Match Day Thread Southampton v Sheffield United, 26th July, 4pm

My friend Sue pointed out to me last night that it was rather fitting that our goal difference in the final table was -9

 

Yeah I did notice that too. Other than Covid that's the thing I'll remember this season for so it's very fitting for our GD to end on that.

 

True, Ralph did change the team up after that as well. So it definitely sent shock waves through the whole club.

 

Highlights from the OS:

https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/...s-southampton-sheffield-united-premier-league

 

The turning point for me was partly that game against Leicester, but also the fact we didn't capitulate in the next two games... both against City away. That steadied the ship and we cracked on from there.

Initially it helped us against the bigger clubs as they thought we were relegation fodder and an easy target. If City had destroyed us in that first league game, I feel we would have been done.

 

Another nugget of wisdom from Sue - we actually had enough points at lockdown to have stayed up even if we'd got no points from then until the end of the season ......... scary thought
Though ..... if we'd have got zero points, that would have meant both watford and bournemouth would have got 3 points, so we would have had (by my calculation) 38 points and they would have had 37 .......... definitely squeaky bum time yesterday then ...........

 

I can completely understand people looking at the 9-0 as the turning point. But for me, it was Villa away.

In the six weeks after the 9-0, we still put in dire performances to lose at home to poor Everton and West Ham teams. We lost away to Newcastle. We just hung on for home wins against, according to the table at the time, the only two sides worse than us (both of whom have gone on to finish in those bottom two positions).

I pick Villa away because that's the game it all changed for Stephens (it's also the game which lifted us out of the bottom three, never to return, and which kicked off our excellent Xmas run). And everything changing for Stephens meant everything changing for a defence. The area of our team which had been a total disaster for two years, was suddenly PL standard.

(Can Stephens continue it into next season? I really hope so. Although we have been here before. He was solid for half a season under Puel, when filling in for Virgil. But that didn't last. Hopefully it'll be different this season. But also, just in case it isn't, lets ensure that we have adequate depth this time.)

 

I think it was when Ralph stopped dicking around putting right sided centre backs at right back, and our first choice right back at left back. And so on.

Credit to Ralph, he changed it and got the players working, so massive well done to him and all the players.

 

I remember that. Was quite funny really

 

So we had about 8 or 9 turning points. Glad that got cleared up!

 

But should Romeu have been sent off at Old Trafford?

 

I'm still waiting for the Bertrand red to be rescinded!

 

More U turns than a Westminster politician.

 

VAR are still checking.

Wont be long now I expect.

 

Gary Neville’s still going on about it.

 

Oh gosh he didnt stop ****ing moaning did he.

Whilst I think it was bad, I dont believe there was any malice in it, Oriol just planted his foot naturally without looking, and the other bugger put his foot down first.

I honestly thought it was accidental, but understand people saying it was red, but not Gary making out like he tried to end his career.

 

https://www.planetfootball.com/nost...tie-much-underrated-premier-league-cult-hero/

 

Let it go, Les.

 

5 months on, a big gap between the 2 sides this season

Page 12 is quite interesting, it's just after Sheffield United took the lead.

The amount of stick Vesty gets.

What a difference 5 months or 11 games make.