Match Day Thread Norwich V Saints 2/1/2016 KO 15:00

Time for a rant; RK was too late with the changes. As per usual we could not sustain a performance for 90 mins - Norwich had they taken there chances in the first half could have been comfortably ahead. We, as usual, missed our chances in the first half and looked under pressure in the second half. It was a time for changes before 60 mins and the goal; Victor had been warned by the ref and should have been pulled off and Mane brought on too - all too late by RK. We needed a step change and this only happened after the goal. Clasie missed a challenge that he should have made and we go a goal down - then we make changes. Then to top-out the tactical changes RK then brings on Gaston - how was that a game-changer? So tempted to swear at this point, but will refrain...

So shoot me down for expressing my opinion but RK cost us the game today. Goodnight all and feel free to criticise me for stating my opinion. I will read your vitriol in the morning.

 

I agree, I think it is an issue, but not one that should affect performances as much as this. For me, it's a Koeman problem, not a Southampton problem. All clubs bar United, City and Chelsea are selling clubs in this league, yet other teams manage to put together a few good performances.

The buck for our recent form stops with Ron for me. Not the board, not the transfer budget, not the sales policy. Ronald Koeman.

 

Wanyama has been poor bar a few games and very poor considering he isn't dropped for his form. Davis has been poor however unlike Wanyama Davis is shifted from position to position game to game similar to Guly used to be when people would 'diss' his bad form. Wanyama is playing the only position he ever plays week after week so does not have any excuse. Fonte isn't having the greatest of seasons but also not the worst (Championship season.) Long is Long and the expectation is lower. Wanyama is a 'star player' that is lauded as a player other teams want.

So yes Davis, Fonte and Long are playing badly too however Wanyama is supposed to be at a higher level and therefore the expectations of him are higher.

 

But teams don't sell their biggest talent every season. We sell our biggest players every year without fail. This attracts players that don't give a crap about the club and just want to be in the shop window. Yes every club is a selling club, but no one sells like us.

 

Few have sold 135m worth of players in 18 months though, with more to come. Partially, that owes to the fact that we've had rather good players, but sooner or later the net result is that players are only coming here to put in enough performances to catch someone else's eye.

 

I will shoot you down for one constant opinion, we get it! You don't like Gaston, but to have a dig at him for today is ridiculous.

 

That's a ton of excuses for everyone except Wanyama.

 

My hope is that Forster's return can at least turn some of those tight losses into dull draws. Before today we'd actually allowed fewer shots on target than Arsenal or Spurs. Stekelenburg is an okay keeper but not at Forster's level. If his return can stop us conceding some of those goals we may even be able to start picking up some wins.

 

I've been very critical of Davis and Fonte. And for some time now - over a year. But that doesn't me thinking that Wanyama has been very poor recently. Just like the result itself, his performance against Arsenal was one brilliant stand-out amongst a pile of rubbish in recent weeks. Whether it's attempting, but failing, to play Morgan-esque cross field passes, or being bullied off the ball, or quite simply just downing tools pretty much, he has been way below par.

 

But we have also spent millions and millions. Yes, we sell players, but we don't have a choice, as we are nowhere near the size of the big clubs. At the start of this season, no one was complaining that we hadn't spent. It's only now as a result of bad performances that people are having a go at the club.


Genuine question for those blaming the board; would we be playing this badly if pochettino was still here?

In my opinion, no, because he had his own style, philosophy and tactics to get the best out of the team. This to me prove's why Ron is more to blame than the club's transfer policy. It's time for him to step up and make the necessary changes.

 

I agree - I don`t think there`s much between us and the majority of teams in the league - the difference is in individual decisions - we miss our chance, they don`t, we make a defensive mistake, they don`t. And we can`t afford any primadonnas either, so don`t play them.

 

Like I said. Wanyama is supposed to be this top top player. His bar is much higher. A higher level is expected from him. If Long has a poor game it isn't really unexpected and so what, he is a backup player. If Fonte has a bad game thats a problem if it is consistently and if you read the forum people are starting to talk of him going downhill.

With Davis I am saying that yes he isn't having a great season however you are comparing Wanyama being poor in a very familiar position week in week out to Davis being poor when he plays a different position every week.

Not a ton of excuses but the simple fact is that the expectation for Wanyama (or any other star player) is going to be higher than it is for someone like Davis or Long and so evaluations of performances are basically down to what you expected in the first place.

 

Absolutely no doubt that Victor and Sadio need their asses kicking for today and they should shoulder most of the blame.
However, as soon as Victor had been sent off RK should have subbed off Tadic, who as usual disappeared in the second half, to sure up the defence to try and secure the point especially as Clasie was beginning to blow
Then for RK to bring on Gaston....an absolute joke. Why not pop Seagar on, a fox in the box and a goal scorer (ok at u21 level) but to continually give Gaston playing time is a waste.
RK's (& his whole management team's) body language on the bench wasn't good from the start and only got worse. Not sure how well he is dealing with the pressure of our decent into a relegation battle

 

Poch would have the same problem. Even if we had Pep in charge he would have the same problem. We are a team always having to replace instead of strengthen. We will never have a settled team. You keep going on about we aren't a big team so will have to sell. But how come Palace, Stoke etc etc seem to be able to strengthen their teams each season?



You can tell Koeman is pissed off with it.

 

Poch would have had the same problem correct. Koeman has no excuse though. He knew the score when he signed and posted the 'training pitch' photo. Was fine with it last season when he lost more players than this season.

 

I don't buy that at all. There's much more potential in this team than they are currently showing.

 

He hasn't a excuse but that doesn't stop him being annoyed with it.

 

I feel we owe Arsenal an apology. That game was not a reflection on how we are doing at all.

 

Poch might have had even more trouble, honestly. I think he's a top manager, but his style is predicated on effort and engagement, and we have an awful lot of players who don't appear interested in providing such.