both sets of fans would be up for it. Stokebrought half s many os Pompeys 2700. Crikey the last home game against them was bad enough with the Car showroom and our fans trying to get at them. To methe tougher the segregation is the better, I dont want to see fans of either side being bloodied. 

Nah it's bollocks. Shouldn't have to treat everybody like a criminal and herd them like cattle for the sake of a few idiots.

It turns an away day 19 miles away into an 8+ hour day. It's a joke.

The game down there will probably be one of the worst aways of the season.

[OldNick]

2 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

Nah it's bollocks. Shouldn't have to treat everybody like a criminal and herd them like cattle for the sake of a few idiots.

It turns an away day 19 miles away into an 8+ hour day. It's a joke.

The game down there will probably be one of the worst aways of the season.

I dont know how old you are but football nearly died in the late 70's early 80's due to crowd violence in and around the stadia. Now famillies can go with young kids and be 99% sure they will be safe, Im myself am going with my daughter and grand daughter, if there was liberal rules I doubt I would take them (even though I couldnt stop them as they are hardenedcommitted fans )

If you really believe that you can trust fans with such rivalry to mix and not have large disturbances, Iam amazed. Yes all the Pompey fans I know are sound as aa pound and you can have good banter, but when the game comes its bitter. 

[Verbal]

23 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Here, here

What have you found?

[Baird of the land]

16 hours ago, LGTL said:

If he plays 5 at the back again it’s a fucking sackable offence as far as I’m concerned. 

Agree completely. We've already seen its complete failure in the 2 previous home games.(one of which we got a get out of jail free card at the death once the formation was abandoned).

[Raging Bull]

The trouble with derby's is that form (I’m aware we’re still finding ours) and rational often go out the window. So anything can happen. 

However, if they score in the dying minutes like last time in the championship, I’m gonna break out into a tut. 

And Jack, if you’re reading this, please don’t pull some metrosexual’s hair and get sent off. 

[die Mannyschaft]

52 minutes ago, OldNick said:

Perhaps but we have created chances. Is a 4 more solid, we just dont seem to work out how to get clean sheets. I doubt any of us expect Pompey not to score. Its a sad state. Personally I think Wood should play as he has the physical presence to combat their C/F 

4 at back is more reliable as players don't get out of position as much or shouldn't. The problem Saints have is the slow style of play they are ground anyone. Combine very slow game plan with 3 at back or even 5 and you get the usual opposition just cut through or run un marked. 4-4-2 allows cover in front and behind the two lines of 4. Its simple and easy to speak to thd person next to you to go forward I'll cover or back, sideways. 

It maybe the new players have the pace needed for 3 of 5 at back. But we won't see this in action until they are in team. 

I don't think Saints have any idea what system to use of which player to play where and what role. Which is why teams have just found it easy to play through or long ball us.

Let's hope Saints know what their doing tomorrow. 

[IFHP]

1 hour ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Had this t shirt on the bubble and in  Fratton Park last time. Probably won't get awsy with it tomorrow but its back out.

Why would you “ not get away with it”?