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Interesting pre-Newcastle match comments from Southampton fans

6 years ago
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Rafa Benitez was predictably full of praise for Mauricio Pellegrino but it doesn’t appear that the Southampton fans are quite so enthusiastic.

Pellegrino has a close relationship with the Newcastle boss having been his first team coach at Liverpool and Inter Milan.

In his first management job at Valencia, Pellegrino only lasted seven months, then headed back to South America, before eventually coming back to Europe and doing an impressive job when finishing ninth in La Laga last season with promoted minnows Alaves.

That 2016/17 season obviously got him the job at Southampton but there is unrest amongst supporters.

Apart from three goals against West Ham, the Saints have managed only two in the other seven matches (all competitions).

Interesting to see how the two managers set their teams up today, whether it is a case of Rafa’s protege mirroring the Newcastle manager’s style?

Newcastle fans are overall very happy with the job Benitez is doing, even if it isn’t always the most exciting to watch. As a promoted club and with the resources he has had and the squad he has ended up with, supporters see a team that has picked up more points than the individuals that make it up, would be expected to get.

Even with the defend deep and rely mainly on counter-attacks, Newcastle have still had their moments going forward this season and Rafa’s tactics aren’t completely negative, more a realisation/understanding that when playing against better teams it would be foolish to play too open a game.

Maybe a little disappointing that a slightly different approach wasn’t used in the matches at Brighton and Huddersfield but despite their average early season form/results, Southampton have shown themselves to be a decent team in recent season, finishing eighth, seventh, sixth and eighth in the last four seasons. So I think we all know it will be a tough match, despite the home side’s lack of goals so far.

The more optimistic Southampton fans point to no Newcastle wins for 13 years on the south coast and the last four games showing four home wins, 13 goals for Southampton and only one for Newcastle.

Maybe a match where a point would be seen as very good for Newcastle but a real negative for the hosts, hopefully that anxiety to get a win will play into Rafa Benitez’ hands.

Southampton fans comment via their top Saints Web message board:

‘Newcastle have a far better manager then us and I think that could make the difference.

0-1.’

‘Normally us against the Mags at SMS is a home banker.

I’m a bit worried about this one though. I reckon it might be a Shelvey belter from yards out that does it too. Let’s hope it’s an attack-minded team that’s put out.’

‘So very, very unenthusiastic about the Newcastle game. I can’t see us scoring more than 1, unless we get a load of referee decisions ala West Ham of course.

The latest video from the manager does little to alleviate the concerns that we’re not looking like scoring. At some point he has to try something else because it’s clear that the personnel we have are not able to step up and make the current approach work.. they’ve had enough chances.’

‘Couldn’t give a monkeys about this game. Puel was treated terribly and we now have a totally clueless manager in charge who has made us much, much worse than last season. Last season we had Puel coaching the younger home grown players and seeing them improve was a high spot.

Pellegrino has done nothing to convince me he can coach these players to become better – he certainly is not giving them a chance. Yet Redmond and Tadic are no doubt nailed on to start tomorrow.

Enjoy the crabfest.’

‘In his interviews Pellegrino looked distinctly uncomfortable and hesitant, a sign perhaps that his recent meetings with the board have not been quite as friendly as they used to be a few weeks ago?’

‘We are going backwards, yet there are some very poor teams this year.

We’ll be alright. Not sure that’s really The Southampton Way though.’

‘We will beat Newcastle easy.’

‘Massive game. Today needs to be the day we start scoring again.’

‘Attacking football can win games!!.

If we have another display of tippy tappy keep ball without hardly crossing the halfway line I give up, and Reed and co need to be shot at dawn for their recent manager appointments and general poor decision making.

For me today’s game is pivotal.’

‘Despite us being rubbish that’s not actually true , we’ve had the 6th most shots in the league this season (and last season was the same) yet we have the worst shot conversion rate in the league (and not surprisingly we did last season too) the issue last season and this season is the lack of clinical finishing rather than this myth that we don’t create anything.’

‘We’ve had some great home performances against Newcastle in recent years and usuallly beat them by at least 2 clear goals. Newcastle do not and never have travelled well.’

‘When I’ve seen Newcastle they’ve looked well organised and disciplined but quite toothless up front.

In other words, well coached but lacking quality in forward positions.

So, basically, like us. 0-0.’

‘Fat Spanish waiter. He’s just a fat Spanish waiter. With 3 points probably.’

‘4-0 saints. We always seem to play Newcastle after a poor run at home and we always spank them.’

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