imadirtyurchin

at least it didnt happen at our training session. Juric wouldve selected it in a back 6. tbh, might be worth giving it a go.

I was ‘Martin Out’. I was hopeful in juric first couple of games. This is the same but just different, no discernible tactical plan at all other than man mark everywhere and play as many people out of position as possible. Martin had to go. Juric does too. And so do most of the players. Luckily we’ll keep Stephens, Smallbone, Fraser bazunu, and lumley.. /s

Let’s just bin juric off and get rusk back in

So far, this is as bad as anything served up by Nathan jones

Dreadful performance so far. Non existent midfield. All at sea in defence and powderpuff up top. Our idea of attacking play is to pass it backwards and then lump it long…. Like I get it but why do it with archer on the pitch who absolutely cannot play this way. And onuachu on the bench 🤷🏼‍♂️ boring shite.

I agree, especially now Martin isn’t here to ‘revolutionise the face of premier league football’ and ‘usher in a new footballing super dynasty’….

Off the top of my head… Harrison reed probably Definitely Bale, surman… (but I know this was during the difficult finances period)

For me: I think this window is about selling/loaning those we can in order to trim the squad. I would prefer not to spend too much this window - staying up is very very unlikely so we shouldn’t chase it - but there’s no reason why with an addition of a competent midfielder capable of pressing/tackling/playing in this league, and a striker capable of competing physically with enough pace and skill to trouble the opposition whilst being able to hold up the ball - then we should be able to be competitive and not get thrashed every game. With the goal being that we go down with our heads held high having beaten Derby’s point total. That would be a win for me at this point. We need to get these signings right and with the core of our squad that should be enough. Next time if we get to the pl we need to shop in the £30m range and buy 3 players that are quality enough to improve the first team. Not buy 9 players at 10million that bulk out the squad but aren’t good enough - the money spent is the same. It’s been the problem every time we’ve ended up with a poor first team and a massive shit squad.

Unfortunately - he’s the only one not in misery… he’s happy and enjoying it.

I’m waiting for… RM: ”so so proud of the players. They were so so brave - on the ball and off. Its was a complete performance - just unlucky really. So much love in that dressing room. It was a great result in the big picture. So proud.”

I was at the Brighton game. We played pretty good in the second half - but they should’ve been out of sight in the first half

We didn’t lose the game before what? We were 3-1 down when jack was sent off right?? (I only tuned in halfway) we’re on course for an historically low points total. We’ve got 5 points from a third of a season. We have by far and away the worst goal difference in the league before today. We’ve scored what, 10 goals, in 12 games? Worst ever premier league start for saints. Manager with Worst win record in the prem for Southampton ever I believe… from what perspective does it look better?

I reckon we should bring mad Nate back. Onuachu might get a game and even if we lose every game still - the press conferences were at least interesting…

Why? A caretaker can lose us games just as well. Lose all the games under martin just depresses the fans. He wont have enough credit left next season to manage us, one defeat or draw and he’ll get whatever crowd left turning on him.

I’d be delighted. I liked Ralph - I think he was dealt a shit hand after doing a sterling job arresting years of decline after Koeman

Ralph had his faults, and his critics. (I was a very very reluctant Ralph-out at the very end because it was toxic, he looked broken and he was so badly let down by the recruitment) But I would wager that he would have this squad at least competing for and winning more points than we have now. We’d still go down but it would be a much closer thing and the footy would be more enjoyable. Hey, at least we would get leads in games even if we inevitably couldn’t hold on to them. Better than this absolute tripe. It pretty much literally can’t get any worse. We could put a random person in the street in charge and the worse they could do is lose every game. That’s not worse. That’s the same. And you know what, it could actually improve. they wont change anything. See you saturday for more of the same

Fancy enlightening me to what these clear signs are?

I’m not sure that having one of the lowest chance creation stats in the league, plus the lowest shot rate and even fewer goals whilst shipping goals at a rate that would make most teams in the country blush is a way to create a new foootballing superpower legacy. Especially when we have SO MUCH of the ball. I feel like I’m being gaslit - how the hell is it okay to have so much possession and do so little with it whilst not even being defensively solid as a result? What’s the fucking point?

Now now. Play nice - no need for name calling.

I get the theory of building something over the long term - but what’s really the plan when we have an historic, record breakingly poor season (cos that’s where we are heading) and morale and support has completely tanked and the atmosphere is completely toxic - do they expect that it would all just turn around the following season for a promotion push with Martin in charge? There surely has to be some minimum targets that martin has to meet internally to stay in the job long term. Carte Blanche permission to fail this season in a way that doesn’t satisfy, and actively alienates the entire fanbase will undercut the “project” more than changing the manager. Surely?

I think on reflection one of my biggest frustrations, amongst many… other than not creating anything in an attacking sense with an urgency is the recurring pass we play into midfield after having the ball at the back.. we continually have the ball at the back and are being pressured (great, it’s creating space) but it’s near our goal… then the ball is passed under pressure into the midfield and it’s never to an obvious player just into space - then a midfielder will be running at pace towards our goal to receive a ball that’s slowing down but he’s closely tracked by a opponent who is also running at pace - but facing our goal. Our player can’t turn so he can only flick the ball left or right or pass back - it’s this next ball that is continually given away - and the press is all facing our goal, all running that way and our defenders are spread out and on the back foot from being pressed in the prior part of the move. it happens every game, and it’s so often leads to opposition chances - I think the triggers have been sussed cos martin “won’t change” - so what hope is there? very very symptomatic of what’s wrong at the moment.

A Martin Masterclass. Our goal shouldn’t have been disallowed… but we were struggling in midfield all game and showed a major lack of quality across the pitch. Fernandes probably gets the most credit but even he was let down with a poor final ball. Our attack was nonexistent and our goal threat was worse - Wolves are a very poor team but they look in another league to us when it comes to attacking play. Luckily we had 71 percent possession and were able to be defensively solid (despite conceding 2 more goals, lots more shots on target and near misses) /s. Basically, anyone who likes this system, in this iteration, with this team is a moron. He’s gotta go.

I am pleased and surprised to get 3 points. But martin is delusional - outstanding football today apparently. I saw a toothless side play slow football and flatter to deceive whilst conceding chance after chance to a relegation rival and be kept in it by our goalie. This wasn’t the vindication that martin seems to think.

More like 1-3 and 78%-22% and 6shots - 18shots but 900 passes - 200passes

This is the thing that gets me about this system - supposedly about control… but for all the possession and “the control” - we still concede way more goals than teams playing other way - without having a far superior attacking output as mitigation. Including to stoke reserves. Looking at the defensive stats last season and this season, and throughout martins’ career and it’s almost like the theory doesn’t really align with the results - it doesn’t work. This is my supreme frustration with playing this way - and having to hear about being brave and sticking with the process.