Chez

he will need to find out what the selling terms are, the fee and percentage of wage we are willing to pay etc. and how much money he will personally be paid for finding his client a new club.

the ref felt guilty about not giving the first, so evened things out?

not the most intimidating of grounds, thats for sure, but to be fair the whole stadium stood up and bayed for a penalty.

- Premier League clubs may not register more than two players on loan at any one time. - The maximum number of loans registrable in the same season is four, and, under no circumstances, shall more than one be from the same club at any one time. - Premier League clubs cannot loan to another Premier League club a player they have acquired in the same transfer window. - A Premier League club may loan not more than one of its goalkeepers to another Premier League club

lack of pace is a concern, but those other facets sound good.

net spend doesn't include signing on fees, paying loyalty bonuses and **** manager redundancies. Also, our wage bill is ****ing massive. It consumes pretty much all the TV and Prem revenue. Do we have massive funds in the bank waiting to be spent? I'm not so sure. We certainly don't appear to have an owner prepared to spend money not generated by the cub. Prepare to be disappointed by our transfer dealings.

I thought he wasn't too bad today in the first half. Not great, but not terrible either. Didn't do anything in the second half, but then again, who did? Don't get me wrong, I am not saying he's a good signing. He's hardly played and done little in the cameos Ive seen.

I could not agree more. Not quite as weak line up as the Arsenal cup game, but similar lack of any attacking notion in the second half. A flat back five with fullbacks that didn't press at all was a complete surrender.

I thought from my poor angle that Kompany's challenge looked reckless and thus a red card. Was that the case? I don't think I have ever come across a player that makes so many fouls and bad tackles ad gets away with so few cards. He is a very articulate nice fella and refs seem to judge him on that rather than individual fouls. Having said that, the ref was very lenient when choosing to ignore Hoj volleying Sterling five feet in the air in the first half. I'm surprised at how many people on here were satisfied by so many of our player performances. It could easily have been 6 or 7 today. How they didn't score from their first attack I will never know. McArthy made some excellent saves to keep the scoreline respectable, the one with his head was especially good, but he perhaps could have done better with the second and third. Ramsey looked a bit slow to me. Is he a centre back in the U23s? I know Ralf needed to rotate, but why on earth did he select Ramsey, who lacked pace, to mark Sterling/Sane? In the second half he did absolutely nothing except mark space. Him and Valery were like synchronised right backs, mirroring each others movements, yet between them they still couldn't stop Sterling. We effectively played with 10 men. That was mostly down to the formation. I am not sure what he could have done other than move out to Silva a bit more, but that would have left space behind him. I found that incredibly frustrating in the second half. We didn't give it a go, we just sat deep and filled space. As against West Ham the wing backs sat back and didn't push on which crippled us. Valery - he isn't lightning quick either. Ive said this for years that pace is essential at fullback. Are there any top class fullbacks that are not quick? Most seem to be former wingers that are incredibly comfortable on the ball. By and large I have liked what I have seen with him, but he was rubbish today. Completely done by Sterling who he hacked from behind for a stick on pen. Bednarek is also too slow for this level. Can't fault his commitment and he made some tackles and blocks, as you would expect really, but his lack of pace is an issue and has a knock on effect. I was concerned he would be exposed in a four man defence, but we changed it quite early to a five. I really don't rate him, but maybe I need to cut him a bit more slack...not sure why. Stephens did OK, but his ability on the ball catches the eye and thats never been in question. I'd pick him over Bednarek. Targett - when your fullback is being beaten in the air by Mahrez the time has come to look for a replacement. He is as slow and weak as he was before he went to Fulham. Great first touch...but not good enough at this level. We need winners and he isn't one. Hoj looked like the only Saints player physically strong enough to dominate an opponent. He seems to get better every time I see him. Shame he lost his head. That is very bad news for us. Romeu - Did OK, but we certainly didn't control the midfield area. I was surprised he was subbed so early as he looked like he still had the legs, but maybe was being rested. Lemina - sorry but you have got to win those block tackles or a least show the commitment needed of a relegation threaten side. Fans won't accept a flimsy attempt to win the ball. A below par display not helped by looking totally lost on the left hand side of a three man midfield, but much better on the right when we moved to five at the back. The game seemed to go on around him but when give the chance to make a mark he tackled with the outside of his boot. Elyounoussi - contrary to forum opinion I thought he had quite a good game. He ran down some blind alleys, but there was often very few passing options. He retained possession quite well and I actually thought his sharpness and desire was the spark for our first half resurgence. In the second half he did little I suppose, but 8 men so deep the front three had no chance or doing much. Austin - what a great chance fluffed in the first half. He wanted to control it and shoot both on his right foot. That gave him no room for error and the chance was lost. Not sure I understand why he started ahead of Long. He doesn't lead the line well. He does hold the ball up and bring players in. He's a goal hanger, no more no less that should come on for the last 20 minutes if we need a goal. Redmond was totally infective when he came on, but as I mentioned, we gave up any thoughts of getting back into the game when reverting to a flat five at the back. Long did his best but had very little opportunity

