Saints 1-3 Bournemouth - Match Thread

[Rory Peepa]

On 12/02/2025 at 16:55, LGTL said:

If only the entitled little wankers knew the location before buying their mansion eh 😀

This is always a weird game isn’t it, even when we were half decent. Bournemouth, I just can’t get my head around it. Fair play to them, I work down there and they’re loveable scamps, pretend to hate us yet you know deep down it’s entirely superficial. 

0-4. 

Chilworth resident here. Have it on very good authority that Bereton Diaz had bought one of those overpriced new builds by the Chilworth arms and the fucker has been sent back to Sheffield. Mad how much they pay these wastes of space. He’d be shit in league one and is earning a ficking fortune. Stealing a living. Like the rest of our squad. Never seen such shite. 

[Saint_lambden]

Ramsdale, Aribo, Fernandes, Wellington before he came off and maybe Sulemana the only ones that really come out of that with any credit. The rest were shite. All too little, too late in the second half and thank fuck we've only got 13 more games until we can try (good luck to the new sporting director with that) to bin off some of these wasters. 

Incredible that we continue to sell out every week home and away. We deserve better. 

 

[Nordic Saint]

1 hour ago, Whitey Grandad said:

He was poor even then

It was a huge relief when he was subbed today and you could see it lifted the whole team as well as the fans. Today's game really was a game of 2 halves: the first with Smallbone when we looked like we were just going to lie down and accept a heavy defeat, and then the last 40 minutes without Smallbone, when we really got stuck into Bournemouth and drew 1-1. You have to wonder what might have been if Ugochukwu and Dibling had started. I guess Juric would have just brought Smallbone on as a sub so the second half would have been as bad as the first was today.

[Jack]

If you’re going to start Smallbone and Aribo in CM then be surprised that you’ve been overrun, then you shouldn’t have a job in football. Absolute clown. 

Fernandes is absolutely top class and the only one that deserves any credit out of this whole situation. The fact that a 21 year old in his first season abroad is the only one who seems to give a fuck, is a sad indictment of the whole structure.

[Nordic Saint]

"If you’re going to start Smallbone and Aribo in CM then be surprised that you’ve been overrun, then you shouldn’t have a job in football. Absolute clown."

I think you've summed up the feelings of most of the crowd today very well.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

6 minutes ago, Nordic Saint said:

"If you’re going to start Smallbone and Aribo in CM then be surprised that you’ve been overrun, then you shouldn’t have a job in football. Absolute clown."

I think you've summed up the feelings of most of the crowd today very well.

Neither Smallbone or Aribo should be starting. Let alone in the same game.

[The Kraken]

17 minutes ago, Jack said:

If you’re going to start Smallbone and Aribo in CM then be surprised that you’ve been overrun, then you shouldn’t have a job in football. Absolute clown. 

This.

I keep hearing on here “what else can he do with these players”? As if player selection and formation make zero difference. As ever, it’s a lot more nuanced than that. The players we have got are largely sub standard but even a reasonable manager is able to recognise this and mitigate it with selections and formations. Both Martin and now Juric seem utterly incapable. Our side against Burnley was a disgrace. So was this one today. We have a limited squad but there’s no excuse for us being quite as abhorrently awful as we look. 

[Stu Man Do]

4 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

This.

I keep hearing on here “what else can he do with these players”? As if player selection and formation make zero difference. As ever, it’s a lot more nuanced than that. The players we have got are largely sub standard but even a reasonable manager is able to recognise this and mitigate it with selections and formations. Both Martin and now Juric seem utterly incapable. Our side against Burnley was a disgrace. So was this one today. We have a limited squad but there’s no excuse for us being quite as abhorrently awful as we look. 

Absolutely agree with this. We don’t play a style that aids any of our players. Juric is no better than Martin in that he plays a style that he obviously likes even when we play worse with it. Aribo and Smallbone as a starting CM pairing in the prem was the end of the afternoon for me.

