This week last year...

[Yarrgh]

Southampton’s whopper section who sit right next to the away end even took pity and stopped giving us abuse. That’s how bad it got.

You know it's bad when the oppo fans who have an actual reason to relish getting one over their former manager who left in controversy, decide that it's getting cruel to kick you when you're down.

If he was a boxer, he'd have glass hands, a glass jaw and be fighting 2 weight divisions above what he could handle due to the bulk of his massive moon head. Throw the towel in, he's out cold on his feet.

Bring back regular games so we don't have to think about all this.

 

[brieverton]

Terrible, terrible, game but massively overstated as a some sort of portent of disaster in my opinion. I've seen so many abject Everton performances over the years, but often a week or 2 later they look like a decent side. I remember all the mutterings that we were going to relegated when we got annihilated at home by Arsenal on the opening day in 2004, only for us to win about the next 5 or 6 games on the bounce. Same season 'the bubble had burst' when we lost for the second time in 3 days, getting massacred at Spurs on New Years Day, only for us to be back to winning ways before the week was out. The season after that we were definitely going down after consecutive 4-0 losses over Christmas, and then we didn't lose again until March. It happens all the time, football's a weird game.

You make a fair point regarding over-reaction there. But I must admit I was terribly worried after that game. 2 wins on the bounce for a struggling team is Christmas come early, as poor as the league is in the bottom half, as much for a total lack of confidence as well as quality in most cases. "Crisis" is an overused term and can be turned around as quickly as people spout the word.

The sight of Joe Royle coming down to speak to Unsworth, actually more to console than advise it seems, is something I'll remember from the game just for the symbolism of it. I think action DID have to be taken at that point, and Moshiri knew it. I was relieved we got Allardyce then, just because I thought we would probably be able to go into the Christmas run with a bit of breathing space.

I don't think relegation there and then, after Soton, was a feasible concept but I do think had things been allowed to deteriorate further, then it might have been at a later point. I didn't want to go into the New Year with us being as poor as we were up to November. There is a point reached, it can be hard to pinpoint, where you are dragged into a fight and that's your lot. Performances and results can then just live up to the mess you are already in.

We had enough quality last year even with the mess to avoid that, but I'm glad Moshiri acted when he did. He could hardly have left it any longer, mind.

 

[Lanolin]

You make a fair point regarding over-reaction there. But I must admit I was terribly worried after that game. 2 wins on the bounce for a struggling team is Christmas come early, as poor as the league is in the bottom half, as much for a total lack of confidence as well as quality in most cases. "Crisis" is an overused term and can be turned around as quickly as people spout the word.

The sight of Joe Royle coming down to speak to Unsworth, actually more to console than advise it seems, is something I'll remember from the game just for the symbolism of it. I think action DID have to be taken at that point, and Moshiri knew it. I was relieved we got Allardyce then, just because I thought we would probably be able to go into the Christmas run with a bit of breathing space.

I don't think relegation there and then, after Soton, was a feasible concept but I do think had things been allowed to deteriorate further, then it might have been at a later point. I didn't want to go into the New Year with us being as poor as we were up to November. There is a point reached, it can be hard to pinpoint, where you are dragged into a fight and that's your lot. Performances and results can then just live up to the mess you are already in.

We had enough quality last year even with the mess to avoid that, but I'm glad Moshiri acted when he did. He could hardly have left it any longer, mind.

Yeah I can’t argue with a word of that.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

I was at that game

What a disaster

I left thinking we were sure to go down

I felt the same after the away game with Stoke in Martinez's last season, when they utterly battered us and there looked like there was no way back for us

I still don't think some people really appreciate just how close we were to getting sucked into the relegation fight in those two seasons

I meant Martinez's second season of course, not his last

Awful seasons tend to bleed together after a while to be fair

 

[efcjames]

As if it was a year ago today

 

[brigadier]

Terrible, terrible, game but massively overstated as a some sort of portent of disaster in my opinion. I've seen so many abject Everton performances over the years, but often a week or 2 later they look like a decent side. I remember all the mutterings that we were going to relegated when we got annihilated at home by Arsenal on the opening day in 2004, only for us to win about the next 5 or 6 games on the bounce. Same season 'the bubble had burst' when we lost for the second time in 3 days, getting massacred at Spurs on New Years Day, only for us to be back to winning ways before the week was out. The season after that we were definitely going down after consecutive 4-0 losses over Christmas, and then we didn't lose again until March. It happens all the time, football's a weird game.

