Isa Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 credit to them but no coincidence that the 2 half decent teams they have played in the league has beaten them still need to be tested for me Tested for what? We all know that they aren't going to challenge for the Champions League places so their season won't be defined on getting points away at the big teams. Though saying that, they really should've got something out of those two games anyway, lax finishing saw that they didn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Condimentalist Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I've got them at 25/1 to finish in the top 4. They're at 9/1 now. Do I think they'll do it? Probably not, but worth a punt at that price. Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, Everton and United all look bang average to me. In the end I think United and Arsenal will probably do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 credit to them but no coincidence that the 2 half decent teams they have played in the league has beaten them still need to be tested for me Tested for what? We all know that they aren't going to challenge for the Champions League places so their season won't be defined on getting points away at the big teams. Though saying that, they really should've got something out of those two games anyway, lax finishing saw that they didn't. their wins have been against 3 of the worst teams in the league QPR,Sunderland, Newcastle and then beat 10 men Swansea and a strikerless West Ham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I think they will be found out against the better sides, but fair play to them, they have sold their best players and to be where they are is miraculous. Good management, playing the game the right way unlike what is served up by Villa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isa Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 their wins have been against 3 of the worst teams in the league QPR,Sunderland, Newcastle and then beat 10 men Swansea and a strikerless West Ham West Ham weren't "strikerless". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Don't know what West Ham had available then, but to beat the best West Ham side in years is no mean achievement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morley_crosses_to_Withe Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I wish we had the funds to go out and buy £10m players like Tadic and Pelle. I wish we had this ridiculously efficient youth system that churns out highly talented and sought after players who can be sold on for tens of millions. We just end up with Gabby Agbonlahor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 their wins have been against 3 of the worst teams in the league QPR,Sunderland, Newcastle and then beat 10 men Swansea and a strikerless West Ham West Ham weren't "strikerless". they had Carlton Cole, my case stands Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodders0223 Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Don't know what West Ham had available then, but to beat the best West Ham side in years is no mean achievement. That doesn't say much, and I am yet to see this exciting brand of football that Sam has introduced. It is still very Gary Megson Lite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maqroll Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Ronald Koeman kind of grates on my nerves when he speaks. He's a bit arrogant. I'm starting to dislike Southampton now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villan4Life Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 (edited) http://www.football365.com/f365-says/9525810/F365-Says It was a record-equalling afternoon at St. Mary's. In crushing Sunderland 8-0, Southampton became just the sixth side to score eight or more goals in a Premier League match, and only the third club this century to record an eight-goal winning margin in the top flight. Amidst the summer talk of 'crisis', Football365 would like to reiterate that we remained level-headed. Some should be feeling very silly indeed. Still, few suspected Southampton to be this good this quickly. Since the 0-0 draw with West Brom on August 23, eight matches have returned seven victories, including a 2-1 triumph at Arsenal in the League Cup. They sit third in the table, one point behind Manchester City, and have conceded just five goals, three fewer than any other league club in England. On Saturday, Saints were a footballing Midas: Everything they touched turned to goals. "The reason I am happy is because whoever wins the Manager of the Month loses their next match," Jose Mourinho joked after missing out to Ronald Koeman. "I don't want that award." Southampton's new manager is now myth-busting, too. One of the reasons for our positivity in the summer was the presence of Koeman in charge. I wrote in early August that 'in Koeman, they have a manager that actually has knowledge of an alternative league to the one in which he is competing...the Eredivisie provides him with a resource of potentially valuable recruits', and that has proven to be the case. Southampton were not forced to shop with limited imagination; a Premier League introspection leading to recruitment of players with big reputations and salaries, but questionable potential or improvement... *cough* QPR *cough*. The best example of this is Dusan Tadic, the Serbian winger signed from FC Twente for £10.9m. On Saturday his performance was verging on ethereal, scoring Southampton's sixth goal and becoming only the sixth player to register four assists in a Premier League game. Tadic's understanding with striker Graziano Pelle is already established. There is always a cliched risk when shopping in the Eredivisie, but Tadic appeared as close as possible to a guarantee. He had scored 29 league goals in two seasons at Twente, and was comfortably the league's best player following the departure of Christian Eriksen. When Nacer Chadli was sold to Spurs last summer, Twente supporters breathed a sigh of relief. They had kept their jewel. Possessing obvious pace, Tadic demonstrated enough intelligence and finesse to