[S-Clarke]

It's getting to the point where one of us lot should step into the dugout and inject a bit of common sense into proceedings.

Why would anyone start a midfield two of Aribo and Smallbone? What on earth do you see in them, attribute wise, to come to the conclusion that they can be of any use in midfield at this level? (heck, even the Championship as a pair).

It was no surprise we looked better in the 2nd half when we had a midfield, a bit of a cliché but it is the the engine room - it's where everything goes right or wrong, if you start the game without a midfield it's just a case of the defenders playing damage limitation - and when you start with Wood and Bednarek as your defenders, you can't even play damage limitation.

This has been the most soul destroying season I couldn't even have imaged in August, we play every game like a lower league underdog going up against a big boy - we have a little spell in the match, but overall are no where near good enough and end up losing. At this stage we are not even a top half Championship side.

What we take away from today is that Bournemouth are absolutley light years ahead of us on the pitch, as we knew would be the case. How our ownership have allowed that to happen - with their fanbase and infrastructure - is frankly unacceptable and they have no more leeway, get it wrong next season and it's game over for them and their ownership game with us - and as a fan base we've got to be very, very vocal about it.

Edited Saturday at 23:05 by S-Clarke

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, Nordic Saint said:

"If you’re going to start Smallbone and Aribo in CM then be surprised that you’ve been overrun, then you shouldn’t have a job in football. Absolute clown."

I think you've summed up the feelings of most of the crowd today very well.

Talking to a 🍒  after the game, his words "I thought you'd make if harder for us , first half did any of your players know what they should be doing ' 

 

Damning indictment,  none of them had a fucking clue 

[Football Special]

Sport Republic Out

 

useless cunts 

[Gloucester Saint]

28 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

It's getting to the point where one of us lot should step into the dugout and inject a bit of common sense into proceedings.

Why would anyone start a midfield two of Aribo and Smallbone? What on earth do you see in them, attribute wise, to come to the conclusion that they can be of any use in midfield at this level? (heck, even the Championship as a pair).

It was no surprise we looked better in the 2nd half when we had a midfield, a bit of a cliché but it is the the engine room - it's where everything goes right or wrong, if you start the game without a midfield it's just a case of the defenders playing damage limitation - and when you start with Wood and Bednarek as your defenders, you can't even play damage limitation.

This has been the most soul destroying season I couldn't even have imaged in August, we play every game like a lower league underdog going up against a big boy - we have a little spell in the match, but overall are no where near good enough and end up losing. At this stage we are not even a top half Championship side.

What we take away from today is that Bournemouth are absolutley light years ahead of us on the pitch, as we knew would be the case. How our ownership have allowed that to happen - with their fanbase and infrastructure - is frankly unacceptable and they have no more leeway, get it wrong next season and it's game over for them and their ownership game with us - and as a fan base we've got to be very, very vocal about it.

Dragan has to be perfect in 25/26. Big name manager hire for this level, biggest budget in the league and an energetic, physically strong squad with pockets of creativity Spores brings in. Wolves and Nuno, that’s the template he needs.

Edited Saturday at 23:33 by Gloucester Saint

[OneMrsWallace]

2 hours ago, Jack said:

If you’re going to start Smallbone and Aribo in CM then be surprised that you’ve been overrun, then you shouldn’t have a job in football. Absolute clown. 

Fernandes is absolutely top class and the only one that deserves any credit out of this whole situation. The fact that a 21 year old in his first season abroad is the only one who seems to give a fuck, is a sad indictment of the whole structure.

Can't see us holding on to him sadly. 

[LoyalSaintSO50]

18 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Talking to a 🍒  after the game, his words "I thought you'd make if harder for us , first half did any of your players know what they should be doing ' 

 

Damning indictment,  none of them had a fucking clue 

Yeah sums it up. Any free kick anywhere on the pitch, no one has a clue. Sunday morning shite, Smallbone looks confused for a bit and then looks even more confused. If anyone tells you we’re better off now, with the change in management, they haven’t played the game at any level and they’re complicit in this current shit show 

[warsash saint]

'Weirdest thing I've ever seen' - Southampton scenes leave Troy Deeney in disbelief | talkSPORT

 

Cant argue with most that Deeney said!!

