Newcastle v Southampton

Match Report

IBO Reporter : channonite

I really don't see much point in documenting this sorry apology of a performance from the Saints team, other than it seems it was ultimately the catalyst that pushed the Southampton board into actually firing Mauricio Pellegrino.

If you want, you can look at the team page here, by clicking the "teams" tab above, to see who was supposed to be playing. For reasons best known to themselves, the entire team had a stinker of a game. There were no redeeming moments at all. Only Højbjerg came out of this sorry mess with any credit and that was not for his performance on the pitch, but for loosing his self-control and swearing when interviewed after the match. At least one player actually cares then.

Conspiracy theorists will no doubt say that the firing of Pellegrino on the following Monday, was exactly what the players were trying to achieve. That might be going a step too far, although this was probably also the club's last chance to dispense with the services of one manager and hire another, with enough time to still get the points needed to survive in the Premier League for another season.

The outgoing Mauricio Pellegrino was statistically one of the worst managers the club has ever had and will be missed by few. A nice bloke? Yes sure, but a hopeless manager. We just have to hope that the club gets it right this time. If so, then this shameful day will have had a point.