I get most the of the stuff was just negative because of the poor run we are on. I don't mind if you believe what I and others have said about what we have been told. What I was getting at is some people always brush of the bad news that is leaked by saying "but it isn't fact" etc. Like when DTLW and then me said Shaw etc etc were leaving. DTLW got a hell of alot of flack for reporting it on here. He got even more when reporting about Cortese. I guess what I am saying is people need to look at it from both view points. Things will never be 100% positive and things will never be 100% negative. It's why while I am mainly postive I also don't dismiss people I know I can trust info posts just because it is negative or paints the club in a bad light.
Well, I agree with you. I tend to be pretty even keeled as a supporter, and I'm skeptical by nature. I get kind of annoyed when things are going well and everyone brushes off anything that could be negative as well. I just tend to keep my mouth shut a little more because I mean, I really don't know the truth so why be Debbie Downer and speculate and bring everyone down when they are so happy? But then, when things go down it seems like many of the exact same people suddenly become super-negative. And forget totally how they felt and the things they were saying just a couple of months ago. It's the inconsistency that bugs me. Cortese is the perfect example. He went from a guy who everyone thought was this super-awesome, fantastic guy to this uber-villain. Now he goes back and forth. When things are going well for Saints he's the bad guy and when things are going bad he's the exiled hero. For me, I just feel like he's gone. We don't need to talk about him anymore. He's got nothing to do with anything that is happening now.
I heard Ron doesn't pay enough attention to the ground staff. Poch used to get them a big bag of Haribo star mix every week. Now under Ron they're not allowed to make direct eye contact. Solid performance today. Everyone had a good game. not sure if it's been mentioned, but the subtle tweak of moving Fonte into the center of the back three and VVD to the right makes such a difference. Fonte is the better organizer and has the experience to cover the other two defenders and VVD saw more of the ball compared to the palace game
If we really are to pay 5 at the back from now on I would like us to sign another cb or give Stephens a go there. Bertrand played brilliant there today but then for me he is better at bombing forward when needed. Still a great result and keeping Ighalo quiet was a bonus. But according to the media we only won because Watford were poor. So I blame Watford for us winning.
People have just blindly followed results and Koeman hysteria for a long long time though and even now go on about last season's final position and then a single win they are here with their 'see, now shut up' posts. Those who have been blinded by scorelines seem unable to admit that we have played pants in general since we beat Sunderland 8-0 last season bar the odd game (Newcastle, Villa, Arsenal, Chelsea.) We went on a long streak last season where we were getting points but scraping wins in dire games (Hull, Swansea, Leicester.) This isn't a sudden criticism of Koeman because of the current form. It is a concern that the poor play we have played for over a year bar a few games is continuing and can't be glossed over by 'we are creating lots of chances'. Allardyce's teams create lots of chances but are they playing well? Maybe I am more ambitious than all the fans who worry about this season's first team. WE NEED TO SPEND MONEY, STOKE AND PALACE ARE OUTSPENDING US. Do you think these 2 or any other clubs like them will ever be anything more than mid table clubs with this policy? I want us to challenge at the top in future years and there is no way in the world we will ever do that buying bargains and selling at top prices. We need several players to come through within a year or 2 of each other like Man U got lucky with. So does it matter if our academy has rubbish players now and we don't play them? Yes because we won't get the top youngsters coming here that might make it in the future. Sorry for not happy clapping because we won a game but I couldn't care less about whether we are 7th, 8th, 9th or 15th for any reason other than the difference in 'prize money' each place earns is significant for a club our size. I want to be 4th, 5th, 6th one day consistently, maybe even better and we will never do that unless we get lucky with the academy and have no chance of getting lucky with the academy if the youngsters aren't attracted here. So results are important but not singularly that everything else doesn't matter if we are doing well. We could be enjoying a couple of rosy years at the expense of our future years. I hope Koeman and the board are on the same paper, maybe they always have been. Coincidence though that just as there are mumblings and 'leaks' about Koeman not using or being involved with the academy players that he plays Reed and Targett twice in 3 games? Of course not, its just me and a conspiracy theory. Cortese's plan was superb until he forgot what it was. This board have re-implemented that plan. Cortese started to get carried away and forgot the sustainability bit and borrowing money with dodgy loans. So Cortese was a hero for what he started, what he achieved. He was a villain for the way he acted and for getting carried away with his ego. He can be both at the same time. Pochettino was a weasel with no plan B, He still is, Koeman has lots of plans as we have seen over the last few weeks. Which is the better manager? obviously the one who is winning the most at the moment. lol. Pochettino was undoubtedly more involved at all levels and put more hours into the youngsters. I don't thin he left because his 'sponsor' was booted out. He left because he was ambitious and we hate him for that because it belittles us. As for me. I will support any manager that manages Southampton as long as I don't see Saints becoming a Portsmouth (or Saints Mk1) and have no desire to see us spending loads of money so that we can stay where we are either. KL and the board are investing for a long term future, not necessarily with them as owners/chairman I know but for our future and that future is not about survival, it is about long term ambitions built on solid foundations, the same ambitions and solid foundations Cortese described in the early years of his tenure. If those who say 'I couldn't care less if we use academy players or not really believe that then far from having ambition you are willing to accept that we are what we are and will never be any better. Our ceiling is a possible 7th/8th position occasionally. If you want to hold up Leicester as an example. I suggested Ranieri was the best bet when Adkins was sacked and was sneered at!! I shall have some time cooling off now. I'm a Saints fan and will continue to support Koeman if indeed he shares the board's long term ambitions and policies.
You know when it goes over a paragraph and starts rambling, the argument is not going to be convincing. Everyone's entitled to a view but why can't people make a point without resorting to patronising happy flappy comments like they're the only ones intelligent enough to see the real picture?
And why can't people make a point without using silly phrases like Happy Flappy. That is patronizing in itself....
Mmm Debbie Downer? Maybe I'm being a happy clapper but I'm sensing a hugely positive feeling about her ISIRTP..... I know you're in the US, is it Dallas
So three at the back does work then? And Ron's substitutions aren't useless after all? Still Steven Davis doesn't contribute enough and can't finish. Bit like that Schneiderlin bloke then (have I gone too far now? Bollocks).
I have said before....large men should only wear a T-shirt as they take up far too much room. Bad fats.
I actually stopped wearing my sheepskin because of ssomething you said about big blokes in big coats. Wouldn't have done me any good last night anyway; I would have smelled like a wet sheep and weighed 2 stone more than I usually do with all the water I'd have soaked up.
Reading these posts (as I sometimes do) I don't think there is much difference in opinion on here...just a difference in how vociferously that opinion is voiced. No one is happy with our recent performances and most realise that Koeman isn't the second coming that we thought/hoped, but very few think that Ron should be sacked (has that always worked out for teams....see Swansea). We also all want Saints to do better and finish as high as they can (who knew ). The main difference is in patience....I don't think one poor season (and we could yet finish in a decent position) and a gap in Academy players coming through (made to look worse by the generation above being sold) means the end is nigh.
Just watching match choice on sky. Commentators says: "This formation is really working well for Southampton" Clueless bloke!