[the colonel]

17 minutes ago, warsash saint said:

'Weirdest thing I've ever seen' - Southampton scenes leave Troy Deeney in disbelief | talkSPORT

 

Cant argue with most that Deeney said!!

The shirt happened in front of me. I missed the handover of the shirt but saw the saints fan, big bloke, waving it about shouting 60 quid on ebay.

[the colonel]

Again not a mention of Saints on MotD, not much to say I know. In their eyes obviously we are dead and buried and not part of the PL elitist club.

[Ambsaint]

I didn't watch the game but any team that starts with Smallbone and Aribo as cover for the back 5, let along a back 5 that includes 3 fullbacks and poor quality CBs, is losing.

Smallbone looked off the pace last year, good distributer, good possession and occasional good shot but I watched players waltz past him every time with zero effort in every game I watched, he's just too slow and offers no defensive qualities at all. Aribo has a little more acceleration/physicality and is good on the ball but not really Prem level either and never, ever to be played to screen the back 4/5.

Credit to Bournemouth, they've quietly put together a very decent team, especially up front, something we should have been doing or at least aiming for.

Set up as we are, we are absolute shit. Set up properly, we might scrape a few points on the counter. I was hoping the additons of Downes/Fraser/THB  and new DM would at least make us respectable but embrassed I ever thought so.

 

 

 

[Saint in Paradise]

Saints have now been around for 140 years and for a smidgen over 50% of those 140 years ( 71 ) 

I have followed them through thick and thin. However I have now reached the stage where I am feeling

rather indifferent towards them. I am sad, shocked and disappointed with myself for feeling this way because

I never thought that that would ever be possible.

When Mr Liebherr bought Saints I got my sign in name changed as I though that at last Saints had an owner

who would take the Club to the heights that I could only dream of, and for a while that seemed possible. Alas

we all know that dream has now crashed and burned.

I hope that next season I will recover my enthusiasm but ......

[SaintsBarry74]

I remember my grandfather used to say that Saint Mary's is a fortress. Not so much anymore.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, SaintsBarry74 said:

I remember my grandfather used to say that Saint Mary's is a fortress. Not so much anymore.

It still is...

... It's just a toy one run by a group with the decision making skills of children.

[macca155]

7 hours ago, warsash saint said:

'Weirdest thing I've ever seen' - Southampton scenes leave Troy Deeney in disbelief | talkSPORT

 

Cant argue with most that Deeney said!!

Nothing new there we didn't already know. The comments on Bendarek were harsh but hard to argue with. Why ABK hasn't been given a chance is beyond me. I mean how much worse could it be.

I'm starting to think there isn't much to look forward to next season. What on earth will we be left with to watch.

[LGTL]

Smallbone is a pathetic excuse of a football player. I can’t bare the thought of him even in the Championship. Starting in that midfield yesterday was actually quite amusing to watch, in a perverse way. Should have sold that useless idiot years ago. Same goes for Bednarek - he’s been instrumental in every single embarrassment we’ve had in the recent PL era. 

I would not shed a single tear if every single one of the wankers fucked off at the end of May. With the possible exception of Fernandes, Dibling and Ramsdale. 

They are mostly a disgrace to the club, and to the city of Southampton. 

And don’t get me started on the Jones, Selles, Martin, Juric quad of utter shitness that has managed to get us here. 

Fuck off the players, fuck off the managers and fuck off the owners. Our support doesn’t deserve this. Cunts. 

Edited Sunday at 08:24 by LGTL

[bangkoksaint]

The disconnect is massive as Deeney says. How the board approach next seasons STH sales and renewals will be massive to SR, the fanbase and the club going forward. Sadly given their history they won’t read the room and next season will be off to a bad start before a ball is kicked. Appointment someone like Rohl, slash ticket prices and wield a huge axe across this atrocious squad early on and maybe, just maybe, we can put this nightmare behind us. 

