 | News Comment | Southampton At Ipswich Town The Verdict at 09:31:09
With Downes and Stewart unavailable we missed a golden opportunity to give BBD a cameo through the middle which is likely the only place he is effective, so obviously we need to get rid if Still is not even going to use him in the scenario where both those two are unavailable. Other than that we are still gelling at the back, I think we should give Quarshie time, though as he does have the pace to cover for mistakes. Flynn, Shea and Matty in the middle will make us difficult to beat in this league. |
 | News Comment | Southampton V Wrexham The Verdict at 09:36:04
Not gelling yet at the back, but give them time. Shea and Flynn in midfield look like an awesome combination. Hats off to Fraser for giving it everything and being very lively, Jay looks like a serious prospect, Manning is better than most gave him credit for but I also think Welington and Sugawara can improve and we have the basis for good players. We are stacked up front but I would still start Arma on the right with Ross Stewart through the middle and Fraser roving or on the left with Jay first change and impact player for now. Downs to be given time and cameos to get up to speed. Can't see how BBD gets playing time other than cup games if all stay fit. Can understand why Joe and Smallbone are on the market, seems he wants players with more pace that those offer, especially if the youngster who did not make the bench becomes the backup DM/Utility midfielder instead of them. Keep Matty and sign the other attacking midfielder and we are super strong for this league. |
 | News Comment | Saints In Talks To Move On Sulemana In The January Transfer Window at 05:16:12
Scored two goals against Liverpool playing down the middle and RM never thought to try him in that role. Mind numbing. Suddenly against Swansea we give him a free-er role across the front and we start getting mileage out of him....who would have thought! |
 | News Comment | Southampton V Swansea City The Verdict at 05:06:35
If we can get Downes fit and can play Les and Fernandez with him in midfield we are going to be more of a prem proposition and will see an uptick in results. Glad he is playing Sulemana, as a fit and firing Sulemana is going to be a better option than anyone else up front and if this means we get him in the shop window and recoup our cash so be it. Happy for Manning, deserves a run in the side. |
 | News Comment | Do Southampton Cut Their Losses Now On This Season And Cash In On Kyle Walker Peters at 10:42:48
To me if we can get some up and coming proven championship players in, we can test them in the prem to see if they can operate at this level, then if we go down, we know we have players who can operate in the championship, and we will also know which ones can't cut it in the prem for next time. Also, if some are a success, we can no doubt offload to the promoted prem teams who will be looking to spend at a profit. Also Juric probably has a handle on promising Serie B players. |
 | News Comment | Southampton At Crystal Palace The Verdict at 10:28:13
The only saving grace for this game is that we have been super poor when we have not played Downes (note I am not saying we are great with him but certainly not as bad as this game)....and if Juric has any sense he will realise we need Dones and Les in our midfield together....if these two are fit and not picked against Brentford I'm pulling my hair out... |
 | News Comment | Southampton V Liverpool The Verdict at 12:17:58
We have the players to keep us up if we acted right now and got a skilled but pragmatic manager in. In my opinion we have as good if not better squads than 5 others. RM is frustrating, because some of the football we have played under his guidance has been top draw, but his stubbornness and unwillingness to compromise along with some strange subs is what is costing us. ABK, Sulemana and Tall Paul (basically our most expensive signings) are probably the recipe to keeping us up, but all seem to have issues with the manager or supposed attitude problems - that could just as easily be the Manager's inability to understand and manage marquee players. In hindsight, not replacing Jason Wilcox was also an issue from the club as you don't have that footballing voice of reason with the authority to stop the nonsense. He needs to go pragmatic now, while maintaining the essence of his style.... or he needs to leave. Nothing wrong with Flynn Downes letting the ball run and conceding a corner if he is under pressure, nothing wrong with our CBs hitting row Z if the %'s are against us playing out. Nothing wrong with hitting long balls into Tall Paul in the centre circle from the gk, it almost worked on the weekend. Hugely frustrated. |
 | News Comment | Southampton At Manchester City The Verdict at 10:40:10
It's clear we have to start with the class of Lallana for all games that he is fit. It's also clear that Fernandes has the engine to last the game so leave him on. Aribo for Lallana should be the midfield sub after 60 barring injury in future in the PL...please! Also despite Fatawu giving a masterclass against Manning, he (Manning) is definitely an option if we play a back 3 and if opposition don't have a Fatawu class wing, as he seems effective in a slightly more advanced role and where he is not an out and out defender. So in summary I would suggest we keep that back 5 for at least the start of the next PL game with Downes, Lallana and Fernandes in midfield. |
 | News Comment | Southampton V Nottingham Forest The Verdict. at 12:32:04
We went from an impressive midfield against Newcastle to one that looked dire on the weekend. Forest worked out our standard midfield passing lanes and did a great job of closing us down. Our players should learn from this and improve. However, to be critical there was little urgency and very few risks taken. A point could have been invaluable for momentum and only Dibling and to some extent Fernandes bought urgency towards the end. |
 | News Comment | Southampton At Newcastle United The Verdict at 12:19:39
Love the way we were playing against 11, but to take off Sugawara our best player along with KWP in the first half was misguided and Tall Paul would have been perfect for an ariel assault in the last 20. Also Alacaraz looked more direct and added quality when he came in along with Amo. Tyler Dibling was adequate but against 10 men he should have taken and chance had a go with his trade mark runs - if not in this game then when? I understand it was his debut and he is a great prospect but I just wanted him to run at them and take a potshot. Also so many chances are made in the Prem when players have a go and a poor clearance or deflection causes an opportunity, I would have liked to see some speculative shots and if they got on the counter that opened it up more for us anyway. We always try to score the perfect goal and we don't need to. |
 | News Comment | Southampton At Millwall The Verdict at 08:28:04
Edozie was lively but missed a real sitter. If only he could find end product he would be gold. Dibling hugely promising. |
 | News Comment | Southampton V Oxford United The Verdict at 15:28:19
Was depressed after this, but in hindsight the 1st half was our second team and they are still largely learning the system (especially at the back) and the second half was better. We looked a different side against Montpellier. Well played to the Oxford coach who went in with high paced pressing which we were not used to. After seeing that Oxford will do OK this season. I think losing Kamaldeen made us worse, I'm here for his redemption arc, hopefully a year into the Russ reign he can come right - for sure we need him to. |
 | News Comment | West Brom Striker On Southampton Radar at 08:34:57
Looked good last year in a very defensive team with limited creativity. He is also at the age where he will be hitting his peak. He could do a lot better in a more forward-thinking system and Russ thinks he can fit in. Squad player though only please, would be happy with Benneton Diaz in addition to. Unfortunately, we are probably not a club who can buy Ferrari's but Benneton Diaz could be an Audi and Assante could be a VW. |
 | News Comment | James Ward Prowse Future At West Ham Said To Be Uncertain at 07:46:03
We need to get Downes as priority, but JWP would definitely help us survive if the money is right. Also, JWP did show us loyalty by staying for years when he was not even a regular and there was interest from among others Fulham if memory serves us correctly. I would even be looking at Target as an option for LB. Much better getting know quantities than taking gambles with serious cash like with Kamaldeen, Carillo, Big Paul etc. that hardly work out. |
Please log in to use all the site's facilities |  | Peterx
|
Site ScoresPrediction League: | 6 | TOTAL: | 6 |
|