Southampton

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

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Another standard week from Southampton Football Club. Another loss and another collapse to condemn us to our 26th league defeat - a 3-0 humbling at home to Aston Villa.

The search for those two more points rolls on to next week. Will we get them under new interim boss Simon Rusk? If the Villa game plan was anything to go by, then it is not looking likely.

It was clear from the off on Saturday that Rusk had set his team up to defend at all costs and scrape a 0-0, drawing conclusions that he must get these points by any means necessary. Does that ever work?

During Rusk's first stint as interim back in December, he took charge against Fulham at Craven Cottage. The set-up was a carbon copy of last weekend's. Three at the back, a four-man midfield and two strikers, but with relative success. We played out a 0-0, which in the grand scheme of things, turned out to be one of our biggest positives from this whole campaign.

Up against Villa, it failed. However, it took the Champions League quarter-finalists 73 minutes to break the deadlock. We did soak up Villa pressure for large portions of the game and faced 25 shots and heavy possession.

There is no reason to assume Rusk will switch things up for the remainder of the season and should expect more of the same at West Ham next. For a team that has conceded the most in the division and our lack of goal threat, this may get even worse.

If/when we reach that magic 12-point mark, we may see Rusk play a more exciting brand of football. Maybe the likes of newly-debuted Jay Robinson will get more minutes. But it is a very difficult situation for the interim boss. The pressure is building each game, and with Manchester City, Arsenal and a Goodison Park swansong on the agenda, games against West Ham and Leicester may be our last hopes.

Find more from Ray Hunt at the In that Number podcast, external

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Southampton and Aston Villa, which Villa won 3-0.

Here are some of your comments:

Southampton fans

Noel: Could have played all day and not scored. We have completely lost the ability to tackle, high press or attack at pace this season. Apart from Aaron Ramsdale and Mateus Fernandes, this whole squad need to go. Worst players I've ever seen in 60 years of support.

Steven: It was a decent performance until the double substitution involving Will Smallbone and Tyler Dibling. After that, game over. Still think if they had not been brought on we might have got something.

Colin: Tried hard but fell really short in the end. It's time to try some other players in defence to play alongside Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Kyle Walker-Peters, in a 4-4-2 formation.

Aston Villa fans

Ian: Very solid and professional performance from the Villa once again highlighting the strength of our bench. Perhaps we should have scored more but overall job done. Some massive games coming up, but the team must be full of confidence. We should have a right go on Tuesday against PSG now, we have nothing to lose.

Cassie: A win against a team already relegated was predictable. Let's see if we can repeat it against PSG on Tuesday. Morgan Rogers was outstanding and is really starting to be noticed by bigger clubs, I can see him moving on in the summer unless Villa get Champions League football again. Ollie Watkins took his goal well and should be the penalty taker. Let's stay focused.

Dave: Brilliantly controlled game with any threat nullified by a well set-up defence and midfield. It took a while to break down a stubborn defence but once we broke through there was only one winner. Just imagine what our league position would be if we didn't spend the first half of the season with so many injuries!

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Former Saints boss Dave Merrington believes Tyler Dibbling could one day be worth £100m if his attitude is right.

Speaking on the BBC Radio Solent podcast 'Goin' Home with Adam and Dave', he said: "I like Dibbling. He's a good player. I'm not putting him in the £100m class, but he might be one day. He's got the potential. The thing that worries me about him at the moment is how he is handled, that's got to be right. His attitude has got to be right. I think he has a good attitude but I don't want him to lose it.

"He's got good feet, he's got great movement, he can wriggle, dip his shoulder, go past people. But there was a situation against Aston Villa where he had two players on the wing after he'd done brilliantly to get past two people. He had to play the ball to the right, but he kept the ball too long.

"One thing that I think needs adding to his game is the vision and being aware of when to let the ball go at the right time, but he'll learn that."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Nottingham Forest 0-1 Everton

• Arsenal 1-1 Brentford

The latest episode of BBC Radio Solent's Southampton podcast has landed.

Adam Blackmore is joined by former Southampton manager Dave Merrington to discuss Saturday's defeat against Aston Villa, and what the future holds at St Mary's.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

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Saturday's reverse at home to Aston Villa means Southampton have now lost 26 of their 32 Premier League games this season, the most defeats across a single league campaign in the club's history.

Their 13 home defeats is also a club record in the top flight, while they have failed to win 11 successive home league matches for only the second time, last doing so in the Championship between October 2008 to February 2009.

Saints frustrated Villa for large parts of the game and even threatened to take the lead when Archer stung the palms of Martinez from a tight angle, but they spent the majority of the 90 minutes camped on the edge of their own penalty area against the dominant visitors.

