LaptopSaint

God, what a depressing season. Couldn't be arsed to qualify for Europa League proper. Humiliated in the League Cup. Out in the third round in the FA Cup. And all that in the most open Premier League I can remember. Not sure what remedies to suggest either. Being fitter and mentally much tougher would be a good start though.

I'm hoping Lalaland comes on so Matty Oakley can clatter him.

In a one-step-forward-two-steps-back season I think we'll win this one.

And a quick shout-out to Victor. Come in for a bit of stick in the last few weeks, from me and many others. But absolutely superb tonight. Maybe he was auditioning for a role in Arsene's midfield - but right now, who cares! Great win. COYR

Yeah but the club can hardly be blamed for the fact that four England internationals (Lambo, Lalaland, Clyne and Shaw) insisted on leaving, and two other England internationals (Jay and Fraser) are currently crocked.

Agree about Clasie. I honestly think Vic is our biggest problem at the moment - when he's on song he's awesome but he's just not at the races and he looks like he wants to be somewhere else. So let's get 20 million for him in January and invest that and another 30 million from the vast player profits we've received for the last few seasons (don't mind if we wait until the summer to get the right people). And let's give Reed and Seager and one or two others a chance over the course of the rest of the season. Not panic and throw them all in at once - but give youth a chance like we've always done.

Remember all that praise we were getting a season or two ago? Well, right now f*cking hats off to Leicester. We need to get our heads down and work.

Morgan must be chuffed that he left a club knocked out of the Europa League by Danish midgets in order to compete at the highest level in Europe.

It was always going to be a struggle at the start of this season without five (and last night six) of last year's 'back seven'. We will get better, and I can still see a decent cup run coming up (but I've always been a bit glass half full). Still, the most annoying thing was the tactics used against the woeful Danes - even McManaman and Hargreaves could see that and neither of them are the sharpest cones on the training ground. How could we have been worse with two of Tadic, Long, Juanmi or Mane on from the start? And if Mane wasn't fit to play at least half an hour, why the hell was he on the bench?

Pretty much this. The selection was incomprehensible and we deserved to lose. At least we can only get better.

I feel sorry for Juanmi. He could still be living in southern Spain for ****'s sake. Koeman's been on the strong meds judging by his post-match comments. Best team over two legs? - come on Ron! Roll on Norwich and Milton Keynes. Back in Europe in the 2020s.

Liking the look of Cedric so far. And Tadic looks likes he had a good rest and has come back stronger. Throw in Mane scaring the sh1t out of every defence he runs at, Clasie biting their ankles, and Juanmi still to show, and I'm looking forward to this season...

Whenever he's back - and let's hope it's sooner rather than later - a lot rests this season on how good a replacement Stekelenberg proves to be.

Bit gutted really. He's been my favourite player - and in my opinion our best player - since we were in League One. Yes, even in his first season or so when he had a fair few internet warriors giving him grief I thought he was class. Genuinely wish Morgan all the best except when he plays against us.

It is, and yet after meltdown last summer we started with half a new team and looked like world beaters until Christmas. So while I agree that it would be better to have the whole squad settled by mid July, it rarely works out that way. Footballers are quite set in their ways, they like certainty, and pre-season helps set routines. But really good players can come in and perform from the word go.

Sunday Times reckons Spurs are in pole position to get Toby from Atletico as well - just imagine Morgan and Toby turning up with Poch at SMS. Ugly.

The big problem with this signing is that Jose loses his song... Don't you Juanmi baby? Don't you Juanmi Oh-oh-oh-oh?

The trouble with your par season is that it would leave us out of Europe the following season, making it harder to keep and/or attract the kind of players we need. That's the challenge - keeping that level of consistency and not being the next Everton that threatens the top six, gets a half decent European run, but slips back as a result. Not easy, but should be exciting. COYRs

Bertrand in full squad, Targett in U21s, Shaw on the beach. Thank you and good night.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2015/may/12/david-squires-on-the-fight-to-avoid-the-europa-league

I think if it turned out Spurs was the only offer for Morgan the conversation would be pretty simple... "Hi Boss." "Hi Morgan." "Spurs have apparently..." "Listen son... Champions League, fair enough. But that shower of sh1te in north London? Do me a favour. Pre-season training starts tomorrow."

Great article. And good luck to Athletic in the Copa Del Rey. COme on you red and white machine!

Just don't let Erikssen score from just outside the box with no-one challenging him. Please. 2-1 Saints.

Yeah they've been disappointing for years. Van Nistelrooy, Suarez, Bony. The list goes on...

I'm watching Israel-Belgium in a pub in Brussels. Toby's having a stormer...