Conference
Summary
Team news
Charlie Austin is injured. Twisted his knee before the Newcastle game in the warm up. No damage to ligaments, maybe he’ll be out for one more week, but is not available. Steven Davis is back.
Life kinetics - what is it and why have we introduced it?
_With reference to RK’s recent comments in the media about player communication, eagerly parrotted out a car winda by Harry “Two Relegations” Redknapp. _
RK explains that he used the system in Holland. In his opinion, players need to communicate more than they presently do. All about mobiles, headphones. They do exercises every week on the pitch to focus and concentrate on communication between players on the pitch.
Asked if it’s working.
RK says it could be better, and that it needs to be natural and for some it isn’t natural. That needs time.
Asked if it’s a modern phenomenon.
RK says it has happened everywhere. Points to the first goal we got against Newcastle. Three Newcastle players go to the right and Sadio takes them outside. If they communicate, Sadio can’t be alone. It’s all about communication, and only happened because they didn’t talk.
He sees it in our team too, and we’re trying to support intra-team communication. Younger players are in their own world, and the club need to adapt for that. Talks about not allowing phones at his dinner table, says he’s a little bit old fashioned, but in football he sees that players need to talk a lot more on the pitch.
Asked if there are rules governing phones/etc?
RK says there are rules. When they stay together they don’t use their phones. They have to nip off on their own to use their phones. Still no phones at the dinner table! In football, you have rules, and one of his jobs as a manager is to improve the team and individual players. That aspect needs to be improved.
Under Armour deal, when RK sees that commitment being made to the club, does that influence him at all in new contract thinking?
RK says it’s a very important deal for the club. It shows that Southampton FC is growing as a club, and it’s an important brand to have a seven year deal with. He repeats the bit about having a year left on his contract, and we will see what happens when the club come to talk to him. Finish this season and there is time enough to talk about it.
What’s happening next season in terms of players next season? Ox mentioned. Is he a player we’re looking at?
RK reckons if we can keep all the players, we don’t need a lot of new players. One or two, maybe. We need to be prepared if we lose 1-3 players. That’s the business we have to do, but we don’t want to change a lot.
What about Juanmi? Hasn’t featured much?
RK doesn’t know if he stays or goes. They’ll have a chat at the end of the season. Competition is making it difficult for Juanmi to get a game. End of season.
This season. Can we nick a top four spot?
RK says it’s true that we’ve stayed close to them. If we can get better away form, then we can do it. It’s the question for the next two away games against Everton and Villa. If we can win them we can do it.
Everton, and our “not too great” away record? Does RK consider things like that, or is it a completely different situation with his team?
RK says it is sometimes difficult to understand why Southampton haven’t won there for 18 years. Says we lost there 1-0 last year, played well, but didn’t score, even after our changes. It’s all about our attacking movement. Looks like they’re more under pressure this year at home. All about us, how we start the game, how difficult we make it for them.
About the recent pressure Everton are feeling at home. A lot of focus on the manager. Is this something we can exploit?
Says the Everton fans might be miffed at the beginning, but they still have a chance to win a trophy. Going to Wembley. Difficult for us, but says they’re more comfy away from home atm.
Is he surprised about their current league position?
Last season, no - because of the European football, this season - yes. They’ve had bad home results.
Is it something to do with the style they play at home?
Maybe they’re a little bit more comfortable. When they played us at St. Marys, they were very strong, very fast and very good at counter-attacking. At home you need to be more open, attack more, so maybe you leave more space for your opponent. He says _maybe _that accounts for their home form.
Asked about the threat of Barkley
Very good young player. Played several years in the PL, part of national setup, game changer. Good couple with Lukaku in front. Very good two players for Everton.
(Disco ball and narcotics emerge for press only conference - boo!)