Dusic

Bif of concern that KL would have even entertained this group really. Crossroads summer on and off the pitch, seems fairly likely that last May was our peak.

Agree with both. The second is a big problem since we lost VVD. Last season we had Fonte, VVD, Wanyama and often Pelle. Now Romeu is the only strong player we have. Need rectifying. Would add a third - severe lack of mobility in the centre of midfield making us easy to counter attack.

Souness nailed it just now: "Southampton are a great watch but they are easy to play against".

Frustrating game because as good as Chelsea were, we threw it away ourselves. We played tidily, passed the ball well and for a 20min spell were the better side. However... Biggest issues: 1. Defence bullied today. Poor defending from set plays, crap clearances and generally always looked like they could run through us. We bring so much pressure on ourselves. 2. So open to being counter attacked due to lack of midfield legs and only one player in the team who tackles. Must address this in the summer. 3. The whole way we play. Its great when we are good, but its probably the toughest way to win points. We have to play really well to win and generally cut teams open to score goals, albeit todays was cheap. We work the ball wide really well but don't have strikers that thrive off aerial crosses. 4. We are probably the nicest team to face. Lots of tidy players, very few powerful players, very few niggly players. Not many who win headers and tackles.

Everton crowned U23 Champions tonight. Hopefully Saints can stay up so our young players play against better players otherwise might need to ship a few more out on loan.

We will have to beat one of the top teams at least if we want to finish above about 12th I think. Our games in hand a slight red herring as based on our form versus the top sides we will likely get zero, one or two points from the Chelsea, Arsenal and Utd games.

Of they let him go it will be because they feel that whilst he is a good player, he isn't good enough to play regularly in a good team at PL level. That wouldn't be a disgrace IMO.

Certainly doesn't appear overly attractive for us. Not every club is fortunate enough to get Everton size investment but Lander on the face of it seems a very risky option and quite hard to see the benefits.

And your bro Tammy has just netted again. Prolific season.

I think there is also an element of truth in what Koeman said. JWP has been in the first team for 5 PL seasons (incl under Koeman's management). Stephens is 23. Koeman isnt referring to them. Reed has been used very sparingly for the past 3 seasons and must have major question marks as to if he will ever make it at this level. Sims showed promise, but is very inconsistent and also is 20 so next season probably key for him. Are there any 17-20 year olds (Sims aside) who are anywhere near the first team? Is it connected that the U23s are likely to get relegated (we have been slowly adding more and more first team squad players into the lineup to try and prevent this) and the U18s have had about 3 poor seasons in a row now? Whilst Lookman was bought rather than produced, we definitely have no teenagers as good as him and Tom Davies so he has a point IMO. Interesting also that we have very few if any Academy players selected in the England U16s to 20s this time around. Not always a great indicator but for example the likes of Shaw, Chambers, JWP, Targett, Stephens were all selected through many of those age group sides. As a well known Academy that has produced very good players you would imagine they would be having a look to see what we have and ultimately have decided there are better players elsewhere at all of those age levels.

Do you mean Caceres who is primarily a full back and is under 6 foot tall?

He is rapid once he gets going. But ultimately his poor technique and finishing ability renders a lot of it somewhat useless.

No. Its just a sign he was at training. The photographer doesn't pick the team.

Makes Mane at £35m an absolute steal, albeit not an English player. I doubt Liverpool would sell him now for anywhere lower than £70m. Those players have the premium of being British but still, ludicrous prices for centre backs who are good but not top quality. Alderweireld/VVD for £12-14m must be two of the best PL signings of the last 10 years, especially TA as he was already PL proven.

Topley set to play tomorrow and hopefully bowl his first ball for Hants First XI. I think Root and Bairstow are available for Yorkshire so will be a tough game. Hants missing Roussouw also, who is replaced by Alsop.

Biggest, most telling, revelation from the ALWAYS debacle is that so many haven't even heard of the (joint) second top scorer in the Championship yet spend everybday talking or posting about football. Bizarre.

Not enough ability to cover ground quickly in there IMO. Thats been our biggest midfield problem this season and a large reason we get easily counter attacked, big lack of pace and mobility in the middle of midfield.

Puel clearly deserves another season and also for the Club not to leave him hanging in the transfer windown which has happened in both since he has been at the Club. Some nice football this season but not ruthless enough. Worth noting Koeman beat all the top 6 in his two seasons, thats where we have regressed most.

Agree. Austin's movement is poor and he is injury prone. Long misses too many chances and Jay needs a move for his own sake. Not sure Gallagher is PL quality but another loan at a better team would be good. Moyes was watching him again today and has done a lot, be interesting to see if we would sell or only loan. Puel didn't exactly speak glowingly about SG earlier in the season and ultimately most Championship strikers struggle at PL level, albeit with a few exceptions.

Absolutely. But also worth noting that she is obviously looking to sell when the deal is right. Its important a club has an owner who wants to own the club. Numerous examples of clubs that have quickly declined once the owner is looling to sell and cannot find the right buyer.

Really promising start to the season, especially from the new recruits. Hopefully the injuries won't be too bad and if not we have a chance to be one of the better sides in theory.

Would be nice for the club to give the Manager a balanced squad without clear weaknesses, which has not been the case after the summer and winter windows this season. Then we should have a good season relative to the quality of player we have. Then

He has a worrying attribute of making at least one really, really poor, underhit, scuffed pass a game that puts us in real trouble.

Its hardly a suprise, its a good summary of our business model. These players wouldn't join in the firsy place unless they knew we would allow them to move on when a bigger, better, richer club comes in for them. Anyone who joins Saints under the age of 25 or 26 and is still here 5 years later will probably not have progressed as they, or we, expected.

Given his tangible benefit to the side it would be naïve IMO to just let him go easily. He is one of the best players of his type in the PL and age 28 is in the prime of his career. Would imagine having signed a new deal last summer we would be looking for at least £25m.