The Official Southampton FC Thread
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He's had a couple of bad games, but so does every player. Some were saying Mane wasn't good enough for Eastleigh before October 2014, let alone the Premier League. Look how that turned out 
I think he'll be an important player for us. He has been already, to be fair. He's never going to be banging in goals all the time though, and technically speaking he's Juanmi's replacement. He's a definite upgrade on him!
I think he'll be an important player for us. He has been already, to be fair. He's never going to be banging in goals all the time though, and technically speaking he's Juanmi's replacement. He's a definite upgrade on him!
5harp3y said:
instead of ...
An actual striker. JayRod/Long (granted he's been injured but he is back now). I don't know, maybe it's the system we're playing. If Redmond has to be on the pitch then it needs to be on the wing. With JR/SL & CA upfront. NR just seems too lightweight and never seems to know what to do with the ball whem he gets it. I hope I am proved wrong but how long do we wait.
Let's hope for something a lot better than Saturday, tomorrow!!
Paul_B said:
An actual striker. JayRod/Long (granted he's been injured but he is back now). I don't know, maybe it's the system we're playing. If Redmond has to be on the pitch then it needs to be on the wing. With JR/SL & CA upfront.
To be fair, JRod is still a long way off his 2014 form. He may never get it back (but no one is willing him on more than me). Currently, relying on him and Long for goals would be a dangerous thing to do. I think Redmond has more PL goals to his tally than both of them combined?! 
Paul_B said:
NR just seems too lightweight and never seems to know what to do with the ball whem he gets it. I hope I am proved wrong but how long do we wait.
Which could have been said of Mane too. You never knew what he'd do with the ball, that was part of his appeal.I get what you're saying, but I think he needs time to bed in.
I do appreciate what you are saying. I still think back then you could see Mane had a certain flair, which I just can't see with Redmond. The difference is we didn't know what Mane was going to do...but he did. I don't think Redmond does....
JayRod and Long both looked sharp when they came on on Saturday and I think either of them paired with Austin would be more effective than with Redmond up there.
Oh well, I just hope Puel isn't too stubborn with 'the system' to the detriment of the team's results.
JayRod and Long both looked sharp when they came on on Saturday and I think either of them paired with Austin would be more effective than with Redmond up there.
Oh well, I just hope Puel isn't too stubborn with 'the system' to the detriment of the team's results.
I only watched it on a stream, but from what I could see we passed it backwards, sideways, diagonally, backwards and sideways again. We had JWP and Clasie in midfield, which probably tells you all you need to know about how creative we were.
Redmond was woeful, looks like he's got no confidence at all. J-Rod horrifically off the pace again (I think he needs to go on loan to the Championship for the second half of the season personally, let him find his feet and begin believing in himself again) and Martina was back to being a League One standard full-back. Only VVD and McQueen were any good IMO, and that's probably because Liverfool's scouts were in the stands, or something.
Don't get me wrong, Sparta are a good side and haven't smashed the group for no reason, so the result isn't the hard bit to take, it's the lack of fight. We'll do exactly the same thing on Sunday and Mr Ambition's side will probably beat us 2-0 without us registering a shot on target.
I'm going to put a mattress liner on my bed I think, just in case.
Redmond was woeful, looks like he's got no confidence at all. J-Rod horrifically off the pace again (I think he needs to go on loan to the Championship for the second half of the season personally, let him find his feet and begin believing in himself again) and Martina was back to being a League One standard full-back. Only VVD and McQueen were any good IMO, and that's probably because Liverfool's scouts were in the stands, or something.
Don't get me wrong, Sparta are a good side and haven't smashed the group for no reason, so the result isn't the hard bit to take, it's the lack of fight. We'll do exactly the same thing on Sunday and Mr Ambition's side will probably beat us 2-0 without us registering a shot on target.
I'm going to put a mattress liner on my bed I think, just in case.
tobinen said:
Disappointing result. SS2, what went wrong? I've not seen any of it on the telly.
Got back late last night after a few days over there.Very frustrated with Puel's tactics, his team selection and the overall performance. I'm not a fan of over-rotating the squad and think that, with a win seeing us proceed to the KO stages, we should have played our strongest side from the outset.
The midfield in particular offered us nothing - spineless with no pace, no creativity, no bite. Don't especially like singling out players, but JWP, Hojbjerg and Clasie brought nothing to the party - sideways, sideways, backwards, sideways. Utterly dreary to watch and totally ineffective in trying to break down a pretty average (and injury ravaged) Sparta side.
