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The 2023-2024 Football Thread
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Great win over the weekend by Saints to romp home 4-0 over Blackburn with over 70% possession and a whopping 22 shots to 4 in favour of the home side.
This extends Southampton's current unbeaten streak to 14 games.
Even on points with Leeds (who have a superior goal difference) and yet STILL 10 points behind Ipswich and Leicester.
They are absolutely flying in the Championship right now.
Seeing how Burnley are faring though - it really does make you realise the gulf in quality between the upper-to-middle Premier League and the Championship. Money really does help in the top end of the game.
It makes me wonder oif promotion is really worth it. Talking to other Saints fans, we are loving being a "big dog" in the Football League and winning games/being competitive/looking like a "good team". In the Prem we were anything but that.
This extends Southampton's current unbeaten streak to 14 games.
Even on points with Leeds (who have a superior goal difference) and yet STILL 10 points behind Ipswich and Leicester.
They are absolutely flying in the Championship right now.
Seeing how Burnley are faring though - it really does make you realise the gulf in quality between the upper-to-middle Premier League and the Championship. Money really does help in the top end of the game.
It makes me wonder oif promotion is really worth it. Talking to other Saints fans, we are loving being a "big dog" in the Football League and winning games/being competitive/looking like a "good team". In the Prem we were anything but that.
The Champions League should return to its roots. Next season there will be FOUR non-Champions from two nations which yet again devalues the trophy. The CL should be for European league winners only. It's time to bring back the old traditional European Cup.
Never going to happen, but I would be in support of that.
Very interesting post.
Actually, in the Premiership, until a few years ago, to my mind, you used to be a very good - and a very well run - team, but were cursed by having to sell your best players all too often.
I find myself in agreement with you.
However, unfortunately, the competition has become far too profitable for that to take place.
I was quite happy they sold one of their best to us. JWP is an absolute bargain.
Agreed.
He is superb.
And I would argue that Liverpool were transformed (or completed) when Virgil van Dijk was sold to them from Southampton.
However, it doesn't detract from the key point, which is that Southampton had developed (or mentored, or nurtured) some excellent players only to be obliged to sell them on once richer, or better resourced clubs, displayed an interest.
And, of course, the bright young talent will also wish to fly the nest, to test themselves in pastures new.
The days of a (gifted) player such as Matt Le Tissier choosing to spend an (his) entire career with a club such as Southampton, is not usual, or the norm, nowadays.
Eventually, that does bite you, as you cannot guarantee an endless assembly line of bright (or bought) or developed young talent to be nurtured, and mentored and developed before they have to be sold on.
I must say that that very example - and an excellent example of the actual topic under discussion - did indeed cross my mind, but I elected to instruct my fingers not to type his name while I composed my previous post.
To be fair he's just one in a long line of players that richer clubs have taken from the academy.
Rio Ferdinand
Joe Cole
Frank Lampard (jn)
Jemane Defoe
Julian Dicks (for about a year!)
I think while we are on the subject, there is the opposite happening as well, which has benefitted clubs like Southampton - Man City's academy seems to be rolling out taleted youth that they don't have a place for, so clubs like ours are buying or borrowing them at bargain prices while promising first team minutes and development (but there's usually the inevitible "buy-back clause"). Saints have a bit of a hook-up with Man City Academy, so it's nice to see it going both ways.
It is a shame to see our best players move on, but that's the reality of not being a "big club". Seeing the likes of club stalwart JWP excel at West Ham is actually quite gratifying and he will always be a Saint, no matter what his career trajectory - much like I think Rice will always be a Hammer at heart.
It's about how they behave on their exit - both did themselves proud, I feel, by being grateful of the opportunity and not saying a bad word about their former employers.
It is a shame to see our best players move on, but that's the reality of not being a "big club". Seeing the likes of club stalwart JWP excel at West Ham is actually quite gratifying and he will always be a Saint, no matter what his career trajectory - much like I think Rice will always be a Hammer at heart.
It's about how they behave on their exit - both did themselves proud, I feel, by being grateful of the opportunity and not saying a bad word about their former employers.
I still wince whenever I see Rice in an Arsenal shirt. Probably always will.
You may be happier to see him in red if you join us in the Greatest League in the World
Personally, I think that the red short becomes him.
A superb addition to the team.
And yes, both Rice and JWP behaved in an exemplary fashion during their respective transfer arrangements, and are a credit to their respective former clubs and an outstanding asset and addition to the clubs they have each since joined.
I watched highlights of the Liverpool v Man United game and was surprised at how resolute United was in their defending. I think the stats showed Liverpool had approx. 60 shots on goal!!!, that's a huge amount in a game. Then again that's a huge amount in any game with any team. It is why I can understand fan's frustration because they will be saying why cannot United defend like that in every game. Then others will say that United have had a number of injuries to their main starting defenders but then critics of the game will say isn't it the job of the manager to make sure that backup defenders are capable of doing the job?
It would appear the same could be said for Man City because they have 1 or 2 key players missing due to injuries and the team appears to be struggling without them. I know key players can make big impact in a game but surely not to the detriment of the whole team? Is this where managers show their ineptitude, not being able to put a cohesive team together of backup players?
It would appear the same could be said for Man City because they have 1 or 2 key players missing due to injuries and the team appears to be struggling without them. I know key players can make big impact in a game but surely not to the detriment of the whole team? Is this where managers show their ineptitude, not being able to put a cohesive team together of backup players?
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ETH played for a draw. I think it was a logical decision on his part for this derby but he can’t do that every week.
Steve Cooper gets his P45.
Nuno Santo who has had his Saudi pay day in talks to replace him.
Nuno Santo who has had his Saudi pay day in talks to replace him.
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A good replacement in my opinion. He did good at Wolves but was a step too far with Spurs. Forest should be a good fit for him. The problem is how will the Forest fans take to having an ex Wolves manager, a club who is fiercest rival of theirs in the West Midlands.
If they have any sense they will welcome him with open arms. I think he could do well for them.
Of course Steve Cooper had the adoration of the fans for longer than most would in his position.
Truth is Forest have a 5 point advantage over their relegation rivals. A couple of wins off 12th (okay that’s unlikely but they are hardly miles behind everyone else). I’m not really sure what position they expect to be in the league.
Probably 1st because is that not what every club owner demands of their manager? 🤣🤣
There is a difference (sometimes, a significant difference) between hope and expectation.
The problem for Nuno if he does take the Forest job would be that because he got Wolves to 7th place on a number of occasions and got them into Europe, I have no doubt the Forest hierarchy would be expecting him to achieve the same for Forest.