Oxford 2-1 Saints - Match Thread

[The Wyvern]

44 minutes ago, Edmonton Saint said:

His legs had gone when we got rid him of first time around. Not sure what we were expecting 

Said that when we signed him. Not sure what anyone was expecting. 

[Hussar Saint]

21 minutes ago, Doctoroncall said:

You’re right, The manager (head coach), is the least of our problems. It will take another season at least to turn this around.
 

i Cannot see us making the playoffs unless there is a good window and injured players come back for all the second half of the season games. There is a need to change tactical elements rather than personnel. 

I can’t believe people are even mentioning the play offs, we’ve absolutely no chance of getting there, we’re a pathetic weak shit show!

[Suhari]

1 minute ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Made good jam and mincemeat as I remember it.

Golly...?

[Hawkswood]

Zero points against Norwich and Oxford, two of the worst in the league. So so embarrassing 

[saintant]

The spine of this team needs rebuilding in January - bring in a competent goalkeeper, a big strong centre back who actually marks opponents, a tall midfielder who doesn't get knocked off the ball and covers every blade of grass plus a big powerful centre forward who puts the fear of God up the opposition.  Stick with what we have and it's going to be a miserable second half of the season. Midgets are great in panto but few of them excel in the blood and thunder cauldron of a professional football match.  

[musesaint]

70% possession. Most of that in backwards and sideways passes. Can’t help but think that every time Stevens appears we end up going full Russball. He’s definitely not the only problem but on current evidence the Championship is the right place for Saints. Assuming we don’t eventually get sufficiently shite to end up in League 1 

Christmas ruined again by Saints. Dark Days. 
 

 

[macca155]

6 minutes ago, The Wyvern said:

Said that when we signed him. Not sure what anyone was expecting. 

They chant his name, beyond belief. Great business getting rid of him, then we let him slide back in.

We'll buy Bendarek back next

[die Mannyschaft]

16 minutes ago, James said:

We are not going up with Eckert. Appointing a 32 year old with no experience who enjoyed a couple of decent results, mixed in with some worrying signs against teams that were better organised, was always going to be a huge gamble. That plus another season of Baz in goal and Arma up top means we are going nowhere. 

Eckert looked to have got Saints playing a new style of attack football but now just trying possession football and failing terribly. People thought RM was bad but he got us promoted and just copying his tactics without the knowledge and experience is what happened v Oxford. 

If I were Scienza I would be looking in window to move to Bristol,  Stoke, Boro if you want Premier football not play 45 mins then see side just pass back and sideways with no intention of getting 3 points

[Hawkswood]

2 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Eckert looked to have got Saints playing a new style of attack football but now just trying possession football and failing terribly. People thought RM was bad but he got us promoted and just copying his tactics without the knowledge and experience is what happened v Oxford. 

If I were Scienza I would be looking in window to move to Bristol,  Stoke, Boro if you want Premier football not play 45 mins then see side just pass back and sideways with no intention of getting 3 points

I'd put money on Coventry coming in for him when they get promoted

[scumbag]

They must be quaking in their boots at the prospect of a Tonda bollocking! 

Totally incompetent owners that are so fucking arrogant and deluded that they will never accept their own shortcomings and step back.

Sick to fucking death of 'projects', 'identity' and 'philosophy'.  It's just propaganda bullshit that rivals North Korea. Just do the basics right you useless lazy cunts.

 

[Hawkswood]

Im so angry at that performance that after several years of my 3 quotes a day on saintsweb, Ive finally paid my £5 just to tell everyone how pissed off I am.

[Give it to Ron]

Fellows was very quiet then started being a danger yet gets subbed for Fraser absolutely shocking management on subs again why do all our managers do this? 
we should have gone 4 at back extra player in centre midfield it was wide open and got miles away from Armstrong. Azaz was abysmal yet stayed on and Archer got 5 mins to do what?

[markr27]

Arrogance. Thought they could just turn up and score a couple of goals to win the game.

[adrian lord]

3 minutes ago, scumbag said:

 

Sick to fucking death of 'projects', 'identity' and 'philosophy'.  It's just propaganda bullshit that rivals North Korea. Just do the basics right you useless lazy cunts.

 

Yep, it is nauseating corporate guff. I am surprised we aren't implored as supporters to 'uphold the club's "values"'. 

[saintant]

4 minutes ago, Hawkswood said:

Im so angry at that performance that after several years of my 3 quotes a day on saintsweb, Ive finally paid my £5 just to tell everyone how pissed off I am.

