Match Day Thread Queens Park Rangers vs Saints - Wednesday, November 5 - 19:45 KO

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/2...mitted Southampton's,that they are not trying.

 

Yeah, the actual quotes of his from the echo were:

"Not a single one of us goes out there and says "I'm not trying today". That's our job. This what we get paid to do. If we're not performing, we have to give 100 percent work rate"

"At the minute, we haven't been doing that. That's the kind of thing we have to drill into the squad. If we're not going to win games, we have to work hard for everyone"

 

"That's our job. This is what we get paid to do. We have to perform on the pitch. If we're not performing, we have to give 100 per cent work rate.

"At the minute, we haven't been doing that. That's the kind of thing we have to drill into the squad. If we're not going to win games, we have to work hard for everyone.

"Everyone has to see that we're running our balls off for everyone and for the fans. Things will start to change when we start doing that.

"That's the conversation we've had in there. We have to dig ourselves out of this hole. Keep working hard. Games come thick and fast.

"I'm p***** off. It ain't good to be in. I'm the one around the leaders. We have to get going again and bring it back on Wednesday night."

 

Thanks. Couldn’t see any of that on the official site. Maybe they didn’t like the way it reflected on them.

 

I think it reflects really badly on them! For me that's disgraceful. I know that possibly he may have meant it in a different way (we've gotta do better etc. etc.) but to actually admit they haven't been putting in maximum effort is unacceptable and the first job for the new Manager is to make sure that 100% effort is the absolute bare minimum. That's made me angry and it takes some to get me to that stage. Maybe if they're only giving 80% effort then we should only pay 80% of the ticket price!! (although my ST is paid in full so maybe a refund?!)

Rant over

 

I'm hoping Tonda sets us up completely different tonight.

Not necessarily because I think that will help, but because I think it will be interesting to see if even with a new manager, different tactics and a change in formation, whether we see the same **** we get every week.

 

Doubt it; it'll be the same 5 at the back formation I expect.

SR's favourite, chosen formation. I mean ... what?

 

Fair play, never thought about it that way but as Captain, he would be asked by other players to go to the manager or indeed above, he may not agree with the moans and groans fully but have to be diplomatic.

 

Think he makes a good point. The players aren’t going onto the pitch thinking “**** it I’m not going to try today” but if the game starts going against them then there is no fight in them, and a sense of “here we go again” and effort levels drop.

Whether that was a Still thing about not being able to get them playing for him or a personality issue (or more likely a combo of both) remains to be seen.

There certainly was a huge lack of effort in the Preston game and the fact that Still was sacked so soon after the game makes me think there would’ve been murmurings internally that “if we lose he’s gone” and the players didn’t bust a gut to save his job

 

I think a team often plays in the image of the manager and WS never struck me as being an inspirational rabble rouser. He talked about the players needing to be fearless and then sets the team up negatively even in the games at SMS.
I'm hoping to see a reaction tonight with a performance of commitment and energy from the players. I'm not absolving them of their share of the blame for the poor run of form but there is still time for them to make amends this season.

 

I agree with much of this, although I do wonder how many players would it take to make the team play badly, I'm guessing not many. Could be just 2 or 3 bad eggs, id love to see a scrap on the pitch from one of the more commited players and someone who doesn't care anymore.

On your point about the captain, I actually disagree. I just feel that we have recently executed it badly.

The club captain needs to be basically the longest serving player or player who has contributed the most. At the moment that would be Stephens, McCarthy, maybe Armstrong and of course Romeu when he arrives.

The match day captain then needs to be whoever is best suited out of the players that have been selected.

One of our many problems over the last few years is shoehorning the Captain into the squad which is a terrible way to select your players. Stephens could have been selected as the club captain and then last few seasons, we could have had Stephens, Adams, KWP, Armstrong, Lallana etc as the match day captain.

 

Just watched Tonda's interview. He's 100% killed before.

 

It's the eyes isn't it

 

The captain should be the one dictating play. Not the "centre forward" who seldom gets involved

 

I think if I was Tonda, I’d be tempted to say ‘sod it’ and start Oyekunle. Hoping for an unconvincing win, that will get us three much needed points, but not well enough to tempt SR into doing something daft.

 

Pretty much agree. The team captain has to lead by example AND lead by being gobby at the crucial moments
Haven’t had anyone like that for a while
Fonte? Not Prowsey!

 

If he was on The Traitors he’s getting banished at the first round table for sure,

 

Whilst I wouldn't say Ward-Prowse is the perfect captain, he is leagues above the pathetic options we have now. He wasn't the loudest by you don't get a better professional than him and you know full well he would be giving 100% if he were still here.

 

Ward Prowse was playing in that Ballers league some YouTubers have set up the other day so no chance we could get him