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Comment | Do Southampton Need To Recall Bella-Kotchap For Liverpool Clash
at 12:19:02
No player could refuse the chance to play against Liverpool and make a name for himself.
Either he will make a name for himself and get a move back to a European club in January, or if the predictable scoreline happens, he'll be as guilty as the others if we lose big time.
If he ends up putting Mo Salah in his pocket his transfer value will soar and we will get a profit on the deal.
Most of the games upto the New Year are against top 8 clubs, so there is nothing to lose but to see his real potential. |
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Comment | Central Defensive Injury Blow For Southampton
at 16:51:06
Agree (halftimeorange) recently read that Wood was a bit unhappy at getting no game time.
(Last app. v Cardiff League Cup in August + some minutes with U21s.)
He's played alongside THB with England U21's a few times in the last year -so why not give him a chance (?)..let's face it our next game is v. Liverpool - couldn't be more of a challenge- If he's not the worst player on the pitch, he might get some game time whilst Jan B. is out |
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Comment | Southampton Show You Don't Have To Be With The Big 7 To Get In England Squad
at 09:49:04
The England side is in transition, not just because of Southgate's departure, but the failure to win any sort of trophy during his time, and England have become the " almost " side.
Now - many in the Kane / McGuire generation are gradually on the way out and there are no obvious " giants " to replace them, and some of the current squads are merely picked from " in-form players" who may get to wear an England shirt for the day.
Despite our lowly League position, THB has been a stand-out player for us since arriving and having passed through the U21 stage, deserves a chance to show himself in the full side and give Tuchel a good look at some alternatives to our aging England defenders.
Likewise, Ramsdale who came off the Arsenal bench and landed in a nightmare situation behind our shaky back line, (who despite some good individual performances), seem ALMOST incapable of keeping a clean sheet in any sort of match. Rambo is a better keeper than our goals-against stats. may suggest, and may look better behind " a good defence" .
Jordan Pickford has over 70 England caps to his name and despite having passed 30 (still not a bad age for keepers) will eventually have to give way to a younger talent and Ramsdale (like THB) needs a chance to show up before the " Tuchel regime " takes over.
(I though it laughable that some media critics lambasted Carsley for not having " more contact " with Tuchel since his appointment. Tuchel will undoubtedly be watching all England games before January (and making his own assessments) and Carlsley will (at the handover) be able to give informed individual judgments on those younger players who he has managed through the U21 level over the past few years.) Dumb journalists. !
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Comment | Southampton V Everton The Verdict
at 18:02:49
highlights on the club site make it look like an exciting game, but the rest was terribly boring
65% possession again, but almost no shots in first half. Overall I was shocked to see that Tarkowski's tackle on Archer only got a yellow, but VAR took an age to clear Bednarek of a relatively simple foul and there was no real threat on goal.
We must be grateful for 3 points, but we have played better in some games and still lost. |
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Comment | James Bree Tries To Curry Favour With Russell Martin After Blatant Gaffe
at 19:19:52
I think most players might have said the same thing. For a team that is still struggling for a League win, they appreciate that it's Martin's job that is on the line (as they all sit with good contracts). I think even the teams' hardest critics would admit that at times we have played some great football - even against top sides - but we lack consistency over a 99 minute period, and even the hard-bitten media types on TV have admitted that we have had more than our share of bad luck, dodgy refereeing and VAR Fluffs.
One good win would put us on track and more of the summer signings will get more comfortable with Russball.
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Comment | Southampton At Manchester City The Verdict
at 13:46:09
Yes Lallana needed to play but he's not a 90 minute player. We should respect that.
Dibling got the attention he deserved early season, but he is still very young and can't be expected to shine in every game. In this instance, the HT change was a good decision as he wasn't in the game so much.
Archer unlucky but it's such moments that decide matches. Haaland may have had an off-day, but he was careless in many of his attempts and it was good defensive work from all of our back line when needed, goaline clearances, headers etc.
Even after all the midfield changes we kept the momentum, but had too few chances.
Disappointing result. We deserved better. One point would have been justice. |
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Comment | Southampton At Bournemouth The Verdict
at 11:12:47
I wasn't alone in the summer demanding that we sign more strikers, well we got them -despite the fact that none can score - but starting with 5 on the bench was madness.
As in Man U game we looked in command for 20 minutes - until their first goal - and a look at VAR would have seen a wrongly-placed freekick, and a blatant " illegal moving ball ".
Confidence went out the window and 3-0 at HT, and so why no attacking formation in second half when the game was effectively already lost?
Can only think RM looked for a 0-0 HT and then send on more strikers (?)