Interim manager Simon Rusk will take heart from his team's display up until Watkins' opener, but after that there seemed little hope of Saints picking up the point they needed to equal Derby County's all-time tally of 11 from the 2007-08 season.

Villa's late rally also means Southampton have conceded 20 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half this season – more than any other team in the league.

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Simon Rusk spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Southampton's defeat against Aston Villa: "I think for us we have something to build on. The first goal came in 73rd minute but we had a clean sheet until then. We were well in the game. We were disappointed with the nature of the goal we conceded but I'm going to take a lot for that game. The players gave their all. We can bounce into our next game.

On the goal for the remainder of the season: "I think we can continue to work hard. We treat the last six games like we treated the first six games. We played against a top team today but we were solid. We need to maintain our belief."

On assistant Adam Lallana: "Adam's experience speaks for itself. He'll be invaluable. I'll be leaning on that. We need to make sure we keep putting our best foot forward.

On beating Derby's record-low points haul: "I don't think we ignore it but what we have to do is focus on the things that can help us win games of football. We focus on our brilliant basics day in day out. If we do those things well, we'll be confident about picking some points up."

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Southampton have lost 26 of their 32 matches in the Premier League this term (W2 D4) – it's the Saints' most defeats across a single season in the top four tiers.

Were you at St Mary's Stadium or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Southampton's performance

What did you make of Aston Villa's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

With the best will in the world, Aston Villa are going to go out of the Champions League. They do have players capable of scoring the goals they need against Paris-St Germain in the second leg of their quarter-final, but it will be very hard for them to turn that tie around.

If Villa open up, you just feel that might suit PSG, who are my tip to win the competition by the way.

With that game coming up on Tuesday it is just as well for Villa that things will be a heck of a lot easier against Southampton.

Simon Rusk is in charge of Saints now Ivan Juric has left, and they are not going to just lie down at home, but Villa could make a few changes and still get over the line.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say

Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30)

• Brighton v Leicester City

• Nottingham Forest v Everton

• Southampton v Aston Villa

• Arsenal v Brentford (17:30)

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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There are lots of different perspectives in terms of how you watch a game of football, and I think for the majority of time the people in the stadium get the best atmosphere, but the worst views of how a game has actually gone.

You don't really get the chance to see multiple replays and have discussions about things, because you just get caught up in the moment.

With the incoming semi automated offsides, they did promise it earlier in the season - but I think the caveat was they're only going to do it when it's ready.

It is a positive that they didn't do it when it wasn't ready.

One upside to to the new technology is some of the arguments disappear. Previously you could say 'but it looks like it's this to me' or 'it looks like it's that to me'. When it is presented now, there aren't many people that will then be looking at the animation, going back to the video, and then going down a proper conspiracy rabbit hole.

So, it ends more arguments, not all arguments, but more arguments.

I think people, as a consequence, will be more accepting of it.

But, I still do believe that there's things for people to understand, because it can't be used in every situation. There are certain decisions which can still be a little bit more complex, and there's certain times where human intervention will still need to be brought in.

I wouldn't say it's as clear as, say, goal line technology, but it's a step in the direction to where most people feel more comfortable accepting the outcome and the speed of it as well will be encouraged.

It's not to say that it's going to be instant. If you believe this is going to be perfect, and always extremely fast, ask yourself, why do you think that?

Unless somebody has told you that from PGMOL, then take it with a pinch of salt and you see how it goes.

I think it's something that many people have seen before so hopefully there will be fewer arguments.

But, because it's football, there'll always be something to argue about the end of the day.

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Southampton have lost 25 of their 31 Premier League games this season (W2 D4), the joint-most league defeats in a single campaign in their history, also losing 25 times in their most recent top-flight campaign (2022-23).

Lens' Belgium-born English boss Will Still, 32, is among the contenders to become the new manager of Southampton following Ivan Juric's departure earlier this week. (Talksport), external

West Ham are considering a summer move for Southampton and England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, 26. (Times - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Henry Brownsey
BBC Sport journalist

Southampton interim manager Simon Rusk has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On the mood of the squad after relegation was confirmed: "Obviously, there was a period of time where it hurt, it was a difficult one - the players were hurting and we were hurting as you'd expect."

• The Saints have a "fairly clean bill of health". Charlie Taylor's "knocking about with one or two issues" and Paul Onuachu is being assessed, but the club are "hoping the signs are good" for the striker.

• He says this is very different to his last spell as interim boss in December, stating: "This time we're talking weeks rather than days, in spite of the difficult circumstances I'm super proud and honoured, but conscious of the fact that there's a job to be done in terms of re-establishing the groups' identity and trying to grab that feel good factor back."

