Match Day Thread Southampton v Newcastle Arabia FC, 06/11/22, 2pm, Sky Sports

Pigeon on the bench at least

 

Lol.

Ralph roulette strikes again.

 

What does Mara have to do to get a start.

 

Atrocious waste of money if he’s not good enough to start ahead of Theo Ffs

 

Ralph is definitely ****housing there!

 

Not the team I was expecting...

 

Press more. Ralph said that this week.

 

Not inspired by that. I’d feel more assured with Lavia playing but he has been out a while.

 

Yeah not quite ready to start. TBF I get what Ralph's done. Keep it tight for an hour then bring on the impact subs.

 

The dressing room gets a boost with Theo in the lineup.

 

You literally couldnt make this **** up. Although Ralph seems to, every game.

 

Which seems to be his plan every game. And it only works if we don’t concede in that time. Which isn’t usually the case

 

People, Ralph obviously wants someone up there who will press and chase constantly. Mara isn't that player and Theo is. Let's see what happens before the Ralph bashing starts FFS.

 

Totally agree on both points. Mara is still learning our game, no doubt about it. He has talent and skill, but looks a bit lost off the ball still. Other than that, the team looks okay, and I’d rather not risk Romeo too early (plus AMN has been our best midfielder last couple of games).

It’s going to be tough, but let’s see. Theo has a point to prove. It may backfire, but who knows?

 

The f*cking press.

Do we still insist on doing that sh*t?

Why don’t we just play the players most likely to score a goal, instead of the ones most willing to run around like headless chickens?

 

You have a point, although when you say Mara is learning our game - im not exactly sure what that is, and that may be the issue,, that the players haven’t got a clue what we are actually meant to be doing, in is it a press, or more of a gentle move forward, what we do when we win the ball back in each phase, or just lump it up to Che.

It all seems a little lost right now, no identity.

Agree with Tom in that let’s not start bashing anyone now, but even a win only papers the cracks.

And to be fair, Ralph has given his all, and i strongly believe this is his last home game, so he deserves respect for his service.

 

Theo did score a hat trick the other day a B game I know so why not give him a go.

 

Theo scored two. It was Mara who scored the hat trick.

 

Which is exactly why I stopped going to games. “Fans” (and I use the term loosely) were having a go at Forster, Stephens, etc before a ****ing ball was kicked! Really pissed me right off!
Remember when Mane first arrived? He was rubbish until he settled - god forbid these “fans” had got on his back and wrecked his confidence …..
Let’s just get behind the team. I’ve followed them for over 50 years - seen good, bad, amazing, dreadful and everything in between. I’ve laughed, cheered, cried, raged and been amazed. I’ve never booed the players and would always back the manager - he works with the players so he knows and, despite all you wondrous keyboard professional football manager people, has a plan to, at best, try to beat the opposition. He doesn’t just let them run around with no idea if what they’re supposed to do ….. that’s sometimes down to the players ignoring what they’ve been told or being pulled out of position by good play.
I don’t expect to beat Newcastle unfortunately - if we had another £200 million to spend on players we may be able to match them. If the players put in a shift and play as well as they can, I won’t be too disappointed.
That’s my sixpenny worth. I will now retire below the parapet and let all you “Ralph out” get back to what you do best. I seem to remember a manager who got us to a cup final and a top 8 finish but who was booed by the “fans” as they wanted “more interesting football” - well, we’re getting “more interesting football” now - certainly seeing goals. Sadly not always the way we may want, but none of these “fans” thought of that ….
I’d take a 1-0 boring win these days - wouldn’t you?