Welcome. Last of the big spenders 🙂 but now you can really launch into this bunch of underachieving lightweights.

[Stud mark of doom]

The bit that summed it up for me was Fraser getting caught offside - and the commentator suggesting he had “gone too soon”.

Not sure how you go too soon where the only play you ever make is back inside to the midfielder, to take the sting out of things, so we can recycle it yet again. 

Edited 2 hours ago by Stud mark of doom

[Cuddles]

Christmas ruining grinchy cunts the lot of them.

[saintant]

3 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

Fellows was very quiet then started being a danger yet gets subbed for Fraser absolutely shocking management on subs again why do all our managers do this? 
we should have gone 4 at back extra player in centre midfield it was wide open and got miles away from Armstrong. Azaz was abysmal yet stayed on and Archer got 5 mins to do what?

Spot on. Fellows had not done much but he suddenly came to life and was giving Oxford serious problems so Eckert decides it's the time to take him off. He could have taken him off ten minutes earlier and I'd have not batted an eyelid but why take him off when he's finally having an impact. Maybe football is just too complicated a game these days - or maybe it's a simple game complicated by too many smartarses trying to reinvent the wheel. 

[Gloucester Saint]

2 minutes ago, Cuddles said:

Christmas ruining grinchy cunts the lot of them.

Didn’t me, I’ve had a great one.

Years since I let those corporate tossers impact weekends or festive seasons. 

[Football Special]

43 minutes ago, saintant said:

The spine of this team needs rebuilding in January - bring in a competent goalkeeper, a big strong centre back who actually marks opponents, a tall midfielder who doesn't get knocked off the ball and covers every blade of grass plus a big powerful centre forward who puts the fear of God up the opposition.  Stick with what we have and it's going to be a miserable second half of the season. Midgets are great in panto but few of them excel in the blood and thunder cauldron of a professional football match.  

Spors needs to be pushed in a proper interview why he ignored such glaring weaknesses in the squad , some of us made this point in the summer but plenty of gullible/ naive fans on here still called it a 8/10 window and "more than good enough for the championship " 

Edited 1 hour ago by Football Special

[femalesaint]

Individual performances to blame here not the manager. Azaz constantly giving the ball away wood just clueless.  Constant aerial balls to Adam that aren't helping. Why do we continually say sack the manager the moment we under perform? And Manning and HB performed well today imo. 

We can't win every game and I agree we made them look good today. But the answer isn't slag off the manager every time we play a shit game. For me individual performances were at fault. This forum always loves the Manager when we are winning and hate on him massively when we lose. It's a bit weird. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

Spot on. Fellows had not done much but he suddenly came to life and was giving Oxford serious problems so Eckert decides it's the time to take him off. He could have taken him off ten minutes earlier and I'd have not batted an eyelid but why take him off when he's finally having an impact. Maybe football is just too complicated a game these days - or maybe it's a simple game complicated by too many smartarses trying to reinvent the wheel. 

Eckert was probably going on the advice of the medical guys for managing minutes. Was no doubt a pre-game decision to bring him off after a number of minutes 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Just now, femalesaint said:

Individual performances to blame here not the manager. Azaz constantly giving the ball away wood just clueless.  Constant aerial balls to Adam that aren't helping. Why do we continually say sack the manager the moment we under perform? And Manning and HB performed well today imo. 

We can't win every game and I agree we made them look good today. But the answer isn't slag off the manager every time we play a shit game. For me individual performances were at fault. This forum always loves the Manager when we are winning and hate on him massively when we lose. It's a bit weird. 

Hello Mrs Eckert 

[Edmonton Saint]

Out of the current bottom 6 in the championship we’ve only beaten Sheffield Wednesday. Damning indictment of the recruitment, tactics and so called leadership in the team.

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, Football Special said:

Spors needs to be pushed in a proper interview why he ignored such glaring weaknesses in the squad , some of us made this point in the summer but plenty of gullible/ naive fans on here still called it a 8/10 and "more than good enough for the championship " 

Mr RAF/70s porn star moustache and Adam Blackmore - not holding out much hope. Those two are as lightweight as the football team and as challenging to SR’s mad experiments as the last few puppets they’ve appointed and controlled.

[Football Special]

2 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Didn’t me, I’ve had a great one.

Years since I let those corporate tossers impact weekends or festive seasons. 

