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Comment | Southampton At Norwich City The Verdict
at 20:18:59
I agree with much that has been posted. The best teams seem to have a string defensive diamond of goalkeeper, centre backs and holding midfielder. The full backs stop crosses and the midfielders and wingers provide options to progesss the play. If you need to go long the centre forward holds up the ball. We are a long way short of this. Which goal keeper, centre backs and defensive midfielder are first choice and able to do their jobs. Fellows is brilliant going forward but needs a resolute full back behind him, then he will really tear teams apart. Same with Scienza and Azaz. An alternative to Armstrong is needed. At the moment the substitutes are there purely to cover fitness sand injuries not to provide something different. Eckhart has done really well but stage two of the re- build is needed from Spots either I January or next summer. |
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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 17:38:10
After the Millwall defeat, the next two matches become really informative. Brum and WBA are good sides that will have assessed the Millwall approach to beating Saints. Eckert has to find a way to beat both of them. If he does then he suggests he has the resilience and tactical nous to manage us successfully but if we lose them then we would be foolish to appoint him permanently.He has had significant backing from the players but that only goes so far given their attitude to Will Still, he has to do more than just get the basics right. |
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Comment | Southampton At Millwall The Preview
at 10:01:55
I'm expecting Stephens, Romeu and Robinson to start for Quarshie, Downes and Scienza. Bench of McCarthy, Edwards, Quarshie, Welington, Bragg, Matsuki, Aribo, Archer and Fraser. Unless of course Scienza is over his illness. He, Jander and Fellows are critical role the team and getting through a lot of work so I wouldn't be unhappy if they were able to be rested at some point especially after Charles' injury in his third game in a week. |
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Comment | Southampton At Charlton Athletic The Preview
at 10:32:14
Doesn't sound like Ekhert is embracing Trollope and Lallana. Trollope has gone to Wolves and Lallana to the u21 perhaps en route for the exit door. If Ekhert doesn't persuade RM's acolytes ( Bazunu, THB, Stephens, Manning Downes etc) to put in a proper shift then I'm guessing it will be all change again with Ekhert back to the youngsters and a new man and backroom staff appointed. |
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Comment | Southampton At Queens Park Rangers The Verdict
at 14:02:23
I suspect that team was picked by a leadership group of Stephens, THB, Downes, Manning, Armstrong,and maybe Lallana rather than Eckhart with the hope of a return by RM.. We were very poor throughout with the exception of Scienza and Robinson who deserved their goals and will earn a few quid for SR when they are sold next summer. The defending was committed but utterly chaotic for the last 20 mins and QPR were a mixture of poor and unlucky. Still a win is a win but I'll be surprised if it's replicated on Saturday against a Sheffield Wednesday side with nothing to lose. |
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Comment | Depth Of Southampton Squad Is Will Still's Problem
at 16:50:32
This article makes a lot of good points. In fairness, I think THB, Aribo, Edozie and perhaps Armstrong were all expected to leave. This would explain Stephens contract and the purchase of Quarshie, Jander and Scienza. Given their experience it wasn't unreasonable for THB and Stephens to start but both seem unable to get past the disaster of last year. I really hope he sticks with the current back three and Charles and Jander I midfield. I think they will get better and are surely the future for Saints.
