I’m trying so hard not to go out on there, but the caller from 606 has to be a regular poster on there. Called the owners money grabbing!
True… but I suspect we have also been lucky… especially last season when several clubs performed well under par… ‘I have a bad feeling about this’ season as I think the this might be the season in which our strategy is found to be wanting. Dont get me wrong, in theory, it’s superbly logical and rational - to try and create a system in which no single individual is critical… be it player or manager. Folks leave - the system survives and new players or managers just slot in and everything continues… but where it fails is in the fact that you cant remove ALL the subtle differences between the individuals we recruit… the nuances and skills which are always unique to the individual and can not simply be replaced or replicated. The differences we see now between Koeman and Puel’s styles is obvious and now we have a period af transition…again.
It might be one of the biggest cliches in football, but continuity is key… and we have embraceed a system designed to ensure it, but that is high risk because of the unique nature of individuals and what they bring…
Loath as I am to say it (for more than one reason 
) I think you are spot on with this post, Bletch.
Last week, StickyWhiteDovePiss said that he had detected poor body language in the team; I couldn’t really see that, myself; but, today, for the first 80 minutes or so, I could see exactly what he meant. For me, the players lacked last season’s intensity and gave the impression that they hadn’t really bought into whatever it is that Puel is trying to get them to do. There were even times when it felt like a couple of them were simply going through the motions. I’m not too keen on how Puel spends a lot of time on the touch line with his arms outstretched, either.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, of course, but early signs aren’t particularly encouraging in my honest opinion.
And, yes, if any of our forwards are to go out on loan this season’s it should definitely be Austin ahead of JRod, I reckon.
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PS… I think this also need to be put in context of a post match football forum. None of this really matters. Its a game played by millionnaires watched by those who pay their cash to make them millionnaires… and during 90 minutes we all get a bit carried away with tribal glory or defeat. But when we look at the shite in Syria, earthquakes in Italy and deaths on beaches, it really does mean fuck all, before I get accused of bedwetting again… In the grand scheme of things …but on a football forum, its fair game to dissect and analyse what might be impacting on the succes or otherwise of our side… its what fans do, so to criticise those that go OTT (darkside) about something that means fuck all seems abit of a waste of time… just a game played by millionnaires. paid for by us mugs willing to suppport teams with no chance of winning the biggest prizes through some sense of ‘expected’ loyalty…
Given the lack of logic in being a fan, is there really any expectation to see any logic in any of their opinions? 
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Body language would have been fine if we had snatched a last minute winner. Regardless of the previous 89 minutes.
We looked pretty good for the first and last twenty.
Just not quite clicking yet.
Fans expectations are through the roof because of six or seven good seasons in a row.
Have a bit of patience and a little faith.
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Patience is for the virtuous
Faith for the godly
Panic and misery for football scrotes
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But come on be honest, did you say this the first time and the last time. I had us down for nailed on relegation the season Poch left. If you keep saying it, then you will be right one day, as we cannot continue to improve year on year.
You say there were a lot of bad teams last season, but we did finish below Arsenal, Spurs, Man City, Man U, who you would expect to end above us. This only leaves Liverpool and Chelsea who you would expect to end above us. So 7th is really the best we can hope for this season I would say, but I think 7th - 10th it will be, as I feel that we have a very good team. They just seem a little lost (again) early season, which is understandable.
We will have West Ham, Everton and Stoke sniffing around these places for the top half places.
Just look at our back 4. One of the strongest in the league. One of the best keepers, 2 Euro winners. Another England player and VVD. Pretty awesome really.
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Our fullbacks were poor today. Good performances from Cedric and Bertrand would make a massive difference to the team. Targett’s positioning was very poor today. Hojbjerg spent most of the first half telling Cedric to get his arse up the pitch.
Poor first half from Romeu and a nothing performance from Tadic.
Uphill from there.
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Sim, I admire you calm reflection… but logic is inevitably thin on the ground post match… goes with the idocy of fandom
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Don’t get me wrong I love Saints, but I cannot get worked up into a state if we do not win anymore. If we win it is still fantastic. I just enjoy it for what it is. A game of football with a team I love playing. Yes I get a little down, but not to the point that some do. We have a great club and we are going to the San Siro.
I think the way I look at it is great. Chilled out… Yes this will change the day we are fighting it out in the bottom 3 and this day will come one day, but until then, you have to love it!
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If you had offered me a 1-1 beforehand I’d have told you to stick it, but we were the better side - again.
