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Southampton At Derby County The Verdict
at 12:26:22

That's a real shame about Stewart, he was playing really aggressively and stretching the Derby defence when he got injured and our game was seriously disrupted by that incident. Having said that, we still created a fair few chances, several of which could or should have ended up in the Derby net. Our bigger problem was our centre back trio who were bullied by Derby and thanks to McCarthy, we came away with a point. Wood didn't play so well as he has done and Edwards and, particularly Quashie were easily bypassed . Scienza looks to be a bag of tricks. It is true that the wealth of talent in our squad has yet to come together but, when it does, somebody is in for a thumping. The sooner that happens the premature mutterings about getting rid of Still will quite properly be buried.

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Southampton At Derby County The Preview
at 17:25:42

I can't believe Will Still's position would be under any threat prior to Christmas barring a run of drubbings. We need some managerial stability at our club after the various shambles that have followed Ralph's departure. I wonder what he would have been able to achieve with the players we now have. Pity he was given the elbow at Wolfsburg.

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Southampton At Sheffield United The Verdict
at 14:02:45

I thought Wood was outstanding. Everything seems to go through him at the back and he's always talking to his fellow central defenders. The problem we have seems to be getting the ball from defence past midway in the opposition's half. Last night the first half became tedious as we went regularly backwards instead of taking on their defenders but, Will Still must have geed them up at the interval as things did improve. As for Stewart, his pre-Saints record shows him to be a potentially prolific goal scorer, so let's hope the floodgates have now opened for him. We definitely have a way to go to be promotion candidates and some players will fall by the wayside as others grasp their chances, that's inevitable, as is some disappointing results on our way up but, thing are looking brighter.

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Southampton V Middlesbrough The Verdict
at 21:02:44

I thought that Wood came across as the man directing Saints play from the back and, to my mind, he looked pretty good doing it. Edwards and Quarsie, playing alongside him also looked more confident so, Will Still is on his way to solving that centre of defence peoblem. He also seems to be making progress with the midfield pairing of Charles and Jander. Now that leaves the goalkeeping dilemma which we'll have to live with for the time being but, he might remedy the scoring problem by giving Robinson more time if Stewart doesn't click. This performance continued the improvements seen at Liverpool.

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Southampton At Liverpool The Verdict
at 19:59:24

I thought this performance showed quite a lot of promise, better than what we've seen this season. Just a thought, I'm not sure I've seen Wood have a really poor game so, how come he's often overlooked in favour of the currently out of form TH-B and the permanently risky JS? Quarshie gave us much-needed aerial presence at the back. Downes sadly looked out of his depth and Ross Stewart appeared far too late on. As for Alex McCarthy - well, we've seen it all before, a useful shot stopper and useless with the ball at his feet. We need the same effort on display yesterday in every game. That has not been the case on the pitch thus far.

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Southampton At Hull City The Verdict
at 23:13:49

I guess that this week's question is does the Will Still system work or, more importantly, does it work in England. I think either is a little premature, I'll go with where there's a will there's a way. Our new signings haven't just come here for the pay packet, they're here to be on a winning side, at least on most weeks and either rise to the EPL with Saints or use Saints as a known stepping stone to football heaven. They didn't arrive to have their promising reputations tattered. At the moment everything that Will Still has to deal with is wrong. He's competing with the residue of the Russell Martin style, the inadequacies of our defence to play as a unit (and that's not new) and his inability thus far to find one (although it might take two) of our four centre forwards to stake a firm claim for the starting spot. It can't happen overnight, unlike our patience which can wear thin instantly. Perhaps I'm being too charitable but, it is too early to judge as any reasonable and seasoned supporter knows. This guy is also here to strengthen his CV. Hard as it is now, he really needs some breathing space. Success is more often than not built on a foundation of small steps. Total disaster is the prospect of throwing him to the lions. I think Christmas and the January window action is the time to utilise our discernment.

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Southampton V Portsmouth The Verdict
at 13:45:53

As is so often with "big" games, the anticipation far outweighs the performance and so it was on Saturday when Saints "new" team put in an understandably underwhelming display against a Portsmouth side well-drilled in playing together over a couple of seasons in a familiar system. To my mind none of our recent additions shone, our best performers were old hands - Fraser, Manning, Charles and Bazunu. I expect Will Still will have spent this morning talking measurements - why were balls over the top either a yard too high or too long for Archer, then Stewart, similarly a yard too short for Fraser and Fellows. And where was his mantra of "always look to play forward" in respect of Stephens and Harwood-Bellis, both of whom unashamedly seemed content to pass the ball backwards and forwards to each other across our penalty area, in so doing encouraging Portsmouth to come forwards and stifling many possible attacks. As for Harwood-Bellis's booking when Still had openly stated before the game that his players should keep their heads well, I hope Taylor is fined. Anyway, it's early days, Will Still isn't a sorcerer and we have to be realistic in that respect. I'm sure he had few positives to discuss with his companions on the way home. I know how he feels.