[badgerx16]

10 hours ago, The Kraken said:

As if player selection and formation make zero difference. . 

With this squad that is probably correct.

[badgerx16]

8 hours ago, warsash saint said:

'Weirdest thing I've ever seen' - Southampton scenes leave Troy Deeney in disbelief | talkSPORT

 

Cant argue with most that Deeney said!!

"And finally, the big centre-half, Bednarek. I was running around him three years ago, and I haven't run in a year. I'd put money on it, mate, that I could run past him now."

[Appy]

22 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

"And finally, the big centre-half, Bednarek. I was running around him three years ago, and I haven't run in a year. I'd put money on it, mate, that I could run past him now."

He’s spot on, he’s absolutely useless, I swear our local media are gaslighting us into telling us what a great leader and bloke he is. 
 

He was back to blaming others yesterday after  the first two goals, the second he passed straight to Christie. 
 

And we’re turning down decent offers for the clown. 

[Chez]

33 minutes ago, Appy said:

He’s spot on, he’s absolutely useless, I swear our local media are gaslighting us into telling us what a great leader and bloke he is. 
 

He was back to blaming others yesterday after  the first two goals, the second he passed straight to Christie. 
 

And we’re turning down decent offers for the clown. 

I remember watching him in his first few games and saying he simply wasn’t good enough. Too slow of body and mind. He was always desperately throwing himself to the ground, which sounds good but a good defender is on his feet matching his opponent. At that point he was a £5m punt on a young back up and it didn’t matter too much, but when he’s your so called first choice cb you have a big problem. He’s too weak to match big powerful strikers, too slow to match quick ones. He makes too many errors. He’s not up to Premier league standard.

[Fabrice29]

If you want an example of how toxic this fanbase can be then the treatment of Smallbone is it. Boyhood Southampton fan and probably our most important player in the play offs last season and now he’s being sarcastically cheered off the pitch. Whether you think he’s good enough or not at this level is one thing but absolutely heartless and unforgiving treatment of someone and a real symbol of how detached from last season we’ve become so quickly. Could be wrong but I don’t think Ipswich are treating some of their players who helped get them up and now out of their depth like that. Such a weird mentality amongst people this season, complete detachment.

[influx]

6 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

If you want an example of how toxic this fanbase can be then the treatment of Smallbone is it. Boyhood Southampton fan and probably our most important player in the play offs last season and now he’s being sarcastically cheered off the pitch. Whether you think he’s good enough or not at this level is one thing but absolutely heartless and unforgiving treatment of someone and a real symbol of how detached from last season we’ve become so quickly. Could be wrong but I don’t think Ipswich are treating some of their players who helped get them up and now out of their depth like that. Such a weird mentality amongst people this season, complete detachment.

Glad you’re here to tell us where we are going wrong.  Thank you 

[gio1saints]

My thoughts on Saturday and in general : 
 

Thought the five minutes after we scored was about the best I’ve felt at SMS since last season. The crowd was up noise was up and they were pinned back. We were attacking and players were even exhorting the crowd.It looked like it could be our time …but after that flush of blood it was the same old story…
 

Fernandes is a very good player and deserves the accolades he’s receiving. He looks for all the world like “ a good player in a bad team”. The sort you spot immediately as a scout and report back that he’s one worth watching. 
 

Same for Ramsdale who is also a good player in a bad team. They plus KWP will have no shortage of enquiries to stay in the EPL - imo - and won’t be at Saints next season. 

Sulemana and Tyler will have to leave to improve - as it’s clear Saints just don’t have enough good players to avoid them being constantly double or treble teamed. Sulemana would look better playing for Liverpool ( or any top half epl team even spurs and man utd yes !)  for example, Dibling too. Both will leave for teams in which they can truly shine. 
 