operate as a playmaker for Twente, comfortable right, left or through the middle. Last season in Enschede, he created an average of four chances a game for his teammates. David Silva (with 3.19) was the Premier League's highest provider. Making four more assists than any player in the Dutch league, his total of 14 would have been greater but for Twente's lack of a potent striker. Tadic top scored for his club too - you can't assist yourself. Tadic's adaptation to English football has been seamless. He is creating a chance every 35 minutes played and has already contributed more assists than Adam Lallana last season. Whilst Lallana managed six in 37 starts, his replacement achieved two-thirds of that total within the space of 50 minutes against Sunderland. The legacy of Matt Le Tissier ensures that Southampton fans hold a special regard for a dribbler - St. Mary's has a new hero. The player himself is understandably content: "It feels like I'm dreaming. Southampton is the most beautiful city in England and everything is great. It is something special to be playing for Southampton. Secretly each one of us hopes that we can finish in a position that leads to the Champions League." Tadic isn't the only one dreaming. Given the relentless criticism over the summer, Southampton's hierarchy would be forgiven for drawing comparisons between those departed and their replacements. Tadic and Pelle have played 1,390 minutes combined, scored a combined total of seven goals, have eight assists and created 32 chances. The totals for Rickie Lambert and Lallana at Liverpool read 411 minutes played, one goal, no assists and four chances created. Plus a £10m profit in Saints' bank account, let's remember. Further evidence to defend Southampton's actions and tough decisions was hardly needed after an impressive start, but Saturday hammered the final nail in the coffin of doom-mongering. Of the six first-team players sold by Saints, not one of their new clubs sits as high in the league. Players performing at the top of their game; a manager enjoying an attractive assignment; a winger in Dusan Tadic that must be an early candidate for signing of the season. For the Saints, the good news just keeps marching in. Edited October 20, 2014 by Villan4Life 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyp102 Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 What I liked about Koeman on Saturday was that at 6-0 he was encouraging his team further forward still.. I'd love to that.. The one time we went 2-0 up this season we starting sitting back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 What I liked about Koeman on Saturday was that at 6-0 he was encouraging his team further forward still.. I'd love to that.. The one time we went 2-0 up this season we starting sitting back I'd be happy if we had scored 6 goals this season. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post The_Rev Posted October 20, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 20, 2014 I'd be happy if we just scored. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HanoiVillan Posted October 20, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 20, 2014 I'd be happy if we just looked like scoring. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted October 20, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted October 20, 2014 What I liked about Koeman on Saturday was that at 6-0 he was encouraging his team further forward still.. I'd love to that.. The one time we went 2-0 up this season we starting sitting back But to be fair, there's a world of difference between 6-0 and 2-0. At 6-0 with 10 minutes left or whatever it was, they're not going to lose, they've got Sunderland on the ropes and there's very little risk in turning the screw. At 2-0, if you commit forward too much and the other team nick a goal, it's squeaky bum time. You can't really compare the two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyp102 Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 What I liked about Koeman on Saturday was that at 6-0 he was encouraging his team further forward still.. I'd love to that.. The one time we went 2-0 up this season we starting sitting back But to be fair, there's a world of difference between 6-0 and 2-0. At 6-0 with 10 minutes left or whatever it was, they're not going to lose, they've got Sunderland on the ropes and there's very little risk in turning the screw. At 2-0, if you commit forward too much and the other team nick a goal, it's squeaky bum time. You can't really compare the two. At 2-0 if you score a third you are out of sight, it's a negative thought to sit back, something we did for the entire second half when we had been cruising first. We invited pressure onto us. Best form of defence is attack. Anyway going off topic now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted October 21, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted October 21, 2014 Well you sort of missed the point there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyp102 Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Well you sort of missed the point there. How did I? Your point was that at 6-0 they could go forward and not worry as the game was safe, whereas at 2-0 we couldn't because there was always a chance that they could come back into it. However, it is my thought that you only get to 6-0 (and so being comfortable) by going for it at 2-0. My original post was merely reflecting that Koeman didn't allow his team to take their foot off the pedal despite being 6-0 up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 He also saw that Sunderland were a shambles and there for the taking. Your claim about "if you score a third at 2-0" is a pretty big if, isn't it? I mean it's been a cliche for years that the third goal scored in any game is the most important and loads of teams try to shut up shop at 2-0. Southampton thrashing a piss poor Sunderland has nothing to do with our negativity against other teams, I mean it was only 18 months ago we put six past Sunderland ourselves. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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