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So What Deals Did Southampton Do On Transfer Deadline Day
at 13:35:14

I've previously observed on here that we need to give Will Still plenty of time before we pass judgement on how effective he is with the squad as it now is. On the goal scoring front I believe we have the personnel to find the net but, thus far, we simply haven't been creating opportunities for them. Several of the new additions look like defence openers to me. In goal Bazunu must know that this is make or break time for him. If he fails then he'll be replaced in January but, he's made some decent saves so far. It's the centre of defence that bothers me the most. We have to hope that Harwood-Belliss steps up to the leader's role, it's not as if he's that inexperienced, he's captained England at youth level. Anyway, my bet is that if WS has us anywhere near promotion or play-off places after Christmas money will be found to further strengthen the playing personnel to get us over the line.

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Southampton At Northampton Town The Verdict
at 14:16:11

Bookings again for Downes and Edwards. I can see one or both getting sent off soon. The whole performance last night was lacklustre. Other than the Fernandes goal the Saints collective effort was a yawn-fest. I can't see us getting much from Ipswich. Since Stuart Armstrong departed we don't have a playmaker, nor anyone that can open up a defence. Hopefully, the impending close of the transfer window will see the right ins and outs.

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The 25/26 Season Preview
at 13:38:39

I'm unconvinced that Still has got them playing his way. I believe that the Russell Martin style will take longer than a few closed doors friendlies to change. RM got the team off the floor when he arrived, then persuaded them that his way would see us promoted, which it did but, then he wouldn't change, the players couldn't change for fear of being omitted and now they're being schooled in another, vastly different approach, with question marks over half the personnel being here in a month. Will Still needs us to cut him a lot of slack for some weeks ahead.

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Tyler Dibling Trains Alone As Southampton Supporters Say Club Should Sell
at 13:30:33

it's speculation again. If he's thrown his toys out of the pram it then comes down to, if we keep him, will he perform. If we keep him and he's disinterested then, not only have we thrown £45M down the drain, he'll be keeping someone who wants to play out of the team. If we can guarantee to keep a happy Fernandes, I'd sell Dibling. Losing both of them would truly be a blow to our ambitions.

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Southampton Go Into Championship Opening Weekend In Strong Position
at 14:12:50

I don't see any point in speculating over what sort of season we'll have. It wouldn't surprise me if we get off to a sluggish start as RM's strategy was so indoctrinated that there are still players who are struggling with Still's changes. One mustn't forget that our Championship promotion side was also aided by a couple of shrewd loan signings from Bournemouth and it remains to be seen whether we can unload dead wood to other clubs or cancel a few contracts before we get anybody in. On the subject of Stuart Armstong, he was a gifted player and a true playmaker, something we haven't obviously replaced in our warm-ups thus far. If we lose Fernandes we definitely need to find someone to unlock defences.

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Southampton At Eastleigh The Verdict
at 11:22:07

This game, played in extremely uncomfortable weather conditions, was little more than, in the first half, the starting eleven still sleepy after coming out of hibernation and the second introducing younger, more energetic rivals wanting to display their talents. It is impossible to draw any conclusions, other than Jay Robinson showing that he is still in the form that earned him some game time at the end of last season.

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Saints Award Jack Stephens A 3 Year Contract.
at 21:48:46

Unless Jack is being retained for his loyalty and leadership off the pitch I cannot believe he has been given any contract extension. Am I alone in thinking his season was often marked by schoolboy horizontal passes across our penalty area, bringing threats on our goal and confusion amongst his fellow defenders. In my opinion he has never been better than a fill-in player of decent League 1 standard and if he is now expected to lead us through the upcoming season I don't see promotion beckoning. Obviously, others will disagree but, I think this news is nothing short of negative.

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Southampton V Arsenal The Verdict
at 17:26:23

I think yesterday saw some distinct promise with the prospective pairing of Stewart and Robinson. In the Championship they could score goals but, only if we create chances for them. How many times did Sulemana snatch the ball off Arsenal, pelt down to the edge of their penalty area and then seemingly become confused as to what happens next but, at least he tried to put himself in the shop window for a stint in a less competitive European league. Our passing, in general this season, has been inaccurate and abysmal when attacking, and that's not just down to Kamaldeen. We need a midfield general and the need to iron out defensive errors. The prospect of Wood and Wellington progressing, more of Sanda and Edwards, and the resurrection of Charlie Taylor spells hope, especially if Harwood-Belliss improves and we add a decent goalkeeper, assuming Ramsdale is gone, gives me hope. After all, how many teams in the Championship should we really fear? Ipswich, Leicester, Sheff Utd and money-laden Birmingham but, that's about it. I look forward to the challenge under a bright new manager.

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Southampton Insult Supporters With Behaviour Message And Season Ticket Prices
at 20:06:55

The only stampede likely on Sunday will be to get out of St Marys.

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Southampton At Everton The Verdict
at 20:22:32

Goodison Park deserved more worthy opponents than Saints for its final EPL match. In view of the fact that our team as expected didn't turn up, it would have been a not unreasonable gesture if Saints had returned their ticket allocation and allowed those home fans gathered outside the stadium to say their farewells inside to the old ground. We provided nothing other than our usual diehard fans. We'll need them next season more than most of the players.

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Southampton V Manchester City The Verdict
at 18:26:56

All those on the pitch did their bit yesterday and well done to them but, only one outfield player stood out as being capable of matching City's standards and that was Fernandes. Keep him and make him captain.

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