Southampton Banter 2

20 Oct 2026 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - Big C has posted a new article entitled, Everton Need Stability Under Moyes

19 Oct 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - OptimumShots has posted a new article entitled, Everton Need More Than Moyes' Stability

18 Oct 2026 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - thefutureisoldgold3 has posted a new article entitled, Wolves Player Ratings v Burnley

17 Oct 2026 14:51:27
I'm writing this before the match as I like to live/die by the sword.

I want to categorically state that this is NOT me being negative towards Tonda, I know people don't agree with and some just are too stubborn to agree with me lol

But surely alot of you can see a distinct difference between the team we were under Tonda last season and the team we are under Tonda this season?

I'm not saying we're s*** by any means but for me it's 100% clear that lightning form/way of playing where we were blowing teams out of the water was down to spying, spying on way more teams then was let on.

Fast forward to today'l and we don't have have that. What we do have is an expensive team/high quality championship team/players and experience from last year. I think largely that's what getting us through this season.

Does any of that matter and what's my point? No, none of it really matters. Only that everyone was liken Tonda to being a god, when actually he's alot more average then people have him credit for. He's young and he has time to improve, but I think people need to accept that last season was a fake unfair/advantage that we had and now we're seeing how we perform within the same non-cheating constraints that everyone else has i.e. not be able to spy/learn beforehand.

On a different matter JWP. There were concerns/disgruntlement with bringing him back as he doesn't offer much asides from his deadball. With that I would have to agree. It blows my mind why he's on the pitch and not taking every deadball situation, sure Manning's ok at it too, but if JWP is not he pitch just leave it all to him and let him get back into the swing of it, manning cam offer other qualities on the pitch whereas if JWP isn't on deadball, what's the point ting this

17 Oct 2026 17:13:52
I for one have, have never likened Tonda to a managerial God. I'm not convinced by his tampering or tactics. And the tippy tappy football drives me mad - we should have ripped up that playbook when we got rid of Martin.

Today, case in point - a miserable draw which has taken the sparkle off the week we've just had.

That's said, none of the performances were great and certainly not convincing.

However, it was like the script was written for Bazuna - one of the few clean sheets he ever kept at St Mary's.

Back to Tonda, does he know his best starting eleven - I certainly don't and nor do any of the Saints fans I keep complaint with.

Next Saturday, we will have to perform otherwise we will be trampled over by a very confident West Ham side.

18 Oct 2026 08:27:21
Lesleee I think you are overstating it.

Without the 4 point deduction and terrible penalty denial we would be on 23 points and top of the league right now.

That's with us missing Jander, THB, Charles, Robinson and Stewart in the line up from last season, plus the uncertainty of spygate punishment hanging over us.

I am sure the spying gave us an unfair edge but we also do not have the same quality off the bench to turn 1 point into 3 anymore. Plus, more quality teams in the division.

The next 3 games will pit us against promotion rivals and will be a big test of our level.

18 Oct 2026 09:25:42
I agree SaintThatAKick.
The referee missed two big calls - the pen and the sending off incident.
On another day, that would have been 3 points.
Talking of recent former players, I would add KWP to that list - with him at RB we would have far more threat down the right flank and whilst Bree wrote himself into Saints folklore with the winner against that lot down the road, his miss yesterday was one of the worst I've ever seen.
I also don't rate Bragg - he reminds me of Smallbone - lots of huff and puff but no real end product or purpose. That's where Matty Fernandez would have made such a difference too!

On a slightly different subject, it's interesting that those who wanted away haven't necessarily prospered (other than their bank accounts). Tyler Dibling is a bench warmer at Everton who rarely gets game time and to be honest, is unlikely to get the nod over Grealish.

18 Oct 2026 22:17:54
Agree on all points Millertime.

Think we are in for a fun promotion chase.

Hope for autos but Saints vs Boro playoff final would be electric.

21 Oct 2026 06:05:23
With regard to Tonda's performance this season-I would say he's done a pretty good. Job so far (considering his personal circumstances).I would also say that there are at least half a dozen Managers' in the Championship-who if given the Saints Squad would have achieved similar points achieved to date if not better. I would include Bolton's Steven Schumacher on evidence of. his away Team set-up(including not many noteable Players)to leave St. Mary's with a point.

Reading that we are currently scouring the Markets for a proven no.9 to accompany the "Bagsman”if not eclipse him ( if promotion is a realistic target).Personally,we could also be searching for another lively goal scoring forward,at. midfielder,def. midfielder, and a strong young accomplished C. Back to partner Schlotterbeck. More good news. Princewill Ehibhatiomhan———-looks promising if Tonda is brave enough to afford him the right opportunities,!

17 Oct 2026 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Manchester City - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

16 Oct 2026 15:17:31
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Manchester City - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

15 Oct 2026 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 6 - Quick Round Up

14 Oct 2026 22:53:26
On the way home from Carrow Road and reflecting on another strange sort of display. Had it been a boxing contest we would have won on points for sure, but there was never going to be a knock out punch.

Again, we lacked mojo and it was a surprising line-up IMO, but 6 points in 3 days (with no goals conceded) is no mean feat.

Good support from the travelling Saints fans who like me, put points before performance.

Hopefully we can make it three on the bounce Saturday which will boost the points tally.

15 Oct 2026 16:11:12
agree, hoping to see some more convincing and energetic form. Hoping that the fact that the spying issue is behind us will lead to more momentum and drive. Being in the playoff positions after an inconsistent start, and with head coach position in question is good enough. Now we need to start scaring teams.

14 Oct 2026 16:37:52
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 6 - Quick Round Up

12 Oct 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - MCR has posted a new article entitled, Effort Has to Be Liverpool's Bare Minimum

11 Oct 2026 16:20:32
Gutsy rather than pretty.
Combative rather than convincing.
But heh, 3 points against that lot down the wrong end of the M27 is always to be rejoiced, after all, the 4 points we dropped against them last season (2 draws) arguably cost us an automatic spot.
That being the case, there would have been no ‘one man and a tree' scenario and we would now be competing in a mini league along with the likes of Fulham, Coventry, Sunderland, Villa, oh and Spurs of course (lol).


So hopefully this win will put us on a different history making path!

12 Oct 2026 18:12:44
Gutsy is a good word Miller!
We definitely allowed pompey to get at us.
If we had stuck to the fast flowing football, I think we may have taken a hold of the game.
However it wasn't helped that the referee was allowing so many bad tackles, shirt pulling to go on.
Although Aziz was very lucky to stay on the pitch, a clear red all day long

These are games we once lost or drawed.

Onwards and upwards.

11 Oct 2026 07:39:04
{Ed's Note - OptimumShots has posted a new article entitled, Who Are the Two Mystery Groups Interested in Buying Everton?

05 Oct 2026 07:39:04
{Ed's Note - OptimumShots has posted a new article entitled, Everton Scouting: Page, Porto Trio and Ebnoutalib

04 Oct 2026 16:34:11
Isn't it interesting how intensity and passion can transform a team. Last night England were on fire - every kick, every touch was offensive minded.
No one was walking or strolling - it was passing and movement to perfection.
Without the ball they were nearly as good as they were with it.

Same players pretty much but a master class in playing football on the front foot.

Then my thoughts turned to our preferred style of football - mostly the opposite of all of the above with one or two notable exceptions e. g. Millwall.

Maybe our coach and team should sit up and take notice.

04 Oct 2026 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - EHL2020 has posted a new article entitled, Can Rangers Replace Morelos's Tactical Impact?