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Comment | Southampton At Hull City The Preview
at 13:18:33
Still has admitted that none of the strikers are particularly strong holding the ball up with their back to goal. In his press conference he talked about more incisive passing through midfield and better positions for crosses into the box that strikers and midfielders can run into. With Downes ill, it looks like Casper will partner Shea Charles which could be positive. I've a feeling Armstrong will replace Archer from the start given his work rate against the ball. |
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Comment | Two Outcasts Return To the Southampton First Team Squad
at 22:17:39
I'm sorry they are still here. Still has a massive squad and players in need of development will struggle for game time. THB/ Stephens will make progression difficult for Edwards, Wood and Quarshie. Similarly Aribo will block Sesay who looks really promising and a good back up to the three regulars - Downes, Charles and Jander. Similarly Edozie who didn't want to be here could block the development of Jay Robinson as a wide attacker. For young players to improve they have to play. |
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Comment | Will Still Says He Will Have Full Squad For Pompey Game
at 08:50:47
Big squad. Difficult to determine a definitive first eleven in merit from the first games. Everybody will have a different view of who is first choice across most positions especially with the new signings. Robinson and Fraser have been the best players for me but will either keep their lplace with the addition of two wide players, a new 10 and a returning Edozie. |
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Comment | So What Deals Did Southampton Do On Transfer Deadline Day
at 17:23:19
It was always going to be a very difficult window, but at least a lot of activity has taken place, with a couple of significant sales, a lot of wages off the books and some reinvestment to support Still. We still have five centre backs and four strikers on the books, none of whom have really demanded to be first choice. I hope Still goes back to a back four and sticks with it so that an organised defence can be established in the way that KWP, THE, Bednarek and Manning did two years ago on the. long unbeaten run. It looks like Archer is the first choice striker because of a couple of goals but nobody stands out as an obvious target man and goal scorer. Archer and Stewart play of the shoulder, Downs doesn't touch the ball and Armstrong is the new EFL Shane Long. Hopefully the attacking midfield of Azaz, Robinson, Frazer, Fellows, Matzuki and Scienza will compensate. If they can afford for Aribo to stay I won't be too disappointed as despite his crazy reported wages he can still support Charles, Downes and the new lad in midfield. |
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Comment | One In And Four Out Likely At Southampton On A Controversial Friday
at 17:50:17
So far it's 3 in and1 out with hopefully Scienza to come today or tomorrow. Sad to see Fernandes go regardless of any last minute media driven nonsense. However, squad feels more balanced. Interesting to see who is heading for the exit door now. Aribo and Edozie, perhaps Armstrong and Diaz and either Edwards or Smallbone. I'd really like Still to play Edwards tomorrow as a holding midfielder in front of a back four. I'm not sure that Smallbone is Still's sort of midfielder so maybe that will promote a move. Interesting few days but pretty good work to date. |
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Comment | Southampton V Stoke City The Verdict
at 12:14:01
Difficult and important week for Saints. So many issues appear to need addressing. I'm hoping that Still will eventually settle on a back four and move us on from the RM legacy. Up front, there are plenty of past Championship goals but will Diaz, Armstrong, Stewart or Archer ever find that form again - at the moment it doesn't look like it. To be fair this period was always going to be chaos and Leicester and Ipswich are similarly struggling. Not much change at teams like Stoke and Preston has meant they have got the ground running. Really hope that despite the financial challenges Will Still has a sensible sized squad after September that can be moulded into an effective team before he runs out of time. |
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Comment | Southampton V Stoke City The Preview
at 12:31:38
Four of our six centre backs have given up big chances so far but that is to be expected during the first games of the season. THB, Stephens, Edwards and Quarshie have all been guilty of over playing, missed passes, getting rolled etc. Woods did well against Northampton and Taylor has hardly played. They will all get better once things settle down and they get match fit. The question is which combinations will Still commit to after the window closes. Stephens and Quarshie presumably will stay because of their contracts. Taylor seems popular with Still. THB is on paper the best centre half and has been promoted twice but Wood and Edwards offer real potential and won't fancy another loan. Interesting dilemma - hope he makes the right choice. |
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Comment | Who Could Stay Or Go At St Mary's In The Last two Weeks Of The Transfer Window
at 21:48:34
I'm inclined to agree with SaintMark. Relegation comes with a cost. Last time we made £15O million in player sales and brought in loans to balance the books. It's the price of failure and last year was an abject failure. I'm sure some money will be reinvested but if Crystal Palace and West Ham come close to our asking price then Dibling and Fernandes will go. |
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Comment | Southampton At Ipswich Town The Preview
at 17:00:07
I really don't think Stephen's leadership is the major issue for WS to solve. He is leaning towards a back three because there are six championship level central defenders and either Flynn or Fernandes has been unavailable in midfield. I feel both Frazer and Robinson have done enough to start but with three at the back that leaves room for one striker.. Hopefully Stewart will start this time and actually lead the line as Armstrong, Downs, BBD and Archer have been very poor at holding the ball up and bringing others into play - let alone scoring - over the first two games. |
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Comment | Return To Southampton First Team Squad Down To Dibling Says Still
at 08:13:12
Despite the wrangling. These deals generally get done eventually and I'm expecting both Dibling and Fernandes to go. It's a shame because, if by some miracle, we were promoted they would be key players next year if surrounded by four or five new ones of PremierLeague l quality. |
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