Koeman poll

That's what I think will happen Fran. Well, the Ron turning it round bit. We'll still be tearing lumps out of each other on here I expect.

 

Same here.
I enjoy the discussions though (glutton for punishment)

 

Yeah, I don't get offended by any of it. Life's far too short to let a difference of opinion on the interweb ruin your day.

 

In truth guys we are all gutted with our last few games (with the exception of maybe the Arsenal game) I don't think there is one of us who wouldn't agree that something isn't right.
RK is a good and experienced manager although granted not a great deal of experience in the Premier. Some of the players we bought in the Summer are not playing to their full potential as I have mentioned before. We were lucky after the 2014 departures that the new buys hit the ground running. We were not so lucky with the 2015 lot. Add to that the loss of our main strikers and the bad dip in form of a few others does not make for a happy team.
So conclusion is give RK a break lets take some pressure off him by showing our support for him against Watford. The club seem to have so why don't we?

 

I voted to keep Koeman and a few weeks ago I suggested we offer him a new contract. I am concerned about the results but not about the performances, we have generally been playing well and creating chances.

Forster coming back will give the defence some renewed confidence. I think in turn this will spread to the more attacking players. If we can sign a new striker, that should improve the goals conversion rate.

I would like to see us stick with Koeman, I really don't see anyone better that would not just join us but potentially stay with us long-term, if given half a chance, I believe Koeman could be that manager we have all wished for. Remember how the Man Utd fans felt near the beginning of Fergies reign?

 

No unfortunately I don't have time. But its all well and good performing at U21 level. Target has never performed even close to Bertrand when I have seen him play. He may well develop further but atm I feel he is ok as backup only.

 

Erm excuse me! I formed this opinion some time ago, before koeman came out and said it. If you read the "why dont the youth get a chance" thread you will see I suggested the possibility that they may not be ready/good enough.
If Ron feels this then I'm inclined to believe him over the board (who have a vested interest in playing academy players) and some bloke on the forum who has the time to watch u21 games.

 

I think sacking him is too strong a term, I would just offer him the opportunity to go elsewhere, where the Board gives him the support and tools to do the job that he is well capable of.

 

Tinners,I don't agree with much you say but this post is beyond reason,what are you thinking man?

 

The support for RK and the team IS good at games. Frustrated a bit lately yes, but good support none the less. On these websites people get a bit opinionated and argue when things are not going well, but at the end of the day they all support the Saints and it wud b odd if everybody was posting ' good old Ronald' messages right now !

 

If I can venture an opinion which is wholly my own, I would guess that most of the 86 members (so far) who have voted to keep Koeman are not completely uncritical of him. I would hope that if he is having talks with Les Reed about his future over the next couple of weeks the areas of discussion would include, in no particular order of importance:

Finding a way to stop the silly errors which are causing us to leak goals and points. I understand that a lot of this is down to confidence, which some of the other points should address.

Giving the team captain and senior players a short course in on-field leadership. A team can have more than one leader on the pitch, it isn't just the responsibility of the captain. The important thing is that the same message comes from them all. Get the team playing for each other again!

Finding a striker who can score goals against Premier League defences. We know we already have at least 4 of these in Pellè, Mané, Long, and Rodriguez when he returns. It may not be necessary to buy a new player but the option is there for the next few weeks. Creating chances hasn't been the problem in this latest lean spell, it is finishing which has let us down, and has proven as costly as our leaky defence. Ronald and Les have to address this urgently.

Finding a way in which the cream of the Academy have a clear pathway towards the first team. I don't mean automatic selection, but training with the first team at least, and individual bullet points of where they need to improve to be considered for selection. If it is true that Koeman has lost interest in the Academy as a source of first team players this may be the biggest area of concern of all. I agree with Tintin that Harry Reed deserves another chance (although I disagree that Clasie is a waste of money).

If the above problems can be addressed, and quickly, then I see no reason why we can't get back to the successes of last season, and improve on them. If Ronald is to sign a new contract then these problems have to ironed out first.

 

Consistent team selection and tactics could be one way.

Switching formation, plus chucking Yoshida in every now and again seems stupid to me. I have criticised Yoshida a lot, since he signed, but even I will admit that with a run of games he is an okay back up CB. He is getting a lot of stick for yesterday, but it's hardly fair on him to rotate him in and out. Hardly surprising his passing is a bit wayward...

 

Targett played well when he was given a run in the first team. Reed is also good enough. We have plenty of young players that I believe can step up. What people have to remember is most of our u21s are 18/19 so have plenty of time. We only have 4 players that will be too old for the team soon. In our u18 squad most are 16 and under. It's why most other teams youth teams always look bigger etc

 

Keep him of course ! In all these games in our `slump` the outcome could have been different if defensive errors hadn`t been made, and some chances been taken. These things will even themselves up over the season. I don`t remember us getting a doing over 90 minutes by anyone - I do remember numerous games when we`ve been on top, more possession, more chances, yet ending up not winning.

 

I thought that as well. He's not going to get in the team ahead of Bertrand though is he?

 

I think whatever happens. Next season we need a clear out.

 

Nope he is back up and good enough to be back up. You don't want two players to be on the same level. Look at what happened to Clyne and Chambers.

 

I thought that having Chamber's breathing down Clyne's neck was excellent for both of them. Didn't turn out so well for us in the end, but unless we want all our players to be a bit crap so no one buys them, then that's the sort of competition for places we need.

 

But we want the academy players to surpass the first team if possible. And what is Chambers' best position? It looks like defensive midfield at the moment and he hasn't looked too bad at centre back either. We only ever played him at right back. We could have had them both in the side together.

 

We aren't a big enough club to have a squad like that in every position though.