• On his assistant Adam Lallana: "I'm really lucky to have Adam help out and step up - his experience speaks for itself at the very top, the trophies he's won and environments he's been in. He's an unbelievable asset working with me and I'm incredibly grateful to have his wisdom and personality, he's a super person for me to rely on."

• He said the Saints midfielder will "have a whole host of options" if he is wanting to become a head coach/manager in the future.

• On Aston Villa: "Before yesterday's defeat to PSG they were a team on a really good run of form. The organisation levels and athleticism, their ability to win games of football is right up there. We need to be at our best - but we can look forward to it."

• He was asked if all of the players are remaining on board despite the club's relegation: "There's no sniff of anyone [not wanting to play]. When you initially move through the hurt and disappointment, professionalism kicks in and they know there's a job to be done and to play for the fans. We're playing in one of the greatest leagues in the world and we won't get away with not being wholeheartedly committed, every single player wants to finish this season as strong as they can."

• On if there is a disconnect between the club and the outside world: "When you're not in deep with a situation, people will make judgements on their perception - that's fair, people love to have their opinions on football teams, but it's critical as professionals we remain focused and driven. I say to the players it's about the person looking back at you in the mirror and knowing you're doing everything you possibly can."

• On what he'd like the club to get out of their remaining seven games: "We're building momentum into next season, for me some of the greatest memories have been as a supporter. If we can turn up and win games and give people moments - it's what it's all about. We will continue to give everything and I hope the results come with that and we give people moments that they enjoy and remember."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Adam Blackmore
BBC Radio Solent sports editor

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Over the course of Thursday, BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore has delivered four Saints blogs. Parts one to three can be found further down the page, while these words focus on structures at the club and the immediate future.

Amidst all the doom and gloom – and boy Saints had a lot of gloom – there are small shoots of hope. The appointment of Johannes Spors is a good one as the new technical director.

In my mind, you go two ways; if Dragan Solak is serious about taking over the running of the club by making himself chairman, then Spors and Parsons should report to him, in the same way that Thiago Pinto and Jim Frevola report to owner/chairman Bill Foley at Bournemouth, as respective head of football and business.

Parsons has done a lot to drive costs down and generate much-needed revenue streams, and his work with the council to resurrect the area around St. Mary's in the long term could be great for the club and the city.

But the main thing is that the football operations are run by Spors – and he at least gets a chance to create a co-ordinated, consistent, aligned football policy from academy to first team, that sees him oversee everything, working hand in hand with the new manager to provide him with the players he needs to be successful. It won't work if Spors gets overruled by Ankersen or anyone else, bar him having to work to the financial restraints of the club. He's done enough at Red Bull and 777 to at least be trusted with the keys. I imagine he'd walk if he felt compromised.

After all, Sport Republic are hardly in a position to tell him how to do his job. They have at times been casual in their decision-making, lacked the strength to see their plans through without buckling under pressure, lurched from one footballing direction to another, and made an absolute mess of most of three and a half years in charge. And they have done this without engaging with supporters publicly in any regular or open way, even in times like now when leadership from the top is really needed.

I am pleased that Solak has resumed control and that gives me hope. But if they do not get promoted at the first time of asking again in a year's time, there is a chance he may have had enough. We will see. What I do know is that the next managerial appointment is huge. While Danny Rohl has been a target for a while, and a good target in my opinion, he may get more attractive offers. So whoever it is, it needs to be a serious footballing appointment, not a crazy gamble when there are more surer-fire options out there. And I trust Spors to deliver that person more than I trust the owners.

Southampton Football Club and its supporters deserve to be taken more seriously than they have been. When you own a football club you have a responsibility to a whole city, a fan base, and well over 100 years of history and tradition. Like the Premier League, it's to be taken seriously. It's not a tech startup or a vanity project for those who are its custodians.

• Listen to live commentary of every Saints game on BBC Radio Solent, and download and subscribe to Goin' Home With Adam and Jo on BBC Sounds to get all the post-match thoughts that matter

Adam Blackmore
BBC Radio Solent sports editor

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Over the course of Thursday, BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore will deliver a handful of Saints blogs. Parts one and two can be found further down the page, while more will follow these words, which focus on decisions taken at boardroom level.

The trouble with owners who get involved in the day to day running of a club is that they can't sack themselves, and often won't listen to advice.

Humility is a trait that has been short of supply in the Saints boardroom under Sport Republic. The perfect example of this is last summer, when having already lost their director of football Jason Wilcox to Manchester United, the Saints hierarchy decided they could do his job themselves and so Rasmus, Henrik, Russell Martin, and chief executive Phil Parsons oversaw the transfer window.