Jan Bednarek many appearances and stoic is his middle name but really - i think he’s a busted flush and Saints should take their chances with Wood, Edwards and other young CB’s we already have for next season. Sell. 

I’m being pragmatic and figuring THB won’t fancy another season in the Championship so expect to see him at Palace or Fulham next - or Burnley might take him back if they go up! As for BK send him away if you are not gonna play him. Mental. 
 

Flynn Downes may never play Saints again or he may if we get Danny Rohl. Who knows. But I’m sad he’s fallen out with club over the Ipswich move. I’d of left him go. 
 

Don’t think Will is loving it either so would not be surprised if he goes to another Championship club next season - he is not EpL standard anyways. Ditto Joe who will be in Turkey I reckon. 
 

Bree and Manning on the other hand will be fine in Championship. Archer ( and Armstrong if he stays ) will score plenty too. TP may even surprise and stay - which I hope he would - but I’ve a feeling he too will leave in the clear out. Adam llamas is an interesting one as his “ experience”as a player is wasted in the championship - unless of course he’s made the new manager or assistant manager at SFC  that is…
 

That should thin the squad out and hopefully SR will then add some quality in the right places. Another Fernandes would be lovely but it’s more likely to be another set of kids with potential…( potential high resale value that is) ..😇

Edited Sunday at 11:06 by gio1saints

[Jack]

21 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

If you want an example of how toxic this fanbase can be then the treatment of Smallbone is it. Boyhood Southampton fan and probably our most important player in the play offs last season and now he’s being sarcastically cheered off the pitch. Whether you think he’s good enough or not at this level is one thing but absolutely heartless and unforgiving treatment of someone and a real symbol of how detached from last season we’ve become so quickly. Could be wrong but I don’t think Ipswich are treating some of their players who helped get them up and now out of their depth like that. Such a weird mentality amongst people this season, complete detachment.

I felt sorry for Smallbone, it’s not his fault that he’s no good in that position, he shouldn’t have been put in that situation in the first place. The mistakes are on the manager and the fans had to let their feelings known, no other way round it. 

[obelisk]

4 hours ago, SaintsBarry74 said:

I remember my grandfather used to say that Saint Mary's is a fortress. Not so much anymore.

Never really has been. Identikit stadium thrown up with no thought as to how it might make for some Dell-style intimidation of visiting teams. Far too nice for opponents to come and take 3 points away with them.

[Badger]

10 hours ago, warsash saint said:

'Weirdest thing I've ever seen' - Southampton scenes leave Troy Deeney in disbelief | talkSPORT

 

Cant argue with most that Deeney said!!

Muppets in the boardroom, clueless managers, weak and mentally feeble players, then add the sheer noddiness of some of our supporters.

Yes, SR are presiding over the greatest period in our history. It eclipses the Laurie years by some distance. 

[Fabrice29]

12 minutes ago, Jack said:

I felt sorry for Smallbone, it’s not his fault that he’s no good in that position, he shouldn’t have been put in that situation in the first place. The mistakes are on the manager and the fans had to let their feelings known, no other way round it. 

The other way round it is to take it out on the manager not the player which people seemed capable of doing to the previous managers. 

Or, even better, the real way around it is to accept that amongst a bunch of not very good players sometimes the specific player you don’t like might end up starting and just get over it. 

[Badger]

10 hours ago, warsash saint said:

'Weirdest thing I've ever seen' - Southampton scenes leave Troy Deeney in disbelief | talkSPORT

 

Cant argue with most that Deeney said!!

Deeney and Sutton are two of the biggest cunts in punditry. But both have been spot on in their criticisms in recent weeks. 

[Badger]

40 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

If you want an example of how toxic this fanbase can be then the treatment of Smallbone is it. ….Such a weird mentality amongst people this season, complete detachment.

I thought the response was poor when Smallbone went off, only Fernandes and Ramsdale really came out of yesterday with credit. Smallbone wasn’t much worse than the rest.

