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Comment | Southampton At Sheffield United The Preview
at 19:09:54
Lose tonight and Saturday ahead of an International break and Mr Still’s position will become very interesting given that we will then almost certainly be in the relegation zone.
If nothing else we are shortly going to find out if the players are actually playing for their manager or not. |
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Comment | Southampton V Middlesbrough The Preview
at 09:36:50
A season defining game already Nick.
Lose today and we will be four wins and a draw behind Middlesbrough before October.
You are not alone in being unable to see what we are trying to do.
Worryingly, based on all the evidence so far neither is Will Still or for that matter Sports Republic. |
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Comment | Southampton At Hull City The Verdict
at 20:39:57
I’m not going to comment on your report Nick.
As would be said in court by the prosecution “ I need only refer the honourable gentleman to the evidence of the individual opinions expressed since 17.00 yesterday in the Forum section of your excellent website “. |
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Comment | Southampton At Hull City The Preview
at 14:40:17
Interesting to see your thoughts in this preview Nick.
I sense that like a lot of us your loyalty to S F C and by association Sports Republic is starting to wear a little thin.
The facts are that Hull are a poor team that escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth last time around. Relatively they have spent shirt buttons compared to our window spend of £50 million.
If we are going to get anywhere near promotion this season they are a team that needs to be despatch easily with all three points coming South by 17.00 tomorrow.
Frankly, I’m totally disinterested in what formation is played or for that matter which players are used. We have a better squad than Hull ( even without a proper Centre Forward ) and nothing short of a win will be acceptable.
Put simply the time for after match excuses is over. Mr Still and the players must now collectively step up to the plate and get the job done in line with the massive salaries they are paid to do so.
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Comment | Southampton V Portsmouth The Verdict
at 11:23:11
Firstly all credit to Portsmouth, they came to St Mary’s with a plan with each of their players knowing what their respective responsibilities were and played as a team. Overall I thought them a little unlucky not to go away with all three points.
Still’s team selection for what to many is the biggest home game of the season was utterly bizarre. At best he put out a team not to lose, at worst he simply didn’t have a clue. Aimless balls pumped up to a lone forward like Archer just empathised the biggest weakness in the team, £50 million spent in the last window and we still haven’t got a centre forward who can score goals or even hold a ball up.
Robinson given just 15 minutes against a tiring Portsmouth defence was another ridiculous decision.
I’m beginning to think that Mr Still is starting to show what he actually is. A young manager who has never played professional football or previously managed in any English league let alone The Championship. He had better get some wins and quickly, or the minor booing heard at the end of the game yesterday will become ever louder. |
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Comment | So What Deals Did Southampton Do On Transfer Deadline Day
at 11:38:16
Completely underwhelmed as ever with Sports Republic.
We needed a decent goalkeeper, centre half and most importantly a centre forward.We got not even one of them.
Instead we purchased interchangeable wingers and midfielders.
There is no way that our current forwards will score enough goals to get us back to The Premier League this season.
In my opinion Downs is completely out of his depth, Stewart looks like an old man trying to avoid his next injury, Archer is a journey man with a poor goal scoring record and Armstrong appears way beyond his best and disinterested.
Sports Republic received £80 million for the sale of Dibling and Fernandes alone together with parachute payments and appear intent on keeping the majority of it which of course is their prerogative.
A season of mid table mediocrity awaits for us fans. |
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Comment | Southampton At Watford The Verdict
at 13:11:28
You don’t win or get automatic promotion from The Championship by giving the lead away twice against teams such as Watford who are perennial middle table underachievers.
As saint22 points out rather than half the team competing with each other to do the best knee/bum slide in front of our fans after Manning scored, perhaps it would have been better to concentrate on seeing the game out.
Definitely two valuable points dropped, and yes as barry suggests we still need a decent keeper, centre back and most importantly a centre forward. |
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Comment | Southampton At Norwich City The Carabao Cup Verdict
at 10:21:41
Agreed neither of them are “pulling up trees” keepers.
