Same for the most part, though I'll add a caveat for actually winning something. "Cup runs" don't really interest me at this point; we're a top ten Premier League team, reaching the quarters or semis of the League Cup should be a frequent occurrence (indeed, we've done it in three consecutive seasons). Get a Wembley appearance, or advance into a position where we have a shout to win the EL, and I'll change tune.
So what ace striker are we thinking about buying in January then, because all the ones we could and should of gone for in the summer are hardly going to be interested in joining us now.
See Adam Blackmores tweet at 17:47, Puel is blaming the 'poor' pitch for the first goal when it clearly hit forsters planted right foot causing the ball the jump over his swinging left foot
I'm not going to join in moaning about players...because we will do well in another game and they'll all be heroes again. We know we have a good team, but we are inconsistent. As soon as we let in two goals, I knew it was lost....because we aren't scoring. Is it that we need a new striker (yes, please) or are we not getting the balls to the strikers...or probably, a bit of both. Turn the page and move on to Thursday and hope we are on song then...because nothing can happen before January.
Absolute chalk and cheese from the Arsenal game. I think we missed Steve Davis today. He's been off it most of this season, but he was influential against Arsenal, and we really missed his energy and forward impoetus today.
Today's result and performance has disappointed me, greatly. Outplayed by Crystal Palace, that's not good, is that. That is a bad thing. But we won the possession. We won the possession.
An Apology. (With apologies to Private Eye) Not 606 Southampton Board would like to apologise. After the recent win against Everton, anyone reading our match thread might have gained the impression that the Saints team is comprised of skilful experienced pros, including a national team level keeper, aided by potentially brilliant scholars from the Academy, and managed by an international manager who has a proven track record in European competition. After the match today, we now realise that the team has an inadequate keeper, laughable defence and that if we don't spend £40m on a striker, preferably two, we have no right to expect a top half finish, particularly when our manager has such a naive and pathetic grasp of tactics. We apologise unreservedly if our previous posts gave the wrong impression.
I said in another thread, that the impact Europa league has on clubs our size is massive. I actually think we are doing well, and away performances against sides who are trying to turn their season round will always be hard-fought. Tactically, Puel got it right. He's ditched the diamond, added some width, but our midfield got outfought
No one is not going to join saints if we finish bottom half just one season. It's about overall club stature. Winning a cup, either EL or EFL would do more for our stature than another top 7 finish. At the end of the day it comes down to how much we can afford to pay in wages. What is the point in doing well in the league to get European football and not bother in Europe. League isn't important this year I'm afraid.
I haven't looked through the copious amount of posts, since before kick off, nor will I. Just my opinion, but even before the Forster foul up (sh*t happens and today it happened to him), we were looking like a team that thought it could win without putting in the effort required. This was more disappointing than the Hull defeat, because we at least controlled that game, before switching off. Today's result, for me, was largely due to Hojbjerg and JWP failing to get forward in support of Austin, gifting Palace the midfield area, directly in front of their back four, allowing Palace time to clear their lines, whilst under no pressure. There were also times, first half, when Boufal was holding the ball up, in the number 10 position, but had neither of the above helping him out, because they were too deep. I was surprised that Davis didn't start the second half. Roll on Thursday.