But “toxic” ? Our support is anything but. 

[Chez]

25 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

If you want an example of how toxic this fanbase can be then the treatment of Smallbone is it. Boyhood Southampton fan and probably our most important player in the play offs last season and now he’s being sarcastically cheered off the pitch. Whether you think he’s good enough or not at this level is one thing but absolutely heartless and unforgiving treatment of someone and a real symbol of how detached from last season we’ve become so quickly. Could be wrong but I don’t think Ipswich are treating some of their players who helped get them up and now out of their depth like that. Such a weird mentality amongst people this season, complete detachment.

I don’t have an issue with players being criticised on here. I was pointing out what a non-entity Smallbone was when he played for us in the PL last time. I also pointed out what a pussy he was in the tackle last season. But this season I’ve been surprised at the vitriol on here since he returned from injury. He came on against United, made one poor pass and then took pretty much all the blame for the defeat. Since then he has become the whipping boy, despite hardly figuring. If he starts and plays badly, fine, criticise away, but when I see him being singled out despite only having come on for five minutes at the end of a game, it annoys me a bit. 

[Badger]

20 minutes ago, Jack said:

I felt sorry for Smallbone, it’s not his fault that he’s no good in that position, he shouldn’t have been put in that situation in the first place. The mistakes are on the manager and the fans had to let their feelings known, no other way round it. 

I’m not a great fan of Smallbone, even last season I found him lacking (but he was outstanding in the play-offs). 

Clearly out of depth in this league, but one thing I’d give him credit for yesterday, is that despite the jeers he was always making himself available to take a pass. A lot of players might be inclined to ‘disappear’ at that stage even. 

[pimpin4rizeal]

12 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

It's getting to the point where one of us lot should step into the dugout and inject a bit of common sense into proceedings.

Why would anyone start a midfield two of Aribo and Smallbone? What on earth do you see in them, attribute wise, to come to the conclusion that they can be of any use in midfield at this level? (heck, even the Championship as a pair).

It was no surprise we looked better in the 2nd half when we had a midfield, a bit of a cliché but it is the the engine room - it's where everything goes right or wrong, if you start the game without a midfield it's just a case of the defenders playing damage limitation - and when you start with Wood and Bednarek as your defenders, you can't even play damage limitation.

This has been the most soul destroying season I couldn't even have imaged in August, we play every game like a lower league underdog going up against a big boy - we have a little spell in the match, but overall are no where near good enough and end up losing. At this stage we are not even a top half Championship side.

What we take away from today is that Bournemouth are absolutley light years ahead of us on the pitch, as we knew would be the case. How our ownership have allowed that to happen - with their fanbase and infrastructure - is frankly unacceptable and they have no more leeway, get it wrong next season and it's game over for them and their ownership game with us - and as a fan base we've got to be very, very vocal about it.

Sounds a bit wishful thinking and deluded .. you think sports republic are gonna fuck off and sell up just because we are not happy ?  If it’s that easy  can we get rid now

[Cabrone]

It was noticeable that when the MOTD pundits went through their post match comments they said nothing about us.

We are an irrelevance now.

Can't say I disagree TBH.

[Gloucester Saint]

57 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

If you want an example of how toxic this fanbase can be then the treatment of Smallbone is it. Boyhood Southampton fan and probably our most important player in the play offs last season and now he’s being sarcastically cheered off the pitch. Whether you think he’s good enough or not at this level is one thing but absolutely heartless and unforgiving treatment of someone and a real symbol of how detached from last season we’ve become so quickly. Could be wrong but I don’t think Ipswich are treating some of their players who helped get them up and now out of their depth like that. Such a weird mentality amongst people this season, complete detachment.

Agree with you on Smallbone, plenty of players I’d be giving stick to ahead of him, but can’t agree that the fanbase is toxic. Look at the Leicester targeted protests against Jon Rudkin yesterday, should have done that vs Rasmus ages ago. West Ham protests 4 years ago, Everton when we won at Goodison under Nathan Jones. Ours are like church mice.

