Southampton (A) | PL | Post Match Thread

Let’s just get this season out the way and have some positivity ahead of next season. In the sense it’s clear a revolution is on the cards and it’s going to be a hell of a busy summer.

Love Pep and completely get that all multi title winning teams eventually lose some hunger and fall back. However I’d feel much more hopeful if this season was a transition season, in the sense we are building and working on things ahead of next.

This would have been the perfect time to blood the 4 winter signings, to show the youth players a bit more faith and confidence ahead of next season. Maybe trying to be more front footed, as seemingly a lot of our recent signings probably would prefer a higher pace style.

At this stage of the season I’d have liked a firm set of players who we know will be starters next year embedded within the team, so they can start making combinations and learn more about how they cope under pressure.

The club World Cup could actually be a blessing in disguise in that sense.

I imagine we will have MGW boxed off on the 1st of june, maybe even the GK that’s been heavily linked. Use rodri as his comeback games and then we could really feel optimistic ahead of next season.

Garcia,
Khus,
Dias,
Gvardiol,
Nico,
Rodri
Other nico
Mgw
Savinho,
Foden
Haaland.
 
More than anything I just hope we see a change in tactics and instead of the slow/ponderous build up we bring in the right personnel to actually enjoy the spectacle.

Slow passing up to the edge of the box and then sideways passes around the edge of the 18 yard box strangles the emotion out of the game and the supporters.

Little reason to complain about Southampton when, our whole way of playing, is designed to protect the defence and prevent any spaces for other clubs to counter. There is never any space because we choose to build up slowly, so don’t be surprised if other clubs, with a fraction of the resources, use this time to formulate a defensive block.

Watching the last couple of Barca games that is the template of how to play and funnily enough are playing with two fast wingers, just how we used to do in 2017-2019 period, not slow inverted midfielders.

But Barca take risks, Pep seems to have moved away from that over the last few years, even against sides like Southampton
 
Last edited:
franksinatra said:
More than anything I just hope we see a change in tactics and instead of the slow/ponderous build up we bring in the right personnel to actually enjoy the spectacle.

Slow passing up to the edge of the box and then sideways passes around the edge of the 18 yard box strangles the emotion out of the game and the supporters.

Little reason to complain about Southampton when, our whole way of playing, is designed to protect the defence and prevent any spaces for other clubs to counter. There is never any space because we choose to build up slowly, so our players are in position, so don’t be surprised if other clubs, with a fraction of the resources, use this time to formulate a defensive block.

Watching the last couple of Barca games that is the template of how to play and funnily enough are playing with two fast wingers, just how we used to do in 2017-2019 period, not slow inverted midfielders.
Click to expand...
….or Rico fucking Lewis!
 
Courage - this is a word Pep used during the documentary and within that courage it is to take risks at times. We don't take the risks nowhere near a much which means we don't get the rewards. We play without courage and are petrified of losing the ball, for as long as I can remember we have been open to a transition from the opposition. During our dominant years teams would usually win the ball back and hit us on the break and score with their first attack so what has changed? Just missing Rodri has made us so slow and boring? It can't be and if that is the reason then we are truly fucked. Just look at a couple of them home derbies when United had Ole at the wheel and you will see.

I have absolutely zero issues with Southampton if they want to ruin the game and defend. None whatsoever, had they have played football they will have 100% lost. This way they have took a point off a "top" side in what has been a horrendous season for them. I have no problem with teams doing what they need to do to get a result. Teams will have watched us this season and know how to play us to get any joy. I hope Palace fall into the trap they did at the Etihad where they came to play and if they just sat with shape they may have had more success. We are poor and Saturdays performance is one of many really poor matches this season. Pep has to take the blame for a lot of it, I don't understand his hard on to make so many changes to a winning side building momentum but that's what he does. We now go into a cup final off the back of a dog shit game and dodging bullets in the media because Dias was a slapped arse.
 
Inept performance from the team tbh, yes the selection was terrible and the tactics weren't great - but there was more than enough talent out there to beat the worst side the league has probably ever seen. having the nerve to complain about Southampton's tactics is rich, what did we expect from them? It's on us to break them down, there was nobody trying anything and the players didn't seem to want to take responsibility - a trait for most of the season. You do worry about the upcoming final now - Palace coming into really good form and Pep once again changing a winning team.
 