Bazunu first choice ahead of McCarthy though ?
Not on the basis of yesterday’s game where McCarthy kept us in it early doors,much as he was responsible for our appearance at Wembley after Bazunu suffered an injury the season before last. |
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Comment | Southampton V Stoke City The Verdict
at 10:25:54
Firstly all credit to Stoke, they came with a plan (and an experienced Championship manager) and stuck to it together with playing twenty odd minutes with ten men.
The game changed when Flynn Downes gave the ball away for their first goal and then missed the chance of equalising when he missed an absolute sitter at the other end.
Having said that it’s obvious that our main problem is Sports Republic have assembled at great cost, a collection ( Stewart, Breerton Diaz, Archer and Downs) of supposed forwards who simply can’t score goals.
Armstrong appears to be pasts his best and Robinson is still learning his trade.
Yes,any defence will on occasions ship goals but if your forwards can’t put the ball in the net at the other end you are always going to struggle.
The question now is will Sports Republic actually buy a proper striker before the current window closes ? If they don’t the best we can hope for is mid table mediocrity.
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Comment | Portsmouth Fans Not Happy With Travel And Match Ticket Prices For Trip To Southampton
at 16:28:06
Honestly, what is the problem ?
A quick look on the South Western train’s website suggests that a return ticket costs £21 so for an extra £2.50 they get dropped off right outside the ground.
£40 for a ticket to watch what for them will be the highlight of their season is good value.
After all it’s discretionary spending, attendance is not compulsory and the game will be on TV. Go to a pub as £62.50 buys a goodly amount of alcohol even at today’s prices and that will hopefully soften the blow of a home win for them. |
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Comment | Who Could Stay Or Go At St Mary's In The Last two Weeks Of The Transfer Window
at 14:04:59
Nick,
1. My comment wasn’t a “ bold prediction “, indeed how could it be read as such when it clearly contains the words “ may just as likely” ?
2. As for your comment “ better to wait until the window is closed before making bold predictions“.
Once the window is closed, then who has gone and who has come in and how much has been spent, is obviously a statement of fact rather than opinion is it not ?
Put simply you can’t make a prediction about something that has already happened.
3. Having said the above I’m 100% on side with the content of your second paragraph. Particularly given that you acknowledge that responsibility rests squarely with Sports Republic rather than the individual people they employ in the recruitment department.
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Comment | Who Could Stay Or Go At St Mary's In The Last two Weeks Of The Transfer Window
at 11:37:32
Nick, your very comprehensive review appears to contain an assumption that if some or indeed all of those mentioned leave at least part of the transfer fees obtained will be reinvested in players.
My own view is Sports Republic may just as likely say to Still “ The remaining squad is big enough and talented enough so you get us promoted with what you’ve got and we will keep the money raised “.
If that were to be the case the we will finish mid table at best.
Interesting times ahead. |
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Comment | Southampton At Ipswich Town The Verdict
at 09:52:15
Not pretty and we were very fortunate on occasions but the team put in a shift against the team that the bookies still have as favourites for promotion.
A bigger concern for me than a slightly wobbly defence is the forward situation. With the current players I just can’t see where enough goals are going to come from to maintain a promotion challenge.
I said at the time that we should have taken Everton’s money for Dibling and it could well be that in not doing so our chances of a swift return to the top flight floundered, almost before a ball was kicked in anger. |
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Comment | Southampton At Ipswich Town The Preview
at 10:07:05
Just avoid defeat.
Teams that generally win at home and avoid defeat away get promoted.
Massively overrated statistics about possession, shots on target etc etc are totally irrelevant if you stick to the basic mantra above.
It really is that simple. |
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Comment | Southampton Technical Director Defends Jack Stephens Contract
at 10:50:36
Not sure why it’s now fashionable to have a crack at Stephens.
Don’t the facts suggest that when he was out of the team last season we shipped more goals than when he was in the team ?
Far better perhaps to have a go at Sports Republic and their employees for getting us relegated from The Premier League twice in three seasons ? |
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