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Comment | Southampton Fans Want To See Youth Given A Chance In The Last Two Games
at 11:11:11
I would suggest that Ruben Selles has in no way demonstrated any competence and that it is no coincidence that our obvious decline under Ralph coincided with Selles elevation by the club to be Ralph's number 2. Who knows for sure. But there is zero evidence that he would ever be a good manager. He has no ideas, no ability to learn from his mistakes and has a terrible read of the game. Any positives anyone can think of?
I think if anyone asked one of the young prospects if they wanted to get a run out in the first team before the end of the season, that they would all fall over themselves for a chance. We saw the energy that Ballard brought to our disastrous game against Grimsby. After which Selles then completely binned him off. I certainly don't think their egos are that fragile that their belief and confidence would be damaged from the experience. They would bring an energy that has often been lacking in our games this season.
And wouldn't it make sense to at least give these lads a bit of experience of what it is like to play against a Premier League side before we drop a division?
Sadly, in response to Nick's question, we know what a dull and unambitious manager Selles is. I suspect we will be likely to have to endure more of the same while the club ensures it meets its loan and contract commitments to give players time on the pitch and Selles repeats the same disastrous substitution jamboree of nearly all his other games.
I can't think what other reason there can be to give so much dross the chance to disappoint over and over again. |
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Comment | Southampton At Newcastle United The Verdict
at 10:13:54
Selles obsessive defend at all costs approach did for us again. Each time we make moves forward and get the upper hand by playing quick attacking football (now Newcastle and Arsenal) the manager repeats the same failed strategy.
Go more defensive, trust players who have repeatedly shown that they don't deliver, screw up our overall team balance by playing people out of position, take off anyone on a yellow card. And why did we take off both Lyanco and Djenepo to leave our right side totally exposed? Any amateur should have learnt from these errors after a few times. Not dogmatic Selles.
Playing Djenepo and KWP on their opposite sides was bizarrely pointless and served to limit our threat/effectiveness also.
Can't wait for the club to act to get the ball rolling for next season and to forget this one.
I wonder if a load of players are only getting played because we have to meet the terms of their contract/loan to get appearances in a single season or face paying a fee |
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Comment | Southampton V Bournemouth The Verdict
at 16:33:20
This is definitely an interesting one, Davidargyll
And one that we will find our for sure soon enough. One man's rubbish is another man's treasure, as they say.
I think our buying strategy has been part to blame but, I would agree with what Nick said. Our team is just a few key players short of being a decent side. Sadly, without those key players, it makes everyone else in the team look bad. And our manager's decisions have made them look really bad.
As we saw last night, when we were trying to attack, the weird tactics of Selles meant that there was no one to pass it to and we kept running into dead ends, so passed it backwards to keep possession. I didn't see a real lack of effort. Just players confused by what they were supposed to be doing or where they should be playing.
As I would understand things, Salisu is already pretty much gone to Newcastle. Thats probably why he is actually "injured". And I am sure there will be no shortage of suitors for Che, sadly.
Will all come out in the wash and in some ways, I hope it is you that is right. Because it will be far easier to get promoted with players like Che, KWP and Salisu in our ranks |
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Comment | Southampton V Bournemouth The Verdict
at 13:55:21
David, I think you'll be surprised what a queue there will be for our players.
I'd say ABK, JWP, Salisu, KWP, Che, Sulemana, Onuachu, Bazunu, Caleta-Car, Livramento (if fit), Alcaraz, Lavia and Mara will all be gone before next season. Both for reasons of contracts and the fact that they are good players if managed properly.
Add to that the departures of Orsic and maybe Orsic and Stuart Armstrong retiring.
It will be gutting to lose Tella too.
Its the dross on high relatively high wages I am worried we will get stuck with. Still, players like Aribo, Djenepo, Adam Armstrong and Lyanco will probably be able to DAJFU well in the Championship mixed with a load of our youngsters, I hope. |
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Comment | Southampton V Bournemouth The Verdict
at 12:12:57
Agree with everything on here. I don't really blame the players too much, more the inept tactics and bizarre rigidity that the managers have put on them. Why oh why do we do those play it out from the back goal kicks when we gain no advantage and then struggle to even get out of our own 3rd.
The dropping of Bazunu was also a really spiteful move by Selles. Made it look like he blamed him for not winning at Arsenal. And at least protect the lad by not putting him straight onto the bench, rather than humiliating him by demonstrating that he has clearly been dropped.
