SaveloyMush

Fat Dyke...

Victor???

Nor do most Sotonians!

I would suggest that he is home-sick. Never under-estimate how difficult it can be to settle in a new culture, with a new language and so much unfamiliarity. Gabbiadini does not strike me as one with an international outlook; some individuals thrive in different cultures, others just crave the familiarity of home.. There is a reason so few British players move overseas, and few of those who do so are successful. If the heart is elsewhere, team set-up and tactics are irrelevant. For his own sake, I hope Gabbiadini goes back to Italy and re-discovers his smile. I doubt he will move to a foreign country again.

Asset strip. Still has a Championship club next season (might even be able to stay there, though I doubt he cares), parachute payment and the stadium. I think this was the plan all along. Mr. Gao seemingly has no knowledge of, nor interest in, football. If it is true that van Dijk's worth rose from 50m to 75m by keeping him for a few short months from August to January, the plan becomes even clearer. No sentiment, it's just business. Ms. Liebherr might have felt some emotional pull to continue her father's legacy, but she has played a blinder by reducing herself to a minority share-holder, nothing she can do now etc.

The fans were told that Puel was given the chance to stay on this season, if he agreed to change the style of play, but he refused to do so. As masters of spin, the Southampton board may have been truthful in stating the above; I have a suspicion, however, that they omitted Puel's coda "with the squad of players at my disposal." Southampton had and have a, largely, excellent back 8 or 9 but a mediocre front 2 or 3, hence the lack of goals in the last season and a half. Goals cost more money than the board is prepared to sanction. As time passes, Puel emerges with ever greater credit for effectively falling on his sword. Pellegrino is not the problem.

I love Giroud (though not last weekend) - he is like an exotic Charlie Austin, with better hair.

Stick your mobility up your 'arris - Charlie scores goals.

World Cup soon!

This is the guy who was charged with regenerating the England team and I reckon he would have done it, had his ego and greed not got in the way. Allardyce deserves more credit and respect for what he has achieved and the way he has achieved it.

So much more articulate in his 2nd (or perhaps even 3rd) language than the majority of his native peers.

MOTD2 seemed to rate him...

Spot on. Yesterday Højbjerg was the player we glimpsed when he first arrived in pre-season 2016. I find it impossible to criticise Romeu, after so many one-man midfield performances, but he has been a little off-form this season compared to last (perhaps he is a Samson-oppose and needs to cut his hair...). The one thing Højbjerg did less well than Romeu was to win the ball back immediately after losing it, although this action can often backfire on Romeu, resulting in a yellow card. Is there any formation that would allow Romeu, Højbjerg and Lemina (who is clearly the most complete and exciting player of the three at present) to start together?

It would appear that West Ham under Bilic (good bloke though he appears to be) were woefully lacking in both fitness and motivation - sound familiar? What odds on Gabbiadini doing a Zaza under the right regime?

Blueprint for Saints' board here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42095164

Playing him up front is not as daft as it sounds, given Saints' current malaise; he is big, quick, defensive and knows where the goal is. He also has a hammer of a dead-ball delivery. I'd be inclined to stick van Dijk up front though, he might even cheer up a bit...

It seems clear to me that poor Fraser is on the spectrum.

Yes, van Dijk was his usual imperious self in the air, but being 6'5" and built like a brick outhouse make heading the ball away as easy as farting for him. In every other (dis)respect, he clearly didn't want to be on the pitch. His body language is even worse than Bertrand's and he appears to be saving himself for his next club. I am not sure anyone will stump up 60m+ for him if he continues to perform in such a disinterested fashion (maybe that's the plan...).

Yesterday, he only seemed to overlap when Tadic and Redmond swapped wings. In the second half, it almost looked as if Saints were playing 3 at the back, with Bertrand as the left of the 3 (maybe they were!).

Could one of the resident Stattos confirm when Southampton last scored from a corner and how many goals in the last, say, 2 seasons have come from same? Saints win a lot of corners, it looks to me that Tadic in particular when out wide plays for corners off defenders, why bother if we can't score from the resulting set-piece?

But it's not just Southampton, is it? Old Trafford under van Gaal was like the proverbial library most of the time. Teams need to serve up a spectacle, first and foremost, worthy of a passionate crowd. Sex(y football) sells, it excites, it instils passion. Clackers and loud music are certainly not the answer. Changing demographics mean football fandom too has changed - and it ain't changing back.

Don't p!ss on your hands!

You might want to look up "Veblen Goods" and their significance in rapidly-developing societies...

Not that I am necessarily disagreeing with your main point, but at whom should this cross be directed?