Southampton match thread

[chilipepper91]

who set up longs goal?

shunt

Great.
O'h and wasn't it Shunt who just put in a superb ball for Doyle only to hit the bar?

So to all the pricks slagging off Hunt - come on then, what have you got to say now?

One swallow doesn't make a summer.

[Ian Royal]

Can we put to bed the theories that Marek is our greatest player and should be the first name on the teamsheet yet?

TBH we don't seem to have played well for ages now. We picked out game up against a poor B'ham team, but we were getting lucky wins prior to that and now we're getting lucky draws. Kebe and SHunt are good, but teams have gotten the tactic of stifling them and our full backs sorted now.

Marek and partner is too lightwight to win and keep the ball so even his more creative presence in midfield isn't a great deal of use.

We desperately need to either change our formation and try something new to surprise teams (although it can't be too new or the players won't be able to get used to it quick enough). Or we need to bring in at least one of; a top quality fit and quick defensive midfielder with an eye for goal and a talent for passing, a top striker, or a top winger.

Not that desperate, Ian. We haven't had our "regular" midfield (at least our most successful one) of Kebe, Cisse, Harper, Hunt for several games. I don't see why we shouldn't pick the momentum back up in January when they play together. No desperation as we lie in second place, unbeaten with 18 points from our last eight games.

True, guess I'm just feeling the holiday blues.

Watford had better be a damn site better, I don't want to be giving shite presents to my nephew and his dad. But then Mat has a quite spectacular record when it comes to games I've taken him to.

[S09Royal]

Tbh i wouldn't be upset if SHunt left us next week, seems like the partnership between him,nhunt and doyle has calmed down (isn't as lively as it was) since nhunt first moved here or maybe other teams have just done their homework on us.
Based on the past couple of performances from SHunt, i can't see why any PL team would come in for him, he isn't as good as some people think, still he does work his socks off for us. Get it sorted next year SSC. Saying that, not at all a bad month for us, 5 wins, 2 draws 0 loses. I see the 2 draws as 2 points won, not 4 points lost, although we really do need to improve in time for the home match against Watford...which should be intresting.

[Ian Royal]

Tbh i wouldn't be upset if SHunt left us next week, seems like the partnership between him,nhunt and doyle has calmed down (isn't as lively as it was) since nhunt first moved here or maybe other teams have just done their homework on us.
Based on the past couple of performances from SHunt, i can't see why any PL team would come in for him, he isn't as good as some people think, still he does work his socks off for us. Get it sorted next year SSC. Saying that, not at all a bad month for us, 5 wins, 2 draws 0 loses. I see the 2 draws as 2 points won, not 4 points lost, although we really do need to improve in time for the home match against Watford...which should be intresting.

It's only been 2 points won because of the shite late goals we've conceeded twice to go behind. Taken in the context of the whole games it's at least 2 points dropped.

[S09Royal]

Tbh i wouldn't be upset if SHunt left us next week, seems like the partnership between him,nhunt and doyle has calmed down (isn't as lively as it was) since nhunt first moved here or maybe other teams have just done their homework on us.
Based on the past couple of performances from SHunt, i can't see why any PL team would come in for him, he isn't as good as some people think, still he does work his socks off for us. Get it sorted next year SSC. Saying that, not at all a bad month for us, 5 wins, 2 draws 0 loses. I see the 2 draws as 2 points won, not 4 points lost, although we really do need to improve in time for the home match against Watford...which should be intresting.

It's only been 2 points won because of the shite late goals we've conceeded twice to go behind. Taken in the context of the whole games it's at least 2 points dropped.

We could've lost both games though, but we didn't.

Was Bikey playing?

[RoyalBlue]

Bye bye, Leroy, even Shane's more use than you!

Care to take your blinkers off and tell us just how many minutes of football your lovechild Long has now played for a pretty feeble contribution of goals?

Anyone who thinks Long is a good enough third choice striker for a Championship team with promotion aspirations is a fool. God help us if Doyle or N Hunt pick up a bad injury!

[comeonthebiscuitmen]

if we match birminghams results for the rest of the season we will be promoted
burnley and palace lost so a point isnt too bad today.
A Reading win would have been a travesty of justice according to 5live.

[cmonurz]

One swallow doesn't make a summer.

How many assists is that now this season? 10? 11?

[Arch]

Bye bye, Leroy, even Shane's more use than you!

Care to take your blinkers off and tell us just how many minutes of football your lovechild Long has now played for a pretty feeble contribution of goals?

Anyone who thinks Long is a good enough third choice striker for a Championship team with promotion aspirations is a fool. God help us if Doyle or N Hunt pick up a bad injury!

Neither position makes much sense. It's good news that Shane has scored a couple of goals in recent games. Maybe, just maybe, he can kick on from here. Anyone who's either certain he will or certain he won't blinkered.

[PEARCEY]

Can we put to bed the theories that Marek is our greatest player and should be the first name on the teamsheet yet?

TBH we don't seem to have played well for ages now. We picked out game up against a poor B'ham team, but we were getting lucky wins prior to that and now we're getting lucky draws. Kebe and SHunt are good, but teams have gotten the tactic of stifling them and our full backs sorted now.

Marek and partner is too lightwight to win and keep the ball so even his more creative presence in midfield isn't a great deal of use.

We desperately need to either change our formation and try something new to surprise teams (although it can't be too new or the players won't be able to get used to it quick enough). Or we need to bring in at least one of; a top quality fit and quick defensive midfielder with an eye for goal and a talent for passing, a top striker, or a top winger.