Perhaps without some bonkers refereeing and some better finishing we would have been comfortable winners so I’m not in a panic yet.
Should we play ten games and continue to look unlucky then we will have a problem, because the table doesn’t lie - but after only three games it tells little fibs.
Bang three past Swansea and the world is a very different place.
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I agree Stench - that sort of behaviour really isn’t on. He really didn’t have to edit your post to make you look stupid. Bad form.
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I’m with the Goat here - and a couple of others who’ve said much the same. Yes, it looks like the team is playing in a way that they’re not acustomed to, and that they’re not entirely used to it. I wouldn’t go as far as to say they look unhappy with it, just uncertain. To be honest, I do find it more than a little odd that blokes who get paid tens of thousands of pounds a week apparently find it so hard to change the way they do things, but there you go.
Anyway, a couple of observations from the game…
First, if Austin is the answer then it’s the answer to a question we’re no longer asking. The question in this instance being “What will we do when Graziano leaves/retires/whatever?” Looking at how we’re setting up to play, I don’t think that Graziano would be first choice anyway. Austin has his qualities, but mobility isn’t one of them, and we need a striker with a lot more pace and movement.
Second, I really hope we’re not about to loan J-Rod out anywhere - I thought he looked pretty sharp when he came on, and I’d far rather see us start with him and not Austin.
Third, there are clear indications that the players are getting the hang of how Claude wants them to play - a few quick moves, with the ball pinging through the team at speed - and to me that bodes well. If we can get that right - and I see no reason that we can’t - then we’ll be both a formidable proposition and a joy to watch.
That’ll do me.
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I remember Shankly saying football is a simple game.
Skill and passing wise we are OK at, keeping possession even good at, but we are not clear when it comes to what it is all about which is creating and taking chances. The players seem confused or are so much trying to create the perfect opening that it creates a low risk strategy and few players take chances.
I like where we were which was win the ball back quickly. Press high up the pitch. Attack with speed and down the flanks. If I remember rightly we scored the most with headers in the league last season.
On the recruitment front. We seem to be trying to buy clones small nippy players with a bit of pace and dribbling and passing ability. Think we need to get a few other attributes that this league needs. Physical being one of them. I know Wanyama over stepped the mark sometimes but how many times did you say great tackle when he was playing.
The worrying bit for me is not putting the lower teams away puts pressure to take points of the bigger teams
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Adapting to a new formation takes time - especially when you’re missing a player like Bertrand and the FB’s are integral for providing width. Funnily enough it’s why in his limited action Pied looked decent - because he’s used to playing like this in a Puel team.
We started badly this season, but we also did last season. We’ll be fine. Not expecting top 10 this season with a Europa adventure as well. Fingers crossed a lot of our players fly under the radar of other teams because of this.
And finally, if recent games show anything, it’s that we need another striker, and the transfer window is still open…
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In simple terms we seem to have no threat when we have possession.
Buy a proper striker, one that is proven, and fit - and allow the players the freedom to give him the ball.
Originally posted by @Optimus-trousers
Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet
@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC
Thanks for your support today, #SaintsFC fans!
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…furiously carved by Optimus trousers…beta v1.8
I know the guy bottom right in this - Steve C (I think).
Anyone else know anyone here?
Make something up if you don’t - just so you can feel as special as me.
Full back in the Prem is probably the position that is at closest scrutiny when styles of play/systems clash.
I hear people bemoan fullbacks’ performances all the time - all the while ignoring the fact that to get forward they need their team formation to work to cover their space and for their team mates to not lose possession.
If they get forward and a) their teammates lose the ball, b) the opposition exploit a flaw in the system by getting in behind then they look like twats and are moaned at. If they don’t get forward because they last time they did a) and b) happened, then they look like twats and are moaned at.
I can sort of see why the RaleighBoy never troubles himself with defending.
Individual errors are another thing, though, and that can’t be blamed on systems. But after the initial success, what I saw yesterday was Sunderland keeping our FBs pegged back (until the introduction of Long), and a team not properly gelling in the system they’re being asked to play.
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to point to so many players making so many unforced errors. It’s either because they all had off days, Sunderland played well, they aren’t comfortable with the system yet, or more likely a combination of all of the above.
They’ll get there I’m sure. But going off for two weeks having turned in a dodgy performance isn’t ideal.
Agree with your point that a couple of goals would change that pretty quickly.
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I have rude pictures of the woman with glasses.
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A few obvious Sotonians in there I see… firstly Bletch’s mate with the Hitler 'tash, and then that least 3 nazi salutes.
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