kyle04

Well after a high point of back to back wins, 2 morale sapping results. Yes we should look outside top 6 teams for our points, but thats not happening either apart from the Palace game, which we wouldn't have won if they didn't have the only striker in the PL worse than Long. I fear a repeat of last seasons torture, and if anything , apart from Ings the players on show are generally of poorer quality than what we had. Our defense clearly isn't working which is OK if MH makes changes there, but as yet nothing. I wonder how many more stupid goals we concede before the penny drops, surely Yoshi and Bednarek have to step in ? On the positive side : Hoj and Redmond are playing much better We have one good player We're only 10 places from a CL spot

As Hodgson said we deserved the win overall. It's not the most fashionable thing to say after a disappointing home defeat but he's always been a sportsman and a gentleman. I think MH got it right until the subs. Leaving us with little outlet up front put us under near constant pressure for the last 20 mins, and we were a little fortunate not to concede during that period. Gabbi or Gallagher might have been more effective with greater mobility. Don't agree with the boys on MOTD, Austins penalty was as poor as I've seen, not sure if he scuffed it but was a shocker. Agree with previous posts, Austin is the last player to bring on under those circumstances, and his contribution was minimal. Aside from that good performances from all the players, with marked improvements from PEH, Cedric, Moi and even Hoedt. Redmond looking consistantly good as are Lemina and Ings. Long put in a shift as he does as well. I predicted this win and feel we can only get better. If we beat BHA next we can build even more confidence and momentum for the more difficult games ahead. I hope Gabbi gets a game soon though ahead of Austin.....

Based on little evidence, I feel optimistic about this one. 1 - 0 Saints, Vest from a corner....

Way too early for this nonsense. It's clear MH does not know the best starting eleven at the moment. He hasn't had that many competitive games to figure it out in fairness, although the selections of Austin and Long in particular would show a worrying stubbornness if it continues. It's not all doom & gloom, we have played well in two halves of football out of six, against established PL teams. Not great but we've not been battered as yet and we can build on that. To suggest that last seasons shambles can be turned around at the drop of a hat is fantasy, regardless of how much money is spent. On the positive side, Ings looks decent for the most part, Lemina and Redmond putting in shifts which they weren't last season, Hoj Ok until his act of madness, Armstrong looked good pre-season and needs to play, Vest will improve with experience. If Maguire had shanked his shot wide and we got the draw the mood would be different. We will beat Palace next weekend and all will be well. We have some serious weaknesses in the team though which need to be addressed, notably in defense. Cedric, Hoedt and Stephens either aren't good enough or not being coached properly and we need to invest in that department. If we don't we are in for another long hard season regardless of who sits in the dugout.

Good shout, I'd say Armstrong as well. JWP if nothing else will give us a good set piece delivery so Vest may get chances from corners. Our build up play in the 1st half yesterday was quite good, and I can't remember a half where we dominated as much, but apart from Ings turn and snap shot not one real chance created. Why we got rid of Tadic I don't know, seems to be SFC policy each year to move our best players out. I like Austin's attitude but he's just not good enough or fit enough and will only do well if presented with a few good chances, which we cannot seem to create at the moment. Leicester didn't win that game, we lost it due to defensive errors which makes it all the more frustrating. Its very early but we need points and quickly. Having seen MOTD I was harsh on McCarthy for the 1st goal, but feel he could have reacted quicker for Maguires shot, which admittedly went through two defenders legs - Sunday league stuff.

Have to say having attended the game, we were unlucky to lose. Bossed the game till Leic scored, then it all went to peices. McCarthy an absolute liability, failed to stop two relatively soft shots straight at him. For all his shortcomings, Long played reasonably well given the service he had, Lemina and Redmond looked lively. Fail to understand Austin substitution when we were being pressed by a rejuvinated Leicester and failing to keep the ball. Hoedt inclusion worried me but he did OK for most of the game. This result is worrying, Leicester were average at best and created very little. We've played no-one and got 1 point. Hughes look's like he's floundering with team selections and subtitutions. At least the players seem up for it at the moment.

