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Thread | Yesterday's game
at 12:16 30 Nov 2025
If there is anything I have learn't personally from yesterday and that is SFC should pay me to stay away from matches. I have missed the last 4 games (except for what I have seen on TV) and we have won. I go yesterday and what I saw was a defeat of course but also some of the things I thought we had got out of our system.
As a neutral this was a good advert for football in general. It was competitive, it was entertaining in both joy and frustration in equal measure, it had moments of debate with good decisions and questionable ones. A good honest game of football supported by good away support and atmosphere.
Millwall had a good game plan. They were structured, organised, well drilled, good team ethics and a desire to win the game. Whatever homework they did, it largely worked. Let's not take it away, by and large on the balance of play and chances they deserved to win as annoying as it was that they won in the nature that they did with less than a minute to go.
From the off Millwall were at us and we struggled to stay in the game. Arguably Millwall should and could have been 2-0 up at half time and the disallowed goal was questionable. But, we survived the first half, with a mixture of luck, a couple of good saves and some frantic and erratic defending. We must be better in the 2nd half surely????
We were better in the 2nd half and started off on the front foot with a penalty awarded (though it was not until later I saw the reason why). But, we were never in control and Millwall did not panic or fluster and equalised and soon took the lead with a stunning second goal (though as stunning as it was - why did our players stand off?). But, we clawed back and equalised but could we hold on? 7 minutes added time - it looked like we were there until with less than a minute to go Millwall grabbed the winner and the points.
The positive from Saints is that, we were not having a good day but we did not give up and with some better choices and decisions we could have come away with at least a point.
But, so many of the past issues came back with a vengeance yesterday:-
- why did we spend so much time playing around with the ball in our own box and area with Millwall players bearing down upon us?
- why did we revert to so much sideways and back passing? was it because we had no Scienza?
- we had no real outlet to support the front;
- we gave away the ball cheaply and we were all too easily brushed off the ball when we did have it;
- we surrendered the midfield too easily.
Fellows did not have a good game (though he was not alone by any means) and this was too difficult a game for a young Bragg who will do well but this game was too soon for him. Our defence was erratic and took silly and unnecessary risks.
Aribo - sorry to say this but he was awful when he came on. If he was seeking a chance to prove himself then he failed miserably. He just looked like he could not be ar*ed.
I suppose the biggest worry about yesterday was not so much the defeat but the fact that we reverted back to so many of our old ways that have not served us well. The test for our interim manager is whether he has the ability to make yesterday a blip and we bounce back quickly or whether it becomes another run of poor results. Time will tell. |
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Reply | MIllwall Have Injury & Suspension Problems
at 21:30 23 Nov 2025
With due respect Nick how many times have we been here? Opposition supposedly has team injuries and suspensions, shut up shop and then beat us. |
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Reply | Why we played so much better yeserday…
at 09:31 23 Nov 2025
I think he has adopted the blitzkrieg approach. Hit early, hit quickly and create some blue sky between you and the opposition. To some extent Koeman adopted the same approach. Under Koeman we generally scored our goals in the first half but tended to have quieter second halves when the game was effectively won. |
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Reply | Solskjaer
at 09:22 17 Nov 2025
It would actually be nice to hear something from the Southampton board itself as it has been a deafening silence since they sacked Still. As a fan/supporter (and I know that is all I am) I have no idea what SR plans are for the future. I would have thought by now there would be some form of communication/update. Are they actively looking? Is anyone in scope? Are they waiting to see what transpires under our interim manager?
I am not stupid enough not to know that if they are in negotiation etc with someone they cannot say anything - I get that, but I have so little faith in SR. I get the impression that they are happy to just drift along, save a few quid and hope for the best until the end of the season. |
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Reply | Don't expect Oriel Romeu to be our saviour.
at 10:10 8 Nov 2025
One swallow doth not a summer make, Grim.
You are right. I am pleased he has joined and he may teach some of the others that you may not be good but at least be bl**dy committed and have a never say die attitude - something that has been missing for a long time (along with ability) amongst many of our players.
I think he has been brought in to lift morale as much as anything but he cannot be the answer to all our myriad of problems on and off the pitch.
