- Jul 7, 2003
- 48,114
I came away yesterday thinking they probably were (and yes, I have not forgotten we contrived to draw against them earlier in the season).
Most poor sides have something in their favour. Ipswich aren't great at defending but can score goals. Wolves don't score loads but are reasonably solid at the back. Everton have survived for years by being enormously dull but a strong defensive unit, as did Palace when Pulis/ Allardyce/ Roy were in charge). Burnley were rubbish last season but could find a goal now and then, and Sheffield United (the only team I could think of who even come close to Saints) were largely useless but at least got stuck in like they cared, even if it meant nearly snapping Mitoma in half in the process.
Southampton, on the other hand, have no strikers even vaguely approaching mid table Championship quality, something resembling a supermassive black hole where a midfield should be, and a defence that wouldn't look out of place in the National league. Plus Aaron Ramsdale.
I couldn't believe how many times their centre halves (in name at least) stood twenty yards apart while we just ran past them, or knocked the ball casually through. I've not seen us stroll through defences like that since peak De Zerbi era. The funniest bit was when Bednarek went off injured and all their fans cheered sarcastically, I believe because they've been desperate to see Bella-Kotchap play, only for the new man to be even worse. And being even worse than Jan Bednarek is quite the accolade.
They'll beat Derby's record, if only because some team nearing the end of the season with nothing to play for will roll over and gift them the points, but my goodness, they are off the scale bad. I don't even see them doing well in the Championship next season, simply because they have so few players who look good enough to challenge the other top teams, and those who are (Dibling, Ramsdale) will leave anyway.
Most poor sides have something in their favour. Ipswich aren't great at defending but can score goals. Wolves don't score loads but are reasonably solid at the back. Everton have survived for years by being enormously dull but a strong defensive unit, as did Palace when Pulis/ Allardyce/ Roy were in charge). Burnley were rubbish last season but could find a goal now and then, and Sheffield United (the only team I could think of who even come close to Saints) were largely useless but at least got stuck in like they cared, even if it meant nearly snapping Mitoma in half in the process.
Southampton, on the other hand, have no strikers even vaguely approaching mid table Championship quality, something resembling a supermassive black hole where a midfield should be, and a defence that wouldn't look out of place in the National league. Plus Aaron Ramsdale.
I couldn't believe how many times their centre halves (in name at least) stood twenty yards apart while we just ran past them, or knocked the ball casually through. I've not seen us stroll through defences like that since peak De Zerbi era. The funniest bit was when Bednarek went off injured and all their fans cheered sarcastically, I believe because they've been desperate to see Bella-Kotchap play, only for the new man to be even worse. And being even worse than Jan Bednarek is quite the accolade.
They'll beat Derby's record, if only because some team nearing the end of the season with nothing to play for will roll over and gift them the points, but my goodness, they are off the scale bad. I don't even see them doing well in the Championship next season, simply because they have so few players who look good enough to challenge the other top teams, and those who are (Dibling, Ramsdale) will leave anyway.
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