Southampton 1-2 Wolves - Match Thread

[Andrew Watson]

The match is a side show and 3 points down the drain if Jones is still here. If a miracle happens and we get a win, he will be kept on to the detriment of picking up anything at Chelsea or Leeds.

[fanimal]

This is probably our biggest game for years now so everything the team selected the formation and the individuals have to be revved up accordingly super fit with a positive winning attitude otherwise we don’t have a prayer.

The only question is who is the person to do this??

[Pengi]

1 hour ago, fanimal said:

This is probably our biggest game for years now so everything the team selected the formation and the individuals have to be revved up accordingly super fit with a positive winning attitude otherwise we don’t have a prayer.

The only question is who is the person to do this??

A magician? Someone like Derren Brown who can sort their heads out. 

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

3 hours ago, saintant said:

He'll include Janny B and Bree for certain.

I think so too. I keep pushing the BBC refresh button hoping there's news of NJ's departure but it's looking dangerously close to him managing this game too.

He keeps on about aggressive. The only thing that's aggressive is this little tit's attitude to us fans and some of the players. Get the team to watch how Everton closed down Arsenal. That's being in the opposition's faces. Wolves are dreadful for falling down over nothing so destabilise them from the start. 

[bogwoppit]

Does anyone actually think we won’t get beaten, based on both recent performances and results? I think most opposition fans will see games against us as an easy 3 points. Speaking to a couple of Wolves season ticket holders earlier today, and they are extremely confident of winning. 

[StumpyD]

I sadly have no optimism that we will climb out of this trouble with this manager. The team he picks,the tactics he employs are not good enough and why he is allowed to continue is beyond belief 

[Leslie Charteris]

On current form Saints are conceding twice as many goals as they are scoring and the points per game at the moment suggest we might get to 27 points by the end of the season. Wolves have just put three past Liverpool so it seems unlikely that we will win. The only glimmer of hope is that we have a slightly easier run in than some of our relegation rivals but unless there is a fundamental change to the way we play there is only one likely outcome this season.

[LiberalCommunist]

Remember that 6-0? This could be a 4-0 easy. 

Not worried though, whatever will be will be........

[Ball boy]

Against my better judgement this will be my son’s first match at st Mary’s.
can only hope they sack NJ before the game or I expect the mood will be dour. 

[SotonianWill]

don’t turn up in protest, and because i’m a lazy bastard who cannot be arsed 

[Jack]

34 minutes ago, Ball boy said:

Against my better judgement this will be my son’s first match at st Mary’s.
can only hope they sack NJ before the game or I expect the mood will be dour. 

He’ll pick up some colourful vocabulary I’m sure 

[OttawaSaint]

What's the fucking point of this?

Huge sideshow to distract the players. We're in deep enough shit. What on earth are SR expecting here?

The front foot aggressive play catapults us to a remarkable victory and then Rarebit gets carried above the teams' shoulders to each side of the stadium to a wonderous 1 hour long standing ovation?

[StrangelyBrown]

8 hours ago, coalman said:

I don't see him swallowing his pride. The press will be there to push his buttons if he tries.

I imagine something like "did you underestimate the size of the step up in moving from Luton would be so big?" or "why haven't you been able to impose your style in 3 months?" would set him off.

And heaven forbid the self righteous explosion of Perry point scoring if we actually won on Saturday.

I can't believe that anyone is talking about NJ magically getting a result if he's still here.

The bloke is a fucking charlatan - his tactics are shit, he thinks Janny B is our best defender, he's lost a number (if not most) of the team, he's lost the fanbase and he's still banging on about it being everyone else's fault.

Wolves on the other hand have turned the corner. The only way they lose this by some freak result.

If NJ stays we lose again and we can all talk about how shit he is and live in the hope he gets sacked. Hopefully he leaves, we can say good riddance and we can all get on with supporting the team again safe in the knowledge that it could be worse no matter who we get next.

[LVSaint]

If Rarebit is still here for reasons only our surreal owners know, it'll be lose/lose even if we win.

If we lose, which we are likely to, Jesusfreak gets sacked (great) but we've missed out on a potential 3 invaluable points. (I looked at the remaining fixtures , it was terrifying, I advise no one to look)

If we win, it's a false dawn and the Welsh Alex Ferguson gets to stay.

 

All so avoidableeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesadfa sgghrtyhklmwrthlmsdfb srthfthf. cunt.....

[Forester]

If Jones is still here, which I would be surprised by, I hope everyone ignores this circus and gets behind the team.  The points are more important.