I wonder if the club has already spoken to players about whether they will stay after we get relegated, so that now we will increasingly see players like Sulemana, Onuachu, Adams and Bazunu not starting because behind the scenes, we already know they are leaving.
Saying that, utmost respect to Che Adams. he played with determination, passion and love for the club when he came on. Again, robbed by the bizarre technocratic, corrupt offsite official based VAR decisions like we've had many times this season. Will be really sad to see him leave.
Football is dead in the EPL. Can't wait to get to the VAR free Championship and maybe going to clubs without their crappy low quality fare cashless payment systems |
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Comment | Defender's Absence Noted Amid Questions Over Attitude
at 13:44:05
I haven't seen Salisu's failings on the pitch during matches. But based on the team selections, failure doesn't seem to be a problem with Selles.
Its all about statistics and analytics with our current leadership. So if you train hard you get to play in the next match, even if your last match performance was dire.
Square pegs in round holes all over the pitch, but yeah. Lets pile blame onto a player who isn't even getting selected, and even if he does get picked it will probably be to play him on the wing or something. He's clearly going at the end of the season, which I think this story is just a preamble to the forthcoming news that he's signed for Newcastle to soften up gullible fans.
When our relegation is confirmed there will be a hell of a lot more than just Salisu on the way out of the door. In reality our football club hasn't yet woken up to that realisation that it is not just a business as normal situation we're currently in. All of those stories being leaked by the club about our potential summer signings are just pie in the sky if we get relegated. Go Team Rankersen. |
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Comment | Southampton At Leeds United The Verdict
at 15:45:13
I am surprised that everyone is only focused on Bednarek's role in Firpo's shot for the goal. Where he screwed up for me was in not kicking it out right at the start of that period of attack, that led to the goal. Then we could have regrouped. Threat under control. Nothing to see here.
Instead, of kicking it out when he could, Bednarek scuffed the ball away and went down on the edge of our box to appeal for a foul, which he didn't get. It totally screwed us and caused panic as we were all out of position and the threat was still not dealt with, with the ball still in play. Unbelievably poor decision making from Bednarek.
I can understand it, but its a shame that Selles felt he had to leave Bednarek leading the line after the Chelsea game. That was Bednarek's only decent outlier performance in all of the shambolic appearances since his return to Saints.
He was such a major contributor to our loss on Saturday, from the painfully slow time to choose a pass to making us sit so deep in defence. It only seemed to be our full backs that were trying to break forwards. And it was Bednarek leading the defensive line.
Caleta-Car should always have been straight back in once his disciplinary issues were dealt with. Instead, we prioritised Bednarek's hurty feelings that he would have if we dropped him after Chelsea.
I am also pretty baffled by these calls to put McCarthy back in goal, ever again. How are fans memories so short as to remember Mr Ghost's repeated failings at his near post, where any shot is sure to go in. He should never play for the first team again as his failings are known by all opposition attackers. The fact that he is still here says more to me about the club's other priorities, over any statement that he should ever actually play for us. Caballero should be the only alternative choice to Bazunu. |
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Comment | Southampton Take A Big Leap Of Faith With Ruben Selles
at 13:40:56
Nick, you could have said the same about Pochettino? So maybe a little unfair to speak for other fans based on how you think fans are judging this appointment. That would be your perspective, not that of others.
Agree its right not to be too all in or out. We'll know in the next month how things are likely to pan out.
But its time for a bit of positivity. Saints seem too often to be too quick to wrap anything positive in a negative, i.e. "I think we'll probably still get relegated but..". That doesn't make a view more thought through, its just pessimistic over optimistic.
The fact is, we're going to play a style of football that we are used to. We have an interim manager who knows the club, its operations, coaches and players. No other external appointment would have achieved that, whatever is on their CV.
Its the positive atmosphere we need at home games now, and that needs us to fully get behind the appointment. Because that is all we have right now. And that may be a key factor in getting a few more points at home.
And lets see where we are at the end of the season. Rather than worrying we might look stupid if we get behind the manager and the team and get it doesn't work out. |
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Comment | Southampton Take A Big Leap Of Faith With Ruben Selles
at 12:07:19
Finally I feel that we have made an appointment that will match his actions with his words.
The player commitment, the cohesiveness as a team and the crowd atmosphere at Chelsea was something that many of us haven't felt in a long time. Add to that the exceptional way in which Selles came across and fielded the media questions before and after the game reinforced what an excellent appointment we are making.
