Dusic

Someone the Manager rates and trusts (he is obviously not sure on Long). A player with better movement than Austin, better technique/composure than Long and more confidence than Jay Rod. Probably no such player exists on loan. Hopefully we get someone for the long term though rather than a stop gap. Austin isnt what we need as a first choice striker anyway. Good season for someone to settle in as pressure will be off most likely from Feb onwards.

Lets just hope for a goal. Although we really need Long to start scoring otherwise he is a big problem on big money for another 3 and a half seasons.

Even ALWAYS_SFC hasn't said he likes it so that is telling. It was ok and a lot more genuine when Long was singing it but its woeful now.

That loan will need to be effective because without Austin's goals we would be bottom 3. Can look as tidy on the ball or have 60% possession every game but without goals we won't get many points and nobody else has scores more than 2 after nearly half the season. Quite worrying. Rotation tomorrow was expected. Martina, McQueen, Fonte, Clasie, JWP, Boufal, Tadic will likely all start.

I doubt we will sign a key player in January. Only business IMO would be a CB if Fonte goes.

Have we even scored a good goal in the league this season? i.e a non opposition gift, tap in etc. Maybe Austin at West Ham is the best unless I have forgotten one?

You only do that for one reason, like Koeman and Fonte.

Same as virtually ever other game: a good defence and midfield but dire final third. We didn't score in 3/6 group games and probably havent scored in half our games over the season. That is what cost us in this group and has been the biggest **** of the season: we have no threat going forward whatsoever.

IMO the answer will never be Long and Austin playing together because for one we don't play with two central strikers and neither can do a job out wide and secondly because neither have very good technique to keep the ball and assist others, which goes against the whole way Puel wants to play. To me the answer is that Austin whilst being an effective goalscorer does hamper out attacking play to an extent with his lack of movement or creativity (he is effectively a box player). Long term solution is the signing of a striker with a more allround game, all of the ones we currently have each possess some big upsides but also equally big weaknesses - the type that will always be in their game rather than things you can improve.

Martina, Yoshida, McQueen, Clasie, Davis and Long will probably all, or nearly all, start this one and then most likely not start against Boro. Same as other rounds.

We have the poacher and the runner with poor footballing ability. An allrounder would be good.

Agree on current first choice three. Feel Austin is a bit of a problem in that he scores but offers little else so if he isn't getting chances, he doesn't really help others to flourish in the way that Lambert, and to a lesser extent, Pelle were able to. When he isn't in the game is when we look most toothless and his away record is much inferior to at home as is the whole team's.

Indeed. Your family must be proud, rightly so!

If that clause is true then its a 30m fail ultimately.

This is the view the club have put out in the form of Jeremy Wilson this afternoon. It does make sense somewhat.

Pretty frustrating how virtually every major story around Saints becomes a negative one. With the team not doing great in the league, losing the captain is never a great thing. Especially as depth wise CB is our weakest position. We are always told you never find good replacements in January and it isnt a good time to shop so you have to wonder if the idea is for Yoshida to start more. He has done well in Europe and Cups this season but has proven over 4 years that he makes too many mistakes at PL level to be a first choice.

His new contract and generally poor goal return probably means its unlikely anyone in the Championship will be able to afford him. He can certainly still do a great job in the PL but we definitely havent got the best out of him at all this season. Think he must be quite a number of games without a goal for Saints now. I don't think he suits the style Puel intends for the team, he suits a much more direct game which we wont play over the bext few years Puel is here.

How do we solve the Long conundrum? Was his form last year an anomoly or will he find his form soon? Does he suit the Puel style?

I have a mate who is a big Blackburn fan. He said to me on Sat that Gallagher has been great for them and is a promising player but that right now he isn't good enough to play for Saints and will benefit massively from more time in the Championship. He also said Rovers play very direct and a very different style to Saints. Puel recently made comments that tie back to this, suggesting Gallagher still needs work on his technical game. Leave him on loan.

I don't really get all the stick Redmond gets. He has probably been a bit better for us than he was for Norwich although has dipped of late. What were people actually expecting? The only competition we had for him was from Stoke remember. He is a solid young player who has some good attributes and technical ability, is flexible and has potential to get better.

Two good games from Boufal at Arsenal and especially Palace where he was our best player. If we get him on the ball in dangerous areas then he will be a huge asset. Just has that ability to wriggle past players when he looks like he shouldn't be able to. Was a bit suprised when he was subbed yesterday as was the only player who looked likely to create anything.

If that were true then its an almighty **** up.

We have played 4-3-3 for ages FFS

Andy Durman had barely ever been right before so doubt he will be this time.

Not sure why everyone thinks the sun shines out of Sammy's backside?