Southampton v AFC Bournemouth

Quite ironic that we are having the debate on this thread about English players having better attitudes than Africans...when further down the forum we have threads on Lee Tomlin and Ravel Morrison who are both English, and also PFA player of the year, Mo Salah, an African!
 
Agree, but my feelings are based on our recent poor results at St Marys. They do have a good squad and I was really surprised they are where they are.
 
Just nipping down the road to tell my black disabled friend of 30 years that I've been called a racist - he will laugh so much !

My rantings are about FOOTBALL!
 
...one day future generations will be blind to a persons colour, race and creed and comparisons will be no more...we are ALL individuals and have our own hopes and dreams...I just wish we could banish prejudice, religious differences...foolish pre-conceptions...the selfish greed...and perhaps just treat others as we would like to be treated...certainly sport should transcend any of this bullpoo !
 
For the record: My main dislikes;

Prejudice and ignorance toward Disabled people.
Racism in all its forms.
Cruelty to Animals.
Using religion as a vehicle for anything bad.
Criminal grooming of kids Online.


What can we do about these problems ?.. Donate money or materials. Join groups/associations that make progress or merely help anyone nearby that suffers from such things.
 
Must Win Game For Saints

After our two defeats against top three clubs, away against Liverpool and home to Manchester United, the Cherries next game is away against ‘them up the road’, a Southampton team fighting to stay in the Premier League. Saints have been in the Premier League since the start of the 2012-13 season. They have four games left, the game against us, we could really dent Mark Hughes chances of saving his side from relegation, by beating them for the first time on their patch, or even holding them to a draw, they need the 3 points and will be battling to get them. Then they are away at Everton and Swansea. Their last game is home to Manchester City who have already won the title. There are 12 points to play for and that game at Swansea could be crucial.

At the start of the season Mauricio Pellegrino was the Saints manager, but after a poor season of results in the Premier League, he lost his job in March. The manager before him, Claude Puel did last a full season before losing his job as manager. Two days after Pellegrino left, Mark Hughes took up the challenge on the 15th March of keeping Saints in the Premier League. Hughes was sacked at his previous club Stoke City on January 6th this year. He had been there since May 2013.

In the January transfer window, Saints signed the Argentine striker Guido Carrillo from AS Monaco for £19.1 million pounds. Going out of the Saints team was Virgil van Dijk who joined Liverpool for £75 million.

At the half way stage of the season after 19 games (23rd December), Saints were in 13th place on 19 points (the time of Austin’s injury) and the Cherries were in 18th place (Saints position now) on 16 points.
In January at home Saints lost 1-2 to Crystal Palace, drew 1-1 with Spurs and the same score against Brighton. February Saints lost 0-2 against Liverpool. March drew 0-0 with Stoke City, it was Pellegrino last home game as Saints manager. Mark Hughes’ first game saw Saints losing 2-3 to Chelsea after being two goals up. Away from home in January, Saints drew 2-2 with Watford. February they beat West Brom 2-3 and drew 1-1 with Burnley. March and Pellegrino’s last game in charge, Saints lost 3-0 to Newcastle United. In Mark Hughes first game in charge in the league they lost 3-0 against West Ham. April they lost 3-2 against Arsenal and drew 0-0 with Leicester City. Now after 34 games, Saints are in 18th place on 29 points, the Cherries have played 35 games and are 11th on 38 points.

In our Premier League games at St Mary’s Stadium, in our first season 2015-16, Saints won 2-0. 2016-17 it finished in a 0-0 draw. At Dean Court of the 2015-16 season, the Cherries won 2-0. In the 2016-17 season AFCB lost 1-3. This season 2017-18 it ended in a 1-1 draw. In all away games in the leagues against Saints, AFCB have won 0, drawn 3 and lost 7. In all fixtures AFCB have won 7, drawn 7 and lost 12.

Saints Team News
Saints are the only team with no injuries according to the injury website. Jack Stephens is available again after suspension.

