Match Day Thread Southampton v Sunderland Saturday 5 March 15:00

I am glad some people say they enjoyed the game. Personally, I am not sure how. However, I am horrified some people are saying it is Sunderland's fault the game was so dire. It is Southampton's issue that we play so slowly, with so little flair. We had most of the ball but often there were no ideas at all. How does a defender get man of the match when you dominate the game? Only when the rest of the team are total dross.

How many games have we played anything close to exciting football in over the season? Maybe 5. Not good enough.

 

You are of course right that no one should get preferential treatment but as FLT is a regular poster everyone can see that he has strong, positive opinions and although can engage head to head with a strong difference of opinion he is always respectful and doesn't ever resort to the sort of accusations that you felt you had to. A few months ago I felt at times that he used to jump all over my opinions a bit but when engaging over those opinions I realised that he was only concerned about his passionate point of view and I look forward to his viewpoint at times when I'm feeling a bit negative. It's never too late for the metaphorical handshake and move on (with perhaps an apology for the misplaced name calling). This forum is enriched by all (respectful) opinions and I hope you both don't withdraw.

PS. You really should post when things are going well - it's good for the soul!

 

I hear where you're coming from.

At home I think I can only remember the first half against Bournemouth where we played with real purpose and pace with the ball and that was just one half.

We do try and play good football. The goal yesterday was a great move for instance, but it's the execution which is the downfall.

For me there are three main factors preventing us from executing the football we want to see.

Confidence, ability and tactics.

Some players are currently shy on the former which is probably effecting their decision making at crucial moments and a few let themselves down with poor touches and passing all too often.

We dominated when we changed Juanmi for Davis because we then had four offensively minded players. Manè then suddenly had a lot more of the ball and space and started to look like a threat.
The conundrum for Ron has been when we start with four attacking players like we did at the start of the season we've leaked goals.

 

The most puzzling thing is the fact that we are so awful, if everyone is to be believed, yet we sit in 8th position in the Premier League, so what does that tell you about the teams below us? Funny Old Game!

 

Yes, and we've generally got better results when we've played more negative football. However, Ron came here talking about how he liked football to be played - and he's abandoned that all too often.

Just to be clear, I am not criticising our achievement this season. We've done well enough. What I am criticising is turgid football which, if we saw it from WBA or Sunderland, we would bemoan as typical of their managers. At times this season, individuals have shone and hidden the flaws of the collective going forward. Defensively, we are a well-grilled unit and I admire that, but there is no excuse for such weak attacking play.

 

I don't think you've actually read the complaints. Easy to skim over and see "awful" but the complain is dull - not bad.

 

Pretty much agree with all of this Beddy except the word decent in the last line,I spend more than I've got both time and money (and loads of us do) to watch them be half arsed some days.I wish I could spend ten minutes explaining decent money to the poor little lambs.

 

First game of the season for me (I've had some cash priority issues), and it nearly disappointed. The first half was crap, I think we only had one shot on goal, but at least Sunderland were just as bad. The support in the Itchen corner was loud but the row behind me kept trying to get peado chants going. Second half I was very impressed at the determination shown, albeit after we were a goal and a man down. Best thing was after we scored, I turned round to see the peado chanters had already left. Motm: VVD (even if he hadn't scored).

 

Martina's touch let us down a few times. There was others too I think.

 

Yes, not as if he has been a regular starter though, takes time to bed in, in fact before Fonte got his red, Cuckoo and Sadio were beginning to look like a useful partnership down the right side in the 2nd half.

 

Gary Lineker described us as solid....there have been times in our history when I would have loved to be solid....used to dream of being WBA or Stoke....but we've had exciting times and we now like being admired for good play. We started losing games early in the season and Ron corrected that by concentrating on our defence which made us less exciting but got us a run of wins (which remember we desperately needed), but that also means you can end up losing if the opposition score. We have an exciting group of front players, but they are not taking their rare chances....thank God for Long. We need to get him back soon.

 

When I mentioned "awful" I was generalising the opinions on various web sites, not this one in particular!

 

Martina often looks slow and ponderous, but maybe that's because he hasn't had enough game time. Perhaps given a regular start he might up his game, but he'd need to; it's easy to imagine him getting skinned alive by someone like Willian for example.

 

After the last game I asked who was backup scapegoat when Yoshida can't be blamed. Actually he is first choice and reserve scapegoat. Doesn't seem to matter how long he is on the pitch, he is the reason we do badly.

 

He's great in the air, he's quick and athletic, he has a great shot and he knows how to score. Could VVD be our knew centre forward?

Chris Sutton anyone (or even Gareth Bale as a defender turned forward).

 

He's arguably the reason VVD had the confidence to spend the last 5 mins in Sunderlands half, and was therefore instrumental in us getting a point.

 

Sigurdsson would be great. A dynamic midfielder who can regularly weigh in with goals is much needed.

 

By the way, I thought that JWP was a bit of a game changer after he came on. I know he wasn't on for long but he was excellent.

 

He's no Claus Lundekvam, that's for sure.

 

A few weeks ago VVD's desire to get forward was discussed on TV (MOTD??) and it was suggested he could play defensive midfield....the other pundit then said (with a smile) that he wasn't defensive minded enough to be a DM. Virgil has delusions of glory....and we should be grateful for that yesterday.