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Comment | Southampton V West Bromwich Albion The Verdict
at 08:24:06
PS a midweek game will usually have a lower crowd and people leaving early because of the joys of car parks, work the next day, kids bed times. It's not just complacency and prawn sandwiches. |
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Comment | Southampton V West Bromwich Albion The Verdict
at 08:13:49
After a slowish start, we put together some great moves to be well ahead at half time. Great poacher's goal from Armstrong, second goal out of nothing in 2 games.
Second half, completely forgettable we just seemed to stop playing again. I accept WBA came back into it but Tonda needs to find a way to keep us holding the ball rather than just inviting pressure onto us. Thought Archer again was our best outlet once Arma came off.
Odd game, a good win ended up feeling like we just got away with it. Great to see us in the playoffs places, if only briefly, for now.
COYR
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Comment | How Tonda Eckert Has Changed Saints Fans Opinion On Recruitment Policy
at 13:00:45
One of the best things about TE is that he's just tweaked what wasn't working. He hasn't ripped it all up and imposed his 'philosophy' with the inherent delay in everyone getting up to speed.
Some players may take longer to adapt to a new side and some may need a bit more time to get used to the physical nature of the Championship. It's not always the case that a player hits the ground running at a new club.
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Comment | Southampton V Birmingham City The Verdict
at 11:33:14
Whilst we are now a real constant attacking threat from several positions, Fellows is surely due a fantastic goal soon from the runs he makes, our defence still needs work if we want to take on the top teams.
I still don't understand why we seem to be unable to control the ball more in the second half and game manage rather than just sitting back and inviting endless crosses into our box.
Even a maligned player like Archer played his part when he got hold of the ball late on and ran into the Birmingham half to relieve the pressure that we were under. From a technically gifted side like ours I don't understand why we seem to have no out ball for such long periods.
COYR
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Comment | Tonda Eckert Set To Get More Time But Are Saints Biding Their Time For Their Man To Be Available
at 11:00:26
As long as he is in the loop and clearly knows what targets he needs to meet, then this approach seems sensible. With his lack of experience as a full manager in a major league, we need to see some progress in his approach to what must be a steep learning curve. Tests against Millwall, Birmingham and West Brom are good indicators as to how he would cope.
If they are just leaving him in limbo while they wait for something to turn up, then that's just daft. |
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Comment | Southampton At Millwall The Verdict
at 10:06:54
Millwall just looked more aggressive for most of the match.
I thought the subs were poor. Unfortunately the performance seemed to get worse when they were made. Even sadly Romeu who played a part in losing the ball for a goal.
Progress isn't a straight line, so hopefully this helped Tonda gain experience with both the championship and the squad when the pressure is actually on.
COYR |
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Comment | Southampton At Millwall The Preview
at 14:49:26
Think we need an experienced team.Manning, Wood, THB, Armstrong, Fellows and Azaz will be okay. Fraser may be a good choice to replace Scienza and Romeu for Downes to do a bit of argy bargey in midfield. Agree Stephens may be sensible to replace Quarshie, who Tonda admitted was on against Leicester for his speed. As a newbie. Jander deserves a go to pick up some Championship experience. I'm sure Aribo will be on at some point. Bazunu also needs more time with this settled defence.
I won't be unhappy with a point away but atm we are capable of more. Hopefully another first half blitz.
COYR
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Comment | Southampton V Leicester City The Verdict
at 11:17:14
The turnaround is just amazing.
Every player appears to have raised their game and we actually have an identity on the pitch. Best I've seen us play since Ralph. Fellows particularly tore through whoever was up against him. Great to see the new Short haired THB back to old form and Flynn Downs also after a slow start really started to control midfield like he did 2 years ago. Bazunu, with virtually nothing to do all night still showed his ability with a fantastic diving save. Quarshie and Wood did well in steering people off the ball.
Shout out to a bit of gamesmanship with the slow walk backs after the goals. Really seemed to annoy Vestergaard at first.
Just a shame the crowd was a bit sparse. 3 games in a week isnt an excuse for most because 2 of those are away. Unfortunately, they missed a treat.
COYR
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Comment | Southampton At Charlton Athletic The Preview
at 09:31:50
It will be interesting to see if the extended break has given TE time to work with the team on his own ideas and set up.
I think we have experienced a new manager bounce in that removing WS took an increasing 'will they/won't they sack him' distraction away that was affecting the team's performances.
If Tonda can show real progress- which was all we really wanted from WS - then I think he should get the job.
