Topic: Southampton FC general discussion thread

[Garstonite]

He has reportedly fallen out with Pocchetino over his role requirements. To be fair, Ramirez's languid style was never going to dovetail with Pocchetino's philosophy of his forwards and midfield aggressively pressing the life out of the opponents. Either Ramirez has to wait it out until Pocchetino maybe moves onto a bigger club than Southampton or he needs a may to a Serie A or La Liga club to get playing time.

Or he can pull his finger out his arse?

[IndianRed]

Or he can pull his finger out his arse?

Haha, or that

But seriously, it looks like its end of the road for Gaston at Southampton. He's even had his agent mouth off to the press about Pocchetino.

[Beninger]

Another team throwing a wrench into the top end of the table.  They've done well so far, I wonder if their squad can keep it up?  I don't like playing them much...

[Number 7]

They don't seem to be going away do they? There is always a feel good story for a team to start the season. West Brom last year, but then faded away.

Southampton are stronger though, than last years West Brom team, and with a good manger. I'm intrigued to see how long they stick around in the top 6, and if they leave at all.

[PhaseOfPlay]

They don't seem to be going away do they? There is always a feel good story for a team to start the season. West Brom last year, but then faded away.

Southampton are stronger though, than last years West Brom team, and with a good a manger. I'm intrigued to see how long they stick around in the top 6, and if they leave at all.

After Christmas, or during the Christmas rush of games. They'll do well to maintain their pace that long. With a bigger squad they might have a chance, but their style of play takes a physical toll, especially without goalscorers.

[Historical Fool]

After Christmas, or during the Christmas rush of games. They'll do well to maintain their pace that long. With a bigger squad they might have a chance, but their style of play takes a physical toll, especially without goalscorers.

Wouldn't be so sure about that. Having a good manger is a great asset around Christmas time, a new wonderkid may be born.

[Ken-Obi]

Wouldn't be so sure about that. Having a good manger is a great asset around Christmas time, a new wonderkid may be born.

Not sure if deliberate...

[HeartAndSoul]

Lovren has been a cracking signing for them and their team has a few talents who looks like future England regulars in clyne Ward prowse and Shaw. Also got a nice base in midfield in wanyama and schneiderlin(sp). Lallana at 25 seems one of the older heads along with Lambert. If they can keep that team and strenghten they'll have a really nice starting 11. Also need to keep hold of their manager who's done a terrific job there.

[Historical Fool]

Southampton are stronger though, than last years West Brom team, and with a good manger. I'm intrigued to see how long they stick around in the top 6, and if they leave at all.

[DeLeiva]

Could do us a massive favor against the Arsenal.

I think they've got the players and style of play that can hurt the more fancied London team.

[Red_Isle_Chap]

Could do us a massive favor against the Arsenal.

I think they've got the players and style of play that can hurt the more fancied London team.

If they press them as well as they pressed us then they can very much hurt them I think.

[Number 7]

Could do us a massive favor against the Arsenal.

I think they've got the players and style of play that can hurt the more fancied London team.

The longer they stick around the better it actually is for us, because they'll take points off the other top teams.

They play Arsenal, Chelsea, City, Spurs, and Everton - all before the new year.

[G1 Jockey 4(betfair)]

After Christmas, or during the Christmas rush of games. They'll do well to maintain their pace that long. With a bigger squad they might have a chance, but their style of play takes a physical toll, especially without goalscorers.

compare the size of their squad to espanyols when he was there....they used to fade a little around march time.

think they may hang on longer as imo their squad is much better.

he had to continually sell their best players too when in spain.

[Austin Powers]

compare the size of their squad to espanyols when he was there....they used to fade a little around march time.

think they may hang on longer as imo their squad is much better.

he had to continually sell their best players too when in spain.

