We have lost 24 points from winning positions and gained 9 from losing positions. Our capacity to change matches equals a deficit of 15 points. Ipswich have gained 32 and lost 8. Leeds have gained 24 and lost 4. Leicester have gained 15 and lost 8. So all the other teams have changed results in their favour during the season. Ipswich are up 24 points. Leeds up 20. Leicester up 7. We are down 15. We have game managed ourselves 22 points worse than our nearest competitor - Leicester. How are we supposed to feel about that?
Arsenal only have 8 points from losing positions. Newcastle only have 6 points. I mean, up until Cardiff, we still somehow had more or less the same points per game as the other top 3. So I don't know, I guess don't score first or something.
You are just ignoring what you don't want to see. Game management. There is no point gaining the lead if you cannot hold it. We are 16 points off from the lead than any of our rivals. When we go behind we have only managed to claw back 9 points. Our nearest rival is Leicester with 15. We are so far adrift of those teams in game management it is embarrassing.
It's embarrassing that we are a few points behind the top two? Can't you see why I might assume that our fans have an expectation that we should be, in the top two, based on your comment? Isn't this exactly what you're implying?
Not at all. Please go and read it again. I am saying that our game management is really bad and is ruining the season for a lot of Saints fans. I am saying that whether we are leading or behind we are much worse than the others in the top 4 at getting the points we need. That is really depressing. Losing a lead is horrible as a fan. We have done it twice as much as our nearest top of the table competitor. That is not a fun thing for a fan. Where have I mentioned top 2? It's almost like you see exactly what I am saying but are too stubborn to admit it...
We are very much talking about the top two. You mention the teams in the top two in every post. You obviously think we should be doing just as well as the teams above us. No? Apologies if I've misunderstood, but that's just the impression I'm getting. Look I'm not saying everything is tickety-boo, and of course there are legitimate complaints to be made about the manager and players. But at the same time I'm relatively satisfied with how the season has gone, given the strength of our squad, and with new manager coming in etc. I just feel our fans on the whole have unrealistic expectations. That's all.
Mate, that is such convoluted logic. I have mentioned the three relegated teams - who we are legitimately in the same bracket as - and the outlier who are looking like getting second. If I bring in the rest of the top 6 you would see our game management stats are still bad in comparison. Our defence is worse than any of them. But your point is Saints think we are owed top two - yet to make that point you have to ignore the other teams I am referring to. I think it is legitimate to be upset at our abysmal game management - and I have proven that statistically with the other teams who were relegated. Do I need to do it with all the teams for it to be valid? There are only 8 teams with worse defences!
I would yes. I don't think either Farke or Maresca have proven themselves much better than Martin, given the squads each at their disposal. I also don't know who we would realistically get instead.
Stoke commentary: “If I were a Southampton fan I couldn’t handle this every week. Whenever they’re playing about at the back you think they’re immediately going to concede”. Quite.
Bad defence yes. But we are 4th. When all is said and done, I just think thats kind of where we should be. So for all the negative factors, we must be getting some things right. A lot of teams get relegated and don't go straight back up. Norwich and Watford the season before us. They didn't even finish in the playoffs last season. We were in a significantly worse shape than Leicester after last season. Plus they've been cheating. And I don't think there's much in it between us and Leeds.
Yeah I get the "but who?" Question, I just think RM will never get us promoted. This style over substance method is killing me. Its simply not enjoyable
