I can't help thinking that an awful lot is riding on the result today. A win in his first home PL match against a notional South Coast rival and I can see a bright future for us and Mr Jones. There is absolutely no scientific or mathematical basis for this but the game feels crucial. 3-2 Saints.
Comments from Che on the difference between NJ and Ralph. CHE ADAMS has vowed to score the goals to keep Southampton in the Premier League now Ralph Hasenhuttl’s “negative” football has gone. Striker Adams has already netted three times in two matches under new boss Nathan Jones (below), having only notched three times in the league this term under the sacked Austrian. When asked if Jones’ style will lead to more personal success, the former Birmingham frontman said: “I hope so. He is making everyone put the ball into the box and getting more bodies forward so that will cause more problems for our opponents. “He just wants to put teams on the back foot, get more crosses in the box, everyone pushing forward and playing attacking passes. “That is what had been missing before, we were too negative playing back to the goalie and building too slow. Now we are putting balls in behind and putting them under pressure. “I am looking forward to it. I have three goals in two games under the new manager. But the most important thing is to win.” Saints are second from bottom, have one win in their last 10 league matches and scored only 13 goals before the World Cup hiatus to fuel huge relegation worries ahead of today’s clash with Brighton. Hasenhuttl’s last four months were plagued by rumours of player disquiet. But according to Adams, Jones’ approach has already won over the dressing room. “It is always different when a new manager comes in because he always has his own people and own ideas,” said Adams. “The hardest thing is to get the lads on board and I think he has got that. “Everyone is pushing in the right direction and looking forward to the second half of the season but we all know we need wins.” Adams, along with the rest of his Saints team-mates, have been served notice that poor performances will see them dropped in the new era at St Mary’s. Jones said: “No one is a categorical starter, there is competition right through the squad. “If my centre forwards don’t score we have others we can bring in. If my full-backs or centre-halves don’t defend well enough then we have others.”
Anyone who doesn’t have Amazon Prime, it’s also being screened on Saintsplayer (EPL: 05) who are grabbing it from the following broadcasters: Optus Sport 3 Now HK 3 Sky Sport 3 (New Zealand 3) Supersport La Liga Peacock 2 Should be some streams around if you don’t have Amazon or SP.
Turns out the Che/Ralph rift was true after all. Who'd have thought it. Expect those who gave @Dark Lord SFC absolutely pelters for suggesting this will front up n apologise any minute now
On a more serious note though those comments do nothing to alleviate my concerns regarding style of play. Quite the opposite in fact.