Can't fault the effort and commitment, we made Everton look like a very poor side, until Yosh's sending off. Defensive mistakes have cost us yet again. Berties attempted hoof was the right decision but poorly executed. We will be up against it at Swansea for sure. We are getting no luck and certainly no breaks from referees at the moment, but the team are performing better under Hughes, although it may have come too late. We can't lose on Tuesday, at least a draw will take it to the last game and theres no certainty that Swansea will beat Stoke, or we will lose to City. Its what its all about folks !

This isn't going to be a repeat of '76 . Were playing Chelsea not Palace. were going to lose. Badly...

I don't know whether MH would relish a painful rebuilding process in a lower league (in the unlikely event we are relegated). He may well sit it out and wait for a PL club to approach him after the end of the season, while improving his golf handicap. Long gone are the days of Bates and Lawrie Mac, Wenger / Fergie aside managerial longevity, especially in the PL, is a thing of the past. Just because his Stoke tenure ended badly dosen't make him a poor manager (Stoke FFS) - all mangers are sacked at some point. IMO if he wants the job give him a decent chance. He gave all as a player and he will as a manager. He can't be judged fairly on 5 games in charge of a very poor squad of players.

If our predicament wasn't so desperate a point away to Leics is a reasonable result, despite the predictably woeful performance . But it's not enough and now I fear it's too late. We had a good chance of 3 points tonight but the team and MH bottled it. Above all else most of these players have no courage and cannot call themselves sportsmen. None of them would make it into any other PL team based on this seasons performances. When VVD went we finally emptied the barrel. On the positive side the Championship might offer a more exciting and enjoyable season if we offload the w****rs we need to and play some of the younger lads who want to bust a gut for the club. It wouldn't be the end of the world . So lets get on with it and back to red & white stripes next season please !

“Pellegrino was identified as a manager in keeping with the "Southampton Way" for his track record of promoting young players and playing attacking, technically proficient football. From his time in Spain, Pellegrino is also well-versed operating as part of a wider executive structure like that at Southampton." I laughed out loud....

Forget about Brighton, we won't get anywhere near 35 points. We will go down with WBA, then its between Stoke, Hudds and Swansea. I really can't see us winning another game this season. We can play well for a half at times it seems, but are entirely incapable of sustaining any level of performance for 90 mins. We have a fundamental lack of fitness, confidence, concentration, courage and talent. I would field 8 of the youth team at Wembley, as most of these "first team" bas.....ds certainly don't deserve the game.

I think it's all over, down with 30 points (and I'm being optimistic) : Leicester : L Bournemouth : D Everton : L Swansea : D Man City : L I think the semi v Chelsea could get embarrassing. Chelsea decided to play for 20 minutes on Saturday and scored 3. They will be up for the semi as it's all they have to play for. God help us. Still, at least we can look forward to getting done at home by Pompey next season. Thanks Saints.....

Last week WHU seemed as desperate, hammered at home and the fans baying for blood. They responded with guts and determination and dare I say it, pride in the shirt. Our players response to a new manager was total apathy until we were 3-0 down. Something is very wrong right now. At no point this season have we played well for 3-4 consecutive games, which we need to do to have any chance of survival. Looking at the table we still have a theoretical chance but the spirit and motivation just aren't there. If MH turns this around he deserves all credit.

At the moment the team are a shambles. No motivation, arguing on the pitch and a criminal lack of fitness. Few professional footballers are going to share the same passion for a club as any fan, thats a fact of life, but you'd at least expect some degree of professional pride. We don't even see that from most of our squad. I think MH must be in shock right now. This is gonna take 2 seasons or more to turn around so I am resigned to relegation and a tough next season in a very difficult Championship, playing the likes of Preston and Ipswich in a half empty St Marys.......

Well farewell to the worst manager in our history. A lot of fans were calling for this in December : you know, the people who actually watch the games and know a little about football. The board could argue the loyalty card, but they have a poor track record there (Puel, Adkins), which makes it all the more baffling why they have taken this long to act. We are SFC. We are a Premiership club. We have many millions in the bank. I say approach Eddie Howe at some point in the future but we need to stay up at all costs (although our league one season with Ricky banging them in was more enjoyable that this seasons torture).

Pre match stats prediction : Possesion : 75% - 25% Attempts : 26 - 2 On Target : 15 - 1 Yellows : 2 - 6 Reds : 0 - 1 Goals : 7 - 0

Anyone. Please. Anyone.