Edited Sunday at 11:30 by Gloucester Saint
On, not in

[Lord Duckhunter]

Deeney is full of shite, the place isn’t toxic at all, and I don’t remember him running round Bednarek. He’s fucking stealing a living on Talk Shite, average player,  managed 6 games, winning none of them before being sacked, yet treated like some sort of expert….

[Appy]

The stadium did get up for a bit just before and after our goal in the second half, but let’s face it, we did absolutely nothing to bother them aside from the goal, it’s a sad indictment of our season where ten minute flashes,  all of a sudden trick people into thinking “we were alright actually”. Don’t think Kepa had a save to make and inevitably we were picked off. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 hour ago, Fabrice29 said:

If you want an example of how toxic this fanbase can be then the treatment of Smallbone is it. Boyhood Southampton fan and probably our most important player in the play offs last season and now he’s being sarcastically cheered off the pitch. Whether you think he’s good enough or not at this level is one thing but absolutely heartless and unforgiving treatment of someone and a real symbol of how detached from last season we’ve become so quickly. Could be wrong but I don’t think Ipswich are treating some of their players who helped get them up and now out of their depth like that. Such a weird mentality amongst people this season, complete detachment.

I thought the boos on Smallbone were harsh to be fair. I'm not his biggest fan by any stretch, and he was one of the ones like Stephens, Armstrong and a few others who should have been moved om in the summer. He's never a PL player and our shite recruitment means we have to use him. He's been no worse than fuckin Aribo who seems still to be adored by the fans for some weird reason. The sight of Aribo strolling around and jogging I find ten times worse than Smallbone. 

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, Fabrice29 said:

If you want an example of how toxic this fanbase can be then the treatment of Smallbone is it. Boyhood Southampton fan and probably our most important player in the play offs last season and now he’s being sarcastically cheered off the pitch. Whether you think he’s good enough or not at this level is one thing but absolutely heartless and unforgiving treatment of someone and a real symbol of how detached from last season we’ve become so quickly. Could be wrong but I don’t think Ipswich are treating some of their players who helped get them up and now out of their depth like that. Such a weird mentality amongst people this season, complete detachment.

You’re joking, right?

Please tell me you’re joking.

[Whitey Grandad]

45 minutes ago, Badger said:

I thought the response was poor when Smallbone went off, only Fernandes and Ramsdale really came out of yesterday with credit. Smallbone wasn’t much worse than the rest.

But “toxic” ? Our support is anything but. 

It’s not Smallbone’s fault that he’s not very good. The bigger fault is sticking him in the starting line up. What does he have over managers that they keep on picking him?

[Badger]

27 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Agree with you on Smallbone, plenty of players I’d be giving stick to ahead of him, but can’t agree that the fanbase is toxic. Look at the Leicester targeted protests against Jon Rudkin yesterday, should have done that vs Rasmus ages ago. West Ham protests 4 years ago, Everton when we won at Goodison under Nathan Jones. Ours are like church mice.

Support is far too passive and unimaginative. Singing “ there’s only one south coast derby …”, seems to elevate the skates status beyond their worth.

As protests, you wonder when and what it would take to spark it. I’m looking to the younger generations who have the energy for it. What’s their problem, too much time on PlayStations ? 

[Whitey Grandad]

13 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

I thought the boos on Smallbone were harsh to be fair. I'm not his biggest fan by any stretch, and he was one of the ones like Stephens, Armstrong and a few others who should have been moved om in the summer. He's never a PL player and our shite recruitment means we have to use him. He's been no worse than fuckin Aribo who seems still to be adored by the fans for some weird reason. The sight of Aribo strolling around and jogging I find ten times worse than Smallbone. 

He wasn’t booed, but there was a lot of cheering when he was substituted. 

[Badger]

I know several have mocked ‘ Dell sized mentality’.
I’d be delighted to see some ‘Dell sized spirit’ among both players and supporters.