THB's goal showed a little fight, but we still lacked any creativity in midfield. Without Aribo and Smallbone, then Downes looked like a one-man band. Lallana should have been on after HT and (sadly) Aribo made no meaningful contribution in the rest of the game.
Why bother to leave Onuacho on the bench - at least he knows how to score goals and with two full backs who can centre the ball, and at 6'8" at least he's worth a try.
Ugochukwa adds nothing to the side, and we need to "convert" one of the unused strikers to a midfield role and give some support to Downes who looked shell-shocked.
No excuse can give a satisfactory explanation to that debacle ..so onto a win at Arsenal !.
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Comment | Graham Potter Lined Up For Southampton Job
at 15:30:10
I'm re-reading your article ( Nick) and are confused by the statement ..if Ipswich were to LOSE to Villa - it would be bad for RM? .Looking at league table surely a defeat for Ipswich would give a breathing space for RM / Saints...? ... as they are just above us.
I have to agree with Bowlercow (above) I also noted the original posting, (football insider) and don't place much credibility to it. It reminds me of some football student who is running a site from a PC in his bedroom....and trying to be first past the post. |
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Comment | Southampton Summer Signings The Initial Verdict
at 12:47:39
Agree with most of your ideas ( Nick) but the overriding factor is that " THIS is the Prem" .
and many of the faults we have made so far are also common to several other sides.
At the end of last season Armstrong was the only mainline striker, ( Stewart was still unfit for games) and most others were just " talented youngsters".
BBD and Archer were signed late on the scene, (suggesting they weren't near the top of our wish list in the beginning) but I think in time, they will come good. BBD looks a type of Chas. Austin " streetfighter " which is no criticism. He may lack sophistication, but I like to see a striker (he really is a CF), who can put himself about and he will cause defences some real problems. Archer has goals in him, but the Prem. is a genuine problem for better players than him who have not shown up so far. I'm reminded that 20-odd years ago, it took a while for James Beattie to find his feet before he hit any real form.
Glad to see Downes back but he needs to find himself at the higher level, but I'm running out of superlatives for the likes of Sugawara and Fernandes (both foreigners) who are now stepping into the Prem. for the first time and look very impressive.
I'd be happy with 60 minutes of Lallana every week, (he's still a class act) and I'd pick Taylor over Manning every time. The two young CB's will develop - given time, but Aaron Ramsdale is a real find (regardless of the results) , and I recall that Peter Shilton had a nightmare start with Saints after he arrived, when his defence was still on holiday, and we conceded 18 goals in the first handful of matches.
We've been notorious bad starters for decades so that I'm not panicked so far.
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Comment | Jan Bednarek Pens New Deal At St Mary's
at 07:35:41
Every player has faults and misgivings but Jan has made the best of his career chances and (aside from Jack Stephens) is the longest serving player left from the unfortunate crop of misfits we bought following the relative " success" of the Koeman era.
Although it maybe difficult to grade him as " a fans favourite"?... I think it's generally accepted that he DAJFU and in general is a lot better than many CB's we've seen of late.
We may see him as a candidate for team captain, as Jack's contract goes out next summer.
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Comment | The Knives Are Out For Russell Martin In The Media But Do They Have Substance
at 16:25:52
It took time for RM to instill his formula into last season's squad and we had a few lucky results at the start of last season, before the " September crash", but after the revival in beating Leeds it started a 25 game unbeaten run. Although it's unlikely that we will get anywhere near those performance levels, it should be remembered that once again he is starting with yet another new squad, however we must turn the corner...and PDQ.
Last season we blamed the defence for conceding too many goals, but now the boot is on the other foot. Two games have been lost by a single goal (which were down to individual errors) whilst we have had 42 shots in 3 games and yet scored only once - in stoppage time in the 3rd match. The Armstrong / Brereton Diaz combination has yet to yield a single goal, but it now seems that creativity is somehow lacking in the midfield despite the high possession % stats.
I'd go along with " West Sussex Saint" (above ) and say we have to grit our teeth and wait for a change of luck, but I don't see panic sackings so early in the campaign. A few points on the board will change the drop zone considerably and some of the teams above us are looking equally uncertain a.t.m.
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Comment | Southampton Agree Transfer Fee For Tall Paul Onuachu
at 15:58:08
another case of ..what might have been...but his loan to Turkey was a case of the right player at the right time --for them, as there are few teams likely to buy a 30 year old for the fee we paid out in haste, and the real winners are Gent, who pocketed the 18 million in the original deal, and Trabzonspor who have got a player who fits their needs - at a genuine cut price for them.
In retrospect, transfer buys in " the Nathan Jones era " all went wrong - in different ways.