 

I learned my lesson back in the day wanting us to lose to remove Wigley.  Games are running out

[wild-saint]

4 hours ago, bogwoppit said:

Does anyone actually think we won’t get beaten, based on both recent performances and results? I think most opposition fans will see games against us as an easy 3 points. Speaking to a couple of Wolves season ticket holders earlier today, and they are extremely confident of winning. 

Yep I think we will win 2-0 with a tall Paul brace. 

[CB Fry]

If we had just beaten Liverpool then many would look at a trip to the bottom of the league team as a potential banana skin. Wolves might not be able to follow up their great result. What Wolves expect to be routine isn't quite that simple.

Or, we're shit with a shit manager and we will lose easily. Take your pick.

[OttawaSaint]

58 minutes ago, LVSaint said:

 

All so avoidableeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesadfa sgghrtyhklmwrthlmsdfb srthfthfgghrtyhklmwrthlmsdfb srthfthf. cunt.....

Is that Welsh?

[HarvSFC]

Jones isn't compromising anymore, he's doing things his way and we're about to see how one of the best manager's in Europe manages the team.

It's our turn to win 9-0.

[LVSaint]

5 hours ago, OttawaSaint said:

Is that Welsh?

Yes, with a bit of good old Anglo Saxon thrown in at the end 😀

[SoberSaint]

His comments on Saturday have sort of backed himself into a corner. Terrible thing to say but I can’t help but think we need to get a pasting for the greater good!

[Sheaf Saint]

2 minutes ago, SoberSaint said:

His comments on Saturday have sort of backed himself into a corner. Terrible thing to say but I can’t help but think we need to get a pasting for the greater good!

Having supported Saints since the late 80s, I have heard / read this sentiment many times over the years, but have never before been able to bring myself to actually want us to lose in order to catalyse a much-needed change. However, I think I'm there this time. As much as three points would be very welcome on Saturday, the consequences of it don't bear thinking about. Getting to watch that beligerent little bell-end say "I told you so" in his post-match interview will probably leave me needing to visit Currys to get a new TV, having put something blunt and heavy through the screen.

I just don't see it happening anyway. Wolves have improved since they changed managers, and they always manage to take points off us anyway by being organised defensively and difficult / impossible to play through. There's nothing about our current setup that gives me the slightest hope that is going to change this weekend.

[StrangelyBrown]

8 hours ago, HarvSFC said:

Jones isn't compromising anymore, he's doing things his way and we're about to see how one of the best manager's in Europe manages the team.

It's our turn to win 9-0.

I'm confused about the compromising thing - was he compromising when we beat city or palace, what about when we played forest? Presumably every loss is down to compromise and every win is down to him being the bestest ever manager in the world ever?

[Whitey Grandad]

42 minutes ago, StrangelyBrown said:

I'm confused about the compromising thing - was he compromising when we beat city or palace, what about when we played forest? Presumably every loss is down to compromise and every win is down to him being the bestest ever manager in the world ever?

No, no. Not in the world. 
 

Only in Europe.

[JRM]

1 hour ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Having supported Saints since the late 80s, I have heard / read this sentiment many times over the years, but have never before been able to bring myself to actually want us to lose in order to catalyse a much-needed change. However, I think I'm there this time. As much as three points would be very welcome on Saturday, the consequences of it don't bear thinking about. Getting to watch that beligerent little bell-end say "I told you so" in his post-match interview will probably leave me needing to visit Currys to get a new TV, having put something blunt and heavy through the screen.

I just don't see it happening anyway. Wolves have improved since they changed managers, and they always manage to take points off us anyway by being organised defensively and difficult / impossible to play through. There's nothing about our current setup that gives me the slightest hope that is going to change this weekend.

I expect Wolves to win anyway - our home form has been dreadful for so long way before Jones became manager. 

I still can't get onboard with the hatred that a lot of fans are displaying, all becoming a bit of a pantomime, might as well get behind the team and the new signings during the game , boo at the end, display banners, chase cars down the street whatever but for the 90 mins get behind the team. 

[saints-cris]

I think the decision to keep the bloke will hit home this weekend quite hard. The atmosphere will be at best defeated, and at worst totally toxic and unhelpful for the team on the pitch. Essentially we will chuck 3 points to a team right in there with us. Total madness that he will still be in the dugout for this game. 
 

We can all see how this game goes, unless we fluke a goal early on. Wolves, a side who we always struggle against anyway, will watch us either pass it side to side aimlessly, or strain their necks as the ball repeatedly comes down with ice on it. They’ll then score once they decide to, and then it’ll get really ugly. Probably same again second half. 
 

And then we will do it all again for the Chelsea game. 