Who knows how things will pan out in our upcoming games. At least I am sure that I am going to enjoy this season run in, and can enjoy it as a supporter. Rather than go to games full of doubt, distracted by what bizarre decisions are going on behind the scenes with the team and our players.
Bring it on. Personally, my gut feel is that fear of relegation will be a distant memory by the end of April following this appointment. |
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Comment | Southampton Likely To Move Quickly To Replace Jones
at 15:11:32
Looks like we are about to make a balls up of our next appointment too. Rushing to appoint a manager over getting the right manager.
I see on Sports Witness that our preferred candidate is Juric at Torino. But because they aren't keen to release him, we're just going to go for Marsh instead. Going for the fallback option again, just like we did when we appointed Jones.
Seems like Ankersen and the board have learnt nothing from the Jones screw up |
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Comment | Watt View - Disastrous appointment means survival now extremely difficult
at 11:13:50
Interesting read and sets the scene well. We have to stay positive and not be defeatist. We're still in a situation where a few good results could change everything.
It's hard for us as fans to identify a "safe pair of hands" and few if any of the suggested candidates with EPL experience fill me with hope.
I'd rather we chose a replacement based on success in overseas leagues to expand the quality of the pool to select from. If we can persuade a candidate with proven tactical nous to take the job, that for me would give us our best chance, providing one of those candidates would be suitable to stay with us if we get relegated.
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Comment | Southampton Sack Nathan Jones
at 12:23:06
It's an apt irony that the player that you bring back from loan, who has proved in his performances and deeds that he isn't good enough for Saints, is involved in conceding both goals that finally cost you your job.
I just hope the board bother to do more in appointing the next manager than looking at his position on a Managers perfoamce league table. Especially when we have bought loads of players that don't even align with our former manager's style of play.
We are now carrying loads of dead wood and have successfully blocked any path to the first team for young players.
What an enormous screw up and waste of Mr. Solak's money.
I so hope we don't appoint a managerial clogger like Dyche. We didn't want that type of football under Jones, so why would we want it with any other manager?
If it's about staying up, I'd say reappoint Ralf or Poch who know the club.
Leaving a caretaker coach like Sellers in charge will also ensure we are too soft to get results.
Other than that, I'm happy just to go to games and be entertained. |
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Comment | Another Weird Quote Or Two From Nathan Jones
at 12:51:02
On a side note, seems like there are quite a few relatively new "give Jones a chance" posters on here right now. Quelle surprise. Club appointed or Jones' mates? |
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Comment | Another Weird Quote Or Two From Nathan Jones
at 12:47:00
The evidence so far would seem to be that he isn't a nice man. In fact, he's a duplicitous, immature subjective ass. On top of being pretty shit at his job.
He clearly treats different players differently ref the Caleta-Car treatment. Actually being divisive in his own squad just adds to the challenge facing Saints. We've got enough problems caused by the encroachment of Sports Republic into the footballing side and the huge ego that is Ankersen.
Jones the incompetent narcissist thrown into the pot is not a combination that is ever going to benefit Saints football |
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Comment | Southampton Transfer Links Mainly In Strong Areas
at 17:02:57
Worries me that I am not seeing much about a LB. Clearly Perraud is not a good fit for the way we play and is not a great defender and Larios is young/injured. Beyond rumours of a young LB playing in Serie A that I saw at the beginning of the window, nothing else.
Yet weirdly we now only seem to be looking at RBs and CBs (we have 4). If we are playing KWP at LB constantly, then we don't have the LB or LWB that we need. So why sign another RB to exacerbate that situation?
For me, we need a goal scoring striker and a LB. Everything else seems to be coming along nicely. |
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Comment | Southampton At Everton The Verdict
at 13:14:16
After that result on Saturday, I am happy to eat humble pie and acknowledge that the evidence would be that I know very little about football management.
Like everyone else, I could see no way forward for us after the Forest game.
My god, what a transformation.
We now have movement to make players available to receive the ball, rather than static players and a bit of aimless walking about. We have continued the fluidity about our attacking, that we carried on from Man City play. Something that we had lost.
It also seems that we are less predictable and that there is less pressure on particular players (e.g. Che and JWP) to deliver the goods in their constrained role. The net effect has been better passing and players looking to be enjoying themselves again.
Similarly, Jones making proactive timely changes to the team, to give us an edge rather than as a reaction to losing control of the match.
Well done Saints, Jones and the fans who have been awesome the past few games. |
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