OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint

You're right Charlie. These stats are just guff. Surely Challenger's is the point. RM was brought in because this is the style of football the higher echelons want us to play. The best outcome I can see is we play a couple of Leeds type games where the direct approach pays dividends and it dawns on the manager and more important, the board, that is the style that wins games and not the passing sideways at the back hoping for an opening. The first 20 minutes of the second half against Rotherham was criminal.

There was a time when the Saints players were one of the best pub darts teams in Southampton. Then, they'd mix with the fans, give as good as they got and would take a little criticism. Nowadays, players/managers are cosseted and in many respects divorced from the fanbase. Martin no doubt tells them they smashed the possession stats and they believe their own hype. Downes was probably genuinely surprised that a sub standard, lethargic display got a booing because they don't see it that way and understand what us fans want.

Must be up there as one of the vilest runts that ever played for us. There must be a book in the boardroom of rules to follow on how to do smart arse purchases of players which they all pick up because it's true, we regularly sign crocks hoping they're not truly crocked. Only Danny boy did the business. I remember the phase when we brought in the ageing stars (eg Kevin Keegan) and that worked better.

One poster wrote that with a couple of wins behind him, RM probably felt it a chance to re-establish his brand of possession football. After we went ahead, it certainly looked like we were holding on to the ball and asking Rotherham to chase it. Why can't he see that's a recipe for failure? Apart from the fact that you don't change a winning team, I'm concerned he keeps making the wrong substitutions. Stop talking about being "brave", RM. Talk about being "passing with intent" We can still easily make the play-offs. We've got the fastest players in the League. Use them. Positive, direct football. That's what we need.

I never buy in to this 'they're fine tuned machines' who can't play midweek and then again on the weekend. Anyhow, they've two weeks to recover after Rotherham.

And prior to that day, he played for a 0-0 at Everton and almost completely fucked that up and then we had to rely on a Gabba special to save us. Awful manager for us. We stayed us despite him not because of him.

Gareth Ainsworth, in one of his motivational talks, said there are no little clubs in the Championship....well, except Rotherham! Can't see them doing anything else but sitting everyone behind the ball, so we need to move with speed. Keep same team and Sule to score a brace.

After the first four games, I mentioned that our position in the League was because of some late goals and actually we were playing pretty crap football. The ensuing nosedive down the table when we played some 'better' teams was all too predictable. After last night's game, I feel much more comfortable. There's a wealth of talent at the club. Martin, possibly more by luck than judgement, has found a defence and midfield that's working. Still think there's room for Charles to start as a defensive midfielder but we're looking good. We were in total charge from mid way in the first half until the second half when Martin took off Sulemana and Alcaraz. Up to then, we looked like scoring again. Not convinced Martin has got his substitutions right. Sitting back, we invited trouble. I'd like to see Edozie and SAA on the pitch some time.

Thought Sule was getting too much bad press from the commentary for his defensive mistakes given he looked our most likely person to create something in that first half. Central defense has been excellent. Midfield looks stronger and Alcaraz having a good game. Just stay positive second half and don't go in to the shell.

Wasn't sure about those subs. Bringing on Che in the 70th minute did nothing. Still had mini heart failure when he brought on Bree & Aribo albeit with only 5 + 5 minutes to go. Is his building from the back/possession style football so completely different from the more direct stuff we played yesterday? Hopefully, he'll realise you can build from the back but just do it quicker and with purpose.

Agree. The effort was there today. Was disappointed that Shea and Edozie were left on the bench, but when Shea came on, he didn't seem to make much difference. THB and Bednerek are forming a good partnership. KWP seems up for it again. Happy days. Che needs to take his head out of his arse.

At 2-0 after 10 minutes, the way Sunderland are walking through the Wednesday defense puts our win there in perspective. Hopefully, Wednesday will claw back.

When Ralph came in, the whole feel around the place was immediate. When Koeman came in, it was the same. These people are managers but they're also motivators and can arguably get the best out of players straightaway. No excuses about needing time. Watching Everton on the box over the weekend was interesting. There's a team full of crap that seem to be trying hard and now look like they'll get some good results. I just want RM to put a rocket up some of our player's arses and motivate them to look like they care. Whether it's his possession football, hoof football, wing football, channel football or whatever f**king football, I want our players to go out and play like they want to win. So sort it out RM. Motivate them.

Has anyone noticed any difference since it was announced we've employed a new set piece coach? It's our corners/free kicks around the box that are particularly frustrating. Manning can often drop the ball in to the right spot but everyone is so static in the penalty area. It needs people to run on to the ball and attack the corner. Because nothing's happening in the middle, it was noticeable against Middlesbro, they resorted to a number of short corners which ended up passing backwards to the halfway line.

Ralph knew cowboys had taken over when he diplomatically said he would be at the club at most two years. That was less than 20 months ago. All this 'trust the process' crap. We've a manager seriously out of his depth who doesn't seem to recognise the talent in the team. I was annoyed when Edozie was subbed in the last couple of games - today he didn't even make the starting line up. When he and Stu Armstrong came on we were better, but we were playing the bottom team in the league and they outclassed us.

It's some kind of joke but had a laugh reading it. On a more serious note, Joe against Ipswich looked good for 10 minutes then faded into oblivion. It's a concern that RM thinks he can can play a defensive midfield role. He really shouldn't be anywhere near the team.

Agree. Sometimes it takes a little longer for the manager's penny to drop and although we've been shouting out for Charles to play in a defensive midfield role and THB and Bednerek in central defence for a while, here's hoping RM might have noticed that in the second half of Ipswich we were fairly solid at the back. From there we can build. Middlesbro won't define our season. But win this game and then Leeds and the season will look a lot rosier.

Love this list:- https://www.metroleague.org/southampton-f-c-best-players/ Joe is no.23

Work colleague wanted to show me their goals from last night. They think RS's high press is excellent and is working really well. Maybe we should be taking tennis balls to our matches!!

Apart from the obvious move of Charles to defensive midfield (well, obvious to all of us except RM it seems), I also don't get what Edozie has done wrong to keep getting subbed. Perhaps give our Sule Messi a run from the start to show why he's our most expensive signing and Fraser on the bench.

Many of the forum saw it ages ago bit hopefully RM will stumble on the fact that you play Shea in a defensive midfield role and we look better. Playing AA in other than a no.8 role is pointless. Smallbone is awful. Can't stand Sulemana but perhaps play him and Edozie to start with Fraser coming on as sub. Fail at Middlesbro and RM's countdown could begin in earnest.

Holgate must be truly shit in training.

Vaguely recall Micky Channon said something like that. Totally agree. THB & Bednerek at the back. Midfield shored up with Shea in a defensive midfield role and Alcaraz/Smallbone/AA looking for quick passes through to Edozie/Fraser and we're on to something.

See it didn't take long for Tall Paul to get off the mark for his new club. Can't make up my mind whether he is truly crap or we just didn't give him a chance and play to his obvious advantage. At Stamford Bridge earlier this year, he actually looked ok but his touch is generally awful and he can't last 90 minutes.

Agree, the pressure is building but there is a good squad at St Marys and competent footballers. We've got rid of a lot of the dross. It's been unfortunate that Jack Stephens and Bednerek have been injured at the same time and a bit concerning that RM doesn't think Holgate is up to being in central defence hence Shea did the job last night, but I agree Shea has to play in midfield.