I think our key this year is to attack attack attack. Given our error prone defenders we struggle to defend single goal leads. I think we have the best attacking group of players in the league if they are given the service. Just need to start making the best use of the squad that we have.
COYR
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Comment | Southampton V Sheffield Wednesday The Verdict
at 13:43:28
We now look ok in attack, it's just defence that really needs an experienced head to sort out.
Azaz and Fellows look to be gradually improving.
Bazunu is an odd one. Some excellent saves yesterday but you always feel there's a mistake waiting to happen.
I thought Downs had improved as well although he needs to put himself about a bit more. You forget how young some of these players are tho and the lack of experience in the Championship. Sadio Mane was rubbish in his first season too.
Surely Steve Cooper would come back from Brondby for the right offer? |
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Comment | Watt View - Problems Run Far Deeper Than Will Still
at 09:20:11
Fair comment.
Pointless pretending there is a long term blueprint with so many knee jerk decisions and changes in direction.
Dragan is currently finding out the old cliche ' Q. How do you make a small fortune from football? A. Start with a large one |
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Comment | Southampton V Preston North End The Will Still Obituary Verdict
at 09:52:17
Just hope that Sports Republic have learned from what has turned out to be another expensive failure. Need to drop this nonsense about 'long term projects' if manager must get immediate results to stay in the post. However any manager does need to show progress even if they lose. Still just went into reverse and the team went backwards. Performance against Preston was weak. If the coach had been fired then clearly the players could see the writing was on the wall for WS. |
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Comment | Is Silence From St Mary's A Good Or Bad Sign For Will Still
at 11:46:33
I'm in the Will Still in camp to give him more time. However, let's face it Southampton have had what 29 managers? in the 21st Century, so even a long lasting manager only gets/ stays about 2 years.
Yes give him more time, however to decide on this, the board need to do an investigation into why it isn't working atm and publicly back him. Failure to do these 2 basic requirements and we are all just stuck in limbo.
If they won't do that then yes change manager. Only fair to Still, if you won't back, then sack and we all move on.
COYR
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Comment | Southampton At Blackburn Rovers The Verdict
at 11:51:13
While I am in favour of giving him more time, yesterday was a disaster mainly of his own making.
Fir the first 50 minutes we looked great. However, we missed lots of chances. Adam Armstrong seems to have one way of scoring a goal ATM and the keeper sussed this out. Scienza was great, lively causing all sorts of problems and a clinical finish. Roerslav also looked good.
Then the fatal flaws in our squad appeared. I have to say there is a fair bit of revisionism going on with Jack Stephens, a lot of commentary in the past seems to have touted him as better as a CDM rather than a CB. uUortunately the experiment yesterday was a total disaster. Putting him on took our best attacker off the pitch, created too much space in the middle with the defenders now sitting back.
Then we lost Charles, arguably our best player this season so far. Then the disastrous subs, I suspect he was picking from a reduced squad because of rifts in the dressing room. Aribo was a must for this game to add some strength into midfield. Why Robinson doesn't start escapes me. One of our best attacking players sat doing nothing for most of the game.
I had hoped that a settled team was coming together but the usual frailties emerged.
If Still is to survive, there needs to be a serious internal review of why he is not performing. I don't think this is unreasonable for a young coach.
I'm in favour of giving him until Christmas. I really don't want to become a Watford but I definitely don't want to do a Luton.
COYR
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Comment | Southampton At Bristol City The Verdict
at 15:16:44
Frustrating match. Saturday was a step forward, which lasted all the way through to the second half last night. Then we reverted to type.
Difficult for Still to know what to do with our players as they are all so inconsistent and error prone. I believed that after Saturday a first choice team was starting to emerge but that was again all up in the air from 9pm last night.
When a team is this out of form I don't buy the criticism for making changes. Changing a consistently winning team would be odd but a stuttering team like ours?
Only bright light last night was Scienza who once again rattled the post early in the second half.
I just think this season needs to play out, unless we get into relegation difficulties, give Still the season and take it from there. Changing the manager twice a season is just daft.
In the bedwetters/ happy clappers classification, I think I sit in the middle somewhere but I'm not too keen on 'happy wetter'.
COYR- need that win at Blackburn to settle everyone, clappers and wetters, down
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Comment | Southampton At Bristol City The Preview
at 12:27:51
I think this is a tough game. Certainly playing 5 at the back seems sensible to start off with. Possibly the fullbacks might change if there are injuries or recoveries to factor in.
I'll be happy with a point tonight.
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