EBS1980 Posted 31 January, 2009 Share Posted 31 January, 2009 Peter Beagrie has writtern an aticle about us on the sky sports website. Pretty spot on in my view... It was no surprise to see Jan Poortvliet resign from his job at Southampton last week. It's easy to say he jumped before he was pushed, but to be honest I don't think Southampton could afford to push him. The promotion of his assistant Mark Wotte is exactly what everybody thinks it is; the cheap option. The only credence you can give to that appointment is that he knows a lot of this ridiculously young side from the Academy and he will have a bond with the younger elements of the Southampton squad - and that is quite a large element. Financial constraints seem to be dominating most decisions at St Mary's at the moment. I doubt the new manager will be given any latitude in the transfer market and for him it will be a case of getting on with what he's got. But as much as I enjoy watching youthful exuberance, it has been proved time and time again that you can't get by on that alone in the Championship. Southampton are a beautiful footballing side from the same mould as Swansea - but they lack the seasoned professionals, the physical strength and the goal threat of the Welsh team. I applaud the Southampton style, but I'm sure the supporters would sacrifice some of that total football to stave off relegation this year. Luck I don't think people should get carried away by the 2-2 draw against Norwich. The youngsters deserve a big pat on the back for showing the character and resilience to overturn a 2-0 deficit away from home, but I don't think that was a direct result of the new manager making changes. It was more through good luck than good management and also the fact they went out in the second half and played with no fear. But in this division it's not about how you start, it's about how you finish. Southampton will hope to build into a crescendo where they can win some games and keep their head above water. That one point in midweek stopped their opponents going more than three points ahead of them and staying within one win of Norwich will be a confidence boost for the players. It could turn out to be a very important point. The worry is that many of the teams around them - the likes of Derby and Doncaster - have bigger squads, more experienced squads and more spending power than Southampton. Even bottom-placed Charlton have far more experience in winning Championship games. Nigel Pearson managed to keep them up by the skin of their teeth last year, but I feared for Southampton at the start of the season - and at the moment my fears are proving to be correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted 31 January, 2009 Share Posted 31 January, 2009 Reasonable article. Is that Peter Beagrie of the ridiculous backflip ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsland Codger Posted 31 January, 2009 Share Posted 31 January, 2009 Whilst the article is reasonable enough it is hardly a piece of crisp insightful journalism. It hasn't told either the keen Saints fan nor the mildly interested neutral anything they didnt already know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHAPEL END CHARLIE Posted 31 January, 2009 Share Posted 31 January, 2009 You can't really argue with any of that as far as it goes - no real analysis however of the underlying reasons why we're in this state or what might have been done differently had the club been better run . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewell Posted 31 January, 2009 Share Posted 31 January, 2009 Whilst the article is reasonable enough it is hardly a piece of crisp insightful journalism. It hasn't told either the keen Saints fan nor the mildly interested neutral anything they didnt already know. If you think any neutrals have any insights or knowledge to what is going on at Southampton then you are sadly mistaken. Articles like this go a long way to show the rest of the football world the predicament we are in and the reasons why, so on that score I welcome it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 31 January, 2009 Share Posted 31 January, 2009 Think its a **** poor article myself, clearly hasn't been watching much (thinks our total football style is great), applauds the youngsters who turned things round against Norwich (so Saga and Euell are now youngster are they, I'm not forgetting McLaggon of course). Thinks Wotte will have a strong bond with our youngstersm while Wotte himself has been bigging up the older, more experienced players since his takeover. Just shows what people who know nothing can get away with when they write these articles (if indeed they do write them). There are some fair points undoubtedly, but as a whole it is total drivel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 31 January, 2009 Share Posted 31 January, 2009 Think its a **** poor article myself, clearly hasn't been watching much (thinks our total football style is great), applauds the youngsters who turned things round against Norwich (so Saga and Euell are now youngster are they, I'm not forgetting McLaggon of course). Thinks Wotte will have a strong bond with our youngstersm while Wotte himself has been bigging up the older, more experienced players since his takeover. Just shows what people who know nothing can get away with when they write these articles (if indeed they do write them). There are some fair points undoubtedly, but as a whole it is total drivel. Yep you've hit the nail right square on there - completely agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 31 January, 