The Curse of St Mary's

That through ball during the first half that went through to the keeper. I was thinking he could get to the ball before the keeper but he literally bottled it. Stealing a living this guy. Shocking footballer.

The pitch looked atrocious. The players looked so slow and ponderous, at times they looked like a pub team with both Lyanco and DCC looking like they had been out on an all night bender. The most saddest thing though is that this team has no heart or desire. They have drained all the soul out of this club. The atmosphere at SMS is non existent, the fans have quite rightly have had a gut full. Why should they cheer on this bunch of spoilt worthless brats? Play the kids, at least they will in the short term play with some hunger and desire.

I can't believe Edozie has been dropped from matchday squad last two games. Yes his final pass / end product isnt great but at least he carries the ball and takes defenders on. Leeds should have been pegged back and looking nervy after taking the lead but they got stronger and continued taking game to us. We were absolutely pathetic when we had the ball, gave it away almost instantly, zero ball retention which means we are never going to create meaningful chances in open play. It's so pitiful, just shocking really.

I do have doubts about Marsch particularly on the defensive side of things plus in game management which effectively were the same concerns we had with Ralph during his time here. That said if the the style improves and players are more comfortable with the tactics then we can only improve. Caveat being that Jan Bednarek is nowhere near the team. He is utterly horrendous and brings the whole team down which is a massive achievement in itself. If we can get an attacking identification plus some potency from the likes of Orsic, Sulemana, Edozie, Tall Paul, Alcaraz and Stuart Armstrong then it will give us some hope.

Do Saints have a longer term appointment in mind come end of the season? Clearly they are hoping Marsch reproduces his great escape with Leeds last season as the short term goal. If he manages to achieve this would he have contract extension automatically kick in or would it be a thanks Jesse but we want to go down a different path long term?

Marsch was complaining about how stressful it is being a PL manager a few weeks back. Managing Saints should come with a health warning. More stress and sleepless nights than you can ever imagine especially with Janny B in the ranks

Lol we would have been in relegation fight with Ralph still, just more of a chance of surviving that's all. He should have gone last summer. Then a sensible appointment could have given us a realistic chance of mid table finish. Sacking Ralph wasn't the issue, it was the timing and subsequent appointment.

Good read about Marsch. His team became "flakey and soft". Readymade for saints then 😏 Be an awful appointment imo. https://theathletic.com/4159843/2023/02/06/jesse-marsch-leeds-marcelo-bielsa?source=user-shared-article

Quite fitting he gets publicly sacked on a Sunday although he was apparently told last night. I assume out of courtesy so he could still go to church as per normal 😬

JWP is captain, on course to be all time freekick scorer in PL no one orders him to do a freekick routine. That was off his own back. The big question is why? Totally stupid especially the one in injury time. Bottled it or another reason? 👀

Second half was embarrassing and an utter shit show by players and manager.

If he dares to start bednarek, lyanco, Diallo and Elynoussi then there be mutiny before the game even kicks off. Its actually criminal how bad Diallo has become. I liked him when he first joined. His performances have nosedived with the teams performances. Never known a player to be hooked off at HT so many times as he has been. He needs a fresh start to revive his career. I feel sorry for him as it's not purely down to him. He's not a CDM and has lacked the right teammates to compliment his style. His partnership with JWP was awful for the both of them, neither thrived in it.

He kept hiding behind these "reference points" but nothing has transitioned to the games bar City game. Even the other games we've won were far from convincing and could have gone the other way. We have zero identity. We have no patterns of play. Players constantly seeking instructions from him on where he wants them. Leaking goals like a sieve still despite what Jones says especially from set pieces and crosses. One goal from open play in SEVEN league games. Very little creativity on show. There has been no sustained front-footed aggressive style other than the odd 5 minutes here and there. I personally think rasmus was hiding behind something that we couldn't as fans disprove as such as we don't see what happens day to day in training but the proof is in the pudding and the results and performances don't lie. Overall I think rasmus was being disingenuous at the forum and the fans saw through it.

Good summary here

Use your phone to record the audio, hopefully you or someone else close enough to capture it all.

Similar to how Real Betis fans throw teddy bears onto the pitch for deprived children maybe fans throw P45 paper aeroplanes with Jones name on it as a means of protest 😬

We know why they hired him. It was data driven. I would ask the following: 1. Do you understand and share the fans grievances towards the appointment of Jones and the subsequent horror show since? If so why is he still in a job? If not please explain what you are seeing that no player, fan , pundit or football journalist is able to see? 2. How is a team that has scored once from open play in seven league games that included games against Fulham, Forest, Everton, Villa and Brentford deserving of being in the Premier League?

Ffs saints dragging their heels has cost me £55 😡

Even more reason to think he's gone 😁

Wolves will bully us and rip us open on the counter attack. Jimenez will find his lost scoring boots again and will get his annual red carpet treatment at SMS.

His lack of humility, the fact he takes little responsibility and comes across as an arrogant prat has made him the most unpopular saints manager in decades. Most of it self inflicted unfortunately for him.

Orsic played full 90 mins wtf? Surely means sulemana available or is he actually going to take the utter piss and put Walcott on the bench instead?

We had plenty of time against ten men to get back into it yet you'd never really have known by the lack of urgency on show. So disappointing.

So little Bournemouth spending big money to try and get out of trouble whilst we drag our heels. No one joins Bournemouth other than for big wages. Maybe it's not a good way to run a club in the long term particularly for a club of that size but at least the new owners putting money where their mouth is. Ok SR invested a fair amount in the summer window but they neglected the most important position that needed strengthening despite having reasonably strong hand to negotiate. Terrible situation they've got themselves in that will be the main reason why we get relegated

Normally you wouldn't go the effort of submitting bid without knowing if player is interested ...........then again this is Southampton Football club 😏