Saints Player To Watch
Charlie Austin, looked dangerous at times against Chelsea at Wembley and hit the post. Scored their goal in the game earlier this season at Dean Court and seems one Saints player who is doing his best to stop them getting relegated if he is given the chance. Surprised he didn’t start with Long in the league game. Still their leading scorer even though he has missed a number of games. Up until his injury two days before Christmas, 5 of Austin’s 6 goals have been scored at St Mary’s Stadium, the other one was at Dean Court. Since his return from injury he scored 1 of the goals in the 3-2 away defeat against Arsenal.

AFCB Team News
No new injuries reported, so Eddie has a good squad to pick from, which could include Adam Smith who at one time looked as if he might be out for the season.

AFCB Player To Watch
I think Eddie will stick with Callum Wilson and Callum was unlucky not to have been on the score sheet against Manchester United when he was held by Shaw as we was going for the cross from Josh King. The officials didn’t see it and no foul was given. He kept going against United and gave their defence problems. I want to see Callum get back on the score sheet, so he will be my player to watch against Saints. I know some of our fans won’t agree with my choice.

BBC Radio Solent
For those who can’t go, the game is being covered by the Southampton commentary team for that area and our area normally by Kris Temple and Willo. Let’s hope if we win or hold them to a draw, Dave Merrington is still talking to Willo!
 
RobTrent said:
Agree, but my feelings are based on our recent poor results at St Marys. They do have a good squad and I was really surprised they are where they are.
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Agree Rob although felt we dominated there last season. They've looked half decent in their last few matches, certainly not relegation material despite the results. Their fan base have always been extremely negative but I don't really see this reflected on the pitch . I thought they've looked a bit tentative, almost as if they were struggling to come to terms with Hughes tactics. He's attempting to build a defensive block, his trademark but the crazy thing is they need to do the opposite on Saturday.

Was Hughes the right appointment ? His approach has been that required at the start of the season or mid season as per Allardyce steadying the ship at Everton. Not last chance saloon.

With the stakes so high they have to go for it and that may well play into our hands on the counter. If he doesn't and they revert to what he's done already, I can see us getting on top quite quickly . Either way our away form is as poor as their home form so hard to call.
 
Sometimes it feels like our fanbase, myself included, want to win this one too much, and it creates pressure?

I guess thats what years of being a 'harmless' sister' does to you! :)
 
What I saw of them live on TV they do look ok, but when they get a goal against them, even if they are winning they then look nervous. Chelsea were not on top of their game, but bringing on Giroud changed the game and Chelsea took full advantage of Saints ‘nerves’.

Hughes has said they will have to take chances and come at us, they need 3 points, then we can hit them on a counter attack and hopefully get a goal.

We will have to watch Austin, Hughes has to start him if he wants to get the points, he has looked their most dangerous player in recent games.

Austin also will want to score against us, just to thank our fans for the reception he got at DC earlier in the season. :grinning:

It’s about time we laid to rest our record of never winning up there.

As for getting used to Hughes tactics, read this.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/16183468.Cedric_can__smell__growth/
 
Cedric Soares talking about playing us on Saturday
“This is for me like playing the final of the European Cup. This is a big moment and we need to fight."
Who'd have thought it?
 
Southampton's problem is they are too nice. They have neat and tidy players who play some pretty football. On their day, they have enough quality to beat most sides out the top 6.

What they lack is players who can roll their sleeves up and fight. You could say a bit like us, but where we have the edge perhaps is that players like S. Cook, Daniels, Gosling and Wilson can mix it up a little more. King can also bully defenders with his power if he is up for it. Man City at home springs to mind.

Southampton don't have many players with the experience of a relegation battle. If we can keep the crowd quiet and at least match their workrate, the longer the game goes on, the more likely I think we will be to nick a goal.
 
RobTrent said:
Sometimes it feels like our fanbase, myself included, want to win this one too much, and it creates pressure?

I guess thats what years of being a 'harmless' sister' does to you! :)
Click to expand...

I'll never forget the.... "they're like a little brother you just want to pat on the head and send off to bed".
 
That's the part that always made me chuckle about their fans. What kind of view must they have of Southampton FC to feel like they are in a position to patronise any club? They are footballing nonentities same as the rest of us.

Has there ever been a club who's supporters have though "the big boys are in town today" when Southampton rock up? Of course there hasn't. Ipswich, Coventry, Southampton, etc. all decent enough clubs but not exactly big time are they
 
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