Goaters said:
Let’s just get this season out the way and have some positivity ahead of next season. In the sense it’s clear a revolution is on the cards and it’s going to be a hell of a busy summer.

Love Pep and completely get that all multi title winning teams eventually lose some hunger and fall back. However I’d feel much more hopeful if this season was a transition season, in the sense we are building and working on things ahead of next.

This would have been the perfect time to blood the 4 winter signings, to show the youth players a bit more faith and confidence ahead of next season. Maybe trying to be more front footed, as seemingly a lot of our recent signings probably would prefer a higher pace style.

At this stage of the season I’d have liked a firm set of players who we know will be starters next year embedded within the team, so they can start making combinations and learn more about how they cope under pressure.

The club World Cup could actually be a blessing in disguise in that sense.

I imagine we will have MGW boxed off on the 1st of june, maybe even the GK that’s been heavily linked. Use rodri as his comeback games and then we could really feel optimistic ahead of next season.

Garcia,
Khus,
Dias,
Gvardiol,
Nico,
Rodri
Other nico
Mgw
Savinho,
Foden
Haaland.
Click to expand...
Id add Reiss and Echeverri to that list imo
 
GrumpyLegacyFan said:
Other than a lovely day out in the sunshine, it was a poor performance until the last 20 mins. And, like everyone else, just didn't understand the squad selection and lack of width.

But two non-game related observations.

On my favourite subject of tourists (I think I am going to start a 'Tourist Counter' thread) it was quite an interesting day. I suppose Southampton is close enough to London to be attractive to the Tout Army, but we accidentally sat in row N (rather NN on the last row at the top) when we arrived. And being the chatty friendly (but grumpy) bloke I am, I was talking to those around me, as I didn't recognise anyone. And low and behold I am within three rows of tourists - a wonderful Swedish family, two blokes from Swindon, three Japanese folks and a group of Spanish lads. So, I asked (in a friendly 'just out of interest' way) where they got their tickets.

The Spanish group 'from a contact at the Club' - the Swedish family from a Football tour package operator, the Swindon boys from 'LiveFotty.com' or something and the Japanese group had no idea what I was asking. We were then turfed out our seats (quite rightly) but two Russians in half and half scarves.

I know of at least a dozen Blues who just missed the point threshold - and it just continues to fuck me off. Sorry to keep on about this....

Final observation. It was embarrassing the way the Southampton fans celebrated being the second worst club in PL history at the end, but we were also a little embarrassed at some very coked up young Blues on the way out being a little aggressive, as opposed to piss taking banter, about how shite Southampton were - as true as this is - I really hope we haven't started having a fan base that have forgotten where we came from - and don't get me wrong, I love a bit of banter - but this was verging on arrogant and menacing. Never thought we were that type of Club.
Click to expand...

Southampton is my local game and I've struggled to get tickets in our end for a few seasons. I've no problem with that if people with more points than me are taking the seats but not happy if they're going outside the fanbase. I'm pretty good at keeping my head down so have got away with sitting in some of the more touristy home sections at St Marys in the past but I really didn't fancy it this year. If I was going to go this time I needed to be around Blues.

One of my colleagues is a senior steward at St Marys so I asked him about any trouble. He said it was reasonably calm but there was an incident where a City lad called Saints fan a paedo, which caused the Saints boy to get physical. Luckily his mates pulled him away before things got uglier. My colleague also said that the police briefing for the match had specifically mentioned drugs use in the ground by City fans, so it sounds like we've got a rep.
 
tolmie's hairdoo said:
Yep, I walked away from Wembley last year and was the first time I thought Pep wasn't bothered.

I was fucking bothered. We had a chance to do another Double and against United again.

Our two performances against United this season have been disgraceful to say the least.

There will be more of this next season because I fail to see how City bring in the levels of sufficient quality to become a title challenger again.

We are now in the unfortunate position of playing catch up to better teams who will also be adding quality to their existing ranks.

That was the gap we were able to afford ourselves in recent years but too many have taken their eye off the ball and thought Rodri and Pep would be enough.
Click to expand...
complacency set in after the treble, a friend also told me both Pep and Txiki were going to walk off together at the end of the season. They said they were done due to the intensity and felt it would be the right time. Not sure what has changed. I keep saying this bloody court case is still a fly in the ointment. Agents & players want to know whats happening, especially elite players.

