Fabrice29

Saturday 3pm football isn't allowed to be streamed in this country. It makes perfect sense to be fair and ever since I've known it has always been this way.

Well if VVD is severely mental and has his heart only set on Liverpool, then I can see Saints thinking "Have your little tantrum, come back in Pre Season, realise it's a World Cup year and play well for us next season and we'll do business with them next year on our terms at a similar price". Everyone's happy then. We get him for one more year, he gets his dream move, they get their reputation kept and CB next year.

Anyway replacing VVD (I'm of the belief we keep him personally) will need to be physically dominant to partner Stephens/Yoshida/Bednarek. Ake/Gibson, I'm not entirely sure are that.

Actually not true. A friend saw Adams in Southampton last week. Told me but I didn't think anything of it until now as he was clearly not in the running for the managers job.

Not that he's credible particular but Tancreid Palmemememwhat ever his name is thinks he's close to Villarreal move.

Carlos Carvalhal and Slaviša Jokanović are names to discuss.

I really hope this is the case. We shouldn't be bending over backwards to players if we don't have to and we should be backing a manager who has clearly been left a little short this season. We've got some good potential players in our team and we need to give them time to mature, we'll see better next season and the manager we chose last year to guide that maturity doesn't become the wrong man because of a mid table finish and a cup final defeat. Lets back him. The summer is going to be painful on this board though.

Isgrove was kept on the basis of needing him for squad requirements for European football (A side effect people who demand home grown players quotas should be aware of) and will be let go this summer. As we don't have European football next season I'd be surprised to see these kind of contracts being offered so easily and would also point out we have a big squad right now built for European football which may need trimming.

PEH the only midfielder willing to take the ball in brave positions yesterday though. I think decision making will come with experience. Him and Boufal for example you cant knock their ability or their bravery on the ball but their decision making needs work and will get better. It's easy to forget how young they are.

Remember when people thought our lack of goals was down to the midfield not being good enough? Long and Rodriguez's movement is awful ffs

We've got to be careful here a little. He's been fantastic and I'm excited as anybody but everyone in this country got just as excited by the likes of Jelavic at one stage.

To be fair Burnley's team was more full strength than Lincoln's today proving that you can put a good side out and still get beat.

Nobody has said he's starting yet tbf and if it gets to match day and the people working with him everday think he's A) Better than Stephens B) Fit enough to play then I'm happy he's playing. Couple of further things to think about as well 1) Stephens may have played the last 4? games, but other than that he's hardly been active in competitive football. 2) When it comes down to it, on the day, I want the guy who is going to nullify Zlatan and United. I want the guy who has played at the highest level, I want the guy who has experience of being in and working with one of the best defences in world football. I think if Stephens plays and we win then great. If Stephens plays and we lose, we'll be thinking what if in regards to having this guy on the bench. I dont want to be thinking what if after the game. If the staff think he's capable of playing and is the right man to start then he should play.

Done..and now you're not impressed?

What if I dont want my club represented by some dinlo in stone island, smashed out of his face, screaming and shouting like a gimp?

Damn those people enjoying their day out. Damn them! I'm there to watch the football. Like everyone else. Anything else anyone wants to do is totally up to them, as long as they don't stop me watching the game I literally couldn't give a **** what anyone around me does. I suggest you all chill out and do the same, do what you want to do and don't worry about anyone else.

Yes it's ever so sad we'll have someone capabale of being world class playing for us. Would you rather he's **** and not wanted by anyone? Players developing into world class means good performances for us, it means results for us and it means we're much more likely to attract other players capable of turning into world class (Why do you think these players want to play for us) and all the while decreasing the number of clubs players will leave us for. So sad

He isn't going to be sacked so people should stop wetting their pants at that. Also he's yet to deal with a full squad. Just as we get a threat up front he loses a defence. Poor performance transfer wise by the club this year. We've got to a cup final though and we'll stay up so I'm willing to write this poor performance off as long as it's put right in the summer and next season.

The thing I like most about this guy is his desire and ability to win the ball back when he loses it. Loves to chase a man down and put in a tackle.

Would point out Stephens was part of a team that kept a clean sheet at Old Trafford last season, including extra time (Stephens was subbed off at 119 minutes in preparation for the penalties.)

God forbid people enjoy the day in a different way to you. I really hope I'm sat next to you, I wont be singing, I'll be in my Saints shirt and i'll be taking some pictures. Would really love to ruin your day as you seemingly care that much.

Right but it isn't 4 goals in 6.5 games, it's 4 goals this season. Which is pretty bad. Anyway, I like Jay, he's decent and getting better and better over the season and I much prefer him to Long who should be the one to leave IMO if anyone is but lets be real Jay hasn't been good enough this season really. Apart from goals he's offered very little at times and his general all round play has been poor. BUT...when he plays well, we play well and he and we have got better lately. He'll get his chances here the rest of the season and he's got obvious qualities but if we decide not to keep him around for next season then unless he's had a storming end to this season he cant complain. I dont think play central really suits him anyway but he's been poor at times and has struggled to hold the ball up and bring others in. He's got better recently though to be fair. Personally I see him as quite a good option for us, especially his ability to start wide and cut inside. Looks like this new guy is similar from the right as well. I wouldn't be shocked if we start to see movements back towards a slightly wider diamond with these two coming in from the wings and Boufal or Redmond dropped in behind. We certainly have versatility and a bit more dynamism now. However Jay has his Saints future in his hands, he has to perform, and he's just started to do that consistently so hopefully that will continue.

Is he?

I dont think their team in the league cup was stronger to be fair. That's debateable anyway. Point is, we've got 6 games in 3 days, Liverpool and United are the only clubs in a similar position. We've got injuries. We've got a league campaign to get back on track and we're in one final so they're a bigger priority than the FA Cup now, sorry but it is. The team picked was predictable (Apart from Isgrove), we've got to give ourselves the best opportunity for a win on Tuesday and risking the first team when we've got a young squad that needs that could do with the experience is madness.

Sorry but this is ********. Firstly the manager has rotated all season, we're in the middle of 3 games in 6 days and we've got quite a few injuries, what did you expect team selection wise? Isgrove aside the side was fine and predictable. No idea why he's still here, suspect he might not be in the next few days but him and maybe Gardos aside (oh and Lewis), the rest of the team are first team players now but can fully understand why we've not risked Maya and we don't have many other options going forward right now (Issue with the board not team selection). So yes we've got beat but there's logic in the team selection and you should have known that was likely when you bought your ticket if that's an issue for you. It's utter nonsense that they didn't "bother" tonight. We got beat by a better team, get over it, don't go to games against better sides if you don't like it as it's going to happen occasionally. I agree with your last line though, Tuesday is a big game.