[coalman]

Ankersen has watched Moneyball enough to know what happens next. I cannot believe people are doubting him. We've had the low of last weekend but it's all montage from here, baby.

 

 

[Baird of the land]

Curious which way this game will go. A win to (temporarily silence detractors) or a heavy defeat. I don't there being much chance of it being a dull 0-0 draw.

[Saint Garrett]

4 minutes ago, Baird of the land said:

Curious which way this game will go. A win to (temporarily silence detractors) or a heavy defeat. I don't there being much chance of it being a dull 0-0 draw.

Well it's highly likely you've got our score right unless JWP sticks a free kick in top bins, it's more about whether we can stop them scoring! Probably not. Smart money on 0-1.

Edited 7 February, 2023 by Saint Garrett

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, Saint Garrett said:

Well it's highly likely you've got our score right unless JWP sticks a free kick in top bins, it's more about whether we can stop them scoring! Probably not. Smart money on 0-1.

Jimenez hasn't scored for a while i think so he's guarenteed one. Lemina to have one of his 3 brilliant games a season, probably 1-0 like you say.

[rallyboy]

He's said that he's going to do things his way now so it'll be interesting to see what he can achieve now all of those shackles are off.

If we lose he'll have no one else to blame and nowhere else to turn.

If he can survive the frenzy this week, beat Wolves and turn around this form keeping us up, he'll deserve a frigging medal...

Big match for us - but an even bigger and career-defining game for Jones. 

 

[coalman]

Just now, Turkish said:

Jimenez hasn't scored for a while i think so he's guarenteed one. Lemina to have one of his 3 brilliant games a season, probably 1-0 like you say.

Normally I'd say this is a nailed on 1-0 win for Wolves where they'd hit us on the break. There's nothing to break against right now as Jonesball seems to involve giving the ball away, inviting pressure and being overrun in midfield.

So I'm going with 4-0 to Wolves with a Lemina hattrick because Saints seem able to bring out the worst in any situation right now.

[EssEffCee]

Can actually see us winning this 1-0. Also predict that it'll be the best atmosphere at St Marys for a number of years.

[The Curse of St Mary's]

Similar to how Real Betis fans throw teddy bears onto the pitch for deprived children maybe fans throw P45 paper aeroplanes with Jones name on it as a means of protest 😬

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Fitzhugh Fella]

I can see us winning this 1-0 and a smug Ankersen claiming we were right not to sack Jones. This will be followed by 5 consecutive defeats and the whole circus will be up and running again but of course it will be much too late by then.

Edited 7 February, 2023 by Fitzhugh Fella
yo - too

[Pancake]

Win - he stays and we are relegated when we lose the next 4

Draw - as you were, no one knows what’s going on, so he stays. 
 

Lose - we are all but down so they board will keep him on for next season. 
 

load of old bollocks really isn’t it?

[Whitey Grandad]

Just now, Pancake said:

Win - he stays and we are relegated when we lose the next 4

Draw - as you were, no one knows what’s going on, so he stays. 
 

Lose - we are all but down so they board will keep him on for next season. 
 

load of old bollocks really isn’t it?

If he’s still here at the end of the season I dread to think what the season ticket renewals will be like.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

It's going to be a mad situation. Fans will be caught in two minds about what to do. I want to support the team, but will find it difficult to do so knowing Jones is still on the touchline. We need to make a quick start, something that for almost every game under his tenure we have been unable to do. Am fully expecting the usual suspects to play in this one, Lyanco, Bednarek, Diallo and Ely. There will be absolutely no hiding place for Jones should we lose this one. The board will need to act.

[The Kraken]

2-1 Saints.

[trousers]

47 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

I can see us winning this 1-0 and a smug Ankersen claiming we were right not to sack Jones. This will be followed by 5 consecutive defeats and the whole circus will be up and running again but of course it will be much too late by then.

Inevitably, this

[the saint in winchester]

14 hours ago, Ball boy said:

Against my better judgement this will be my son’s first match at st Mary’s.
can only hope they sack NJ before the game or I expect the mood will be dour. 

 

14 hours ago, Jack said:

He’ll pick up some colourful vocabulary I’m sure 

For that - and other reasons - I would urge you to select a later game for your son. This is the wrong time to attend. You will traumatize him. Let's get the Jones experiment behind us - he will leave soon. You want your son to enjoy the experience, not put him off for life.

[Dell McDellFace]

I feel that NJ has put unnecessary extra pressure on the team (and himself.) Everyone will be scrutinising the formation and tactics to see what "his way" is, and the team will be very conscious of this, to the extent that it could prove to be distracting for them. I doubt the Wolves players and management are quaking in their boots because they don't know what to expect - I have a vision of their management analysing historic data from Luton games for the answer (whatever happened to creativity, flair and doing the unexpected?)

