Match Day Thread Southampton v Leicester City Saturday 17th October 2015 KO 3pm

Mane and Wanyama had both had long journeys, but when this was put as an excuse to Ron, he said that was too easy an excuse. He's right and I'm glad he doesn't whinge like some managers, but it could have had an effect when we were struggling. They were probably fit enough to play when the team was on song, but they lacked that extra puff when the game was 100% all the time.

 

Dear Pelle: we all know you don't get decisions, we all know you are Italian and it gets to you, but do get up straight away and not go in a huff. Lambert never got decisions either.

 

Firstly, Vardy and Mane are not the same player. Just because one player can do something, doesn't mean that another player can.

Secondly, Mane has been to and from Africa during the break. Vardy hasn't. Had Long been available to us, then I'd have been very surprised if Mane had still started. Even before he tired, he was playing far below his recent levels.

 

Where did Sadio play and what was the result?

 

I KNEW you were going to pick that up!! Hahaha, was just waiting for that!

 

It looks like they lost 1-0 away to Algeria on Tuesday night. Mane was subbed just before the end (during injury time), whilst Mahrez played through (for Algeria) through to the end.

But of course yesterday, Mahrez was only required to perform for 45 mins.

 

Uh oh! Careful Fran!

 

It is rare for us to allow an away team to have 26 attempts on the goal, perhaps that needs addressing.

 

Think you will find that i wasnt the only person to misspell the guys name on this page, a simple typo where two letters are wrong way round. From the little that i have seen i am not impressed. I was passing an opinion on a Saints footballer and i will continue to do so just like you and everybody else on this site, thankyou.

 

Mostly from distance, so our defence was doing something right. The high number was due to them shooting wildly. They had the same number of shots on target as we did...I will concede that was too many.

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/arti...n-southampton-2-2-leicester-city-2749626.aspx

Fonte on how disappointing the result was. Said they discussed before the game that Leicester have a reputation for coming back from losing positions. Called some of our balls stupid...quite right, Jose. Made we wonder how often we drop points from winning positions...can't remember us doing it often.

 

Fonte and Van Dyjk both made the Observers team of the week. Presumably not just because they both scored. Virgil may well turn out to be the buy of the summer.

 

Noted that you said you'd have to give him time. Understandable if the only time you've seen him is in his brief Saints appearances; he hasn't shone for us yet.

I've seen him for Netherlands and Feyernoord and he is an excellent player. This doesn't mean he'll crack it with us, but I'm confident that he will.

 

Thats good to hear thanks FLT, and i hope that you are right. Bring it on i say !

 

Yeah, I'm not going to make any observation on him (other than that he's very small) as yet. He was put into an impossible situation for a first game/return from injury scenario yesterday. That, as has been said by a lot of people, was the real glaring error for me (but then, we have no idea if Romeu would have made any difference either).

 

Suprised MOTD didn't show the Mane chance to make it 3-0, for me a big turning point in the game

 

I'm in no position to be able to comment on all the other CBs who played yesterday, but for me those two were head and shoulders our best two players yesterday. Leicester crossed in quite a few balls, and were also not afraid of going long at times, but by and large I thought our two guys dealt with it quite well. It's not their fault that the guys in front of them had absolutely no grip on the game in the second half, and let Leicester have the ball, and thus attack us, at will.

Obviously the fact that they both scored - with VVD in particular looking very dangerous at set pieces - just adds to what they contributed yesterday.

I still can't get over us not bringing Romeu on in the second half to plug that Morgan shaped hole, once Leicester had introduced Mahrez.

 

They also didn't show the sitter which Huth missed though. Swings and roundabouts.

 

What? I didn't mention Koeman once after the Chelsea game as far as I remember. I don't think he's a very good tactical manager, simply as that. His team selection often isn't too great either. He threw away two points yesterday. Anyone saying otherwise is in denial.

 

Despite the fact he got it spot on at Chelsea. Now, I'm not saying he should be free from criticism. He shouldn't - he got it badly wrong against Man United and wrong again yesterday by not bringing Romeu on. But that doesn't change the fact he's done a bloody great job at Saints.