the more Valery plays the better he will become. I just wonder if he might be better suited to right back rather than wingback, which requires a more offensive player.

lucky them. Looked top draw last night. It was a great battle between him and Romeu by the way.

amen to that. Mind you if it means that we have someone other than Targett dropping back that can only be a bonus. Seriously though, the number of times we have conceded from our own corners is ridiculous and needs addressing. Changing the taker is probably just the start.

very few attacking options at his disposal. We badly need to bring in an alternative option to Redmond. Bringing Long or Austin off the bench is not enough to change a game. We need to keep adding more flair to the final third, and strength and pace and and and...and better players everywhere.

I'd be interested to get yardage stats fir players. Romeu and Lemina seemed to be covering a lot of grass to me. Lemina also made quite a lot of gut busting box to box runs too. I thought those two were making up for the inadequacies of the wing backs and the ineffectiveness fo Ings and Redmond. Armstrong was quiet in the first half too, which left our midfield to do a lot of work. Lemina's body language can be terrible after he has made one of those long runs forward. He looks absolutely shattered, with shoulders hunched forward. That might be interpreted as him being deflated or dejected by some. Personally I love his effort and ability to recycle ball. He does give it away cheaply sometimes, but the flip side to that is he beats a man, gets between the lines and creates the attacking opportunities critical at this level. Without him we often look very one dimensional. The biggest drawback is that he wonders a lot leaving us exposed.

Bednarek's yellow card was deserved to be honest. Carrol went up for the header. Bednarek, coming from behind him, just jumped straight into him shoulder first with no attempt to get the ball. Not seen such a poorly disguised shoulder charge like that for a while. Old school centre half play.

the amount of yards Romeu and Lemina had to cover throughout the night to try and retrieve the ball after we had given it away cost us in the end. Just prior to their first goal, Romeu was like a dog chasing three rabbits down the right hand side, when the ball was worked forward by West Ham he got goal side, but he was too tired to race out to close Anderson on the edge of the box. He was the closest man and with time Anderson could pick his spot. You might say the same about the second. Yet again we are caught form our own corner, but 5 on 1 suggests at least one of our centre midfielders wasn't doing enough to chase back, probably because they were tired. The second goal ranks right up there with amongst the worst goals we have ever conceded. How on earth do you end up five on one? Can't fault the effort by the way. Not sure five at the back did us any favours in the end. Boy do we have a lack of flair to bring off the bench. A dogged runner in Long and a goal hanger in Austin doesn't exactly represent a change of pace. Need to invest in another dribbler that can help ease the burden on Redmond.

Decent play in front of the back four, including some terrific defending right from the front by Ings has papered over the cracks of a very weak defence. Playing five seems essential, as there aren't a pair of centre backs good enough to keep opponents at bay. We also don't have strong enough players at fullback. Bertrand walks into the team and I can just about live with Targett as a reserve until we can find better. On the right hand side Stephens has looked our most assured player. Valery has a lot to learn and needs a season in the championship. Without centre backs that dominate in the air, Cedric becomes a bit of a liability. Don't underestimate what his pace gives us in terms of covering our slow centre backs, but if any deep cross ends up with us conceding then it might need to be sacrificed. The simple fact is we need to upgrade in every position if possible. Vestagaard is not good enough for this level. Far far too slow of thought and foot. Hoedt is a better option...I know, that is how bad our options have got. Bednarek can be hidden in a five, but is slow and not great in the air. What a terrible combination. Yoshida looks assured in a back five and sweeps well, but he simply does not bully centre forwards enough or win enough headers. We need to shuffle the pack if at all possible until we find what is required. Its a very difficult position to find talent, until then our forwards and midfielders are going to have to protect them better.

goading fans, becomes abusing fans, becomes abusing the disabled. Considering you saw nothing, perhaps it's best you stopped posting your opinion on this subject in such certain terms. I am not a big fan of Austin as a player, and would have no hesitation in condemning any Saints player if his actions were to fall below the standards I would set myself, but I find the wording being used to describe his supposed actions, with no evidence to support it, disgraceful.

he doesn't look a natural finisher to me. Did he score goals for fun in the academy? Love seeing youngsters get their chance, but these guys haven't improved us yet. Given time they may well do.