What's your secret mate? Still winds me up , I probably need to grow up and learn to not care so much 

[saintant]

1 minute ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Eckert was probably going on the advice of the medical guys for managing minutes. Was no doubt a pre-game decision to bring him off after a number of minutes 

Fuck the medical guys - they have far too much say in things. These players are not running flat out for 90 minutes every game - there are plenty of rest periods. 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, femalesaint said:

Individual performances to blame here not the manager. Azaz constantly giving the ball away wood just clueless.  Constant aerial balls to Adam that aren't helping. Why do we continually say sack the manager the moment we under perform? And Manning and HB performed well today imo. 

We can't win every game and I agree we made them look good today. But the answer isn't slag off the manager every time we play a shit game. For me individual performances were at fault. This forum always loves the Manager when we are winning and hate on him massively when we lose. It's a bit weird. 

The owners are the primary issue - the managers and player recruitment are the symptoms. Not the virus.

The only way the patient improves and has hope is when the virus is expelled. 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, Football Special said:

What's your secret mate? Still winds me up , I probably need to grow up and learn to not care so much 

Geographical distance, a local football team with their hero back in charge, decent local rugby team, real ale, hillwalking…

Let’s forget about the Ashes though, those have been ruining my mornings!

[lambtiss]

1 hour ago, saint michael said:

Archer is the answer. What’s the question 

Who costs £15 million, looks like he doesn't care and isn't a very good striker?

[stfrancisofbenali]

1 hour ago, dsrdorset said:

Can we just have a proper fucking football manager??????? For fucks sake. I'm sure any of us could do a better job. Useless cunts, the lot of them. 

It was only moments ago that people like you were singing ‘Tonda at the wheel’. What a pathetically fickle lot we are. 

[Hawkswood]

19 minutes ago, saintant said:

Welcome. Last of the big spenders 🙂 but now you can really launch into this bunch of underachieving lightweights.

Believe me, I intend to get my 5 quids worth.

[HnycS]

2 hours ago, OttawaSaint said:

Hardwood Bellend!!! 1-1!

As the commentator said very accurately "THB Dangerous at both ends"

[Greedyfly]

4 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

Who costs £15 million, looks like he doesn't care and isn't a very good striker?

Too kind.

[saintant]

14 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Mr RAF/70s porn star moustache and Adam Blackmore - not holding out much hope. Those two are as lightweight as the football team and as challenging to SR’s mad experiments as the last few puppets they’ve appointed and controlled.

🙂

[Gloucester Saint]

7 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

Who costs £15 million, looks like he doesn't care and isn't a very good striker?

Someone should have put that as a Christmas Cracker question at the the SFC boardroom Christmas Party.

[die Mannyschaft]

13 minutes ago, saintant said:

Spot on. Fellows had not done much but he suddenly came to life and was giving Oxford serious problems so Eckert decides it's the time to take him off. He could have taken him off ten minutes earlier and I'd have not batted an eyelid but why take him off when he's finally having an impact. Maybe football is just too complicated a game these days - or maybe it's a simple game complicated by too many smartarses trying to reinvent the wheel. 

Managers over complicate what is a very simple game. Sooner or later someone is going to question Saints subs and say your throwing a game. Utter stupidity to take of players who can score or assist with players who one cant even run. Maybe the club put £1m on Saints to lose as that's the only way to generate Jan window transfer money 💰 

[Mboto Gorge]

1 hour ago, Zorba said:

We only have one outstanding player and Fuckert keeps taking him off after an hour. He may not have been having a great game today but it went downhill rapidly when he was taken off.

We should be smashing the shit out of clubs like Oxford but for all our first half possession, we looked very fragile.

Exactly. We aren’t good enough to have the luxury of taking our best players off with matches in the balance , to keep them fresh, or we end up getting beaten - and this happens almost every single time we do it. I can only assume it’s arrogance as to why he’s taking off our best players with the game at 1-1, as he’s assuming we will still do enough to win. Keep your best players on the fucking pitch until the game is bloody well won, you utter, utter fuckwit.

[die Mannyschaft]

8 minutes ago, stfrancisofbenali said:

It was only moments ago that people like you were singing ‘Tonda at the wheel’. What a pathetically fickle lot we are. 

