Before we begin, I would like to acknowledge that one of the fixtures listed in the header, as we all know, was postponed. It was due to be played as I’m writing this (Tues night), however the correct decision was made and my thoughts remain with everyone affected by the events at The King Power on Saturday. What it means for us is a delayed game for a second consecutive round of the Carabao Cup, which is turning into quite a weird cup run.
At least we’re still in it though; which is better than last year, where we got knocked out at the earliest possible stage, at home, against then-Championship side Wolves. Having seen off Brighton in a dead game, with an Austin header the difference, we travelled up to Goodison, looking for our first win there since before I was born. And there’s debate as to whether we achieved it or not. Danny Ings put us ahead, with Redmond notching a nice assist, but Saints couldn’t see out the win. Shock. Mind you, at least we were getting into winning positions back then. Walcott equalised in the 85th minute, and I think we were all convinced they’d find the winner before the whistle.
Instead it went to penalties, which someone rather kindly streamed on Twitter. Well it was them filming Sky Sports News on their TV, but it made do. Saints showed some bottle, which was odd. Angus Gunn again impressed in goal, and no one expected Cédric to be the one that converted the decisive penalty.
Due to the fixture being put back a week, we already knew we were to face Leicester away in the next round; making the cup run thus far being three mediocre Premier League teams away. All very uninspiring to be honest, although the Leicester game will now be an emotional affair when eventually played.
The mention of uninspiring seems to be the perfect point to get onto our league campaign. In last month’s round up, I wrote a mini report of each fixture. To be honest, just putting a classification of all this month’s scores does the job. In fact, I’ll chuck in our previous two league games for emphasis.
22 SEP Liverpool 3-0 Southampton
29 SEP Wolves 2-0 Southampton
07 OCT Southampton 0-3 Chelsea
20 OCT Bournemouth 0-0 Southampton
27 OCT Southampton 0-0 Newcastle
And how does November begin? Oh yeah, a trip to the Etihad. We haven’t scored in 5, and they haven’t conceded in 6. They would have played two games since we last played, so you never know… I’m joking, you absolutely know. And yes I’ll be there vlogging the reaction/breakdown.
People have been asking what’s happened to the 90Min vlogs. I am still with them; we’ve been struggling with YouTube’s algorithm, but a new plan for exploiting our content will be in place from this weekend. In the meantime, I’m uploading vlogs of every game on my channel so check them out if you haven’t already!
Right let’s get onto Saints then, I’ve avoided it enough.
A lot has been said about it; it’s very evident what our main problem is. 5 games without scoring is the most since 2001. We are officially worse than under Pellegrino, a fact strengthened by Hughes having a lower average points per game and win percentage.
But who’s to blame?
I was asked this question over the phone in an interview for a university student’s project yesterday. And really the answer is everyone.
- The Players – We had the chances to win the game against Newcastle on Saturday. Long has to do better with his chance, Elyounoussi and Redmond also could’ve scored, and Lemina was unlucky. But still we didn’t, and never did it really look or feel like we would. Danny Ings was our main goal threat to begin with, but now he drops deep and does the dirty work in midfield. Wasn’t that what we signed Armstrong for? Austin is past it and is an embarrassment every time he’s on the pitch, but it’s not his fault he’s picked.
- Mark Hughes – His tactics and team selections are killing us. At Bournemouth we looked better when Gabbi and Armstrong came on, so we start against Newcastle with Austin back in… What is our style of play? What is our identity? Cross-field passes from defence that our wingers fail to control? Hoof ball. We’re going nowhere under him, and shouldn’t have signed him up for three years. I admit I was wrong and thought we should, but you don’t get the fire brigade to rebuild your house once the fire’s been put out. He did his job, but look what he’s doing to us now. There was an undeniable bounce when he arrived, but we’ve reverted to type and our confidence is lower than ever.
- The Board – I can’t wait for December’s promised Fans’ Forum… They’ve overseen the entire demise; they’ve recruited players and coaches, so theoretically, they’re 100% culpable. They’ve made mistake after mistake since Koeman and Paul Mitchell left, and there doesn’t seem to be any attempt at turning the tide.
My biggest fear this season is that I don’t think we’ll get relegated. Cardiff, Huddersfield, Fulham and Newcastle are all that bit worse than us, somehow. I feel like we’re destined for 16th, and it feels like the club would be happy with that. Survival. A far cry from the dreams of regular European football. Hughes came out last week and said we’re close to where we want to be. Well where do we want to be then? The relegation zone? I say it’s my fear, as I feel the club deem there to be no reason for action. Just keep plodding along as we are.
Instead, it comes across the club are more focused on ‘the brand’. I know they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place; it’s just the way the league’s going. However, the fire, the light show, the jazzy Oh When The Saints, the gastro bar, the new Monopoly board… who gives a flying f*ck? Do they not realise that the only way to improve the match day experience is by improving the football? When the entertainment is so incongruent to the actual football itself, I find the experience insulting.
Hughes will say we’ve improved in the last couple of weeks, having not conceded. Bournemouth were under par, and Newcastle are Newcastle. They were bottom of the league until they took a point off us – only their third of the season. Maybe Hoedt has turned a corner, but I’ll reserve judgement until 5pm this Sunday. Stephens has done a job alongside him, but why are we expecting the same players as last year to do a better job than last year? Did we waste the transfer window?
- Vestegaard – No control over his legs, no pace and beaten with ease despite his size. Unfavoured by Hughes, and his dropping has an air of a ‘Carrillo – never to be seen again’ dropping.
- Gunn – Has impressed when played, but wasn’t a priority when Forster is still on the books, and McCarthy isn’t going to be displaced. I feel he’s currently wasted here.
- Elyounoussi – Lively and tracks back, but yet to show any real quality in attack. I don’t know if it’s because of the players around him, or he’s just not that good. Haven’t given up hope due to his promise at Basel in the CL, but at the moment he’s like a permanent off form Tadić.
- Armstrong – Who? People call for him to be starting, forgetting he was at fault for both goals at Wolves. Not strong enough for the league.
- Ings – Started brightly, but he’s been converted into the Southampton Way of ‘doesn’t look like scoring at all’.
I do miss my rants on here, and I’m sorry my content is massively reduced this season. I promise the match reports will be back after graduation. I’ll be honest, I am glad I haven’t had to try and squeeze a thousand words each out of Bournemouth and Newcastle. Third year of university is so busy that I’m really enjoying the break that the matches offer, but bloody hell I really thought this season would be different. Definitely didn’t think it’d be worse.
I’ll be back next month with a review of November, in which we play Man City (A), Watford (H) and Fulham (A). The latter two are big because from December our fixtures become disgusting. In the meantime, follow my Twitter and subscribe to my channel!
Owen The Saints 