Match Day Thread FA CUP. Southampton vs Walsall, Sat, 6 Jan 15:00

“I still remember the first time I laid eyes on Sekou Mara. Looked like a stiff breeze could knock him over”.

 

And Swansea's new manager was RM's assistant at MK Dons and Swansea. It's practically inevitable.

 

Didn’t know Martin had been Walsall manager as well…though apparently unsuccessfully (according to man himself)

 

Let’s hope they don’t either (Ipswich)

 

Discussion point. I feel that team we had in double promotion period had more outstanding players than we presently have. What does everyone else think ? Bear in mind that PL teams were circling our players pretty soon.

 

I think they appeared more outstanding as we grew with them. Most had been with us 2-3 seasons and developed from League 1 players into Premier League and in some cases international players.

 

It's a good question. I'd say that Morgan Lallana and Rickie had more star quality for this league than any of our current bunch bar probably KWP but I don't think we had anywhere near the depth back then that we do now.

 

See I kinda hope they do. As I said before I think it'd be good for the league as the parachute payments have created a bit of a gap in this league and them achieving back to back promotions would show that it's not a glass ceiling that can't be breached.

 

Agreed. Also I think the gap between the Prem and championship was smaller then so made that growth easier.

Back then most of squad were either pretty much PL quality or nowhere near good enough whereas now we have a considerable amount of players who are arguably too good for the championship but not good enough for the Prem (eg old Stuey).

 

Think he was still playing while there rather than managing.

 

Difficult to compare back to backs with rejuvenating serial losers possible/probable promotion. I'm enjoying this season as much as any in the 65+ years since my first visit to the Dell.

 

Agreed. I don’t see many players of the quality of Schneiderlin, Lambert, Fonte or Lallana in the current squad. And JWP was in it too, of course.

 

But potentially some really good ones coming through.

 

Don't recall JWP playing in the league much that season if at all. That was the year of his goal at Coventry in the FA Cup iirc.

 

And the forgotten heroes were bloody good too; Jack Cork, David Connolly, Billy Sharp, Dean Hammond.

 

Dean Hammond v Leeds. Sigh. Memories.

 

A quick Google tells me Luke Shaw was in that squad too. Don’t think he played at all. But we were definitely benefiting from the academy production line back then, adding to the quality we already had. Shame we couldn’t have had AOC for another season.

 

Favourite match from that season (apart from Coventry), possession football at its best...

 

I'm glad the season 2011-12 was mentioned in the title given the state of that video quality. Those with bad eyes like me could have mistaken it for the 70s or 80s

 

Mine would have to be both Leeds games. A 3-1 battering on the opening day and then SKD's heroics later in the season.