Match Day Thread Manchester United vs Plucky Little Upstarts from the South Coast. Sat Feb 12, 12.30

To be fair to him he was getting most of his games early-season when we were good defensively but hadn’t really clicked going forward. He might fare better now that Broja is in full beast-mode, we have Stuie back, and the form of others (Elyou/JWP) has improved.

 

yeah, I feel like a bit of a minority in that I think Armstrong will come good in the side with a run playing the way we are now. I think Ralph made a mistake not bringing him on today for the last 15. Broja looked tired today and Adams was affected by that calf. Given that broja is only 20, it might be time to give him a breather and let Armstrong have a couple of starts.

 

And even that goal line clearance involved an element of good play from Fraser. A less experienced keeper might have panicked (or refused to accept that he had been done by the forward), and wiped out Ronaldo in a lame attempt to get the ball. Certain penalty, possibly even a red card (but probably just yellow).

 

I don't know if he will come good. But given that we'll likely remain safely situated in mid table for the rest of the season - and with some really nice looking fixtures to come - we'll have ample opportunity to give him a chance to, should we wish to.

For us and him, it would be useful if we did give him that chance, to see what he does. One way or the other.

 

Having seen the pen given for city I do have to wonder why Maguire wasn’t penalised. Only difference was broja wasn’t running. Neither defender got near the ball, both played the man, both took out an attacker.

 

We'll get the pundits view tonight no doubt. Anyone know if we're on early MOTD list?

 

Third

 

Many thanks!! Worth staying up for!!

 

The coverage or more precisely non-coverage of the incident was very strange. Ignored at the time. MOTD seemed to totally omit it from their edit of the match and discussion afterwards. It did actually happen, didn't it? Maguire clearly clumsily brought Ourmando down.

 

A brilliant (nick)name for Broja!!

 

At the time, the BT pundits (OK, Hoddle and Keown) were doing their best to play down the incident, rather than admit that a superstar defender from a 'top 6' club was made to look very inadequate by a loanee playing for some plucky team in yellow, who clearly don't belong in such elevated company.

 

I've just watched the extended highlights on the OS. They show that Maguire clearly steps on Ourmando's left foot, then deliberately steps on his right calf, which Hoddle described as 'accidental'. Accidental, my a**e. This then begs the question of why the VAR officials did not at least check the incident.

 

They supposedly did check and decided it wasn’t an offence. If I’m honest, I don’t think it was a clear and obvious error and if it had been given I doubt it would have been over turned

 

Yep I thought that as Maguire did it he wasn't even looking at the leg, but the ball that was running out of play. Not on purpose in my book, though in real time I thought different.

 

That's the trouble with us (not606) Saints fans - we're too damn reasonable. Where's the top 6 conspiracy theorists when you're trying to foment revolution?

 

I don't think we can call that clear and obvious. If it was given on the field and overturned then it would be different.

 

I think you got more likes for this than I’ve ever seen on here!
The Ralph and Moy have worked wonders (EDIT: & Celtic deserve some credit)
He’s always getting into spaces and we’ve now started passing to him when he does
Really happy for the guy

 

Seems to bit quite a few pundits digging at Ralph regarding his comments about MU being “not the best at tracking back”. Jeez, rather than making snide remarks, they should focus their attentions on poor MU & whether it’s justified.

 

Which referee is going to give a penalty against Manure in the 87th minute? They know they will get a load of abuse on and off line. Look the other way. Guaranteed a penalty if anyone breathes on Utd player. VAR has just joined in the bias.

 

Listening to 5 Live (yes, I am the listener) and the presenter introduced a piece on Man U v Saints by saying 'Southampton avoided another 9-0 drubbing'. We 'avoided' it by playing them off the park, but that was lost in the small print, other than saying that Ronaldo is 'short on confidence'. Not that he was kept quiet, of course.