The Left Back

Hadn't realised he was that old. Still plenty of scope for development though. As I've said elsewhere (and my name suggests) I've always had a bit of a focus on our left backs. I think Perraud could turn out to be a good one but like you I'm often wrong. I agree about the 'top quality' bit - he's no Bridge, Bale for Shaw - but I don't think we need or could afford 'top quality' in every position at the same time. I'll be happy if him and Small fight for LB and Tino and KWP slug it out for RB. And I must say it's nice to be able to debate this point with you @Chezwithout having to call you a name or bring up old debate to justify my rightness and your wrongness.

As well as being not very good, Fernandez must be the shortest keeper I've seen for a while. Someone near me looked up his height during the game and said it was 6ft 1in, which brought a chorus of 'liar, liar,' when he next had the ball followed by shouts about him wearing platforms or standing on a step when the measurement was taken.

Was going to do my own write up but it would have been 90% this. Only things I would have added were... I really like Perraud. His end product needs a bit of work but he is a proper left back and last night looked a proper wing back. Given he played 120 minutes on Saturday he showed JWP levels of energy last night. His defensive play was decent and he was a constant threat. He's only young (22?) so will develop as a player. I think he will be a great asset for us. Was talking about Forster on the way out. He does seem to emanate calm but we're not sure why. He is statuesque and a barn door. The ball seems to get attracted to him. He's seems to move in slow motion. I can't quite put my finger on it but we do seem to play better when he's in goal. I've said before that neither of our keepers are what we need and it's a toss of a coin over who is better. But there is something about Fraser that is reassuring (and also comedic). I thought it was symbolic of the fun being had by the crowd last night. Not sure why anyone could get arsey about it. It's so rare for us not to have butt-clenching, heart-pounding, nail-biting finishes to a game that the crowd seemed to need something to do with their adrenaline. There was all sorts of groups singing, shouting, joking, cheering. The banter was rife. The 'oles' were there. We were all a bit delirious. and when the phone thing started (in the Itchen I think) it just added to the weird hilarity of the evening. It could even have been an ironic gesture - that the game was more like a show than a competitive match.

I've a strong memory of the 8-2 win. It was a very sunny day and I was in the East stand lower Milton end so was dazzled by the sun as well as the football. if memory serves both Moran and Danny Wallace got hat-tricks. I was West stand lower Archers end (my normal bench seat) for the 5-5. An absolutely bonkers game, I came away thoroughly confused about how to feel about it.

Not just LFT. Southampton General now does saliva testing. St Thomas' in London runs PCRs.

I see it like this. It was a poor decision by Valery but I hope Ralph doesn't throw him under the bus like some on here are doing. He's developing and if he's fixed his off-field issues he's could be a useful member of the squad going forward. Agreed, It's boring and entirely predictable. The rush to write players off completely is just bonkers in my book. Those who have already thrown Perraud and A Armstrong in the bin are no doubt the same characters would have exited Adams and Salisu this time last year. Me too, can't help smiling every time I think of him coming on and winning the game for us. He's not great, and obviously near the end of his career, but I can't help liking him. I hope he has a couple more swan songs in him before he goes. Overall I really appreciated our character and mental strength last night. We managed the game pretty well considering (although Swansea weren't great) and although the quality of our play wasn't at its best (missed chances and wayward passes), we looked psychologically resilient and physically very fit. No stand out performances, but agree with those who thought Diallo and JWP were our best two. As to the coverage, the camera work stood out to me as being the worse aspect - I keep looking out the side of the TV to try and catch up with the ball. The commentators were clearly biased but in quite a sweet way, and felt they were towards us (if not accurate with some of their statements).

I've just started reading Moneyball by Michael Lewis. My son bought it for me for Christmas - little did he know he was tapping into the 2022 Southampton story. Picking up on the debate we often end up having on here about the value of data analytics in sport, which I guess will run and run anyway but more so given our new owners, I'm interested in the foundations for all this. Early on in the book the Harvard guy brought in with his laptop to shake up the establishment offers three insights into the conventional wisdom of the scouts running Pro-Baseball in 2002. 1. The tendency of everyone who actually played the game to generalise wildly from his own experience. People always thought their own experience was typical when it wasn't 2. The tendency to to be overtly influenced by someone's most recent performance; what he did last was not necessarily what he would do next 3. A bias towards what people saw with their own eyes, or what they thought they had seen Seem familiar? His point is that this thinking creates opportunities because it means money is wasted and value missed elsewhere. I'm not yet an advocate of this stuff (and I'm only just getting go with the book) but I'm tending that way. Which is just as well if Rasmus is going to be running the show.

