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I’m not arguing about the quality of Downs. I’m asking if you reminded the Koln fan as to why he played so much for them because the answer is quite obvious, that I’m surprised the knowledge ex footballer himself had clearly forgot.

That’s fair but I do think you change a lot by removing a CB. Build up patterns would change, I don’t think two CB’s allows them to create the angles they currently use to feed the front 3 into feet for example. Same with taking Manning out as well imo but I understand the concerns about him defensively and also the desire to get Charles back in when he’s fit. I’m not convinced by Romeu yet though and nor do I think Bragg would give you that box to box qualities so those plans will have to wait until Charles is back anyway.

Especially now Salah has basically started a civil war. YNWA.

It's not just Manning's inability to stop a cross. This moment yesterday sums him up perfectly. https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkxr9pOi3mnE29Q0pLsfqGboNvzyeKtU4dk?si=-7kNzcZVeHwcGu1T

Didn’t need to remind him of how many he scored or assisted. He believes the 2nd tier of the Bundesliga is very poor at the moment, with the exception of a few teams none would survive in the Championship. Personally, from what Ive seen of Downs, what are his strengths? I can’t see him making it, hopefully I’m proven wrong as we need another forward. On a separate note, from the German football I’ve seen, with the exception of the top 1/3 of the Bundesliga, I think most teams would struggle in the premiership. The difference between the Premiership and the Bundesliga has increased considerably over the last 20 years. The speed of the game in England is much faster. However, there are a lot of players with good technique.

Did you see the goals? Dreadful player

That’s a fair question. Yes, I suppose I’m calling for Manning to be replaced by a better defensive option who could play tighter to the wide right attacking opposition players who time and again have space and time to cross, pass or run into dangerous areas. I’m also not seeing the three-at-the-back helping out Manning much except when Quarshie has played as the left sided CB. Stephens and Wood in particular often play central and congested, almost getting in each others way. Why not use the box-to-box qualities of Jander and Charles backed up by a holding Downes who in turn helps out THB and one other CB with a LB like Wellington (wish we had better) to tighten that left side. I’m not saying there’s a problem with the current formation which includes 3 CBs, just that tweaking things might work even better - make us defensively sounder without changing players roles much.

Might be a slightly strange question given how far it is from Southampton but, since I live in Yorkshire, Middlesbrough is one of the few games that is actually fairly doable for me in a day. Is this likely to sell out before members?

Agreed, put him on set pieces. Ffs. Let him do whatever he wants

After what seems at age or turgid stats-driven dross, I think I’d forgotten what exciting attacking football is like to watch, with fast skilful players taking a risk or three and constantly looking to get forward - and even shoot from outside the area! Absolutely brilliant stuff - roll on Tuesday. Oh, and Scienza is incredible. What a find!

The opposition view… Funny they all moan about Flynn Downes’ excellent tackle to start the move for the third goal… Flynn was outstanding yesterday, put in a real shift.

I don’t think this is an accurate representation. Bazunu is not the best shot stopper - nobody disagrees. He could do with more presence commanding his box. You seem to imply there are posters saying he is brilliant- if there are, can you point them out? i think you will find a lot of the defence of him is because some of the criticism goes OTT and can feel as though people have an axe to grind “see - I told you he’s terrible”. I have seen posters saying he’s non league standard which is palpably untrue and hyperbolic. The way some fans seem to be so determined to run down our players is something I genuinely don’t understand. He’s not a great keeper. Ramsdale is better. He can start play with his feet in a way that Macca can’t and this is clearly a valued attribute for Tonda and a lot of coaches in top level football. To say he won’t improve at all in ten years is bizarre. Training at a high level under good coaches for ten years you don’t think he’ll improve decision making or positioning?

Same team but Wellington in for Manning (won't happen though). West Brom have been pretty hit and miss this season. Started well but have tailed off a bit and seem to be letting in a fair few goals. Will be interesting to see how they set up.

I thought the exact same thing. Armstrongs effort was terrible and Mannings free kicks have been poor since the start of the season.

Haven't been on here in a while and my god this thread was a wild ride, some of you really are insane. Highlight was @Gloucester Saint begging for heavy defeats against Wednesday and QPR just to stop tonda getting the job, 5 wins in 6 must be killing you bud 😂 Tondas earned his shot with some of the best form and performances we've seen in a while, good for him.

Lots on social media about their fans lacking class and damaging the stadium too.

This. It was obvious he was going to cut inside Fellows and Downes could have stepped out quicker to help him. When he did come out, he turned his back side on and made himself smaller, instead of blocking the shot. Not a pile-on on Downes, who played well and set up a goal with a brilliant tackle, but that was a mistake he made.

Suspect the injury helped most. Did you remind him he was their joint top scorer last season?

Why do you want us to try this out of interest? I know people have an issue with 3 at the back but aren’t these results and performances enough to show that it isn’t the formation that’s the problem? I don’t really understand the desire to ‘experiment’ as you say, just as we’ve picked up some form and fluidity. Call for Manning to be swapped out if you like, but change everyone else’s game too doesn’t seem wise.

I’m not going to bury the keeper for their goal. If anything I blame the midfielder who didn’t close Gray down quicker once he turned inside. I do hope we get a new keeper in on Jan 1st though.

They are only two points below us in the league which would suggest quite an even game , seems their fans are not happy with the manager Ryan Mason and a few are calling for his head which seems harsh from the outside. Let's try to recreate the last time we played them here

People are going to circle back to this thread if Damien Downs leaves 🥲

I’d be giving it the old Dusan Tadic chant myself, nice and simple woahoo woahoo TONDA TONDA

I got speaking to a Cologne fan last weekend whilst in Germany. Quite a knowledgeable guy who was in their youth team in mid 80’s. Anyway, just having a general conversation about football. Told him I was a Southampton fan, he responded with a laugh and said he couldn’t believe we bought Downs! He still can’t believe how he played so many times for Cologne.

Great post and much like how i feel. At some point, Still might turn out to be cleverer than we think he is but it’s plain to see he had us playing with the handbrake on. Tonda has done something really simple; unshackled our creative players from whatever rigid structure Still was trying to implement and just lets the front players, play. He’s recognised Jander is more often than not the one who flips the momentum on a dime and gets us up the pitch and lets him get on with it. Hes unburdened Azaz, Fellows and Scienza and has even recognised and given licence to THB to play direct killer passes to get us up the pitch and get us on the front foot instead of the sideways and backwards nonsense we’ve had to deal with. If the pass is on, he wants THB to try it. For the first time in a long time, everyone seems to know their roles and the instructions are, as above, really quite simple when you look at it. Let our attacking players do their thing and have Jander, Scienza and THB drive the team forward with a turn, a pass or a dribble. Hes very quickly seen our strengths and put it into action. It’s amazing how we over complicated it so much with Still. It’s not perfect by any means. Evidently we drop off after the substitutions quite a bit but another thing he appears to have identified is getting Robinson to play a ‘Scienza-lite’ role, which I think he successfully pulled off today. Finally we’re playing to our strengths and it’s bloody enjoyable to watch.