Dusic

OP spot on. The squad Pochettino had in his first full season in charge did not have the depth that we do now but the first XI was better.

Part of the problem with the (required IMO) rotation is that players never really have to worry about getting games, they all will regardless of form. JWP is a classic example of this. He always plays every other game and is nearly always disappointing. He never does anything to earn his place back because he doesn't need to whilst we have lots of games and whilst Clasie is unable to play more than one game every 7 days. He seems like a nice lad but just doesnt have what it takes to influence a game aside from set plays. I also feel he should be left for games which will likely be played at a lower tempo or against less physical teams. Something like Burnley away or the Liverpool away leg are not suited to him at all. Hopefully when we have less games he will need to earn his spot in the team. After nearly 5 years and over 100 apps the jury is very much still out for me. He will be one of those players with stacks of Eng U21 caps who will see younger players come through and beat him to full honours. Tom Davies from Everton probably one who will develop far quicker and with ultimately a far higher ceiling in that position. Every summer there are "this will be the year JWP kicks on" comments and he never does.

Steve Stammers whose name is on the Mirror article is on about the same accuracy level as Alex Crook. I don't see Fonte at Liverpool myself. They already have Matip and Lovren, plus they recently signed Klavan and have Joe Gomez who is very promising. They would need to sell one of those to buy and older player with limited shelf-life. Don't see it myself.

So, what type of striker do we need? First and foremost someone who can finish. But its is apparant that we have zero physical presence up front. Someone with a bit of power who can hold the ball up would be nice.

Aside from the league cup this season has been very poor. Take an ok looking league position aside and we havent really played well in many league games, certainly not from an attacking perspective. We simply didnt replace the goals of Mane and Pelle and have negated Long by playing a style that doesn't suit him - he is a waste of time at the moment. Feel a bit for Puel as he has inherited a squad short on attacking quality, a thankless task of trying to match our highest PL finish and having lots more games to negotiate. That said, the rotation whilst necessary also means too many players get regular games without earning it - the likes of Hojbjerg and JWP have been dire for ages now. Long too. This coming summer is vital because we are going nowhere fast. Having the likes of Bournemouth, Burnley, a limited WBA and fiasco WHU above us after half the season is not acceptable given we were miles ahead of these sides last season. We probably won't spend in Jan but its ****ing obvious where we are short and the leadership of the club have largely ruined the season by leaving us woefully short in goals.

Bid in for Gabbiadini apparently: http://sportwitness.co.uk/southampton-favourites-sign-west-brom-target-new-bid-submitted-past-hours/

We have improved squad depth without doubt but our best starting XI now is nowhere near the quality of last seasons, nor the season before (which was probably our best overall) with this side most weeks: Forster; Clyne, Fonte, Toby, Bertrand; Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Davis; Tadic, Mane, Pelle If we were to add 4 more players of genuine quality, who are nailed on starters out wide, up front, in central midfield alongside and a good Fonte replacement then we would have a really good team again backed up by able deputies, and will have benfitted by improving the overall standard of the squad although may well have some unhappy players next season if as is likely there is no Europe and far more weeks without a midweek game. In that team above its the central midfield that is miles better than now IMO, perfect mix of strength, mobility and technical ability. Plus also a maverick player in Mane which Boufal may end up being of course. Summer 2017 is crucial. Need to go back to fewer additions of higher quality and I don't think we need to sign anyone who isn't a nailed on starter unlike this summer when we needed back GK, RB etc. Get it right and without the European distraction we can have a great season. But a mediocre summer will see us fall away from the top 6 and probably the likes of Everton if they spend their millions well.

The Boss said yesterday in the press conference that it is not possible to play the same team.

Might be starting to heat up a bit. According to reports in Portugal we have a bid in for Porto's Sergio Oliveira, Saints officials expected in Portugal to continue talks: http://sportwitness.co.uk/sunderland-join-race-midfielder-4m-bid-southampton/ 24 yr old central attacking midfielder, out of favour at Porto but previously hyped. Can find the original article on the Ojogo site if interested. Bizarre rumour: Yoshida to China http://sportwitness.co.uk/another-key-southampton-player-linked-move-china/

Burnley away at Turf Moor is an ideal game for JWP to come back in for. Said nobody.

Clasie was good tonight in his usual way but its mad that despite a year and half of targetted training and adaptation to English football he still can't last anywhere near 90mins in a vaguely up tempo match. Can't remember watching a Saints player in 30 years who gets cramp as often as him!

Well deserved win but obviously should have scored more. Redmond was excellent though and put a massive shift in. Should have scored another goal at least but he got in great positions and the last chance I liked his confidence to go for the chip rather than just wildly smash at it like Cedric did with his chance. Midfield good, as none of them have a lot of mobility it suits us to sit deep. Romeu much improved from previous weeks. We have given ourselves a chance and showed that all the tossers who go on about Puel are wrong - those were committed players playing for the Manager. Yoshida was good too.

He must be dead set on leaving. Someone must have royally ****ed him off.

Good signing for Everton. Hasnt become a bad player overnight and wouldnt have signed for them 2 years ago. For a January signing, its a good one.

If he is available for less than about £12m then we should be all over Berahino IMO. He needs love but there is a class player there and its now risk given age, nationality and potential.

Won't be going to Palace. Reed said just last week that we only let people go to the top clubs.

Wonder if McQueen might get the nod over Bertrand for this. Just because Puel seems to rotate the full backs more than any other area and has rarely played one in both matches in a short space of time apart from where unavoidable. McQueen for the cup game and Bertrand back in the league on Saturday.

Great start to the season, but has definitely made a lot more errors in the last 10 games or so, at least 3 leading to goals. Palace from the corner, Spurs home, arguably the Beer Sheva fiasco, Norwich come to mind. Especially has an issue of not tracking runners in behind him, which is very key in his position (Watford at home and Palace away last year), or tracking runners from set plays. Is lack of real competition an issue? If we play with one sitting midfielder they need a physical presence and he is the only player we have in midfield who is vaguely strong and has become indispenable because of that and the strong early performances this season. He has generally done well but sometimes because he puts big crowd-pleasing tackles in fans probably don't pick up on the weaker parts of his game. Would definitely hope we are looking to bring in another midfielder with a physical presence and ball winning capabilities in the summer to challenge him.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4098234/Manchester-United-tell-Everton-pay-20m-Morgan-Schneiderlin.html According to Rob Draper Everton believe VVD coukd be persuaded to sign for them, but that its more realistic in the summer.

One club goal after half the season, not the way it was intended to turn out! If you don't play to Long's strengths then he is a poor striker as has little composure and technical quality. Clearly Puel is here to stay and clearly Long doesn't fit his style of play and can never really be trained to. How does this play out, both now and longer term? Sure he earns a pretty sizeable wage which we are seeing no return on.

A real link via the reliable Di Marzio: Amato Ciciretti http://sportwitness.co.uk/southampton-make-offer-second-division-forward-decision-expected-january-12th/

Abundantly clear from this that Puel is (rightly) going nowhere at this stage: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/15005597.Reed_asks_for_fan_s_trust_in_Southampton_way/?ref=mac We aren't a panic stations, knee jerk club like others. Reed made a decision he felt would pay off longer term, so totally understandable that he allows Puel the time to implement his ideas. Lets hope they back him with an ability to bring in one or two players they want but right now he needs support and an atmosphere that helps the team rather than moaning at everything and everyone.

Duncan Spedding

You don't want to be losing the most creative player you currently have available, no matter how inconsistent he can be.

Puel in. He has been dealt a tough hand in many ways with limited possibilities. Give him a chance to mould his own side.