Check when Richard Wright was in goal instead of martyn and you will find the answer. Awful keeper.

 

[Cameron Manning]

The moment when Joe Royle came downto the bench to tell Unsworth what to do.....

Did what Joe tell him make any difference? Not having a go just asking.

 

[Charles Hawtrey]

Did what Joe tell him make any difference? Not having a go just asking.

I think Joe told him "run away, run away!!"

 

[Jayhow15]

Southampton away. 4-1.

They hadn't scored for about three years before that game I think.

Possibly the lowest I've felt as a blue (considering expenditure/expectations).

I think remembering how we all felt that day makes you appreciate the job Brands and Silva have done. Huge turn around.

Great goal (standard) from Iceland.

 

[Frang]

I think everyone knows that I was sceptical to say the least about silva.

But even I have to admit the turn around in players and form has been quite enjoyable.

Silva still needs to show he can keep it going for a full season... I don't think we can underestimate the job Marcel brands is doing, in partnership with silva.

The transfers in And out have been quite remarkable.. It seems all players we bought in are of the same mindset and not just mercenaries which is very hard to find in this era of Football... Esp 6 in one go.

Bravo to the whole management team

COYB

@Connor

 

[Buckers]

I think everyone knows that I was sceptical to say the least about silva.

But even I have to admit the turn around in players and form has been quite enjoyable.

Silva still needs to show he can keep it going for a full season... I don't think we can underestimate the job Marcel brands is doing, in partnership with silva.

The transfers in And out have been quite remarkable.. It seems all players we bought in are of the same mindset and not just mercenaries which is very hard to find in this era of Football... Esp 6 in one go.

Bravo to the whole management team

COYB

@Connor

I always seem to remember Moyes always brought players in with a certain mentality as a priority. Despite his goals maybe not being high enough the players he bought gelled because of this and you could see the fight in them on the pitch and they all shared the same approach.

I get the feeling that Marcel is going exactly the same thing but with a different type of player. There has been too much focus on individuals inbetween the two.

It's very obvious when the man bringing the players in neglects personality and character.

 

[Frang]

I always seem to remember Moyes always brought players in with a certain mentality as a priority. Despite his goals maybe not being high enough the players he bought gelled because of this and you could see the fight in them on the pitch and they all shared the same approach.

I get the feeling that Marcel is going exactly the same thing but with a different type of player. There has been too much focus on individuals inbetween the two.

It's very obvious when the man bringing the players in neglects personality and character.

Koeman and Walsh 'team' are the case in point.

The rs failed too when Dalglish bought in players like Charlie Adam and downing going off stats alone.

Having the right attitude and mentality makes a huge difference... And it must be an absolute minefield. Imagine having to suss out who's a good un and who ain't, from not just Europe but worldwide football.. Brands defo earning his corn

Esp picking players already deemed failures or not good enough by their current club, gomes and digne!

 

[markDee]

Watched this in a bar in Bristol with a Saints supporting mate. Almost glassed him after their 3rd goal went in.

I watched it on holiday, we bumped into a couple of blues and a random Bolton fan at a bar...who took the piss out of us the whole game. Dark days indeed

 

[Frang]

I watched it on holiday, we bumped into a couple of blues and a random Bolton fan at a bar...who took the piss out of us the whole game. Dark days indeed

I was there sat right next to the saints fans... One taking the mick straight to my face. I was sooooo hoping we would turn it round.. But Ohhh no, it just got worse and worse and worse...

The darkest game I've ever been too

 

[markDee]

I was there sat right next to the saints fans... One taking the mick straight to my face. I was sooooo hoping we would turn it round.. But Ohhh no, it just got worse and worse and worse...

The darkest game I've ever been too

Ok mate, have fun in Wales or wherever your from lol