I broadly agree with this, though they do tie them selves up in knots sometimes trying to be impartial. And personally I could do with fewer game shows or reality TV. They could leave that to the rest. It's standard playbook for populist, nationalistic governments to bash or undermine any media that doesn't sing their song. I know you two like a spat but I didn't see his views as particularly arrogant.

😂 Loving your tweak @Turkish

The nature of spectra means it's all about where you stand. If you are on the far right then everything has to be to the far left of you.

I'd give up if I were you. I agree with your view on this, and even if I didn't it's a well thought through and logical point of view. You are being hunted because of previous topics.

I'm very excited by the takeover. It feels like a very professional, modern, forward-looking deal. The people involved seem to be authentic, passionate and knowledgeable. Of course they are hard nosed business folk but I have no problem with that. They have ambition, but it seems founded on a concept that is innovate, solid and real. Their plans seem to make sense, and align closely with the recent tweaks in our strategic direction. I couldn't ask for more at this stage. I expect lots more developments over the next months and years - a proper thought-through strategic plan executed by people who seem to know what they are doing. It's strange to feel this excited. The voice in my head says it's football ownership so it could easily go horribly wrong. But as of now it seems like as good a change of owner as we could hope for.

I've heard lots of similar stories over the festive season. People with nasty colds sneezing over everyone, while healthy positive-testing covid cases sit alone in their bedrooms being served dinner on a tray. Meanwhile the hospitalisations and deaths are not climbing and South Africa has past the peak and is relaxing. So the combination of herd immunity, vaccines and a milder variant means it's probably time for a complete rethink. Testing only for those in contact with (acutely) vulnerable people. No isolation unless symptoms demand it. Leave businesses and schools to run their own mask wearing, vaccination status and social distance policies. If the government needs a three-word brand for this phase, and of course it does, then Living with Covid. (I remember when a HIV company stopped referring to its customers as 'patients' or 'victims' and started to call them 'people living with HIV' - it was a deeply symbolic act that shifted a lot of mindsets very quickly). Depoliticise the whole domestic strategy (the tories must have earned enough money by now) and put it in the hands of professionals. Meanwhile the government can concentrate on (1) repairing the economy and delivering on their manifesto (2) providing vaccines to other countries, (3) starting a review of the pandemic so lessons can be learned for next time, and (4) get a conversation going about the root causes of all this (which I imagine are intertwined with the climate emergency and globalisation). And finally we all have a role to play in rehabilitating from the damage to individual and collective mental health. Too many people are in a state of mental suffering (some without even knowing it), whether it be paranoid about going out, rabid anti-vaxx anger, unresolved grief, fear of their future etc etc.

Liverpool. No contest. It's ingrained from the 70s/80s when they dominated completely with functional football and were so full of themselves. Got us all banned from Europe. We could have won the league early 80s without their dominance. And the arrogance of their fans is without comparison. Them nicking all our players recently didn't help.

I thought Perraud was ok first half and very good second. Didn't spot the playing Son onside thing but we play a very disciplined offside line so that is an issue - albeit not one about ability, ore about not playing regularly. I thought he worked well with AA on the whole. He's still young and adjusting to life in our league and this country. I think he has more pace than is being suggested on here. One run back after 80 odd minutes stood out. I've seen enough to think he'll do fine with us. We suddenly seem much stronger at full back than before. I would like to think you were right but I'm not buying it. His general kicking was a mixed bag, but the 5 or 6 shanks did not seem deliberate. Each time Kane forced him to kick from hand rather than the floor. I'll accept he was trying to play to that right hand channel where Long/Broja could go up against Davies. But he acknowledged the poor kicking by putting his arm up at least a couple of times.

