TWar

Jorge De Frutos is doing well in La Liga and we've been linked previously. I think he'd be a decent option. If we are looking back in the Championship, I like the look of John Swift for Reading. Putting up very nice numbers from a central position. Tino Anjorin is still an option too ofcouse, although he has yet to start a game for Huddersfield so will have to see what his injury status is like. Big budget option would be maybe we could convince Noni Madueke that the best thing for his career is to spend a couple of seasons starting regularly in the prem before making the step up to a top side. Play the "perfect stepping stone for young talent" card. Unlikely though unless we miraculously scrape our way to europe.

To make Europe we need to close a 5 point gap on Wolves when they have 2 games in hand and also hope that one of the eventualities happen that allow 8th place to qualify. Or overtake wolves and hope one of Spurs, Arsenal, United or West Ham self destructs. Or we could win the FA cup. Seems rather unlikely but we can dream.

I do think Elyounoussi has really helped as he can play as a 10. Does make me think we should look to invest in another class 10 ASAP. We can't really do with two which play the system well, one of which is very injury prone and the other prone to patchy form. Now we know wingers like Djenepo and Walcott don't work we should look to offload them and replace with players that do. Happy to keep Tella and Redmond incase we need players who can play wide as they also double as good forward depth.

I think he does need to improve at teeing others up. If other teams cottoned on to the fact they can leave players completely unmarked in the box and just focus on stopping Broja from shooting then he would be a great deal less effective. Also, that pass he over hit it was harder to pull off than the cutbacks he didn't even attempt imo.

That's why we pay them the big bucks! To be honest, his situational awareness for team mates and passing are definitely two weak points. He had two opportunities to square it today where he should have and one against united. Also, when he did attempt to put Elyounoussi through on goal he overhit the pass and it went straight to the defender at one point yesterday. He is a class player and has a lot of quality but his chance creation stats for others are still very low. It's why he probably wouldn't get on so well at an Arsenal or a Chelsea who need their forwards to be a bit more well rounded and involved in other aspects of the game. Works perfectly well for us though if we build around him and put him next to a great striker for passing and setting him up. What I'm saying is, he should stay with us.

How is it brash to claim the club is run by pro-Ralph people like me? It objectively is or we would have gotten rid of Ralph. Lucky it is and we didn't really.

I think it was poorly defended, don't get me wrong, but dropping the ball right on the head of your striker from that distance when they are marked with such a trajectory that they are able to attack the ball is a very good skill. The high loopy nature of the cross gave Shane a chance to attack it and outjump his markers, a flat cross would have likely been cleared. Also the fact he hit it first time gave them less time to react.

It's a team devoid of confidence. They had a rough start to the season due to injuries imo but now they seem absolutely terrified. Also, based on his last couple of games, dodging Alli seems to have been a decent move.

I think that specific gentleman has gone AWOL. Just as we start doing well too, I wonder if it's a coincidence.

Eddie Howe spent a shit tonne in Jan and it's coming off. But you are right. Maybe in the future we should draw a line under these old boring conversations we've had and live in the present. And in the present I'm extatic, our team is class.

JWP and Adams are flying too

We're 5 points above villa now too btw

Should have what it takes to win comfortably but they can always surprise. The only question I guess is if Perraud is back does he start? I think Perraud has been sensational recently but I also think Tino is outstanding and was great today, also his assist was superb. Nice problem to have. Rest of the team stays the same.

He did improve at that though. He passed multiple times instead of having long range shots and his goal was from inside the box. Seems like Ralph had the same note as me and let him know mid week. Also Tino, who I suggested replace him, did start and got a peach of an assist for our second. So alls well that ends well!

The lack of @Lord Duckhunter on this forum is definitely a big bonus, although do wish I could ask him if he still thinks it's "ridiculous" to suggest saints could finish ahead of Villa.

Although...

Class game. Should have been out of sight. Romeu motm for me, was phenomenal

We are doing better, should be ahead, Broja too selfish in two occasions. Needs to pass sometimes.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/02/18/southampton-became-premier-leagues-grown-up-club/

Conference league would be excellent, would love to qualify for it. Think we are probably a little too far off at this point this season but it is definitely a feasable goal if we kick on in the next couple of seasons.

I think big teams know they can get our players for the right price, as with any non-big 6 team, they don't need to be told. Even bigger teams who are actually pushing, or have pushed, for top 4 like West Ham and Leicester are expecting to field offers for stars like Tielemans and Rice. We are more telegraphing to prospective signings that we know we are a stepping stone club and we are happy to let players leave who outgrow us. Could be very helpful in securing new young players.

I would love Potter, he's a fantastic manager, but I don't see him coming here tbh.

This is probably true. Unfortunately all three don't have a huge number of stats readily available. The prem has easy to access stats on all teams but it is often harder in the championship/abroad. I think this is reasonably indicative but you have to work within limitations for such things.

He's held back a bit by fitness. He impresses for a bit then gets injured. If he was more fit he'd get a lot more hype.

Regarding the new manager, it is probably someone who plays similarly to how we already play. We are a pressing team so it's more likely to be a pressing heavy manager Here are the pressing stats for this season. Based on the "new manager to the prem" thing, could be Viera or Frank based off this. Potentially Lage. We also play with a super combative midfield and defense, and as such our midfielders and defenders rank high in tackle and interception numbers Again, we see Brentford and Palace pop up, so likely again Frank or Viera Finally, the playbook Ralph put together seems to mostly use specific formations, usually a four at the back and a strike partnership, but with the flexibility to adapt when needed. Of the three suggested, here are the formations Lage, Viera, and Frank have played this season: None of them play exactly our style. Lage plays a ver different formation. Franks is quite different but he uses a front 2 as we do. Viera uses a back 4 as we do and has played a double 6 4-4-2 which is quite similar to Ralphs 4222 although seems to prefer 1 or 3 up top. He does show the tactical flexibility we need in a way that Frank and Lage don't but that could be due to his surplus of options up top. In conclusion: Lage could be a decent fit but doesn't really play our style (and is already at a bigger club imo so not really gettable) Frank would be a good pick as his team press a lot and are combative and he uses a front 2 as we do, he is also very gettable as we likely have more pull than Brentford. Not a perfect match formationwise but nobodies perfect Viera would be a great pick, even better pressing numbers than us, good combative players, and his formational flexibility and use of both a back 4 and occassionally a front 2 fits us very well. Would be tricky to get off palace as they are a similar size to us imo