Topic: Southampton FC general discussion thread

[Pinky_Bieber]

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.

clever man

[Euskadi]

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.

Mate I knew it ! haha. I will try and locate this video and show it to my mates who thought that asthma issues had been starving my brain of oxygen  . He always seemed to me like a very clever man and a great appointment for Southampton, this just tops it though I think he has found the solution to what Rafa was hoping to do giving very generic answers to the media. Pretend to be a silly foreigner who just cannot seem to grasp the English language and therefore needs an interpreter at all times! Fantastic stuff from the man and thanks for the confirmation!

[thelinnen]

[unknownuser]

Mate I knew it ! haha. I will try and locate this video and show it to my mates who thought that asthma issues had been starving my brain of oxygen  . He always seemed to me like a very clever man and a great appointment for Southampton, this just tops it though I think he has found the solution to what Rafa was hoping to do giving very generic answers to the media. Pretend to be a silly foreigner who just cannot seem to grasp the English language and therefore needs an interpreter at all times! Fantastic stuff from the man and thanks for the confirmation!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/BAieod4JpnY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/BAieod4JpnY</a>

A brilliant ruse indeed 

[Macedonian Red Reborn]

Typical Boruc.

[golgolgol]

No idea why he didn't just pick it up. Madness.

[Euskadi]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/BAieod4JpnY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/BAieod4JpnY</a>

A brilliant ruse indeed 

Mate thank you very much for that.

[stoa]

No idea why he didn't just pick it up. Madness.

Backpass?

[Vinay]

Backpass?

He still shoulda kicked it upfield before Giroud charged. Basically, he messed up.
As for they will end, I will be happy seeing them 5th. I like them very much.

[TheDarkKnight]

I'm convinced Southampton will finish top eight this season. Said as much in my pre-season predictions but they seem to have improved even more than I thought.

Could see in Pochettino's period there last season that he had taken them up a notch from Adkins' side. I was one of many shocked to see the managerial swap mid-season (and still think Adkins was treated horribly), but you can definitely see why they did it, harsh as it was.

Pochettino is a very good young manager. His pressing style was tailor made for such a young, energetic Saints side.

One of the reasons I thought they would finish top eight this season is what I saw of them against the top teams last season when he arrived. They outplayed ourselves, Man City and Chelsea at St Mary's, winning those games 3-1, 3-1 and 2-1. They went to Old Trafford and were absolutely fantastic, even Ferguson said they deserved a point or three. Then I watched them in their game at Tottenham, they were the better team by far and it was only because they didn't take their chances that a late Bale wonder strike punished them. Deserved to win that, too.

So I knew Pochettino has the tactical nous to play well against the better teams, who by nature tend to be the ones that play a short passing game, which his tactics seem to work wonders against. He did struggle to engineer results against the more direct sides though, proven by QPR winning 1-2 at St Mary's and West Brom 0-3. Even at the start of this season they were held to draws at home by Sunderland and West Ham, and beaten at the incredibly direct Norwich. But in the last two months they seem to have overcome those problems a bit, putting teams like Hull and Fulham to the sword comfortably enough. Southampton beating Swansea recently with Pochettino's style of play was as sure a result as I'd seen up to that point of the season.

I was at a wedding so missed our game against them but I was expecting them to take points off us, to see that they perhaps should have won by more didn't even surprise me, and it should have done. I turned over to the last 15 minutes of their draw at Old Trafford and just thought to myself how brave they are in their style of play; they were so aggressive in their attacking play and you actually sensed an inevitability about them netting a late equaliser.

They did struggle against Arsenal though, the other day. Showed that the very good technical players can find a way around them if they play it right, but even then you can't ignore how much they missed Lovren who has been a revelation for them. Their main worry this season will be fatigue; their players could be shot by March time if they persist with this style, but if they're doing as well as they have been then who knows, they may keep it up on adrenaline alone. I think they'll end up in 8th not far off whoever comes 7th (Everton or Tottenham most probably) but a fair bit ahead of the team in 9th (probs Newcastle, Swansea or West Brom). They are very good and deserve credit for coming a long way in a very short period of time. They were kind of my adopted second team before the season started, but because of where they are I'm disconnecting any hope of them doing well at the moment!