Straight on the lash after walking back from the ground so haven't had a chance to catch up on here before now. I think it's all been said but my take on it is... Cracking atmosphere. The brass band seemed even more powerful as both sets of fans joined in. (Thought the spurs fans on the whole were pretty quiet otherwise). First half we were brilliant and very aggressive. At half time I let go of the idea we would hold on and so the second half was also fantastic, in a backs to the wall sort of way. We were hanging on a bit, but not as much as we have done with 11 in many games. I was surprised spurs kept with 3 centre halves all game - Conte seemed reluctant to really go for it, which helped us. Big credit to the manager for selections, formation, playing style and getting the team spirit right. I would have made subs earlier, Broja for Long was obvious, and someone for A Armstrong after he was booked. And probably Romeu on for Diallo or S Armstrong, but otherwise can't fault him at all. I am a Ralph fan and agree with those who say he is right for us. We all hung on afterwards to enjoy the celebrating, and it's just great that he walks round the pitch clapping the crowd. At least partly explains why there is more support for him in the ground than on here. My man of the match was Bednarek, I just thought he was immense today and held the defence together. Him and Valery up against Kane and Son for 50 minutes will be one of my highlights of the season. Just behind him KWP and JWP were magnificent. And then everyone else played very well. It's great to see S Armstrong back and lasting 90 minutes; he just brings something we don't have otherwise. I really enjoyed seeing Shane again - it was a typical Long performance and I'm glad to see at least one more before he leaves. I guess he only played because of the Adams covid test late the night before. Hat's off to Valery; he was very nervy at the start but grew into it and was great in the 2nd half, showing strength and defensiveness nous to go with his pace. Finally Fraser Forster. He made 10 saves; I think only one perhaps was what I would call a difficult save. But somedays he looks like a brick wall and the ball just bounces off him and he seems to inspire that sort of defensive effort. His kicking was woeful, but it all seemed to add to the fun. In the second half, every time he made a save or claimed a catch we were singing "England's number one". His performance just added to the the general craziness of the day. I don't get the debate on here about him and McCarthy - they are both of similar standard, capable of good, bad and ugly performances. Neither has the distribution capability we need, both make the occasional howler and both are low prem/championship standard in my opinion. I imagine the club know this and plan to fix it in the summer. It doesn't bother me which one plays until then.

I get your point but I would pick him over Fred, McTominay or Matic. Or Henderson or The Ox. Or Hojberg, Winks or Skipp. So. he's not far away. And, given this is the Ralph thread, he's certainly developed under this manger more than he did under the previous 5. I agree with this

Bitterness lost on you then? Or perhaps vindictiveness?

Loved the way Dowie celebrated winning a penalty as if we had scored. We just took it for granted Le Tiss would not miss.

I was speaking to a guy in South Africa yesterday. Omicron has washed through there at an alarming rate but with very little hospitalisation, let alone death. Can't help feeling our testing and isolation policy is geared up more for Delta Mark 2 and not Flu.

I think you'll find it's pretty standard practice for managers to be focused on the squad that can play and leave specialist backroom people to look after those on the treatment table. If Stuart is getting back into training with the squad now then I would imagine communication will increase. I was pleased to see that too. I often wonder if there isn't something more than the quoted injury so am looking for little signs that things are ok. The fact that Stu took part, looked happy, and was prepared to wear a ridiculous jumper is a good sign albeit only a small one, IMO.

Meanwhile Covid admissions going down in Soton General... One for the conspiracy theorists. Media control is an anagram of Delta Omicron. (sorry if this has been pointed out before)

I like the metaphor. I'll take it for a spin (excuse the pun). No doubt seat belts increase death and serious injuries. But do they increase car crashes because drivers feel safer and therefore drive with less fear? Or do they reduce car crashes because the seatbelt reminds drivers that driving can be dangerous? While I'm here (and to make the most of my 3 posts)... I'm all for vaccines, I'm triple jabbed and not feeling concerned about carrying on as usual. I'm sad that so many are still traumatised by the last 20 months and I'm angry that we have a government entirely unfit for leading us through this. The bigger issue at our hospital at the moment is the number of staff in isolation. Covid patients are low in number. They are split between those in hospital for other reasons who happen to test positive and those actually suffering as a result of Covid. Of the second group the vast majority are unvaccinated. I think it was Joe Biden who said this is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated. The testing and isolation rules are now, in my opinion, causing much of the problem. I'd move to testing only those with symptoms and having isolation shortened to 5 days.

I shouldn't let it get to you. I don't agree with your Broja v Armstrong line but like hearing different opinions. You put yourself up with opinions and I'm fine with that. You need to expect to be shot down but some the crap you get reads like bitterness from on-line bullies who seem to enjoy misery. The problem is that's all you do. There is the occasional mildly interesting post but 95% are just the same old same old. It comes across that you're the one with the issue and, as I said on the other thread, I think you should consider professional help