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Ronnie Hotdog (MLsfc) said:
Not sure this is something unique to Saints fans - I have been at plenty of other games where fans moan about this - especially England!

The only time I really understand it is if you are chasing the game and it is late on - as then it can be worth the risk playing a pass that looks as though it may not quite be on.

In fact I find the whole "we lose at home because of fan negativity" to be a bit simple. Saints fans are no worse now than they were under Puel/Pelligrino/Hughes - yet we didn't see a major difference between home and away results then. I get it doesn't help matters - but I think the turn-around post-lockdown was more due to the time Ralph has to work on & perfect plans rather than lack of fans.
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Correct. It applies to many football fans. Saints fans in this instance as that who is who we are and who we are talking about :)

For years I have sat and listened to the groans and moans if a pass goes backwards.
 
SaintInKuwait said:
I hope that when fans are allowed back, ours have more understanding that the back pass is a choice and not an example of being negative. Too many people got on player’s backs for that last year.
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With no fans you don't get the nervous, tense atmosphere which comes with the passing around at the back. Players are more relaxed and more comfortable doing it. The elite players like Van Dijk, Laporte etc aren't really affected by the crowd as they're so good whereas players like Vestergaard rely on confidence to play well. I do think Vestergaard was affected badly by the nervous tension coming from the crowd.

It really annoyed me when people shouted at the players to lump it up the pitch and then shout at them for giving the ball away. I mean, what did they expect!
 
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tomw24 said:
With no fans you don't get the nervous, tense atmosphere which comes with the passing around at the back. Players are more relaxed and more comfortable doing it. The elite players like Van Dijk, Laporte etc aren't really affected by the crowd as they're so good whereas players like Vestergaard rely on confidence to play well. I do think Vestergaard was affected badly by the nervous tension coming from the crowd.

It really annoyed me when people shouted at the players to lump it up the pitch and then shout at them for giving the ball away. I mean, what did they expect!
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If you think the back-passes cause nervous tension, imagine what this year's transformation of McCarthy into a ball-playing sweeper would do if there were fans in the stadium! Actually he's dialled it back since the first few games, but I'd still say his average position is 5 metres or so further forward.
 
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Didn’t see it get discussed anywhere else but DoF Matt Crocker did an interview with Dan Sheldon. He hasn’t said much publicly since his official start in February but there’s a lot of interesting stuff on academy, recruitment and long term planning.

- Club has spent over a million pounds on upgrading youth and other training ground facilities since Feb.
- MC not chiefly working on player trading, more the overall strategy and long term planning.
- Focused on restoring path from academy to first team.
- B team is not considered to be on a route to joining football league.
- Loans for young players will be rare
- Scouting and overall decision making at the club has been overhauled
- Looking to have more full time scouts on staff
- Wants to eventually be three deep in all of the “six positions”

There’s lots more, including his background as the previous academy head and how Semmens approached him. It’s really good.

Exclusive: Southampton director of football Matt Crocker’s first interview
https://theathletic.com/2203450/202...crocker-interview/?source=user_shared_article
 
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