Shola
16 years ago
6 years ago
2,708
Southampton have an extremely thin squad - surely due a drop in performance soon;

Their first XI is good

Forster/Clyne/Berrand/Alderweireld/Fonte/Cork/Schneiderlin/Davis/Mane/Tadic/Pelle

but no real depth;

Boruc/Gardos/Yoshida/Hoiveld/Ward-Prowse/Wanyama/Long/Mayuka/Rodriguez + Ramirez and a few promising kids
King Luis
18 years ago
10 months ago
3,111
Yeah and they've been pretty lucky so far that they've not really had any players out injured, don't get me wrong they've had a great start to the season but theres always a club who does well at the start and then drops off after xmas.
Chera
17 years ago
4 years ago
248
Ramirez was let go on loan to Hull. Which surprised me with it being a loan and as you've mentioned, they don't have a big squad.

The fact they're 7 points clear of 4th (and thats West Ham) and that Arsenal, Utd, Spurs, Liverpool, Everton all aren't exactly playing well would be why people think they can get top 4. Their fixtures next 2 months are really tough but if they keep playing how they have been and the other normal contenders do the same, they could well surprise a few.
.verse
13 years ago
1 year ago
871
Pochettino was a fool to leave Saints for Spurs. Well, other than for his pay packet. Do Saints have the strength in depth? Arguably no, they rely pretty much on their upcoming talent to fill the gaps that Spurs can fill with seasoned players. After their summer selling spree you'd think Saints could spend just as much as Spurs in the coming window too.

I wouldn't say he was a fool, there was certainly more to him leaving than just wanting to move to a bigger club. Firstly, he was close to leaving earlier in the season because of behind the scenes unrest, while iirc there was some further issues re: transfers. And while it's all fine raising money, selling Pochettino's most important players without his approval was never going to go down well.

Let's be honest, no one expected this sort of run from Southampton this season after losing a number of key players who were big reasons for their excellent season last year.
Grimnir
16 years ago
5 months ago
2,727
Southampton have an extremely thin squad - surely due a drop in performance soon;

Their first XI is good

Forster/Clyne/Berrand/Alderweireld/Fonte/Cork/Schneiderlin/Davis/Mane/Tadic/Pelle

but no real depth;

Boruc/Gardos/Yoshida/Hoiveld/Ward-Prowse/Wanyama/Long/Mayuka/Rodriguez + Ramirez and a few promising kids


Boruc is a decent enough back up keeper, on par with most of the other back up keepers if not better. Liverpool have Brad Jones for Pete's sake! Not seen Gardos play much myself so don't want to comment there but Ward-Prowse and Wanyama and decent Prem players and still young to boot. It's not that long ago that Long was a much sought after player by Prem clubs too! Rodriquez also quality, shame about the injury.

Will they finish in the Champs League places come the end of the season? Probably not. Think they have just as much chance as Spurs at doing that. Would like to see the Saints get a good cup run together, they didn't take them seriously last season and I think they could stand a chance of winning one. Already in the Quarters of the League Cup, just have to hope someone knocks out Chelsea!

Spurs no longer threaten. Sure Chadli and Lamela have chipped in the odd couple this season but they have never really replaced Modric in the middle, Eriksen has the odd game but no where near enough of them. Plus they need a striker! Kane gets a lot of the plaudits, think a good chunk of that is down to him being an English striker with potential rather than his actually ability at the moment. Soldado just hasn't adapted to England and Adebayor only plays well when he needs a new contract. They need to offload these guys, get Kane playing regularly even if just in the Europa games (which he has been to be fair) and bringing in someone like Bony in January. And that's just to start resolving their problems. Their wage bill must be massive.
bmg033
10 years ago
1 week ago
2,268
Spurs no longer threaten. Sure Chadli and Lamela have chipped in the odd couple this season but they have never really replaced Modric in the middle, Eriksen has the odd game but no where near enough of them. Plus they need a striker! Kane gets a lot of the plaudits, think a good chunk of that is down to him being an English striker with potential rather than his actually ability at the moment. Soldado just hasn't adapted to England and Adebayor only plays well when he needs a new contract. They need to offload these guys, get Kane playing regularly even if just in the Europa games (which he has been to be fair) and bringing in someone like Bony in January. And that's just to start resolving their problems. Their wage bill must be massive.

The problem thats causing us the most trouble is Daniel Levy. Its got to the point where a majority of Spurs fans are wanting him out (me included) instead of the manager. I'm not a fan of Pochettino, but thats not the point. The point is that while Levy continues to 'run' our club we will never ever get into the top 4 again, whoever the manager is. Also, i'd quite like to see Baldini go as well, he does shit transfer after shit transfer.
Carroll.
15 years ago
4 years ago
3,361
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30109077

Please tell me this is some sort of sick joke
Based Jorge
11 years ago
4 years ago
1,399
This is brilliant.
Jason
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
4,641
Still annoys me that we go to a World Cup, win 0 games, come out of the World Cup and win every single one, with the same bunch of players.
Shedender
18 years ago
1 month ago
13,751
ffs, it's the last time I back him for PL top scorer e/w.
Slashman X
18 years ago
1 year ago
6,000
Still annoys me that we go to a World Cup, win 0 games, come out of the World Cup and win every single one, with the same bunch of players.


Almost like you're playing shitter teams
Vercoe
12 years ago
4 years ago
1,510
Almost like you're playing shitter teams


Than Costa Rica?
Slashman X
18 years ago
1 year ago
6,000


Yes...

Costa Rica did top the group after all. Also, you drew with them
Vercoe
12 years ago
4 years ago
1,510
Yes...

Costa Rica did top the group after all. Also, you drew with them


But if you asked objectively you'd say Scotland > Cost Rica.
Slashman X
18 years ago
1 year ago
6,000
But if you asked objectively you'd say Scotland > Cost Rica.


Not really
Chera
17 years ago
4 years ago
248
Big difference between tournament football and qualifying/friendlies.
Vercoe
12 years ago
4 years ago
1,510


Well, you should. Then I'd be right.
Carroll.
15 years ago
4 years ago
3,361
6 weeks out. Game over.
VP.
14 years ago
3 months ago
25,271
Slashman X
18 years ago
1 year ago
6,000
SpinSwimScream
14 years ago
1 month ago
1,598
oh god, surely not
bmg033
10 years ago
1 week ago
2,268
Please don't let it go to ITV, I can't stand Andy Townsend.
Number 1
17 years ago
1 year ago
3,650
I skip the analysis on MOTD anyway, but at least they have a screen presence that doesn't want to make you vomit, and no commercial breaks or Andy Townsend.
Carroll.
15 years ago
4 years ago
3,361
Slashman X
18 years ago
1 year ago
6,000
Sturridge out until the new year
K3V0
16 years ago
1 year ago
5,966
Sturridge out until the new year


It'll be fine they've Balotelli, Lambert and Borini banging in the goals.
Sam
18 years ago
2 years ago
5,092


Oh god, no.

Townsend's Tactics Truck. God, horrible memories.
The Platypus
14 years ago
1 year ago
1,784
Hahahahahhaha, what the fuck is Townsend's Tactics Truck? Surely not a real thing.
SpinSwimScream
14 years ago
1 month ago
1,598
Oh it was very real, and hilariously awful
Tommo.
13 years ago
6 months ago
2,272
I need to see this

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