Yes we were, as the football was much better, more attacking and playing to win. Now he's just trying to emulate RM and its not working. If the club wants RM championship play off win then get him back. Why on earth has Tonda left the wheel and stuck the car in reverse. How can you put Romeo on when he's not even fit and take off our best players.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 minute ago, Mboto Gorge said:

Exactly. We aren’t good enough to have the luxury of taking our best players off with matches in the balance , to keep them fresh, or we end up getting beaten - and this happens almost every single time we do it. I can only assume it’s arrogance as to why he’s taking off our best players with the game at 1-1, as he’s assuming we will still do enough to win. Keep your best players on the fucking pitch until the game is bloody well won, you utter, utter fuckwit.

I think he's listening to the sport science and medical guys too much. All this bollocks about managing minutes and pre-game decided subs. He wasn't at his best, but taking off Leo after 55 minutes was just fuckin ridiculous.

[Mboto Gorge]

22 minutes ago, femalesaint said:

Individual performances to blame here not the manager. Azaz constantly giving the ball away wood just clueless.  Constant aerial balls to Adam that aren't helping. Why do we continually say sack the manager the moment we under perform? And Manning and HB performed well today imo. 

We can't win every game and I agree we made them look good today. But the answer isn't slag off the manager every time we play a shit game. For me individual performances were at fault. This forum always loves the Manager when we are winning and hate on him massively when we lose. It's a bit weird. 

It’s not “a bit weird” when our defeat stems largely from his lack of game management, rigid formation that he won’t budge from, terrible team selections (Bazunu) , and most notably, utterly woeful substitutions with the game hanging in the balance , that massively massively weakened our team and hugely contributed to our defeat today. So no, not weird at all. He’s a coach looking exactly what he is, a young man with zero prior experience , starting to look out of his depth with little acumen behind him either within his support staff. Yet Another sport republic concocted fucking mess 

[Gloucester Saint]

3 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

I think he's listening to the sport science and medical guys too much. All this bollocks about managing minutes and pre-game decided subs. He wasn't at his best, but taking off Leo after 55 minutes was just fuckin ridiculous.

Is that what he did? Wow. He can’t have been at the Ewood Park game and heard the away end’s reaction there. Or he’s just thick as pig’s shit.

Edited 1 hour ago by Gloucester Saint

[stfrancisofbenali]

1 minute ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Yes we were, as the football was much better, more attacking and playing to win. Now he's just trying to emulate RM and its not working. If the club wants RM championship play off win then get him back. Why on earth has Tonda left the wheel and stuck the car in reverse. How can you put Romeo on when he's not even fit and take off our best players.

We played a lot of Russball at The Valley and no one was complaining. Agreed he needs to find another way of playing (Plan B) but loving him one minute and then calling for his head when we lose a few is utter madness and unsustainable. 

[die Mannyschaft]

Have Saints really got a £183m Euro team. And we cant play football vs Oxford United, have no subs to maintain attack and just play for a draw or ultimately a loss. We are the Man United of the Championship. 

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-southampton/startseite/verein/180

[Lee On Solent Saint]

50 minutes ago, Hawkswood said:

Zero points against Norwich and Oxford, two of the worst in the league. So so embarrassing 

Difference being Norwich appointed a proper manager. 

[Wade Garrett]

30 minutes ago, femalesaint said:

Individual performances to blame here not the manager. Azaz constantly giving the ball away wood just clueless.  Constant aerial balls to Adam that aren't helping. Why do we continually say sack the manager the moment we under perform? And Manning and HB performed well today imo. 

We can't win every game and I agree we made them look good today. But the answer isn't slag off the manager every time we play a shit game. For me individual performances were at fault. This forum always loves the Manager when we are winning and hate on him massively when we lose. It's a bit weird. 

Stick to washing up love.

[Tanlee]

Our bench is virtually a token gesture, don't affect the game for the better ever 

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, OttawaSaint said:

He's doing my fucking nut in. Had a few good looks today for a shot and kept trying scoops, little flicks etc. Just fucking belt it. We see enough what happens when the oppo do it.

That's how I felt about Azaz, most frustrating player 

[Gloucester Saint]

2 minutes ago, stfrancisofbenali said:

We played a lot of Russball at The Valley and no one was complaining. Agreed he needs to find another way of playing (Plan B) but loving him one minute and then calling for his head when we lose a few is utter madness and unsustainable. 

Hard to know where to start with this post.

Watch the transitions and breaking through the lines at the Valley again. He isn’t the problem per se, nor is Johannes Spors, that is Rasmus Ankerson indulged by Dragan Solak. And yes, the way those two have destroyed Southampton’s once proud football club is both unsustainable, utter madness and furthermore a disgrace.

[Fabrice29]

7 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Stick to washing up love.

Corrr somebody has had a lonely Xmas.