I am pleased to see him around and it was a pity he left without the recognition from the fans because of the timing of his departure. He may help to influence some in a positive way but he cannot repair bad decisions on or off the pitch. |
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Reply | Bristol City Game Matchday Thread
at 17:53 21 Oct 2025
With all due respect Nick but when were we last in winning ways? I don't think an occasional win now and then really counts as winning ways! What is it in the league this season? - 2 wins. |
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Thread | Yesterday's game
at 09:08 19 Oct 2025
I watched the game yesterday (albeit from the comfort of home, which I am relieved about given that I was unwell and the fact that had I made the effort to travel 250 miles and then 250 back I would have been even more hacked off with our performance).
Trying to look at the plus points. Our defence recently looks miles better than it has for a long time. There now seems to be some organisation and working together and greater confidence.
In the first half we created some good attacking opportunities. But, my oh my, how inept are we in front of goal? At least 3 or 4 chances should have been put away and with it Swansea in that first half (as lets be frank Swansea offered nothing in this game at all other than a blocking force intended to get a point and a chance 1-0 win). At least 2 of the chances were criminal misses.
But, the 2nd half, was dull and inspid. Swansea offered no real threat apart from a few forays and there were not many moments where our own box was threatened. However, we also ceased to be an attacking force in that 2nd half and we lacked imagination and transition from defence to attack. It would have been more exciting to have watched paint dry. That is not what I expect from any Saints team at home. Where was the drive and passion? Where was the imagination? Our midfield and attack were easily either nullified or just didn't know how to create and be imaginative in attack/going forward.
Our players up front seem to lack any stature or presence. Crosses into a box with players of no height or presence to outgun a stoic Swansea defence.
The substitutions added very little and arguably made us worse. Scienza had a good game.
It is hard to know how much to lay at Still's door. If those chances or at least 50% of those chances had been put away in the 1st half we would have won convincingly and it would have been a better narrative. Can Still or any manager be blamed for incompetence like that in front of goal? (look at Postegoglu - Notts Forest should have scored and had some easy chances but didn't and he lost his job). On the other hand you see Bournemouth and Palace that have players at the age of 19 etc and can find the net. Why are our supposedly more experienced strikers so ineffective even at Championship level? But, where I do question our manager ability in this season - is the inspid performances or halves of a game. The lack of drive or passion to go at a team. The players that are not even getting on the bench that may not have been great in the PL (but who was) but I feel sure could make a difference at this level. The lack of imagination and creativity out from defence into midfield and attack.
Last season was awful. This season is better because we aren't losing every game but for entertainment value I would struggle to give us above a 5 and at home you expect something alot better - if they don't then those empty seats will become the norm. |
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Reply | Glad To Have Two Weeks Off From Football
at 22:41 6 Oct 2025
I am afraid Nick I feel the same way and I have seen it coming over me.
Last season sort of finished me off from a Saints perspective but I did think this season would reawaken me but sadly, I almost feel indifferent - not completely but almost. I just see little to be excited about - we seem to lack vision and direction as a club off the field and see a lack of drive, passion, commitment on it. We have been in worse situations and position that is for sure, but strangely I always used to see hope of improvement. Maybe it is my age, maybe I have just lost passion for the game, maybe it is the sense that as club which just seem to keep making the same mistakes on and off the pitch.
I know there is along way to go and I never expected promotion this season but I just thought we would be better than we are. |
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Reply | Bands or artists you are supposed to like.....
at 13:43 2 Oct 2025
This is a big admission as I feel that whenever I have said this it has caused universal consternation.
I have just never been able to get into The Beatles euphoria. I like some of the songs they have produced (and they did bring a new era to music) but I have never been able to admire them in the way we appear to be expected to in an almost religious sense. |
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Reply | The New Forest
at 12:40 30 Sep 2025
Personally I like the Beaulieu area, but there are plenty of other options. |
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Reply | Stoke Tickets
at 09:44 21 Aug 2025
I am hearing that the Hull City away game is sold out - not sure of the number of tickets allocated to us. Considering the miserable season last year it is a real credit to our fanbase that they did not disappear and melt away last season and attending in good numbers. Saints fanbase gets little recognition but I think as a group we are pretty steadfast and stoic as a group. |
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Reply | Southampton Go Into Championship Opening Weekend In Strong Position
at 11:22 4 Aug 2025
Prefer to wait and see a bit before passing judgement in either the manager, the squad or anything. We are traditionally slow starters to a season irrespective of the manager and squad (or opposition).