Just back from Yorkshire. Still got the warm glow of the away win. Thought we dominated from start to finish, barring a five minute spell after their lucky goal. Prior to that we had complete control of the game. The only time we looked under any threat was set pieces. Huddersfield have some big lads and they won the first and often second header which on anther day might have seen them score a goal or two. Our failure to dominate in the air has not been resolved by Vestegaard. Bednerek also fails to inspire me. He doesn't win headers and he is pretty slow. Check the MOTD hihhlights and just how slow he was on the turn for Huddersfield only chance (just before half time). He doesn't get nearly close enough but luckily the shot flew high. Playing three at the back is not just a good idea its a necessity IMO. I thought Yoshida had a terrific game covering the back. Despite our two wins we have not sorted the defence out. By pressing teams we have hidden the weakness better. Perhaps that is what all decent sides do - hide an cover the back four. I don't want to be too negative, but focusing on issues when you win is as important as when you lose. With that let me say that neither full back is good enough. Targett is too slow...far too slow. His lack of pace didn't cost us this time, but against better opponents it we need Bertrand back, One thing I will say is he won a few headers from their long balls. On the other side Valery is not quite ready. The more games he gets the better, but he struggled again. We looked more solid when Stephens replaced him. Enough negative, in front of them it was brilliant. Hoj and Romeu ran the game. Hoj was pretty much faultless in my eyes. In front of them Armstrong had his best game for Saints I think. He was a great out ball and his off the ball running relived the pressure and gave an option time after time. Redmond had another very good game. He continues to offer us our best attacking outlet and he linked very well with Ings. Talking of Ings, his return tp the side is perhaps as important as getting a new manager. The efforts is infectious, the quality on the ball brilliant too. He is a class act. A big congratulations to Obafemi on his goal. He took it well. He actually fluffed his lines a couple of times prior to that and looked far from a composed finisher and a couple of through balls we very average when we looked well placed, but he looks confident and will only get better. Ive been quite negative, I know, but this was a great team display against a terrible team (with injuries to key midfielders) that will go down. We are so much better when we press teams. I simply do not understand why we ever stopped doing it.

what absolute utter joy that was. Love winning football games.

I was also going to say Paul Masters. Shearer was the school year above, but in his age group Paul was the outstanding talent despite it including Paul Tisdale, Ncky Banger and Geoff Kenna. Lee McCrmack was another talent in that same youth team having attended Lilleshall. In the year below I always thought Abdul Kamara would make it. I wonder what he's up to the days?

I'd like to add a certain D. Powell to this list please. The least technically capable professional footballer ever seen at any level, ever.

I would go as far to say that the slight change in formation made us worse. I can't say it cost us, we made so many basic errors at the back that were not as a result of the set up of the team, but it did make us even less effective going forward than before. We were completely toothless. Part of it was that in the first half Lemina and Redmond just didn't seem to know where they were supposed to be. Armstrong also was non existent. In the second half Redmond seemed to play wider which helped initially, but once we conceded the space dried up. The plus side was that in the first ten minutes there seemed to be some sort of press, or perhaps a better description was that when we lost the ball the nearest man ran towards the guy with the possession and closed him right down without thinking. No jockeying, no concern about which player to mark, just run. That lasted about ten minutes, tops. It didn't have an affect, but for a few minutes I thought to myself that under Ralf we are going to try something different. Hopefully something blossoms from that. I didn't see anything else. We didn't move the ball quicker, the passing and control was so average that there was never an opportunity. There was no fast breaking. There was no width except for the fullbacks, and with those well forward it left those terrible CBs exposed. Would we be better if we didn't allow them to cross the half way line? Actually there was one practiced corner routine but Austin was too slow to get in front of his man, so it didn't come off. I think what is interesting is the formation and whether he can find the right personnel to fill it. From this game alone Ralf would have seen Romeu and Lemina (sort your body language out mate) were up to the task, but Austin wasn't.

you certainly don't learn how to stop making errors, you just end up playing at a lower level where they are not punished as badly.