Spain have a winter break though

[Mr_Shane]

I am not sure whether Southampton can keep their side together though. In fact,  I would not be surprised if Rodgers plans to raid Southampton either in January or in the summer

[IndianRed]

I am not sure whether Southampton can keep their side together though. In fact,  I would not be surprised if Rodgers plans to raid Southampton either in January or in the summer

Why wouldn't they be able to keep their team together? People forget that Southampton are now owned by the Liebherr family, who are insanely loaded. They will not crumble and relent if a bigger club come calling for their players. Their worry would be trying to ensure that Pocchetino doesn't jump ship if a bigger club come in for him.

[Mr_Shane]

Lure of CL football.

[G1 Jockey 4(betfair)]

Spain have a winter break though

2 weeks...

[IndianRed]

Lure of CL football.

Didn't stop us from holding onto Suarez or Newcastle holding onto Cabaye.

[PhaseOfPlay]

2 weeks...

Which makes a difference. Compared with the Premier League, which intensifies the games per week ratio almost.

[jackh]

After Christmas, or during the Christmas rush of games. They'll do well to maintain their pace that long. With a bigger squad they might have a chance, but their style of play takes a physical toll, especially without goalscorers.

Is the consensus that they've got the cash to go out and improve the squad again in January?  They've started so well that anything but complete self-destruction has them roughly where they wanted to be or a lot better going into New Year (based on pre-season expectations)...it'll be interesting to see what they do.

[PhaseOfPlay]

Is the consensus that they've got the cash to go out and improve the squad again in January?  They've started so well that anything but complete self-destruction has them roughly where they wanted to be or a lot better going into New Year (based on pre-season expectations)...it'll be interesting to see what they do.

If they have the cash, they'll have to spend it. They play a very physically demanding game, and without numbers, they might get caught out in terms of exhaustion in the latter stages of the season. If they DO get the players in, though, then what a season they could have!

[xbugawugax]

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/tacticsandanalysis/id/2193?cc=4716

An interesting article. Where do we stand in this?

Do we suffer from not playing the youngsters because we are a big club where instant result matter? and the expectations of winning is a burden on the club?

If they have the cash, they'll have to spend it. They play a very physically demanding game, and without numbers, they might get caught out in terms of exhaustion in the latter stages of the season. If they DO get the players in, though, then what a season they could have!

I voted them to finish top 8 but that's just my pessimistic side. IF they keep their form up then they really have a crack at the CL spots.  And that's a big IF but fantastic achievement if it were to happen.  They look really good at the moment and the main consensus is that they burn out due to their demanding game.  If they were to buy any players, what positions do you think they will strengthen?

[ElstonGunn]

Teams are scoring goals from shots on target against them at an unsustainably low rate (I'm sorry but Boruc did not go from average to the greatest shot stopper in PL history over the offseason), they've arguably  had the easiest schedule in the PL so far, they play the most physically demanding style in the league, and don't have much depth. Pocchetino has done an amazing job, but he's not a miracle worker. They have zero shot at the CL, and a very small shot at the EL.

[Mr_Shane]

They do look good, but of they do get CL, that means three of Man City, Arsenal, Man Utd, Spurs, Everton, Chelsea and Ourselves will miss out.

"Didn't stop us from holding onto Suarez or Newcastle holding onto Cabaye."

It all depends on the players they may all stay, some might want to leave, for various reasons, but I doubt think clubs in the CL will not be interested.

"Hee I boobooed. that should be 4 of those teams. It will be three if Everton are of little consequence. How embaressing

[Something Awful]

They do look good, but of they do get CL, that means three of Man City, Arsenal, Man Utd, Spurs, Everton, Chelsea and Ourselves will miss out.

"Didn't stop us from holding onto Suarez or Newcastle holding onto Cabaye."

It all depends on the players they may all stay, some might want to leave, for various reasons, but I doubt think clubs in the CL will not be interested.

"Everton"

[Drinks Sangria]

Teams are scoring goals from shots on target against them at an unsustainably low rate (I'm sorry but Boruc did not go from average to the greatest shot stopper in PL history over the offseason), they've arguably  had the easiest schedule in the PL so far, they play the most physically demanding style in the league, and don't have much depth. Pocchetino has done an amazing job, but he's not a miracle worker. They have zero shot at the CL, and a very small shot at the EL.