Love their mix of players, too. You've got the excellent partnerships made of foreign players through the spine of their team, likes of Lovren-Fonte and Schneiderlin-Wanyama. Then there's the English lads who have been with them since they promoted from League 1- Lambert, Lallana, now fully fledged England internationals. Shrewd English signings from the Championship like Clyne and Rodriguez, both of whom fit perfectly in to their style of play. Local lads who have come through the youth team; Shaw, Ward-Prowse, Chambers... I could go on. They are just a very likeable club/team at the moment. They haven't got a super strong squad but players such as Cork and Ramirez are more than good enough to slot in. Then there's their record signing Osvaldo, who doesn't seem to have settled yet but must have something about him.

If they strengthen their goalkeeper, bring in a natural wide right player and a few others over the next few transfer windows, as well as hanging on to most of their current crop then the only way is up for them. Of course, the opposite could happen with Pochettino jumping ship when a bgger club offers him something or their stars wanting out for pastures new. Seems unlikely though, they are building something there.

[ElstonGunn]

Once bottom feeders realize how good Southampton is, it'll be interesting to see how Wanyama and Schneiderlin cope against parked defenses. Wanyama in particular is seriously limited with the ball. Hopefully we'll get to see Ward-Prowse and Schneiderlin play together in a double pivot. Could be a lovely partnership.

[Ronster]

 I notice up there Pottachino talking in broken english still with translator by his side. He's obviously getting a grasp of basic communication - how old he is, where he went to school and asking where the nearest train station is, but can he run a training session with all the complicated technical jargon required? Probably not yet correct? But he's slowly getting there right?

[Redman0151]

I notice up there Pottachino talking in broken english still with translator by his side. He's obviously getting a grasp of basic communication - how old he is, where he went to school and asking where the nearest train station is, but can he run a training session with all the complicated technical jargon required? Probably not yet correct? But he's slowly getting there right?

That was back in May, i'm sure i've read he speaks perfectly good English but chooses not to speak to the press in case they twist his words, he's not one of those managers who talks and talks.

[The 1989 Brit Awards]

That was back in May, i'm sure i've read he speaks perfectly good English

[Austin Powers]

Lequipe interview with Morgan Schneiderlin. Talks about Southampton tactics including pressing and playing out from the back.

Like last season with Jack Cork, you seem to have been handed instructions to play a few steps ahead of Victor Wanyama in midfield
It all started with Pochettino’s arrival. Before that I was used more as the anchor man just in front of the defence. When he came, he spoke to me straight ahead « I saw a couple of videos from you and I think you’ve the techical and physical abilities to do more attacking ». Then he asked me to play a step ahead, to get into space and burst forward. I’m expected to do the constant link between defence and attack whilst maintaining the same intensity in terms of pressing. Even if I can’t do that all 90 mn (laughs)

Your pairing with Victor Wanyama is improving but it will still require a bit of time before you’ll get to the same marks than when you played with Cork…
Absolutely. We know each other for years (with Cork) so we had a perfect understanding of one another on the pitch. Last season we knew exactly how the other did play. With Wanyama I had to start over. We’re not there yet, that’s for sure. He struggled a bit to cope with the way he’s pressed. He wasn’t used to that in his former league and it was a tad difficult for him athletically. But you’re right, it’s way better now. It can only improve because as we see at training he’s a very good player, technically in instance. It’s more about physicality and positioning but that will come.

