Match Day Thread Norwich V Saints 2/1/2016 KO 15:00

Nearly £2m one year.

 

Forgiven then. Anyone knows that it takes 15 minutes to try and understand the bollocks that comes out of LVG's mouth.

 

£1.9m in his last season for us.

 

I nearly wrote £1m in bonus but I wasn't sure. That adds up then (nearly)

 

35k a week (ish)

 

"the departure of Poch is explained and hinted at by him recently and to some extent the departure of Cortese is also linked to the Board's mentality."
The above quote, from your post is something that troubles me.
Poch and the players that have left have all "hinted" at things, but none of them have actually put any meat on the bone.
It is easier to hint at being driven away from a club, by the "board's mentality", in order to keep the fans onside, than to say you are leaving for money.

If they have left, as a result of the board, for example, lacking ambition, why haven't they come out and said that? Why just hint at it?
Could it be that things weren't or aren't as bad as been hinted?

 

Yes.
Manager-" I want to sign a £30m striker and a top defender and keeper, plus I don't want to lose any of my squad- I want to play CL football next season!"

Board-"Well we share that ambition. However, we have a financial plan and think that might take 5 years. Also, you don't seem to want to sign this new contract. How can be sure it's sensible to spend serious money on who you suggest when you won't commit to us?"

Manager (checks phone) "Change of plan, guys. Just had an confirmation from Spurs offering me a big pay rise. I didn't want to go but sadly, you lack ambition."

Or, my head is already at Tottenham. Or I would love to finish my career at Saints- er, Liverpool. Whatever.

 

For what it's worth, I don't think we played too badly yesterday either (first half). I just think the season as a whole we have been negative rather than positive. Right back to Watford away and the 3-5-2. My post was overkill, but I think that you could definitely say that we play more solid, stable (boring) football this season than the last few.

My whole point in posting yesterday was trying to defend the club really, from people that were slating it. I did say that I like Koeman and wouldn't want him sacked. But I also think he has made numerous mistakes this season, and that other managers could get more from the same players.

 

I think it's time to change system for a while. 442 diamond or a 442. An play attacking football. Even if you don't have much of the ball, you can hurt teams on the counter with 2 up top. Long and Mane up top would be ideal in those systems. It's time to axe 4231. It's become too predictable imo

It's a shame Mane was dropped as he tore Norwich to shreds earlier in the season with a MOTM performance and two assists.

The big issue with the line up yesterday is the problem of where the goals where coming from. He had to start Seager or Ramirez if he was dropping Mane imo. The average goals per game of the 10 outfield players in the line up combined yesterday must be desperately low.

After Wanyama's mental car crash I think it's only fair that Reed gets a run in the side now..

 

There are very few times that I really feel that a Saints manager has made a real blunder. Most decisions are matters of opinion, otherwise a computer would pick the team. And boy, isn't hindsight just wonderful!? The last two major errors I can recall were Pochettino not picking a stronger team in the cup game and Nigel taking off our 3 best players against Man U at St Marys when we were comfortably in control, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Questioned about this afterwards, he said "I am paid to make those calls, when to make substitutions" or words to that effect. A simple "sorry I screwed up" would have been better received.

 

We actually had a massive thunder storm this morning and huge downpours throughout the morning!! Seriously - am not joking - has not rained liked that for over a year.

As you correctly say - we are entitled to our opinions - have a great 2016.

 

Thanks RS. My sister has lived in Dubai for eight years, so we visit quite often. We were last over in October and weather was lovely

 

Sadio needs to prove he deserves to get back in the team tbh. Only he can show if he can be arsed

 

If he genuinely is agitating then he needs to play a couple of reserve games. How long does he have left on contract?

 

I suppose we could try 4-4-2. Something like this:

Stekelenburg/Forster
Martina/Cedric, Fonte, van Dijk, Bertrand
JWP, Romeu/Reed, Clasie, Tadic
Long, Seager​

 

I like the look of that team, I would stick with Martina and give Seager a chance. Give Seager the chances and he will score and with JWP on the right and Tadic on the left with Shane running the channels I could see him getting them.

 

I think Paul Scholes coming on had quite a bit to do with that man u game turning against us. Take your point though.

 

A lesson in how to control a midfield with one touch football.

 

Yes, but as the BBC analysis put it

"Manchester United fans were left celebrating as if they had won the league. When Lambert went off in particular, the Manchester United centre backs found life more comfortable. Suddenly there was more space it seemed, with Scholes able to pick out his passes. But, what an extraordinary last half hour to the game for Robin van Persie."

Withdrawing Lambert for Guly, Punch for Mayuka and Lallana for Jayrod (before he lost his one goal tag) for the last 12 minutes didn't feel like an upgrade to me, particularly since we conced in the 82nd and 92nd minutes. I thought it risky from the stands and went home disconsolate.

 

He made a couple of odd substitutions. I remember Stoke away he brought on Richardson in midfield when we were 3-1 up. We drew.