The deal for Orsic never got off the ground, and although Alcarez looked a good buy at the time, he always seemed like a square peg, and although we made a small profit on his return to Argentina, the big deals for Onuachu and Sulemana will be an expensive lesson
that Sport Republic will want to avoid again. Although James Bree came at a small fee, he was never first choice last season and is unlikely to feature much at this higher level.
Of the 60 million paid out in that window, we have recovered barely half, with Sulemana's uncertain fate, SR are unlikely to balance the books even after his eventual departure.
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Comment | Vacancy- Ball Playing Goalkeeper Wanted Apply St Mary's Stadium
at 15:59:58
Yes. McCarthy DAJFU in the playoffs, but not by choice. Sadly he is not a Prem. standard keeper and the idea that he could "hold the fort " until Bazunu is fit ...is simply grasping at straws. The Newcastle game may have made big headlines for another reason but every Prem. manager is going to make their goal incident his first talking point before playing us.
Even if Bazunu comes back "superfit" by January, meantime we must rely on AM or Joe Lumley (ho barely played more than a few Cup games against lower league sides).
Neither was really a first-choice for Championship matches.
If it all goes "pear-shaped " we could be 10 points adrift at the bottom by Christmas.
Another experienced goalie should have been first priority in June.
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Comment | James Ward Prowse To Be Allowed To Leave West Ham United
at 15:47:21
Better left alone. A bit of a downer for him to suddenly come back. He was a great servant to the club and leaves good memories. Those who criticise him should find the You Tube clip with all his free kicks ..OK so he didn't beat Beckham's record but he DAJFU in several roles yet was ignored by an England manager who praised him to the skies when his U23 captain, but was afraid to upset " the experts" and drop some of the media favourites .
I really don't think the England midfield was so much better without him.
In one of his last Wham games, Prowsey scored direct from a corner and gave an assist.
Moyes understood his potential but WHam ditched him after he won their first trophy in an age, now they have a new manager and deserve everything that goes wrong.
JWP won't get much game time but I hope (like Ings) he gets the most out of his contract.
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Comment | Southampton At Newcastle United The Verdict
at 14:24:10
You have all covered the major points (above) so I will just agree as follows: dellboysaint,
A 1079, American Saint, ItchenNorth.. We all agree. McCarthy has to take the blame....
(a few people trying to be kind because it was first game doesn't disguise the obvious.) On another day we'd might have got at least one point.
Kristian J.. the Board has (so far) ignored a problem we all knew was obvious and a new keeper should have been our no.1 priority. Thank goodness we have been reminded early season, and not in two months time.
El Santo ...Agreed .I long to see BBD terrorising a few big names this season. Referees are too soft favouring defenders. It's a strikers job to hound the back line. The red card was strictly according to the rules, but Ben must pick his fights more carefully in future.
andover pedro....It was tough luck on Sugawara. He looked up for the fight and was just as effective (better) than Edozie's contribution.
All things considered - a disappointing result, but an encouraging display especially at SJP. |
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Comment | German Club Agree Deal For Southampton Defender
at 09:48:05
Arrived whilst still in his teens (?), hard to settle and got an early setback with injuries.
Obviously has talent, and playing on home soil may bring the best out of him.
If w can get a profit on the deal , it's one less problem to think about. |
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Comment | Southampton About To Break The Bank For Greek Forward
at 09:45:06
yes ..I also agree with the above.
If it means laying out that sort of money, let's get a deal with Celtic for O'Riley and get a proven player who will meet the requirements. Russell Martin is sold on the idea - go for it. |
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Comment | Kyle Walker-Peters Situation Is Win Win Says Russell Martin
at 09:41:29
providing we don't get scre*ed by Spurs on the deal (as normal) this is a win-win situation.
KWP has been consistently good during his time with us, and IF he is happy to stay we will have good coverage at full back - in case of injuries, and he'll be worth a new contract, Many players who move down from London ..eventually long to go back after a while and remembering that Kyle was a Spurs graduate from the start of his career.
Hopefully there will be a suitable solution for both player and club(s).
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Comment | Southampton Hold Talks with Goalkeeper
at 10:46:14
although we know the shortcomings in McCarthy's game, we should be grateful to him for his input at the end of last season, BUT the Premier League is another world and not one that McCarthy will be likely to survive in.
Having satisfied ourselves that Lis is not a viable alternative at this level, and Lumley was not even proven in the Championship, we have no real alternatives and the expectation that Bazunu may come back after the New Year fitter and better than before is a most unlikely outcome, by which time we may be back in the drop zone.
Every Prem. club need keeper(s) of established international class and a proven defence in front of them. We have fortuitously managed to cobble together half of a new squad for (in Prem. terms) a fairly miserly 60 million, but without a safe pair of hands at the back we will be fragile to say the least.
Ramsdale fits the bill and we must go for bust in securing someone of his quality - or else.
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