You spoke about pressing earlier, do Pochettino asks to isolate the player in possession or does he prefer playing 1v1 all across the field, kind of « matching » a lot of Championship use to do ?
First of all, we have to close the central zones. He keeps saying it’s the heart of play and there’s always more options from the central zones: switches of play etc… He emphasises on blocking passing lanes. Anyway when I do press, I try to leave the worst passing option possible to the opponent. Pochettino asks us not to give the opponent the choice. But it requires a massive amount of work from a collective point of view. It’s not surprising after six or seven months working on it that we’re now able to harass and fully inbalance some of the teams we face. We couldn’t do that from the start as it’s a massive work put in at training.
He wants us to recover the ball as high as possible, so for that it’s usually up to a forward to trigger the pressing ; so then we’ve to follow. Personnally, I sometimes have to leave my zone to help on one side if a winger who was out of position because he was in a forward zone and couldn’t fall back in time. I’m the closest to the ball to intervene so then even if I’m tired, I’m kicking my ass. So then, the winger has to fill my zone and then we switch positions. This is the basic philosophy.
We have precise drills and patterns depending of the situation. On goalkicks, if they attack from the right side etc. Pochettino is all about detail, really. I recall that he showed us from the start that a meter or half a meter could block two passing lanes in midfield. We just had to move a step ahead or orientating our body a given way to face the opponent in order to put him into trouble

So then Lambert runs a bit more than before…
Even him runs more, says it all (laughs). It’s not his thing but he’s adapting to what the coach’s demands. It’s often him or Osvaldo who triggers the first wave of pressure. If one of the two starts, it triggers the whole process. Pressing is first and foremost a collective thing. If I’m coming out, the winger will react that way, so will my team mate in midfield and so on.

How is all that implemented on daily basis at training ?
You’re ought to know we play a 11v11 game every wednesday. It’s often against the reserves, or the academy ; youths basically but intensity is maximal. The staff implements several patterns of play depending of the situations. And as we changed the system – because Pochettino likes to play with a 10 and a lone striker – because Osvaldo and Lambert are both out and out forwards, it requires adaptation
We work on patterns to get the ball out from the back on goalkicks: the last two games, both CM had to get to both angles of the penalty box while the two CB had to spread to both sides of the box. Full backs have to get close to the byline and the midway line. The purpose is to get the ball out from the back on ground and not hoofing the ball on Lambert. If the pass toward Wanyama isn’t possible, we have the two center backs. If opponents close us down, so then both full backs are unmarked in a free zone. The aim is to find them as soon as possible in order to write off the most opposing players as we can.
If ever we don’t have a short option, that means that the opponent has closed us down as a team ans so then we’ve to play long on Lambert because it will be 1v1 in the air. But we often change that pattern because opponents adapts after a couple of games.

While attacking, there’s also the will to pass the ball on the floor and stretch opposing defences. Hence how crucial is your role as you’re a specialist to switch the play.
We must know how to oxygenate play, dictating the rythm, surprise the opponent. Pochettino asks me to switch the play often because he likes that. He wants us to devellop a genuine playing identity. Even falling back as a team is necessary, he gives us license to attack. He wants his full backs to get into attacking positions, put under presure opponent’s wingers. We always have to scan around. If you’re head first in Premier League…

That playing intelligence, is it the recipe of your success against the best teams ?
I do think so, indeed. But it’s because we’re more at ease with all the teams trying to get the ball out from the back, such as Chelsea, Manchester City or Swansea. We often speak about Arsenal or Swansea for ball retention, but Swansea really is the best there is in England. They’re really impressing. From now on, Bony gives them the running into depth which stretches the lines. Not a surprise if their manager is Laudrup with his experience as a player, his experience in Spain
Back to us, with all that work implemented by Pochettino, we’re now able to suffocate those teams. We saw that at Liverpool. Last season, we had a lot of struggles with teams playing route one football such as West Ham. Even this season, we haven’t played so well even if Jääskeläinen saves them.

Southampton is currently 4th on the table. The ambitions got to another level. Proof is that a lot of teams now play very defensive against you, as if they were afraid of you
Indeed, we often play very organised teams. It’s a good indication

I bet that you’ll end the season in the top 6, was I right to do so ?
(laughs) I’m being very honest. If we end up 10th, it will be a failure for me. I’m playing to win, not to stay in mid-table even if that’s decent, in some way. I think we’ve enough quality on and off the pitch to do something good. But there’s a crucial point to take into consideration: our propensity to handle pressure/expectations.
Imagine that we’re in the top 5 in December or January, it won’t be the same situation as now. Expectations will be much more important, focus [from the opinion] as well. It’s different from (he pauses)... It’s not the same to be an outsider than being a genuine contender. We don’t have that experience ans I don’t know how we will react. Will we panic ? Will we be up to that ? Players such as Lambert or Lovren have a lot of experience. Even guys such as Lallana or I have play hundreds of games. But not to end up in the first places on the table