Ridiculous money, despite being Liverhampton we have to bite their hand off. Might even get 20M for Long the way its going...

This... A display of total lack of preparation, organization , basic football intelligence and team spirit. On a good day you might get away with 1 or 2 players not turning up but not with 1 or 2 actually turning up out of the whole team. I wouldn't back us to beat anyone in the football league at the moment. Davis, Tadic, Forster,JWP, Redmond and Long all have to go based on not anywhere near being good enough - thats half the side although Davis and Long do try mostly. We are in the s*** as we aren't going to get in 6+ players in January that can remedy this. VVD will go anyway, should have gone months ago as hes made f*** all difference to our defence. As for MP I really don't know what the board are waiting for, no manager at all would be better and let the players sit down and work it out for themselves, the result couldn't be worse. The frustrating thing is that there's so many mediocre sides in the PL this season outside the top 6, going down with this opposition would be a disgrace.

Can't really argue with that, instead of a "middle 8" club we now look like a "bottom 6" one, but we've been here before. Generally we sell any good players that come our way sooner or later but that's football now. Managers coming and going every season or so dosen't help either. MP inherited most of the squad from last season and we are a worse team so he has to bear responsibility for that. He dosen't seem to know how he wants us to play. Pochettino had a clear vision of what he wanted from the team and worked towards that goal. We were playing as poorly under Koeman for a while but turned it around. SFC have two choices here, either get rid now and bank on the new manager syndrome, or stick with him and hope we scrape survival and look to improve next season.

1-0 away to a top 4 team...? This is the Saints forum yes ?

Couldn't agree more, its not the the first goal this season where "GK could have done better". FF is a decent shot stopper under certain circumstances, the saves he made yesterday were all routine for any keeper however spectacular they looked. Hes a big man that lacks agility. The free kick was a nasty one for a keeper, the wall was set up wrong (keepers call though), so a half of good work gets undone in the last minute. Not scoring is one issue, but we're making far too many defensive mistakes. I thought we battled well yesterday, at least there was a bit of determination and spirit that was lacking v Leicester. Most teams that come to places like Chelsea can expect a bit of a battering, and we had a couple of chances to score. Although a "negative" performance, on its own the result was acceptable. Hudds will be the make or break for MP, or should be.

Having watched Saints for nearly 40 years (remember Phil Boyer, Steve Williams et al ....?) generally we are doing OK. Look how many similar size clubs are in the Championship and likely to remain there for a while. We're never gonna get a Pep and 300 million to spend. Ever. I think the issue with SFC at the moment is a lack of consistancy, from individual performances and team selection. Our much lauded academy system seems to be producing very little final product for us lately. Everyone wants the quick fix and instant "success", whatever the measure for that is. The "top 4" is now a "top 6" and likely to remain so. We will not be a part of that barring a freak season on the lines of Leicester. New signings either fail or flourish and leave the club. PL Managers are lucky to last a whole season. The average fans mindset I believe is based on the obscene amounts of money involved in the game, both in transfer fees and players wages, Boufal earns twice the yearly salary of the average fan in one week, so why dosen't he play like Messi, for example. I said to friends some years ago that spending in football could't be sustained, but it seems to escalate year on year ( I presume because the Chinese want to watch the Manchester derby - thanks Pep and Jose, any crumbs left....)

We were done by a better team simple as that. Leicester are a better team than us and are finding their form this season. We would have struggled had we played well IMO, but playing like we did last night we would have got beat by anyone. Our best result was v Everton, who at the time were the worst team in the PL. The Radio Mersey phone in after that game was as despairing and at times vitriolic as the sentiments on this forum, one fan sounded suicidal... and none of them wanted big Sam thats for sure.... So we need to get behind the team (a big ask when you.re 3-0 down at HT at home admittedly, but at least we improved second half...) and hope MP learns from his mistakes. If he dosen't soon he must go, I think nearly half a season should be enough time to evaluate what you have in the squad. A spirited rearguard against the likes of Man City and to some extent Arsenal is one thing, but we're getting done at home by the likes of Burnley , Watford and Wolves reserves which is totally unacceptable (and with all respect embarassing). COYS !