Voting was locked for this match at midnight on Sunday 12th September but you may still add your mini match reports. Note that members and non-members alike were able to vote.

Your Southampton v West Ham United Match Reports

I_would added 17:47 - Sep 11 Oh Redders! What secrets about Ralph have you got in a safety deposit that gets you, not only picked, but able to stay on the pitch after a nightmare 'performance'? And Romeu and Prowsey are tosh and pointless.
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Ali_Diarea added 17:52 - Sep 11 I would of taken a point before the match, and a clean sheet is definitely something to build on…
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silverspringsaint added 18:32 - Sep 11 Positives: Two things that went well for a change: good game from McCarthy (clean sheet!), proactive and timely subs by Ralf Negatives: Central midfield looks lightweight, Romeu was poor today (not sure if there was a reason for that) Feeling upbeat about the season based on what we have seen so far (it could always go sideways later!). Squad is much deeper and there is more quality in some key areas compared to last season

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Sadoldgit added 18:40 - Sep 11 Only saw the second half. Lots of sloppy passing but we looked a decent side when Broja came on and were unlucky not to win it at the death. Ralph is still working out his best side but I would start Broja with Adams and use Armstrong as an impact sub.
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Block8 added 19:00 - Sep 11 Salisu and Stephens were excellent at keeping Antonio quiet, McCarthy pulled off a good save at his near post and was commanding on crosses. Livramento looks like one hell of a signing and Perraud looks promising too. Redmond is his own worst enemy, his defensive work is sound but he refuses to take on the defence and slows the game down, I for one would forgive the loss of the ball now and again for a more offensive approach. Overall a good point, I felt that Adams would have been a better option for a lone striker than Armstrong, although Armstrong made some very good but wasted runs as we chose to go backwards as usual. could have and maybe should have brought on Tella or Adams in the last ten minutes, when we were dominant, and gone for the win. Clean sheet is a good start!!

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mattthelegend added 19:02 - Sep 11 Would of taken that at the start, but as per the last 3 games disappointing not to of got at least 2 wins. Broja has to start in the next game though it’s Man City so a bit unfair on him. Redmond, words fail me has to be an impact player at best. Stephens had a great game (that’s gonna hurt you Nick😉) as did the rest of the defence.
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WestSussexSaint added 19:27 - Sep 11 You could see Ralph trying something different with his tactics today by sitting off and trying to hit on the counter attack. The defensive part worked pretty well and when you consider West Ham were the league’s top scorers going into this match it was a good idea. The counter attack piece was poorly executed though. Too many times the player on the ball had little support, it was a poor ball out of defence (Romeu was the worst offender) or it was lumped up to Armstrong who had no chance of holding it up against their centre backs. The crowd may have got frustrated at times with what could have been perceived as negative tactics but I think Ralph deserves credit when he has been accused of being inflexible in the past. We could have even won it late on but for the width of the post. Broja looks a handful and I hope he gets more chances in the coming matches.

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Jellybaby added 19:32 - Sep 11 I thought we would lose this in a high scoring encounter. Defense looked really solid including Stephens! Djenepo is chaotic but a handful. Broja looked the business. Substitutions and endurance seem so much better this season so far. Generally encouraging.
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halftimeorange added 20:07 - Sep 11 The defence wasn't the problem but, the midfield was totally ineffective. JWP was right off the pace, Romeu slightly better, Djenepo wasteful and Redmond idle. I think Broja should start up front with Armstrong and KWP in front of Livramento. Salisu won almost everything in the air and Stephens was only slightly less productive. Perraud was really solid and Livramento looks class.

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allsaint54 added 12:11 - Sep 12 How the hell does Redmond start let alone stay on for 90 mins? At least he's consistent, consistently c----. Why oh why doesn't Tella get a chance. Can't wait for Armstrong to be fit to give a ponderous midfield some life. On the plus side McCarthy's first clean sheet in 17 games & Broja looks promising.
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allsaint54 added 12:38 - Sep 12 How the hell does Redmond start let alone stay on for 90 mins? At least he's consistent, consistently c----. Why oh why doesn't Tella get a chance. Can't wait for Armstrong to be fit to give a ponderous midfield some life. On the plus side McCarthy's first clean sheet in 17 games & Broja looks promising.
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KriSaint added 12:50 - Sep 12 Very solid defensive display against the flying hammers. Armstrong as a lone striker was much to ask from him but he did his best. The double flank defending prevented crosses, and when crosses came Alex M was excellent. Djenepo worked very hard against the ball. Broja was my MOTM with his shot against the post and his header which was cleared as it was half way over the line. The lad is in GOOD form, and he is QUICK. Just look how he left Ogbonna for dead and got to the byline and tried to find Moi with a low cross. Livramento did ok - again - but he threw the ball away too often, and I screamed for KWP to come on with 25 minutes left. A clean sheet was definetely something we needed, and we were unlucky not to succeed with the game plan and take all 3 points. We needed a win too!! Why did the ref. not send Antonio off AFTER the end of our break away chance. Djenepo was on the floor yes (after having jumped 10 feet to avoid bruising both his legs by Antonio), but we were on the BREAK, and the chance was inexplicably and uselessly stopped by the inexperienced ref., who should have said "play on" and given Mikail the red card afterwoods.. Well done to Ralph and the players - Redmond not really though ; he was disciplined against the ball but way too ineffective when he was on the ball and expected to move forward and create. Adams apparently needed rest. He'll be ready for the next match. Him and Broja could be quite a handful with their physical strength, and we really need Stuey to come back soon to put some life into our midfield! Romeu is still no way near back to his best, but he has to play to get there, I suppose.... 0-0 , an acceptable result after all and a nice, clean sheet. I think we now have a solid, alternative game when playing the better teams in the league, which is very good. All in all a good afternoon, and Spurs lost 3-0 :-D COYS <3

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KriSaint added 02:01 - Sep 13 p.s. If our new game plan against better teams continues to be in a 4-1-4-1 formation, I think Adams or Broja is a better option than A. Armstrong as a lone striker, but ,ok, Adams and Broja had been playing 3 and 2 international games respectively (or did they both play 3?) in a week, so this time it was fair enough to let A. Armstrong play. However, though I like him, he seems too small/too light weight to play as a lone striker / target man. Had Longy not been covid hit, he might have played, I guess. Nice to see Ralph change tactics vs a very difficult opponent. Promising. He has become more flexible. Good!

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