Fabrice29

User Actions Follow Ben Grounds ‏@Ben_Islington Koeman set to pledge his allegiance to Southampton. No offer was on the table from Everton #saintsfc #efc Curve ball! Or not. So dull. Hope it's done tomorrow one way or another.

What does that achieve? Until something is signed it wont be announced. I tell you what a phone call would achieve... a fan pleasing video from the DOF saying how everything is going fine.

It's not though is it? If you had a contract with still a year to run on it and your company offered you a new one you wouldn't be in a huge rush to sign it would you? Certainly wouldn't cancel or end early any holiday plans you had and you'd probably wait until your first day back before getting down to it. The guys on a break ffs.

Don't really see why there is such an outcry over Wilshere and Henderson specifically. Both been part of the squad for a while now, Wilshere bailed England out single handily at one stage in the qualification. Drinkwater has just come into the squad, he was always going to be vulnerable. I think he should have been picked by the way but can see why he isn't. The idea of picking the squad based on form is quite funny. You build a squad for 2 years only to throw it all out of the window because of someone having a good few months just before the tournament. If England are to do anything in the tournament the best players will need to perform. Thats Jack Wilshere at his, that's why you take him.

Stoke have a lot of money behind them to be fair but lets not go down the route of being jealous of them again. The reason they end of there is because nobody else wants them. The majority are players that were overhyped in the media but never good enough to get a move...or failed in a move..and then ended up at Stoke.

Yeah a lot of waffle masking a positive but non committal statement.

What's this new direction we are taking? I assume it will shed some light on who we intend to replace these guys with...

Frank Lampard also is widely considered the worst MLS signing of all time. So no ta.

He's not been a decent player for at least 2 years.

Traore will have our back tonight. Also Liverpool will rest players this weekend for sure and against a West Brom side notorious for being dull and a pain in the arse, I can see a draw happening.

OH actually maybe not. So yeah top 6 for sure, 7th and we need united to win the cup. 8th and there is no chance.

If Liverpool finish 8th and win EL they trump 7th's place in Europe...England have a maximum of 7 teams in Europe next season...

He's not doing it for NY this year though is he? Hasn't played a single minute this season yet am I right? Not denying what a great player he has been but it's an incredibly short term signing and one with loads of risk baring in mind his fitness and cost. Not to mention I doubt he'll be interested. I'm all for signing a goal scoring midfielder though. Just one at a good age that might do it for longer than a season at most.

Pearson is quite obviously a terrible idea. Tin hat time but if we could find a way to curb him a little bit in the transfer market (by working with our recruitment team) and don't let him completely revamp our defence...I wouldn't be adverse to Roberto Martinez.

27,777

These favourites you speak of are favourites for a reason. They've remained fit and delivered assists and goals for 2 seasons now.

If we are going to sell Pelle and go with Austin as our main striker next season then he's really going to have to step up. I think he can and will step up but the adoration he got when he first signed and the stick Pelle got at the same time is looking rather silly. I remember the first couple of home games after he signed...everything Pelle did wrong was met with frustration and calls for Austin to come on...he's done nothing to suggest he can lead our line next year from the odd appearance he has made. I think he can and will but the stick Pelle got was totally uncalled for.

De Boer.

Quite liked him when he came on tbf. The only player willing to take the ball in an unorthodox position. He's a little pass and move player, he isn't going to set the world alight in a struggling static front line.

Exactly this. Lino has to take just as much blame. He should be screaming down the mic that he's missed a kick out and there is no advantage.

The fact that he's doing interviews and adverts show what a ***** he is. Utter berk too. His preaching about the England national team is pathetic.

I wouldn't say we look more potent with Long in ahead of Pelle. We hassle more, we run the channels more, we gee the crowd up more because everyone loves to watch someone belt around the pitch chasing everything and that has suited us perfectly the last few weeks when we've gone back to being solid and relied on that to create chances but when we are at our best, playing out from the back and being on top of teams, I'd much rather Pelle being on the end of things than Long. We look good with Long in at the moment because it suits the way we've played, it has suited where we've been as a team but when we really get back to our best dominating games Pelle will put more away than Long will...hence why he's our top goal scorer. For all of Longs qualities, finishing chances is not one. Hopefully Austin will fill that role anyway, that's obviously the plan but he looked just as lost as Pelle did yesterday when he came on. Both are obviously not fit enough yet.

Run the channels? I think he's been bought up to have a little more class about him than to run the channels. Unfair criticism about him today, think it was a neat little move to bring him on as he's the sort of player who'd find a gap when Arsenal were streaming forward and it didn't quite work out. Think he'd be better playing with strikers who aren't knackered to be fair. He's obviously got something about him otherwise we wouldn't be using him. He'll take time and next season we'll reap the benefits of his little cameos now.

You've over thought that but that wont stop you from thinking you're right if the results don't go our way.

If Pelle actually connects with the ball a couple of times in the penalty box today we probably win the game. At least take a point. Fine margins. They weren't better than us, they just killed the game. Koeman is spot on, we weren't ruthless enough in either box in important moments.