Are you satisfied with your season so far ?
Right from the start – no. Against WBA it was OK but I wasn’t very good against West Ham even if I come this close to score. I had a tad more difficult period. As I’m a perfectionnist, I’m not satisfied with being « decent ». I know I wasn’t that bad but it wasn’t good either. I’m satisfied since the Liverpool game. I just played three good games against Palace and Swansea

You were in the storm after your tackle on Mohamed Diamé. You get to the ball first but what you put into that challenge was impressing.
Back then I was wondering why there was hurling. I knew I got the ball so I didn’t understood. I still apologized straight away. I’m not the kind of guy to injure another player. What was funny though was that we met referees in order to speak about supposed behaviours, rules and tackles. It was the WH game’s referee. Watching the video he said « it’s supposed to be yellow on that one but you got the ball first ». Problem was more the impact in the tackle, I didn’t realize that on the pitch.

From a distance, one wouldn’t think you’re that powerful even if you don’t have Rickie Lambert’s frame either
But I don’t wan’t Lambert’s frame, I wouldn’t move if so. You don’t even know how massive he is. I gained strength because we’ve a very good individual program. I had to be more powerful without loosing on mobility/dynamism. By the way, I’d like to say that Southampton’s medical staff is amazing. I haven’t had a muscular injury for two and a half years and it’s nothing to do with luck. I have a good lifestyle but we do a lot of prevention. In instance we work a lot on glueteal muscles before every training session.

We’ll end up speaking about France, have you received a call-up yet ?
No, I haven’t even received a pre-call up for an extended squad, even with all the absentees in midfield. Then I said to myself « Morgan, if you receive something, it’ll mean you’re on the good path ». I though I would be pre-called up though but I’m not alone. That’s what I say to english journos. You’re ought to know that I’m being asked the question everytime « how in the world aren’t you called up for France ? « . I answer them that there’s plenty of good French players. I stopped worrying about that. He [Deschamps] makes his choices and I’m going to work like a dog to deserve a future call-up.

You are under double sessions regime during the international break whereas you could rest a lot more with the blue jersey right how
(laughs) But the staff isn’t joking, even if we’re 8 or 9 at training, we’ve a rough time. By the way we’re joking and saying that we may go to Luxemburg to play for them, that would avoid us all those training sessions (laughs). I’m kidding, of course

In France, a lot of english football fans speak about you on twitter. There’s even a hashtag #Schneiderlin2014. Were you aware of it ?
(laughs) You’re kidding, right ? I’m delighted but I didn’t knew. They must keep on, I want to go to Brazil (laugh). More seriously, how to get into France squad seems quite simple to me. Contribute to lead Southampton to the first places on the table, play for an important club [in regards of it's position on the table]. So then there’ll be more attention, more focus on ourselves, and thus, on me as well. So it’s up to us to do the job. And when I see that MU is next, I’m eager to it !
- See more at: http://kickoff.blogs.lequipe.fr/morgan-schneiderlin-pochettino-cest-lart-du-detail/#sthash.HjRaJtyS.dpuf

[Ronster]

That was back in May, i'm sure i've read he speaks perfectly good English but chooses not to speak to the press in case they twist his words, he's not one of those managers who talks and talks.

As I thought. Cheers for the insight, interesting.

[owens_2k]

Having watched Shaw a few times I think he has the quality to play at the top level. We need a left back badly and we should pay whatever the going rate is for him, be it £20m+ or whatever. A high price but good value for money similar to Rooney and R.Ferdinand deals if he stays for 10 years.

Anyone else rate this lad?

[BazC]

When you're a club in our financial position, it makes no sense to go and spend £20m on a fullback. None whatsoever. Even the best ones are rarely good enough to have a massive impact on the way their team plays. Indeed, the best ones are usually solid defensively, and have the intelligence and athleticism to know when to get up the pitch to support the attackers.