I don't sense a passion in the players to get behind his "vision" to save his position. Soundbites from JWP are what you would expect from a club captain but it didn't really convey any warmth for the guy.

For the first time in 50+ years of supporting the Saints, I am hoping for a heavy defeat, let's get this unsavoury chapter behind us and move on.

[the saint in winchester]

4 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Having supported Saints since the late 80s, I have heard / read this sentiment many times over the years, but have never before been able to bring myself to actually want us to lose in order to catalyse a much-needed change. However, I think I'm there this time. As much as three points would be very welcome on Saturday, the consequences of it don't bear thinking about. Getting to watch that beligerent little bell-end say "I told you so" in his post-match interview will probably leave me needing to visit Currys to get a new TV, having put something blunt and heavy through the screen.

I just don't see it happening anyway. Wolves have improved since they changed managers, and they always manage to take points off us anyway by being organised defensively and difficult / impossible to play through. There's nothing about our current setup that gives me the slightest hope that is going to change this weekend.

In a perverse way, I'm glad Jones gets a game to walk the gang plank. After his comments, he needs to put up or shut up. I wonder if the directors (Ankerson, Semmens) have asked him to explain his comments? Either he really was going mad before our eyes, as some suggested, or there was some truth in his suggestions. I want this to play out to its conclusion. I am concerned what 'his way' means, concerned it means Janny B and Bree, Lyanco, Moi and Adams misfiring while all our quality players look on from the bench. I don't like to see us lose, but there is a bigger picture to play out here. Like you, I think Wolves will play us off the park, but then come Monday morning and Jones is given his P45, he can have no complaints.

[Saint Matty 76]

4 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Having supported Saints since the late 80s, I have heard / read this sentiment many times over the years, but have never before been able to bring myself to actually want us to lose in order to catalyse a much-needed change. However, I think I'm there this time. As much as three points would be very welcome on Saturday, the consequences of it don't bear thinking about. Getting to watch that beligerent little bell-end say "I told you so" in his post-match interview will probably leave me needing to visit Currys to get a new TV, having put something blunt and heavy through the screen.

I just don't see it happening anyway. Wolves have improved since they changed managers, and they always manage to take points off us anyway by being organised defensively and difficult / impossible to play through. There's nothing about our current setup that gives me the slightest hope that is going to change this weekend.

I know exactly what you mean here.

Always found the notion of “it’d be better for us to lose this one” ridiculous but this is about as close at it gets. Sadly we just cannot afford to throw away more points against a relegation rival at home.

I do also dread to think what he’d say if we won!

[Wade Garrett]

4 hours ago, StrangelyBrown said:

I'm confused about the compromising thing - was he compromising when we beat city or palace, what about when we played forest? Presumably every loss is down to compromise and every win is down to him being the bestest ever manager in the world ever?

That is a great point and shows him up for the bullshitter that he is. 

[Pengi]

2 hours ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

I can see us winning this 1-0 and a smug Ankersen claiming we were right not to sack Jones. This will be followed by 5 consecutive defeats and the whole circus will be up and running again but of course it will be much too late by then.

That is just so 'Saintsy' winning and then going on a losing run. I remember years ago when Saints were top on the then League one. We were expected to beat Coventry at home and we lost by three goals.

[Pilchards]

Been told St Mary’s is a no fly zone on Saturday from 3.00pm to 5.00pm.

I think they are fearing Nathan’s wonderful high pump to the forwards.

[badgerx16]

14 hours ago, Forester said:

If Jones is still here, which I would be surprised by, I hope everyone ignores this circus and gets behind the team.  The points are more important.

 

I learned my lesson back in the day wanting us to lose to remove Wigley.  Games are running out

 But will "getting behind the team" compensate for Mad Nate's selection and tactics sufficiently to give us a chance ?

[OttawaSaint]

15 minutes ago, Pilchards said:

Been told St Mary’s is a no fly zone on Saturday from 3.00pm to 5.00pm.

I think they are fearing Nathan’s wonderful high pump to the forwards.

I hear it is that instead of coming out of the tunnel each player will be lowered into his position on the field by helicopter to the tune of enter the Valkyrie. 

Rarebit's big reveal of his magic formation. Then Wolves will kick off and immediately score with Bednarek ending up on his arse as usual.

[It's There]

There is also the possibility that the new players willmake a big (ha) difference. At last we will have a target man and a speedy merchant who can create problems. Thay will ahve had a full week training... hopelessly optomistic, as usual, 4 1 Saints!