I only watched on a stream last night, but I didn't think Martina did too badly defence-wise. Yes, he got forward a lot, but he was very quick to get back in position whenever we lost the ball. Him and Fonte had things fairly well sorted down our right, with Reed, Clasie, and JWP all helping out in turn. Can I also say that JWP had an excellent game. He was combative, incisive, and delivered his usual quality set-pieces. The pass through to Long which set up Hesketh's goal was exquisite. He may not have caught the eye like Hesketh did, but he is making it harder and harder for Claude to leave out.
I would like to add to the discussion re RK and the lack of using the youth. RK actually publicly stated that you cannot use youth if they are not good enough. This statement has been interpreted that RK did not feel any of the Academy players were good enough. Certainly from a layman's perspective it would appear that he didn't feel there was quality in the Academy as evidenced by his lack of using the youngsters during his tenure, other than those introduced previously. If you go back over the years this has been in total disregard of the "Southampton Way". Hence the big disagreement with the board going back to January. Going back over the years and I do mean a lot of years, I honestly cannot remember a season where Saints didn't bring someone through from the youth or at least start the ball rolling. Names like Terry Paine, Steve Williams, Alan Shearer, Matt Le Tiss, just to name a few, the list is a long one though. More recently you have Shaw, JWP, Targett and the list continues. However since the introduction of Targett 3 seasons ago I cannot think of anyone that has broken through in a big way. This has coincided with the introduction of RK. This to me is proof enough, that in truth RK is not such a good all round coach/manager as was thought.
The comments about RonKlot are in line with the strange attitude of a number of Saints supporters, every person that has done well for the Club and then leaves,instantly becomes a target of hate and disrespect, it shows a tendency to bad sportsmanship and not really Saintly behaviour at all. Of course several people have left under a cloud and for dubious reasons, but the best thing is to accept it, Have a good moan and express disappointment, let them go and move on, because no amount of whinging is going to change anything.
I don't think I've seen a more excited goal celebration than Jakes. He didn't know what to do, bless him.
Disagree - for me, the criticism's about Koeman's reluctance to use the academy were going on last season, when, you know, he was our manager. Many of us have said he was a good manager for us, gutted to see him go, but didn't exactly use "The Southampton Way" as he should have done. Think that's a fair criticism. Just my take on it.
Yep, for me its fair criticism. But, people do go OTT and try to rewrite history as well, just needs a little more balance both ways.
I've only ever been able to cast certain sites from Chrome after buying the Chromecast a few years back. The browser only popped the icon to cast up on sites like youtube and Facebook, whatever device I was using. Looks like that's changed so I'm glad I clocked your post.
I think the Koeman debate has been done to death tbh. Also Hesketh looked taller/more physical than I've seen him before, he held off cabaye easily for the ball through to Austin
Fair enough, but it is down to personal interpretation of what information we get, I naturally look to be fair on all aspects, some people only seek the bad side and their attitude is flawed by lack of understanding of the facts, and once they get a bee in their bonnet they don't appear to be able to change it, even when the facts prove otherwise. Just to be clear I am generalising about the subject, my gripe isn't aimed at Not 606 people but the feedback across the whole spectrum of Saints support and Social media.
Whatever the reasons, he played them, and they did come from the Academy, so they weren't actually ignored. But what you're really talking about is his attitude to the youth. In fact, you're talking about his management style. I understand it wasn't the ideal, and in that he wasn't a good manager. His attitude to the first team wasn't that fantastic either, apparently. But he got results. Now there's where I would take issue with him. Results over being a decent man manager.? As supporters, should we care that much.? Well, I for one, would like to think that SFC was a decent working environment, and if he made that unnecessarily worse that it could have been then that's poor management. Incidentally, It's amazing what another year makes to youth players size. I saw Josh Sims the other day and he was almost unrecognisable. Must have grown 12 inches in the last 18 months. He's shot past Harry Reed.
Targett? Only when Bertrand was injured. Reed? Only when he had no choice. Often played a CB there before Reed. James Ward-Prowse was already an established first team player when Koeman took over. Gazza wasn't an academy player. He didn't show an interest in the guys further down - he even went as far to say that the interest in Hesketh from United and the possibility of a new contract wasn't his business. Hardly screams interested does it? Publicly slamming them as a group wasn't a good move either. Fair enough, he seemed interested in his first season (around 7 made debuts under him), but last season, he just gave up on the youth it seemed.
Of course it's not going to change anything, nothing we say on here will, but there's nothing wrong with discussing it, particularly with hindsight. Jeeze, that's all Liverpool and Everton fans ever do, pore over history!
Boring when we win, nothing to pick holes in. Didn't go last night, because I couldn't really be arsed. I should have been there to witness the 3rd coming of Reed. I am not a good fan.
I don't get this at all. He played the players. What else did you want him to do.? I'm not defending him, I'm just highlighting the truth.
You really aren't engaging TSS. He had opportunities to bring in some of the youth players and chose to ignore them, stating that he thought they weren't good enough. This isn't about if Koeman was a good manager or did well for us, it is whether he showed enough interest or value in the youngsters.
