Pass the Dutchie

Position after 12 games:

Instead of hijacking Minsk’s thread, I thought I’d start this new one for those of us who enjoy a graphic representation of our weekly progress in the league compared to previous seasons. Whenever I have the time I’ll try to post a weekly update of the three charts: number of points / PL position / number of goals scored. Points after 12 games:

Basically all Puel is quoted saying is: "I am enjoying how well Van Dijk is playing, and I hope he'll keep playing this well for us."

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/nov/21/premier-league-10-talking-points-crystal-palace-arsenal-west-ham "Van Dijk serves further notice of his rich potential Southampton’s conveyer belt of talent has been in operation for some time now and it is tempting to wonder how long it will be before Virgil van Dijk is the next player to be signed by a high-profile club. Aged 25, Van Dijk is an opposing central defender who seems to be getting better and better. Claude Puel recently said that the Dutchman, who signed a six-year contract in May, has the potential to go on and become one of the top five defenders in the world and it was no surprise to hear the Southampton manager again being asked about those qualities in the wake of the goalless draw against Liverpool. It was certainly a brilliant piece of defending that denied Sadio Mané the chance of marking his return to St Mary’s with a goal as Van Dijk showed a turn of pace as well as expert timing to get back and block the Liverpool forward’s goalbound shot." (Stuart James)

But you don't think every player is equally strong, do you? So even if the rotation system works, that doesn't mean that there isn't a team that would be the strongest possible choice.

The guy gave us two great seasons, which is more than most previous managers can say. Then he left the way you'd expect, which was still annoying but no big surprise. To some of us a club is our life, to most of the men on the field it's a job. I'm pretty indifferent about his return. Let's just beat them and make him feel like he may have made a mistake.

First season, not bad. Definitely lots of potential there. The team could do with some positive results again to help build his confidence.

Injury for Austin?

Great save!

We're a bit locked up atm.

I always use http://www.feed4u.tv/section/football/ as a backup if nothing better shows up.

I like the look of that team. Really looking forward to this game.

Klopp (sort of) admits they got Mané for cheap from Southampton: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/18/jurgen-klopp-dortmund-sadio-mane-mistake-liverpool

And to complete the picture, points compared. None of it looks fantastic, but a big part is also gut feeling, and my gut feeling is good. We'll do okay this season.

What that (see my previous post) shows is pretty much nothing though. Look at the goals vs position in the 2012/2013 season. The only thing that matters is position, and this early into the season even that doesn't mean too much.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/nov/14/premier-league-players-most-improved-pickford-pedro-chelsea "Oriol Romeu (Southampton) Last season he was a fringe player at Southampton, now he is the linchpin of the team, the player who, according to Claude Puel, “gives us our structure”. Puel has rotated his players throughout the season as Southampton combine domestic and European duties but Romeu has started all but one of the team’s Premier League and Europa League matches. And he has been excellent in them all. His intelligence and dynamism have enabled him to make the highest number of interceptions in the top flight, his passing is crucial to Southampton’s fluency and his will to win is inspirational, his rousing triple-block against Leicester City being one of the highlights of the season so far. Victor Wanyama, sold in the summer to Tottenham, has not been missed at St Mary’s."

No matter how much I love the club, I don't get how people can wish personal harm to anyone. For your weekend entertainment. That's literally what you're saying: "I would love to see someone get a serious injury, because I'm still upset he ruined my favourite weekend entertainment over two years ago." The man contributed more to this club than any of us ever will. Yes, he left in a ****ty way. The club moved on, and up, and so did he.

Saints target (?) Laurent Jans injured for Luxembourg against the Netherlands right now.

Less relevant, but just for fun: a comparison of our PL positions:

I think Swansea isn't as bad as they seem at the moment. They've had a very tough schedule, already facing Leicester, Chelsea, City, Liverpool, Arsenal and United. And us, of course. They actually managed a draw against Chelsea. They don't seem great, but I don't think they'll go down.

Clasie also in after 15 minutes. 1-0 against Belgium at 56 minutes.

Sure. You're a much better supporter than I am. I should have said: why not just cheer on your own team instead of booing the other? But I get why you would. Each to their own.

How about just saving your energy for supporting your own team?

Koeman's start here really was something quite special, wasn't it?