The permanent signings of Flynn Downes and Taylor Harwood-Bellis were gimmes, Aaron Ramsdale's signing was a good one but a much-needed last minute one that Saints could only get over the line by breaking the wage cap they had put in place, and after all that there is one diamond in the rough, the outstanding 20 year-old Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes. All the other signings have been bit-part players, disappointments, not good enough, or bought for the future. Too many gambles that haven't worked out. I'm sure the metrics were good though on some.

And let's not forget the managers in Sport Republic's tenure. One out of five permanent managers under their watch had Premier League experience and they inherited him and fired him as soon as they had a good excuse.

It's arrogant and foolhardy to think that Nathan Jones is a good replacement for Ralph Hasenhuttl, however good his stats were at Luton, to then undo it by sticking in Ruben Selles for his first manager's role while in the middle of a relegation battle in the most difficult league in the world. And strategically, in what world does a Russell Martin squad fit the type of football played by Ivan Juric? At least try to stick to some sort of footballing identity. I don't subscribe to the view that "we should have stuck with Martin" even if I think it might have helped. Why not? Because the reality is that his situation was untenable after the Spurs thrashing. The board had to act. But they took a cheap pot shot and Juric became the fall guy. Another failed gamble.

Check back shortly for part four, where Adam ponders Saints' immediate future

Adam Blackmore
BBC Radio Solent sports editor

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Over the course of Thursday, BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore will deliver a handful of Saints blogs. Part one can be found further down the page, while more will follow these words, which focus on gambles taken in the transfer market.

Sport Republic have gambled with Southampton FC and lost. While I have no personal issue with co-owners Henrik Kraft and Rasmus Ankersen, I think I have enough evidence looking at the Premier League table to know that their part of the deal, the vision they no doubt sold to Dragan Solak, hasn't been realised. I haven't written books about performance, I haven't made millions in the markets or made Oura rings or got a Uefa coaching badge. I haven't even been chairman of a football club or been a director of football. But that is why I defer to ex-players for tactical knowledge, it's why I say it's my job to tell you what is happening on the pitch and theirs to tell you why, and I never act after all these years like a football expert. I've never talked about a low block in my life. My commentary wouldn't be as informative without Jo or Dave alongside, because they've been at the coal face. They know football.

Too many of Southampton's signings have been gambles that haven't worked. Rasmus Ankersen has been deeply involved in transfers and he would think he has every right to be after being director of football at Brentford and having success there alongside Matthew Benham. But the on-the-surface evidence is that without the might of Benham's statistical research and sports modelling machine that's behind SmartOdds, Ankersen has had more misses than hits. Of the 14 players signed in Sport Republic's first two transfer windows in charge, summer 2022 and January 2023, only five have been involved in the Premier League for Saints this season. And then I could cite the gamble on Ross Stewart.

It is also a huge gamble to swap experienced hardened pros for academy players who may turn out well. You say Romeo Lavia, I'll give you Juan Larios, Sekou Mara, Sam Edozie and Kamaldeen Sulemana. All young talented players with very little combined senior football between them when signed, who were all expected to suddenly compete in the Premier League? And if they weren't, then don't sell the players that are good enough in the hope these young players will step up, and then leave Southampton short of quality, nous, resilience, and the ability to deliver under pressure week in, week out. To me, that is a gamble. It is the toughest league in the world, you toy with it at your peril.

Check back shortly for part three of Adam's analysis

Adam Blackmore
BBC Radio Solent sports editor

Over the course of Thursday, BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore will deliver a handful of Saints blogs on this page.

Back in the summer of 2022 Saints stalwart Oriol Romeu was allowed to leave by Southampton's new owners Sport Republic. I'm told that there wasn't universal agreement between the club's decision-makers about letting the then 30 yr-old Spaniard depart, but Sport Republic held sway, with Romeu's age possibly a factor. Romeu went on to make 33 La Liga starts for Girona in 2022-23, as they comfortably stayed up after promotion to the Spanish top flight, before going back to fulfil a dream and have a second spell at Barcelona. Both those clubs appreciated what over 200 Premier League appearances, a tremendous attitude, leadership, and football intelligence brought to their party.

I think we can safely say Sport Republic got that one wrong, and Ralph Hasenhuttl's job was made that little bit harder. Sport Republic can argue that the signing of Romeo Lavia as a direct replacement for Romeu was an upgrade, and what a great young talent Lavia is and was. I'm sure statistically that someone could tell me how much better Lavia's metrics are than the older Spaniard. But you can't give an 18 yr-old the physical strength and durability that over 200 Premier League games brings, or the desire, the will, the experience or the resilience. Lavia has struggled to stay fit since playing senior football. What's that old saying about ability and availability? But Saints turned in a great profit after only one season, and by the summer of 2023 they didn't have Lavia or Romeu, or Hasenhuttl………or Premier League football.

