1. Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!

Match Day Thread Leicester city v Southampton F.A cup semi finals Sunday 18th April 18:30pm B.T Sports

Discussion in 'Southampton' started by MorgansBitOnTheSchneid, Apr 12, 2021.

  1. RSS

    RSS Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2011
    Messages:
    9,651
    Likes Received:
    7,304
    We have played some of the best football and seen some of the best results we’ve had since the Koeman days during this period of weird COVID bubble football. We are weak mentally, we’ve shown that time and time again over many seasons, but that pre-dates COVID. Doesn’t explain why we have stopped with Ralph’s pressing style. Especially given it’s the only way this limited bunch of players can look good and get results.
     
    #581
  2. ElliotMP

    ElliotMP Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2013
    Messages:
    2,725
    Likes Received:
    1,768
    Think we're 2nd in the league when it comes to pressures per game, only behind Liverpool. Which is what makes me think it's that. If we had defended deeper as we did today all season we'd be comfortably mid table by now.
     
    #582
  3. Saintmagic

    Saintmagic Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2011
    Messages:
    18,860
    Likes Received:
    13,575
    We actually defended well today. Leicester only had the one shot on target, and it was very lucky the way it bounced back to him (admittedly he should’ve scored from the initial shot).

    But by playing this way, well you saw how **** we were going forward. We don’t have the talent in our team to be able to attack effectively without going “gung ho” which ultimately leaves us open at the back. It was obviously a decision today to remain solid and see how the match panned out, zero confidence, lack of talent and good opposition meant that once we went a goal down we were in big trouble
     
    #583
  4. Che’s Godlike Thighs

    Che’s Godlike Thighs Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2012
    Messages:
    12,397
    Likes Received:
    19,945
    When Man Utd beat us 3-2 at St. Mary's in November, it was clear they'd worked out that to beat us, you basically have to play us at our own game. And because they have much better players, they schooled us. We bumbled along for a bit after that picking up a few draws while confidence was still okay. But then the second big blow was when Arsenal did the same thing to us in the 3-1 loss at St. Mary's. Since then I think every team has worked us out fairly easily. We, ironically, just can't handle playing against a team that presses us (think of the Leeds and West Brom games). Add to that our thin squad and injury issues, and it's all very understandable why we've struggled.

    Ralph has no doubt tried myriad tactics and whatnot that are beyond my awareness to recognise, but none have really worked out. And now basically we are playing long-ball.
     
    #584
  5. One of yer Norvern Saints

    One of yer Norvern Saints Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2019
    Messages:
    428
    Likes Received:
    1,235
    I 'liked' this as my signal of agreement. The game was summed up in the final act. A free kick with the keeper up to create some havoc and the ball is played too long allowing Schmeichel to take under no pressure at all.

    So now what? That's the question. We've been beaten in key games before, and as a fan I've bounced back. Going to Maine Road the weekend after losing that Tranmere game was interesting, but faith was rewarded with a win. Losing the 1984 semi-final hurt like hell, but I was still there for the following league games and even though we ended frustrated by our inability to overhaul Liverpool we could still have hope for the future.

    Defeat in big games isn't novel, but this time it feels different and last night I tried to understand why. I didn't like the answer which is that the pain of disappointment was short-lived as ultimately I no longer care. Nor do I trust that the club will restore my interest. I don't blame Ralph for this or the players. Maybe it's the talk of Super Leagues, but, it now hits me that the team I support is a bit crap and I need to get over it!
     
    #585
  6. Ian Thumwood

    Ian Thumwood Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2011
    Messages:
    3,021
    Likes Received:
    2,887
    Disappointing to go out of the competition in such a lacklustre performance but I think we did well to get this far in the first place. It would have been frustrating to have reached the final and not been able to attend. The lack of fans would not have helped and I am sure that the limited number of spectators, many of whom would not have been partisan, contributed to the dreary football.

    Not convinced that Ralph should be taking any flak. We have been poor throughout 2021 and I am not sure how he is supposed to raise the performance of his team in the middle of a pandemic. My only concern is that Puel similarly took us to Wembley and was dismissed due to fans not liking the pragmatic style of football. It will be interesting to see what happens in the summer as there will be disgruntled fans calling for change. Not sure anyone can really be judged on the basis of this season. The results have generally defied logic and the season has had an artificial feel about it.
     
    #586
  7. tomw24

    tomw24 Well-Known Member
    Forum Moderator

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2011
    Messages:
    62,299
    Likes Received:
    30,848
    There's no doubt Puel was unfairly treated by the fans but there's also no doubt Ralph's style is more exciting than Puel's. When it works for us we are really good and play very exciting football. It just hasn't clicked for us 2nd half of the season for numerous reasons.
     
    #587
  8. Ian Thumwood

    Ian Thumwood Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2011
    Messages:
    3,021
    Likes Received:
    2,887
    The ironic thing is that Ralph's style of football is far more entertaining but fans can't get to the grounds to watch it !

    I am not sure that the collapse of this season is much to do with him. It must be difficult motivating a team in circumstances where training is moderated for Covid measures and where some players have been affected by the virus too.
     
    #588
  9. Brinkworth Saint

    Brinkworth Saint Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2012
    Messages:
    2,203
    Likes Received:
    2,633
    There are as said, many and differing reasons for what has actually created this debacle since the start of the year. Frankly it's amazing we've got to this point without the usual 'sack the manager' posts in their hundreds. No other manager before Ralph has had the deserved respect he has been shown for such a poor run of results.
    I think we'll find out before too long what some of the central and critical problems are and, regrettably, once again, I just get this feeling that at the ownership, director level and possibly management levels, there will be some hard discussion going on about the future. With the so called 'super league' proposition now grabbing everyone's attention, this discussion for SFC will be even more intense than otherwise would have been the case. So for my part, the season is effectively over and we just now need to be patient and see the outcome of what I think will be a pretty big sort out in which nothing will be or should be, left off the table. For now we still have another season in the PL which 72 clubs dream about most of the time.
     
    #589
    StJabbo1 likes this.
  10. StJabbo1

    StJabbo1 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2019
    Messages:
    8,239
    Likes Received:
    9,907
    Good point made in your last sentence, we are in an envied position, not in the the place our early season form lead us to believe we would be but more than likely to stay up and hopefully prosper in whatever form the premier league will take after "big six" super league announcement.
     
    #590
    Brinkworth Saint likes this.

  11. OddRiverOakWizards

    OddRiverOakWizards Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2011
    Messages:
    8,559
    Likes Received:
    2,678
    Last night was always going to be cagey. Hardly any shots on target. Same as the other semi-final. The difference was the quality and depth in the two squads.
     
    #591
  12. fran-MLs little camera

    fran-MLs little camera Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2011
    Messages:
    68,875
    Likes Received:
    24,070
    Those without hope cannot be disappointed.
     
    #592
    StJabbo1 and davecg69 like this.
  13. rednright

    rednright Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 30, 2011
    Messages:
    842
    Likes Received:
    385
    No shot on target in an FA Cup semi final!!! we may never get to another one.
     
    #593
  14. AshbySaint

    AshbySaint Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2011
    Messages:
    2,151
    Likes Received:
    972
    I have always felt that we are quite a small team in terms of stature and get muscled out of a game!!!! Would be interested to know what others think??
     
    #594
  15. AshbySaint

    AshbySaint Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2011
    Messages:
    2,151
    Likes Received:
    972
    Yes, but we aren't exactly the only team in that situation
     
    #595

Share This Page