If they actually had any significant impact on the attacking side of the game, they'd have been turned into wingers (see Bale).

[thelinnen]

I'd value him closer to £15 but no way would they be under any pressure to sell unless we are well clear of them (and of course bid for him, which is never going to happen).

[Upinsmoke]

When you're a club in our financial position, it makes no sense to go and spend £20m on a fullback. None whatsoever. Even the best ones are rarely good enough to have a massive impact on the way their team plays. Indeed, the best ones are usually solid defensively, and have the intelligence and athleticism to know when to get up the pitch to support the attackers.

If they actually had any significant impact on the attacking side of the game, they'd have been turned into wingers (see Bale).

True, we spent 17 on johnson, bought arby for 2 didnt we?

[jfc]

Lequipe interview with Morgan Schneiderlin. Talks about Southampton tactics including pressing and playing out from the back.

great article, really interesting

[TheGOAT]

Might scrape a top 10 place. Wank.

[RideTheWalrus]

Lallana's technique is outstanding

[Anywhichwayicant]

Having watched Shaw a few times I think he has the quality to play at the top level. We need a left back badly and we should pay whatever the going rate is for him, be it £20m+ or whatever. A high price but good value for money similar to Rooney and R.Ferdinand deals if he stays for 10 years.

Anyone else rate this lad?

Yup. Abundance of talent.

[jamieredders]

they are total and utter shite

 

[ALPH1217]

Regressing unfortunately.

[PhaseOfPlay]

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.

This is what I said back then. Seems they are already losing their legs and the Christmas schedule could decimate them physically.

[Elzar]

I voted midtable, they are not looking like finishing anywhere else.

[jamieredders]

Whats the next thread on here?

Hull City - how fookin tigerish are they looking?

 

[PhaseOfPlay]

Whats the next thread on here?

Hull City - how fookin tigerish are they looking?

 

"Vincent Tan - Can he make a Cardifference?"

[Cusamano]

This seasons WBA

Will fade back into the bottom half after new years

[BER]

Shaw looks the business alright, love how aggressive he is and he's got loads of technique to go along with it. Shame he'll end up at Chelsea.

[martinsquirtle]

This seasons WBA

Will fade back into the bottom half after new years

I think they have a strong enough core to keep up some momentum this season however they do need to invest in January. I hope they don't slip into bottom half mediocrity as I would like them to keep some of their better players for once. Hate to see the likes of Shaw, Schneiderlin and Lallana move to Chelsea/Utd etc

[jamieredders]

I think they have a strong enough core to keep up some momentum this season however they do need to invest in January. I hope they don't slip into bottom half mediocrity as I would like them to keep some of their better players for once. Hate to see the likes of Shaw, Schneiderlin and Lallana move to Chelsea/Utd etc

Why?  I hope we sign all their bright prospects as back-up players and watch them slide back into oblivion where they belong. 

Their manager not being able to talk English has worked wonders for them. 

 

[jamieredders]

"Vincent Tan - Can he make a Cardifference?"

haha

Crystal Pulis - How hard are they?

 

[PhaseOfPlay]

haha

Crystal Pulis - How hard are they?

 

[Acaustiq]

I think they have a strong enough core to keep up some momentum this season however they do need to invest in January.

'Invest' yet more money they haven't got.

People getting wet over southampton like they were some sort of fairytale, they're financial dopers no better than any of the others who are at it.

[OOS]

'Invest' yet more money they haven't got.

People getting wet over southampton like they were some sort of fairytale, they're financial dopers no better than any of the others who are at it.

They will probably sell one of their 'gems' to a bigger club, so they can spend some money on beefing up the squad in the summer.

[Xxavi]

I am now waiting for people to start pouring shit on Southampton. It will come shorty

[PhaseOfPlay]

I am now waiting for people to start pouring shit on Southampton. It will come shorty

I don't think anyone will be doing that. I think they'll be recognising that their early season form was going to be unsustainable without a large squad. They also lack goals. It's a recipe for a downslide mid-to-late season