Not that desperate, Ian. We haven't had our "regular" midfield (at least our most successful one) of Kebe, Cisse, Harper, Hunt for several games. I don't see why we shouldn't pick the momentum back up in January when they play together. No desperation as we lie in second place, unbeaten with 18 points from our last eight games.

Yep we are very well placed particularly with Wolves and Brum having to come to our place.
I refuse to believe Brum are better than us...but watch out for Cardiff but only if they keep their best players next month.

[Skin]

One swallow doesn't make a summer.

Hardly one swallow though is it.... I just think SHunt is a vital part of the 'team' now, as a regular he will be missed to the point of adversity if he goes in Jan.

I hope he doesn't go and I hope IF he goes my theory is wrong. People tried telling me we wouldn't miss Sidwell when he was on the verge of moving on, that was complete crap too.

OK he may not be playing to the best of his ability at present (I wasn't at the game today, I look at the stats which actually favour Shunt but I also read what people are saying on here) but please don't wish him away, you will regret it. Some of the stuff on here is shameful sometimes.

[Fat Leather Jacket]

Its not the same argument. Most people knew that that the Sidwell-Harper relationship was vital to Reading. Sidwell was missed and is still missed.

Hunt running round and round like a blue arsed fly doing nothing is simply not in the same league.

[Arch]

One swallow doesn't make a summer.

Hardly one swallow though is it.... I just think SHunt is a vital part of the 'team' now, as a regular he will be missed to the point of adversity if he goes in Jan.

I hope he doesn't go and I hope IF he goes my theory is wrong. People tried telling me we wouldn't miss Sidwell when he was on the verge of moving on, that was complete crap too.

OK he may not be playing to the best of his ability at present (I wasn't at the game today, I look at the stats which actually favour Shunt but I also read what people are saying on here) but please don't wish him away, you will regret it. Some of the stuff on here is shameful sometimes.

Agree with this entirely. It's a probabilities game and by far our best chance of thriving in the new year is with hunt upping his game (as he has done on many occasions since he first started being written of by fans). Compare that with the lottery that is bringing in a replacement. Speaking of which, where was Surman today?

[Skin]

Its not the same argument. Most people knew that that the Sidwell-Harper relationship was vital to Reading. Sidwell was missed and is still missed.

Hunt running round and round like a blue arsed fly doing nothing is simply not in the same league.

I can't even be bothered to try and understand your definition of 'nothing'. 'Nothing' has probably meant the difference between winning games and losing games, or in the case of today getting a point and very nearly all three. Pull your head out your arse mate.

[cmonurz]

Hunt running round and round like a blue arsed fly doing nothing is simply not in the same league.

I've been beaten to it, but take out Hunt's league-leading number of assists this season (by some distance iirc), and I think Reading FC would be the ones considered to be 'doing nothing' this season.

This is a bit like Victor Meldrew's efforts of diminish Kevin Pietersen's performances. If you want to look at stats, and actual performances, you lose the argument.

If you just don't like Stephen Hunt, grow a pair and say it, but try to argue the actuals and you fail miserably.

[Fat Leather Jacket]

Its not the same argument. Most people knew that that the Sidwell-Harper relationship was vital to Reading. Sidwell was missed and is still missed.

Hunt running round and round like a blue arsed fly doing nothing is simply not in the same league.

I can't even be bothered to try and understand your definition of 'nothing'. 'Nothing' has probably meant the difference between winning games and losing games, or in the case of today getting a point and very nearly all three. Pull your head out your arse mate.

I apologise, he does run into other players a lot.

Nice avoiding of my first point though.

[Skin]

Its not the same argument. Most people knew that that the Sidwell-Harper relationship was vital to Reading. Sidwell was missed and is still missed.

Hunt running round and round like a blue arsed fly doing nothing is simply not in the same league.

I can't even be bothered to try and understand your definition of 'nothing'. 'Nothing' has probably meant the difference between winning games and losing games, or in the case of today getting a point and very nearly all three. Pull your head out your arse mate.

I apologise, he does run into other players a lot.

Nice avoiding of my first point though.

Your first point? "Its not the same argument". I let it go because I thought it was total crap to be fair. However I'll bite.

Why is it not the same argument?

We are talking about a player who might be leaving and what effect that might have on our future performances.

You can't dismiss the similarities just because in your opinion "it was obvious Sidwell was missed and is still missed" and in your opinion Shunt won't!

[Fat Leather Jacket]

Wait for Hunt to leave next month. We will compare notes after.

[SLAMMED]

Can we put to bed the theories that Marek is our greatest player and should be the first name on the teamsheet yet?

TBH we don't seem to have played well for ages now. We picked out game up against a poor B'ham team, but we were getting lucky wins prior to that and now we're getting lucky draws. Kebe and SHunt are good, but teams have gotten the tactic of stifling them and our full backs sorted now.

Marek and partner is too lightwight to win and keep the ball so even his more creative presence in midfield isn't a great deal of use.

We desperately need to either change our formation and try something new to surprise teams (although it can't be too new or the players won't be able to get used to it quick enough). Or we need to bring in at least one of; a top quality fit and quick defensive midfielder with an eye for goal and a talent for passing, a top striker, or a top winger.

Not that desperate, Ian. We haven't had our "regular" midfield (at least our most successful one) of Kebe, Cisse, Harper, Hunt for several games. I don't see why we shouldn't pick the momentum back up in January when they play together. No desperation as we lie in second place, unbeaten with 18 points from our last eight games.

Yep we are very well placed particularly with Wolves and Brum having to come to our place.
I refuse to believe Brum are better than us...but watch out for Cardiff but only if they keep their best players next month.

Chopra's loan has now run out and he wont be extending it.

[cmonurz]

Wait for Hunt to leave next month. We will compare notes after.

Nice avoiding my point re his assists.