We may have a stronger squad (on paper) than some of the opposition but other teams will have developed their squads as well. Other teams will be weaker on paper. But, football is not played on paper. |
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Reply | England's Semi Final
at 17:42 22 Jul 2025
I will watch it and I will want us to win because it seems to be a rare thing now, but there is some vestige of patriotism in my bones. I don't think the quality is great but it is a competition and for no other reason than we could get to a final that is enough for me. Whilst the standard is poor it is reasonably entertaining and probably more entertaining than anything I saw with Saints last season. |
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Reply | Still seems nervous to me
at 17:40 1 Jul 2025
You know when you write something, post it and wish you hadn't and wish you could delete it and pretend you never did write it - this is one of those moments.
I perhaps did not convey myself that well though I cannot see anywhere where I have suggested anything negative about our new manager. I have no view on him at all. I don't know him and I have no reason to believe he won't be successful (whatever success looks like). I hope he is the best thing since sliced bread. I want success, I want him to do well and for us to have a great season - we have had too much dross and too many changes in recent seasons both at manager and player level.
As regards the make up of the league - yes, there is a real mix but it is not an easy league and I was just trying to convey that we cannot afford to be arrogant and assume we can walk it - but we may!
I am looking forward to the season, going to games again with a sense that we can compete and win games. |
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Reply | Still seems nervous to me
at 10:51 1 Jul 2025
I, for one, is not expecting promotion saintmark1976. My expectations are around between 8-12th in the finish. It has nothing to do with the appointment of Will Still as we cannot comment on his ability until we have seen it and I am willing to give him a chance (no pun intended). My reasons for being very conservative about success this year (depending on how you recognise success):-
1. I think it will be a difficult league with many challengers and I think the points will be more evenly distributed quite widely;
2. I think having some experienced players recruited is essential and whilst I believe in youth and looking to the future with prospects we were usually better when we bought in players that have that bit of gravitas and presence in key positions and in games which could be difficult or need to be managed. We just don't have any natural leaders on the pitch - at least none that I have noticed for a long time. McMenemy was a master of mixing youth and experience (admittedly a different era);
3. We traditionally start seasons slowly even when we are doing well. I am not convinced will be ready enough for the start despite the earlyish appt of Still. It will take time for the team to bed in and for Still to know his best side. Arguably that is the same for other clubs - or some other clubs.
I am not being defeatist or negative as I think it will be an exciting entertaining season and I am looking forward to it. Surely it can't be as bad or as depressing as last season???? I am just managing my own expectations. Also, it is no good us being arrogant as a club just because we have been in the PL and believe we have some eternal right to success at this level. Many will see us as one of their cup finals and will up their game against former PL clubs. If we are not prepared to fight and scrap at times then we may live to regret it.
Anyway, that is my take. I am sure many of you will disagree or can argue against it, as is your want. |
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Reply | Ramsdale On Loan
at 17:18 23 Jun 2025
I would tend to agree. Get on with the sale, get the money and use it for getting a new keeper etc in. |
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Reply | Begovic coming here?
at 15:19 22 Jun 2025
As far as I am concerned I just want us to sign the best and most competent players we can for the job that we need them to do. Which previous clubs they have played for (even if it is local rivals) is largely immaterial to me. Most players (there are some exceptions of course) just see playing for a club as part of the job or career and do not necessarily have an affiliation with them as a lifelong commitment. |
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Thread | Kyle Walker-Peters
at 11:45 11 Jun 2025
Wherever KWP goes I will metaphorically wish him all the best and as far as I am concerned he will always be welcome back to St Marys and I hope he will always receive a warm reception. I think his attitude has been exemplary. His professionalism has never been in doubt. I appreciate that should be the expected norm but in truth, all too often it isn't with quite a few players.
But (and maybe I am being thick here - quite possible), why are we not seeking for him to remain? Has he said he will not play again at Championship level? Is there known interest from elsewhere? Has there been a discussion to see if he would like to stay? Do we not wish to entertain retaining him because of his wages? I know his contract has expired or soon to be and is relatively free to do whatever he likes and I will wish him well whatever that may be but has the club just given up on keeping him? |
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