Match Day Thread S0uth4mpton v Chelsea Sunday 6th October 2pm

Maybe I am being naive, but that is good to know. It could be worse, if no-one was caring a little bit for the club.

 

Where to start.

Defence remains weak which i think is sucking the belief out of the team. We failed to address it all summer so no surprise there.

The midfield trio of PEH JWP and Romeu is utterly useless in an attacking sense.

The forwards just feed off what they can which isnt much when the only outlet is 1 player in redmond.

 

This keeps being alluded to, without any substance whatsoever. What is it that you know and how do you know it?

 

Been driving all afternoon.



Did we win?

 

We need Djenepo back ASAP.

 

It is a crying shame the club did not entrust Cortese. He had boldness, a visión, high demands. I think the club got scared of the heights they were beginning to reach and decided to calm things down. Definite relegation fight this season, which is disgraceful for a club with Southampton's experience in the PL. SFC are a similar sized club with a similar sized fan base as Leicester but in terms of on and off field actions, Leicester are light years ahead.

 

Gao may indeed be a shady and/or ****ty owner, but I guess I don't see how this is his problem.

We've spent money. The players we brought in just haven't been worth the cost for the most part. Most of those players and/or the people responsible for signing them predate Gao.

I don't know what is going on behind the scenes. It sounds concerning. So not defending Gao overall, just to me that's a separate issue.

 

Sounds like the whole get another owner in plan has all gone really well then

You’d think KL had the resources and business nouse to know what she was getting with Mr G, no?

 

Agree, it has been a wonderful weekend, lots of sunshine here in Mallorca. And lo and behold Real Mallorca won a game for a change. And Pompey won so it is not all doom and gloom over the Solent región.

 

Agreed, but doesn't that just sum up how shocking we are? We are relying on a 20(?) year old attacker whose only started ONE premier league game.

Sad, shocking state of affairs if that's the case.

 

Chelsea well superior by a long way tbh.

 

Thank god Everton are ****

 

Glad you came here to tell us that, we had no idea. This information wasn’t clear before, during, or after the match until you showed up. So thank you.

 

Any other pearls of wisdom? Perhaps you can drop in next week and tell us how Messi is quite a good player, or how the government are making a mess of brexit.

 

Maybe she needed the money quick - remember something about her being left a huge tax bill from Markus. Also remember reading that business was not her strongest area. I think she has made a terrible error of judgment but maybe it would be worse if Gao bought her out. Today's result & performance was bad enough but the Board shenanigans is what has really depressed me - particularly as it was obvious from the start that Gao was never going to be an good owner, (e.g. like the Leicester owners)

 

Fixed that for you mate.

 

Didn’t Beef say that Ralph was interested in the job until assurances about being backed were made? Hence at the time there was talk of Quique Sanchez Flores coming in.

I’m thinking that the assurances were made with the assumption we would be able to move on the players Ralph didn’t want and re invest that money. We couldn’t, therefore the transfer kitty was light and he couldn’t sign who he wanted, now if he does want out that could be the reason.

A lot of adding 2+2 but I think all of that is feasible

 

Outclassed in every area - including managerial tactics and substitutions. But overall its not half as bad as some are making out. Chelsea were an outstanding side playing with oodles of confidence. It's pretty much how many of us would like to see Saints playing. Despite all the errors our team made, we nearly went in 3-2 down which would have triggered an exciting second half but their 3rd goal was a morale killer.

Our back four was OK today but the team as a whole was very poor defensively. What frustrates me - this week and last - is how we build up from the back but never break into a higher gear (like the Chelsea forwards did today). Its pace that results in goals, not tip tippy football. Also, we are so predictable passing our wide and relying on crosses. I would like to see a few move cutting into the middle and some shooting practice from the D (or running into the box more).

That aside, I thought Ralph saw it just as we saw it in his post mach interview so my faith in him is untarnished.

 

Smart arsed taff. FRO!

 

Don’t think that’s fair. We are seriously struggling at moment & will probably continue. Defensively we are crap & offensively only a little better albeit away from home. Bedwetters are concerned, I’m concerned & I’m not one of them. Hopefully we’ve got enough to keep our noses above the water this season but somewhen soon, we need improvements.