2009 Share Posted 31 January, 2009 Think its a **** poor article myself, clearly hasn't been watching much (thinks our total football style is great), applauds the youngsters who turned things round against Norwich (so Saga and Euell are now youngster are they, I'm not forgetting McLaggon of course). Thinks Wotte will have a strong bond with our youngstersm while Wotte himself has been bigging up the older, more experienced players since his takeover. Just shows what people who know nothing can get away with when they write these articles (if indeed they do write them). There are some fair points undoubtedly, but as a whole it is total drivel. Agreed. I liked Peter Beagrie as a player, but he's just turned into a typical lazy journo now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 31 January, 2009 Share Posted 31 January, 2009 I think he's pretty close to the truth to be honest. I do think bringing on men however changed the Norwich game around, which sort of undermines some of his arguments. But, in general he's hit the nail firmly on the head... **** cheapo manager. Crap club policy of playing youth. Always destined to fail. Urgently require men. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 31 January, 2009 Share Posted 31 January, 2009 Think its a **** poor article myself, clearly hasn't been watching much (thinks our total football style is great), applauds the youngsters who turned things round against Norwich (so Saga and Euell are now youngster are they, I'm not forgetting McLaggon of course). Thinks Wotte will have a strong bond with our youngstersm while Wotte himself has been bigging up the older, more experienced players since his takeover. Just shows what people who know nothing can get away with when they write these articles (if indeed they do write them). There are some fair points undoubtedly, but as a whole it is total drivel. i suppose the proof will be whether Wotte actually plays the more experienced players rather than just bigging them up. the thing that really winds me up is all the talk about the academy youngsters wheras reality is that other than lloyd james and dmg the rest were brought in this season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 31 January, 2009 Share Posted 31 January, 2009 i suppose the proof will be whether Wotte actually plays the more experienced players rather than just bigging them up. the thing that really winds me up is all the talk about the academy youngsters wheras reality is that other than lloyd james and dmg the rest were brought in this season Agree with you Mike - today will prove to either turn opinion around or cement the growing anger at the running of the club. The interesting aspect of today will be if we win playing 4-3-3 with McG up-front on his own and Saga on the bench. What will that confirm? Nothing IMO - but it will buy Wotte a little time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eelpie Posted 31 January, 2009 Share Posted 31 January, 2009 Whilst the article is reasonable enough it is hardly a piece of crisp insightful journalism. It hasn't told either the keen Saints fan nor the mildly interested neutral anything they didnt already know. But it is still worth re-iterating. Not everyone in the soccer world knows as much about us as we do. And it is correct. That's a rarity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Paul Posted 31 January, 2009 Share Posted 31 January, 2009 Doesn't he realise our brand of football is making people sit up and take note. Perhaps Chris Iwelumo should have a word with him........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopkins Posted 31 January, 2009 Share Posted 31 January, 2009 reality is that other than lloyd james and dmg the rest were brought in this season Lallana, Lancashire, Gillet, and Mills(Who started the season a regular). Plus others who have been used occasionally, Thomoson, Paterson etc. Reality is you are wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 31 January, 2009 Share Posted 31 January, 2009 It's funny that the myth that we play nice football still seems to be going strong. I imagine most people watched us a couple of times towards the start of the season and had our cards marked from that point. The fact that of late we genuinely play distinctly uninspiring football seems to have gone unnoticed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulsfc Posted 31 January, 2009 Share Posted 31 January, 2009 It's funny that the myth that we play nice football still seems to be going strong. I imagine most people watched us a couple of times towards the start of the season and had our cards marked from that point. The fact that of late we genuinely play distinctly uninspiring football seems to have gone unnoticed. Spot on! The football recently has been on a par with most of last season. Think alot of the national media ought to come down to St Mary's and have a look at how we play - play well for first 20 mins then the oppo suss us out and coupled with what appears to be a complete drain in confidence when we don't score the away team take control and we look clueless for the remaining 70 mins Glad that we are starting to get a bit more coverage nationally though. Can only increase the pressure on the board Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 31 January, 2009 Share Posted 31 January, 2009 Doesn't he realise our brand of football is making people sit up and take note. Perhaps Chris Iwelumo should have a word with him........ hehehehehe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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