Also have to say it's sad to see Rodriguez as he is now - no pace, no confidence, no touch. Surely time to either get him out on loan or ship him altogether.
We got from the game exactly what we deserved - nothing.
Still, what a great three days in Prague - cracking place for a break and we certainly took advantage of the cheap prices to eat, drink and be merry ! Just hope my body recovers a bit before the visit of Everton tomorrow.
Onwards and upwards.
SS2. said:
tobinen said:
Disappointing result. SS2, what went wrong? I've not seen any of it on the telly.
Got back late last night after a few days over there.Very frustrated with Puel's tactics, his team selection and the overall performance. I'm not a fan of over-rotating the squad and think that, with a win seeing us proceed to the KO stages, we should have played our strongest side from the outset.
The midfield in particular offered us nothing - spineless with no pace, no creativity, no bite. Don't especially like singling out players, but JWP, Hojbjerg and Clasie brought nothing to the party - sideways, sideways, backwards, sideways. Utterly dreary to watch and totally ineffective in trying to break down a pretty average (and injury ravaged) Sparta side.
Also have to say it's sad to see Rodriguez as he is now - no pace, no confidence, no touch. Surely time to either get him out on loan or ship him altogether.
We got from the game exactly what we deserved - nothing.
Still, what a great three days in Prague - cracking place for a break and we certainly took advantage of the cheap prices to eat, drink and be merry ! Just hope my body recovers a bit before the visit of Everton tomorrow.
Onwards and upwards.
A great trip ruined by another dreadful Saints performance.
This team is so dull at times. People spent a lot of money going to Prague and did not need to see the sh!t that was dished up. Sparta are a poor side yet we made them look good. This was the 1st game where I thought VvD was cruising and not showing a lot of interest. He knows he is better than this team and will be off in the summer.
Unless we can find some form very quickly our season could be over by Xmas !
Superb debut for Josh Sims - what a prospect this kid could be. Calm, composed and in no way overawed by the occasion - his work off the ball was even more impressive than his work on it. Nice one nipper, and a fat one in the eye for Ronald 'you won't win anything with the kids' Koeman. 
Credit where it's due, (and unlike Thursday in Prague) the players really looked like they cared today. So much better going forward, so much more telling in possession, much more aggressive in trying to get the ball back, and much more threatening going forward.
Thought the back 4 was solid (VVD in particular) but my MOTM has to go to Oriel Romeu. He never stopped covering ground, he broke up attack after attack and he rarely wasted a pass. A masterclass in how to boss the midfield.
Well done, Saints - a much deserved and thoroughly welcome win.
Credit where it's due, (and unlike Thursday in Prague) the players really looked like they cared today. So much better going forward, so much more telling in possession, much more aggressive in trying to get the ball back, and much more threatening going forward.
Thought the back 4 was solid (VVD in particular) but my MOTM has to go to Oriel Romeu. He never stopped covering ground, he broke up attack after attack and he rarely wasted a pass. A masterclass in how to boss the midfield.
Well done, Saints - a much deserved and thoroughly welcome win.
Agreed. We were on a completely different stratosphere to the last midweek game! Great stuff to see. Still a shame we couldn't kill the game off when we had a chance.
Looks like Sims is our Mane replacement!! :-) Just need Tadic back and get Redmond on the bench (or at the training ground) and we'll look really good.
Oh and we need Sigurdson (I know I've said it before), but he had a part to play in all 5 of their goals!! As good as we are, at the moment I cannot ever see us scoring 5.
Tomorrow will be interesting...
Looks like Sims is our Mane replacement!! :-) Just need Tadic back and get Redmond on the bench (or at the training ground) and we'll look really good.
Oh and we need Sigurdson (I know I've said it before), but he had a part to play in all 5 of their goals!! As good as we are, at the moment I cannot ever see us scoring 5.
Tomorrow will be interesting...
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k me sideways...Clasie actually scored!! Great finish too! I hope that'll bring him some confidence to up his game! Fantastic all-round performance this evening...Yoshida is a new man under Puel it seems! And Sims, well I just love watching him... And Boufal again... I could go on! Well pleased!
Liverpool in the Semis?? :-)
k me sideways...Clasie actually scored!! Great finish too! I hope that'll bring him some confidence to up his game! Fantastic all-round performance this evening...Yoshida is a new man under Puel it seems! And Sims, well I just love watching him... And Boufal again... I could go on! Well pleased!Liverpool in the Semis?? :-)
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