I also feel there is a clause for Haaland if fit he has to play. We have looked fluid the last month playing more Pep ball. No idea why he changed it on Saturday. Was absolutely garbage. He should of gone all out attack against Southampton even with their low block.I'd of had Gundo running into the small pockets etc.

He needs to see what Enrique is doing and try to adapt his style accordingly, thats the way teams are going. Worse thing is Arsenal are probably 2/3 decent signings from maybe grabbing trophies.
 
franksinatra said:
More than anything I just hope we see a change in tactics and instead of the slow/ponderous build up we bring in the right personnel to actually enjoy the spectacle.

Slow passing up to the edge of the box and then sideways passes around the edge of the 18 yard box strangles the emotion out of the game and the supporters.

Little reason to complain about Southampton when, our whole way of playing, is designed to protect the defence and prevent any spaces for other clubs to counter. There is never any space because we choose to build up slowly, so don’t be surprised if other clubs, with a fraction of the resources, use this time to formulate a defensive block.

Watching the last couple of Barca games that is the template of how to play and funnily enough are playing with two fast wingers, just how we used to do in 2017-2019 period, not slow inverted midfielders.

But Barca take risks, Pep seems to have moved away from that over the last few years, even against sides like Southampton
Click to expand...
Agree. That’s what I want to see more than anything else. I’d happily accept transition seasons if it was entertaining to watch. It’s just dour bar the odd game.
 
Last edited:
franksinatra said:
More than anything I just hope we see a change in tactics and instead of the slow/ponderous build up we bring in the right personnel to actually enjoy the spectacle.

Slow passing up to the edge of the box and then sideways passes around the edge of the 18 yard box strangles the emotion out of the game and the supporters.

Little reason to complain about Southampton when, our whole way of playing, is designed to protect the defence and prevent any spaces for other clubs to counter. There is never any space because we choose to build up slowly, so don’t be surprised if other clubs, with a fraction of the resources, use this time to formulate a defensive block.

Watching the last couple of Barca games that is the template of how to play and funnily enough are playing with two fast wingers, just how we used to do in 2017-2019 period, not slow inverted midfielders.

But Barca take risks, Pep seems to have moved away from that over the last few years, even against sides like Southampton
Click to expand...
I got battered earlier on in the season, even whilst top of the league where I said to mates we are dull as dishwater to watch. The tactics had changed recently for me though, Villa was good, Bernardo in the middle, we played a bit more narrow and played quicker. Had that game even finished 1-1 I would of been happy with the performance, the last minute winner was a bonus. Once w2e get a bit of rhythm Pep feels the need to make 4 or 5 changes and we are back at square one, now heading into a cup final off the back of another stinker of a performance
 
spiny said:
Appalling performance. The drop in quality is alarming but clearly something is wrong in the camp. The likes of Grealish and Foden see themselves as strolling playmakers without doing the hard stuff and scoring goals. Others are not good enough, inexperienced or going through the motions or their legs have gone.

I think we can expect a major overhaul and a rejuvenited squad in the summer.

Pep and co picked the wrong team selection. Too much sentiment. The last 20 minutes showed a level intent and energy lacking in the first 70 mins.
Click to expand...
dont put grealish on the rack for that shite, grealish has had the last 3 games he has played , decent games, at least he can keep the ball, down to pep that, utter shite, how foden got a start is a joke.
 
ysmsa said:
Are you serious?

The easiest by far of our last 3 games, against a team that is relegated and has 11 points.

Bournemouth and Fulham are both decent sides capable of giving us a game.

A week before a Cup Final too!

That is totally unacceptable, could've secured top 5 with a win. Our challengers for top 5 will be spurned on by our result.

I think people are perfectly entitled to "over react"

Did you watch it, we were fucking terrible.
Click to expand...
DOWN TO THE MANAGER,
 
john blue said:
dont put grealish on the rack for that shite, grealish has had the last 3 games he has played , decent games, at least he can keep the ball, down to pep that, utter shite, how foden got a start is a joke.
Click to expand...
Grealish flatters to deceive and has failed to deliver any goal threat for a long time like Foden and other senior players this season. Neither have shown to be capable of playing number 10 like KDB or even Gundo of yore.

Too much sentiment that will change next season.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top