Rarely happens, just like ex-players always scoring against us … … Honeyman and Watmore didn’t get a sniff at Millwall. Now watch Danny Batth get a hat trick
Except Bayer pissed it last year and have an incredible squad, as do Leipzig. Dortmund man for man have a great squad and there are several more good sides like Stuttgart, Freiburg and such. It’s not a walkover league. I don’t rate him, never did, but he’s had a massive turnaround there. They finished 3rd last season.
I know, he plays for Blackburn which is our next game with an ex-Sunderland player. … … I'm not counting Callum Doyle as he wasn’t ever our player, just on loan. Doyle may not even play, went off injured at half time against Burnley I think.
Aye, the merry go round well underway. O'Neil and Martin won't wait long as long as they can handle a lower level appointment.
I think the loss of Wilcox as their director of football may not have helped. Not sure they would have had the transfer window they did had he been there. If you look at the signings they made the big money ones appear more about long term sell on than being premier league ready. They lost one or two that might well have been important in a battle for survival. Che Adams has a lot of experience in the premier league. I would be amazed if anyone comes in and keeps them up personally. It would be one of the biggest escapes for years wouldnt it? Surely they have to have one eye on planning for the championship now. I hope Martin takes some time away now. He has taken some undeserved stick from the premier league expert pundits. Many of whom have had more disastrous coaching experiences than Martin at Southampton. He can take time to reflect on his own performance, and how he handled the big job at the first time of asking. The fella is only 38 and has loads of time to go again. I think the fundamentals are there with him as a coach. I would sooner be a possession based coach personally. He can improve though of course. Some of the best coaches have refused to contemplate a plan b, preferring instead to make plan a better. I think Martin is of that mindset, and power to him imo. Will be worth watching in the future.
Intrigued to see where he goes in the future and how he tweaks his style of play. I just find it so more to watch, I like to see teams play the ball in to feet but I like seeing it played through lines quickly rather than constant passes between the CBs and GKs Imo he will need to tweak his style of play if he's going to be a successful manager (I.e. manage in the PL), the good managers/coaches will tweak things to have a better chance of getting results while not abandoned their style of play
I sometimes wonder if Ange would’ve been a good head coach for us. I understand Bain was told about him. Whether or not he would’ve come to the north east or even talked to us is another thing entirely.
Southampton gone for Juric. Surprise one that. I wouldnt have thought he would fit that squad at all, but lets see. He will make them more robust at least. I have a real soft spot for all things Croatian football so hope he does well. Need to be a miracle worker to keep that squad up mind.
I know he wasn’t in charge yesterday but they gained a solid point on the road and kept a clean sheet. Winnable home games coming up - they desperately need a ‘new manager bounce’
Weird one that, but I know none of them so maybe they're right. He'll not keep that squad up though, they just aren't good enough and are too far behind. They must think he can get them up next season.
