The Southampton way. Honestly would be furious if we do it though. I was angry at all the other sales, but that would take the biscuit
Love it. A random guy on FB and Twitter and we are losing it. and this Ladies and Gentlemen is how our **** is lost.
I'm not losing it about Ings, but its more than just a random guy reporting it - its Ralph's refusal to deny it that's got people worried.
This has been my position for close to a year now. It's great having tidy little midfielders who can move the ball around, but someone has to support the CBs when the fullbacks are 50 yards up the pitch.
That’s not how it works.... and you know it. Now pick your toys up, put them away neatly and if you’re good, Uncle Ralph will sort you a win out sometime soon
Football fans are brilliant.... 6 days ago we were getting our passports out. Now we’re getting our burial shovels out.
The two performances have been a surprise but I think that the underlaying issue is the absence of fans and the artificial nature in which the games are being played. These kinds of results are to be expected and I wasn't too surprised that we got dumped yesterday. The surprise for me was that Ralph picked the first team to play this match with the exception of Tella. I had expected him to select a lot of fringe players and give them a try out,. As a consequence, I do not think the experience really told him anything positive or acquired anything new about the younger players in the squad. It is funny how everyone seemed to have complete faith in Ralph in the summer and how quickly the doubters have materialized again. For me, my understanding is that the players are not picking up from where they left off and the absence of a proper pre-season has led to some rusty performances which would previously have been produced in friendlies. Armstrong's re-appearance will make a difference. Things will take shape again in a few more games.
Saints lose and England blow up against the Aussies. Not the best day of lockdown. Give up? Giving up Saints is like giving up smoking. It's easy. I've done it hundreds of times. And after 6 decades I might have given up ***s, but my addiction to this bloody club goes on no matter what ****e they may give us. Spurs up next. We'll 'ave 'em. Move on, all.
It would be very saints to go and beat spurs on Sunday now. I'm more worried about the performances than the result last night. A one off blip you can understand, but that's two games in a row where we've looked very bad at the back, so I hope it isn't indicative of deeper problems in the dressing room. Fingers crossed it's just cobwebs and too many beers over summer
My main concern, coming from the first two games is Ralph condemning the team as being unfit. He got their fitness levels spot on, following the lockdown, so if they aren’t as fit now, as they were at the restart of last season, then surely he must take responsibility for it. Against Palace they were flat footed and made careless mistakes as a result of it. Last night they looked the same. In both matches we have been caught short at the back as a result of losing the ball in the centre of the park, with both full backs being ahead of the ball. Spurs are very, very good, on the break, so Ralph really needs to sort this out, hopefully without reverting to a back 3 (unless of course it does the trick and we win, in which case he’s a genius again).
He didn’t refuse to deny it he refused to comment. If he commented, it would have taken the over the press conference and they’d twist any comment to fit the agenda anyway Our game demands fitness, the Ralph says we’re not fully fit yet. That’ll do for me We must bear in mind as well that we have a first 11 who can be very good but no real competition for places yet. There will therefore be good and bad days We so need Pierre replacement and Stuart backup When’s Stuey back?
Right everyone, moving on, blue lines and all that. We need another hapless loser willing volunteer to do the Spuds thread, seeing as both Tom and Billy have failed miserably given their best which wasn’t quite enough.
I think Ian you have partially answered your comment when you write you were suprised as to why he put out such a strong team; this was because he wanted to build up match sharpness and fitness. Disappointing start to the season, but not unexpected. Midfield looks suspect and in need of reinforcements.