saint michael

I think we have let less goals in. I don’t get the sense that our defence issues are solved. Corners shaky, crosses again shaky, zonal marking all over the place. Hope you are proven to be right fingers crossed. by the way not saying Howe had good record defensively

Neither can Ralph

I thought they were taking Cole to Newcastle 😬

Ways of playing does not only mean formations. Every bit of what he does is the same even though formations change. Pressing, passing sideways and backwards, zonal marking….formations change possession opportunities. Changing formation does not mean Armstrong will score more. Changing formation does not effect our ability to defend corners…… to make it clear it has to be about his ability to upskill and coach individuals and create different outcomes

I think everything about this guy is wrong for us. He has a way of playing and clearly has no intention of changing it regardless of players available or situation we find ourselves in. All the stats show we are in a tail spin. We can leave it another 10 games I personally don’t believe it will make any difference. We always pin hope on the ability to turn it around against “lesser” teams. I think our ability to stay up will be based on there being 3 worse teams. We will pick up points we will be filled with hope and we will struggle as will not be a team that will be able to build continuous good form. He talks about good performances not results. I almost reach the point where I don’t care anymore really sad. I watch matches waiting for it to go wrong. It’s like ground hog day. I have been a saints fan for many many years. I never expect much from them so not a fan expecting to win every week… but oh dear we have lost that real small team with teeth to go into games with hope.

Saints play top sides. They don’t win. We say they played well it’s good we are playing lesser teams now and then we lose to them. We then get into dispute of whether mgr should be sacked. it doesn’t matter how good we play it does matter that we find a way to win.

Strikes me that the board will not sack him because he is compliant on the way the club will be run. Mutual agreement. We let you manage how you want and support you. We will not spend on older players without resale value. A position of harmony and to date Ralph has delivered what is needed…. Just keep us in the prem

I think even if you throw a great centre back into this defensive debacle it wouldn’t make a difference. dawdling at back. Holding ball until confronted and then no skills or help to get out of being boxed in is defence training 101

I thought Ralph was the manager. He seems confused when asked questions he turns into a reporter, reporting on what happened.. no shit Ralph, I think we all saw what happened, what I want to hear is why it happened, what you were thinking of doing, how you change it next time not to happen.. He is completely out of his depth and hoping that he discovers the right answer..this is going to be a rough ride

Zero defensive coaching. Zero defensive tactics. One tactic is press until you are knackered not surprising we keep getting this shit really i just don’t know where this ends… him getting sacked.. us continuing with this awful football

No but the cushions on the seats are to help people sleep through it better

I see gk mentioned above…am I the only one worried we haven’t solved our defence and GK problem. This is our main threat to this season. We are going to need to score plenty unless a miracle has happened to our defence coaching and strategy

Weaker squad than last year at this moment. Really poor defence and tactics. Awful goalkeeping situation. Loss of ings will hurt us if not replaced. A lot depends on how the three promoted teams do and the others fighting at the bottom at the end last year do. Therefore another year of ups and downs in a relegation dog fight. Think we have every likelihood of getting in a really bad run like last year so will be amazed if anything not in bottom 3. Manager and coaching team key to me with the poor squad we have.

Do you think this will fund Edouard from Celtic rather than Armstrong

So following what you say then his decision to be to move him, them on. He has never spoken about a new gk or coach to my knowledge

I don’t think anybody is blaming Ralph for financial performance. he does have a responsibility for coaching and improving our defence and GK. I am critical of him here because if Dave Watson can’t improve them and their tactics what is he doing? He’s been here long enough to be responsible. Great job I reckon… also our defence tactically is dire. What is he trying to do and how successful does he think he’s been

Gk is absolutely a key position and absolutely agree we have two very average keepers. I don’t think it helps though playing behind a piss poor defence which is why Fraser probably looked ok a few years ago because defence was good. I think we need both sorted and at the very least have a defence coach that knows what the f he is doing

RiP Jimmy. Was indeed great player and loved watching him as a kid

What gives you the confidence that this season will be better than last? Not writing season off but I haven’t seen or heard anything that changes from last year enough yet

Send him down to Bournemouth with Parker in exchange for winger

Add to that zero positive effect of any coaching going on with those groups and you have the full calamity

They will go for Howe

Challenge this year is to be better than 3 other teams. start to build some defensive nous….it’s called coaching Hope we get some coaches in have a plan B that means we are not exhausted by minute 45 stop passing sideways and backwards. stop passing back to our keeper when attacking … take our chances when they come simple game really

Very good read. Thanks

I think it’s appalling timing if nothing else. Complete Shyte football and all that’s been going on in the world. I guess it will pay for a rise to players like Redmond though. They need more ££££ on their millions. Football has truly lost the plot. might be called Southampton FC but has nothing to do with the club I started supporting in 67. Wake up Saints