How I feel. They're two injuries away from falling away.

[DeLeiva]

they've arguably  had the easiest schedule in the PL so far

I'd agree with that after looking at their fixtures.

They're next 6 matches are:

Arsenal AWAY, Chelsea AWAY, Villa HOME, City HOME, Newcastle AWAY and then Spuds HOME.

[Pinky_Bieber]

I'd agree with that after looking at their fixtures.

They're next 6 matches are:

Arsenal AWAY, Chelsea AWAY, Villa HOME, City HOME, Newcastle AWAY and then Spuds HOME.

i hope they draw them all

[beardsley4ever]

They beat us at Anfield, so talk of how easy their schedule is seems a bit odd.  They are clearly a quality side, and fair play to them.  They are this year's Swansea / Newcastle / etc - every year, someone surprises with a side that just clicks.  Good to see.

Now give us Lallana.

[B0151?]

I don't know. They have a great manager and some cracking young players and money to spend. A CL challenge is out of reach but they'll be taking points off big teams and if they maintain the start they've had - beating most of the teams they should beat - it's clear they're going to get a decent amount of points.

[IndianRed]

They beat us at Anfield, so talk of how easy their schedule is seems a bit odd.  They are clearly a quality side, and fair play to them.  They are this year's Swansea / Newcastle / etc - every year, someone surprises with a side that just clicks.  Good to see.

Now give us Lallana.

Lallana signed a new 5 year contract at the start of this year, so you add the English player premium on top of that and he could easily go for anywhere between 20-25 million in today's market.

Besides, he's a bluenose

[andymanlfc]

Top 8 is realistic, like most have voted for. Play decent football and they don't concede many.

[Redrik]

I was thinking about southamptons good start, and then I remembered something former saints captain Claus Lundekvam said at the start of the season on norwegian television. According to him, if I remember correctly, the southampton players said that they had been doing a lot of running in preseason, and that they've never trained so hard in a pre-season. Lundekvam didn't go into detail about it, so I don't know any of the specifics though.

To me this intensive pre-season training sounds similar to what David Moyes (the manager of manchester united) is getting criticised for by Verheijen and various knowledgeable people on here. If this info from Lundekvam is correct, is Pochettino also a dinosaur with out-dated methods? Or is he still a promising young manager that's bound to end up in one of europes bigger clubs?

Anyway, I find it interesting that some of you are saying that his Espanyol team faded towards the end of the season. This could be taken as an indication that his methods for physical conditioning along with his pressing game, is hard to reproduce throug an extended period. Considering this, I've been thinking like a lot of people on here, that they're going to fade in/after the christmas period.

[jamieredders]

shite club.

this good manager you lot are talking of has done fook all yet.

the wheels will fall off.  wait and see

[Sally]

They'll drop off sooner or later, I just can't see them keeping this form up over a whole season

[Something Awful]

shite club.

this good manager you lot are talking of has done fook all yet.

the wheels will fall off.  wait and see

Beating Liverpool at Anfield means so little now?

We've really fallen, haven't we?

[jamieredders]

Beating Liverpool at Anfield means so little now?

We've really fallen, haven't we?

We lost to Wimbledon in a FA Cup Final.  Is Bobby Gould a brilliant manager?  Is he fook

 

[Euskadi]

is it me or does anyone think that Pochettino is deliberately not speaking to the media in english or even learning the language properly in order to avoid the horrid media in this country? I remember from his time in Spain he proper avoided the media and gave them very little, kept himself to himself .

[Juan Loco]

is it me or does anyone think that Pochettino is deliberately not speaking to the media in english or even learning the language properly in order to avoid the horrid media in this country? I remember from his time in Spain he proper avoided the media and gave them very little, kept himself to himself .

He definitely is. There's a video on the internet of him at Southamptions end of the season awards (so about 6 months back) where he's talking with Ed Chamberlain (I think?) in more than passable English. He can definitely get his point across. He just doesn't want to.