I highlight all that now because here we are in 2025 and Sport Republic have gone on to oversee possibly the most embarrassing season in Southampton's history. It's really competing in modern times with the slide to League One in 2009 after the appointment of Jan Poortvliet. A lovely man, but another vanity project for people who thought they could out-think football by being clever. Poortvliet was a great player as well as a good guy, but he was out of his depth.

When you look at Southampton's managerial and player recruitment since Sport Republic took over the club you cannot doubt that there has been investment from co-owner and investor Dragan Solak. But what I can doubt is their ability to make the right decisions and their inability to see that maybe now is the time to leave the decisions to people that know football, I mean really know football. The game doesn't change; there are fads and tactical nuances and VAR and a whole new industry has been born out of analysis of a very simple sport. But at it's core football is about having good proven managers and good proven players. If you have both of them you have a chance. If you've got neither, good luck!

Check back shortly for part two of Adam's analysis of Saints' current plight

Listen to live commentary of every Saints game on BBC Radio Solent, and download and subscribe to Goin' Home With Adam and Jo on BBC Sounds to get all the post-match thoughts that matter

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

Image source, PA Media

Ten months on from our triumph at Wembley and we are right back where we started - back in the Championship and facing another season of uncertainty with Sport Republic.

A 3-1 defeat at Tottenham confirmed our fate and now we have become the earliest side to be relegated - Derby and Huddersfield had six games remaining.

And there are still more unwanted records up for grabs. Will we catch that 11-point total from Derby in 2007-08? Only one point needed to tie that, with seven games to play.

As we face another season in the Championship, we have to look back over the work that Sport Republic have completed. Since taking charge in January 2022, they have managed 60 defeats in 88 Premier League matches, 54 points from a possible 264, gone through six managers and most crucially, two relegations on their list of achievements.

They provided us with a team that was totally unprepared and ill-equipped for the top flight. The recruitment has been a disaster and they find themselves with a number of tasks ahead of them leading into next season.

Hiring a new, experienced manager for the Championship is a priority. Danny Rohl or Liam Rosenior are two names that will go some way to earning the fans' trust back.

Keeping hold of our most valued assets is another huge assignment. Aaron Ramsdale and Taylor Harwood-Bellis have both been included in England squads this season. Arguably our best player this season, Mateus Fernandes, will have put himself in the window. A big profit will be needed. Tyler Dibling, of course, has already been linked with a number of clubs.

But do we trust Sport Republic to get things right? If their previous form is to go by, then it is a wholehearted "no" from me.

Find more from Ray Hunt at the In that Number podcast, external

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Two very contrasting styles. Tottenham's Ange Postecoglou was calm throughout - he would pick a spot on the edge of his box and stay there for a few minutes. There was hardly any shouting, just the occasional gesture of frustration when a pass was misplaced.

The most animated he became, maybe predictably, was when VAR got involved for a decision to wipe out a second Spurs goal that took four minutes to conclude. That was the only time he moved for any length of time, as his frustration grew.

At one stage in the delay he appeared to play a rock, paper, scissors game - highlighting the unpredictable, random nature of VAR decisions.

Southampton's Ivan Juric could not stop moving, constantly pacing up and down the line. There were only 47 seconds on the clock when he was told by fourth official Sam Barrott to get back in the area.

Juric treated the technical area as optional, spending more time out of it than in, often crouching down, repeatedly shouting instructions but all to no avail as the Saints were relegated to the Championship. Juric left the club the following day.

See what all the other managers did

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Telegraph journalist Jason Burt, speaking about Southampton's relegation on a special BBC Radio 5 Live programme about life at the bottom of the Premier League:

"I rate Russell Martin very highly, I think he is a better manager than Southampton. I think he should be at a higher club. He's obviously tried to implement a style at Southampton that the players weren't good enough to play.

"They went from having someone like Russell Martin in charge who has a specific style of football - then, bringing in a coach like Ivan Juric is a huge gear change.

"To suddenly try to change mid-season is almost impossible because it means a club has no real pattern in what they want to achieve.

"Southampton panicked and spent a load of money over the odds. Nottingham Forest did the same, they gambled but got away with it. Sometimes it does work which makes other clubs think that they can do the same.

"Clubs come into the Premier League and think they have to spend and they end up spending very badly. Southampton spent money on players that were, frankly, sub-standard."

Listen to the full programme on BBC Sounds