Well, I'm off to bed. I'm still in the richest five percent of people on the planet, my family is safe and well, my house is warm, secure and waterproof and I'm healthy. Plus I might get lucky, of course, which will leave me WAY ahead of the game. Nighty night all and cool yer jets all. Vin
Look the bright side though guys! Our coefficient will now be 17.000 after going out at this stage. Seeded for next season!
I think I might scream if I hear anymore talk of a defensive midfielder, yes let's get VVD, but lets get someone who can create something.
You need to take my post in context Tintin and the post I replied to. My point was that before a ball was kicked this season I can't recall one person saying we needed a left back. Targett played against Chelsea and three other teams so it is not just what we expected against Chelsea. He has been poor this season; I've not said any different. I was just making the point that until these games I had thought he was good cover for Ryan (based on last seasons games).
It's silly - if Mane isn't 100% to play a part, he shouldn't be on the bench. Not the first time I've said that.
Oh well at least I went to Holland. Thought the commentator summed it up first half...the attributes that got Southampton into Europe are not here tonight. Blatantly obvious we have failed to replace the quality players which we've had to sell yet again. We have bought in numbers to back up our EL campaign which has now backfired and imo will hamper us in the future. SFC has been best of the rest for the last two years with the quality of our first eleven, we need to keep on this route as we will never accumulate the squad quality of the big boys. The transfer window...If we only bring in the one defender we'll do well to finish half way. I'm hoping the black box will cough up one or two other gems because so far it's been spluttering.
We didn't even make it to the group stage. Pretty unforgivable, given the opposition and performances.
Very poor game, the conditions may have been poor but my god all we had to do was score ONE just one to get anything from that. The most frustrating aspect is that for all the play and time around the box we didn't create one chance really where you can say "how did he miss!?" yet every time Midtjylland went forward a decent chance was at least created. There's no balance to the team. No middleman to connect the defence to the midfield. It's just 8 or so defenders getting 2 attackers to do all the creative stuff. We need a great attacking midfielder to just be that bridge imo.
Not silly at all, if we had been 4-0 up with 10 minutes to go, he could have had a run out. Obviously, the way things turned out that wasn't going to happen, but there were possible scenarios that would justify him being there.
I look at it the other way. If we were winning comfortably then why risk him? I thought (wrongly) he was there in case we needed a goal late on
He was also very impressive against Arsenal in the Capital One Cup win at Emirates and as you say, everybody was happy to start the season with him as a backup to Bertrand. Tough there's no denying that he's been poor so far, but the team certainly didn't help to mask his potential shortcomings, which would have probably been the case last season. Also, I thought he looked better when Tadić came on the left side took some workload from him, especially in the attack.
We are crying out for a midfielder who can a) keep the ball b) beat a man occasionally c) provides options in the centre of the park. We should have kept Cork. Said it at the time, still feel it strongly now. He couldn't shoot or create, but he could get it down and play it. Would have made a difference in the last few weeks, 100%. Davis and JWP were nowhere tonight. Hope they improve.
So, then risk him when there's no need? If he wasn't going to be used at all, like tonight,and desperate for a goal, and no sign of him coming on, then what was the point of naming him on the bench?
I really don't mind losing in Europe. Disappointed yes, but it's not the end of the world. What I do mind is going out playing long ball. I watch football to be entertained first and last and that wasn't entertainment. Wrong team selection. Wrong formation. Wrong tactics. Get it right Sunday please.
Why would we give him a run out if he wasn't ready, surely it's then that we absolutely wouldn't risk him, as there is nothing to gain, and a lot to lose if he aggravates his injury. There's no problem in Koeman not wanting to risk Mane, but if that's the case, don't put him on the bench. Tough the truth is doesn't matter anyway, because it's not as if Mane took a place on bench for someone who could influence the result of the match. All of those were already on the bench - Tadić, Long, Juanmi.
