Did keeping Southampton up mask Hughes' indifferent record? Mark Hughes ensured Southampton stayed in the Premier League last season, but his record since taking charge at St Mary's makes for grim reading. Since his appointment in March, the Saints have lost nine of their 16 Premier League games - only Newcastle have been beaten more times (10). In fact, Southampton are second bottom of the table if you look at all the results since he took over - his side have taken just 13 points from his 16 games at the helm - only Huddersfield have claimed fewer points (9).
We're occupying some weeeeeeird places on these graphs. https://experimental361.com/2018/10/08/scatter-graphics-premier-league-8-oct-2018/
Here's 2017/18: https://experimental361.com/2018/05/13/scatter-graphics-premier-league-2017-18/ And 2016/17: https://experimental361.com/2017/05/21/scatter-graphics-premier-league-201617/ No team has been as consistently pathetic in front of goal. No team has even been close, actually.
It is very strange. Normally you'd expect it all to settle down after 10 or so games of hot/cold streakyness. I genuinely still think that we have been unlucky for a long time and we're actually a mid table ok-ish team, even through when things got bad last year. Which might be a bit like your dog picture thing.
I just want to see Pierre, JWP and Gabbi have a run together in the team just to satisfy my own curiosity. It hasn't happened since Puel left and I highly suspect that it is not going to happen while Sparky is the Manager.
I don't think we're particularly unlucky. Note that our xG doesn't really track with the sheer number of shots we take: we're 3rd in the league in shots attempted per game, 12th in shots on target. Because we're so slow in possession, we end up taking a tonne of rather speculative efforts without doing the work to create space, and it's been a consistent feature of our play for over two years now. Combine that with a team that is not exactly full of natural finishers, and you'll be rather wasteful. We need to play differently if we have any aspirations of getting different results. Try to win back possession in areas where we can generate quicker attacks, rather than retreating deep and then building languid attacking moves that end up facing packed defenses.
Have you heard some ITK, SF4L or are you just speculating? I suspect that you are right in your assertion. Also, the club should've listened to offers for him in the Summer if true.
Everyone remember that supporters panel that was set up in the Summer? First meetings minutes here for those interested: https://southamptonfc.com/supporter-services/saints-voice/meeting-minutes
It’s true. I mentioned it in the summer. I know someone who spoke to JWP and he wanted out in the summer.
I think the camp was fairly split on Hughes. Seriously if we don’t get minimum of 6 PtS in the remainder of Oct I’d be surprised if he stays.
