Chez

maybe not home games, but interested to hear if there are Isle of Wight residents that travel to Northern away games.

that really is impressive commitment.

fitness if often brought up when teams are struggling and there is a management change and I often think its a smokescreen, but on this occasion I do think there is something in it. I've seen it in quite a few games this season where we blow ourselves out with a lot effort early doors to close people down (maybe not a high press), but that just dissappears second half and its down to fitness. Whether any team can close down from the first minute to last I don't know, but we struggle to do it beyond half time.

do players not get MRI scans? Are they done in house? Not sure if a CT scan is performed, but I doubt the club has that equipment in house or does it?

really? That's interesting. He been a focal point all week on social media with fans saying he needs to be backed.

Very interesting. I agree with much of this. It is a good balanced post. There wa a period between the goals when we were just hanging on where I'd like to have seen a sub, but like you not sure what that would have been other than another CB. MOPo would have been crucified if he did that.

Stephens is a great prospect, but he doesn't win enough in the air. That was Yoshidas biggest failing when he came. He has got nastier, but when push comes to shove the likes of Benteke WILL win that important header when Yoshida or Stevens don't get a run up or the chance to set themselves. HOedt has the height but needs to be more imposing. I don't think we will sign a CB. HOedt was signed to replace VVD. That is a problem for us, but there is always MOPo tactics to blame if we want to gloss over this position deficiency. This squad is go enough to be too eight...havent you heard?

Why not play both.

Good question that. He had a poormgame when he started a few weeks back and maybe mopo has lost confidence in him?

I'm not sure about the other criticisms, but hard to disagree about necessary changes, or timely changes. He, like all managers should watch game from the stands. The higher vantage point must help see a game better and make the right tactical decisions.

decent analysis. I can't remember the specific game, but didn't he bring Austin on and he scored straight away in one game? Memory might be playing tricks on me. We've only win four, so the answer is probably no. Can I just say that if we have taken the lead in the first place then his tactics put in place must have something to do with that. We are failing in the second half. Legs not up to? Failing to replace players with fresh legs at right time another issue.

I thought we played pretty well first half. Did Watford sit back and defend? No, they were just ****, gave the ball away a lot and we used that to our advantage, pressed them and got the goals we deserved. I thought we played very poorly second half. Did we sit back and defend. No, we were just ****, gave the ball away a lot ad Watford used that to their advantage, they pressed us back and they get their goals they perhaps deserved, all be it the second was hand ball. As you can see I don't agree with the 'sit back and defend tactic' theory. In my eyes one of the biggest problems is that our snappy, get tight to the opponent, limit their space, limit their time style fails once players start to get a tired. We run out of puff, usually about 45 to 60 minutes. Once that happens opponents start to have more time, pass it better and cause us lots of problems defensively. We don't sit back by design, we are forced back. That was certainly the case yesterday anyway. Yesterday saw Davies blowing out his Arsenal after 45 minutes. For about 6 or 7 minutes before the goal they were all over us. For me a sub needed to be made. Davis made a terrible error which cost us the goal. MoPo has been slated for his subs, sometimes way too harshly, hindsight is a wonderful thing, but that period of play was so poor and it looked so obvious to me that Davis should be subbed. At that point I felt like joining the MoPo is clueless bandwagon. But I'd like to continue to push the theory that the Manager AND the players are the problem. Between the goals you have to ask where the **** was Romeu, JWP and HOj. They complexly disappeared, as did all composure from the back four. Hoofs, slices, misplaced passes. Watford hustled, went direct and we looked lightweight. We are lightweight by the way and have been since, Pelle Wanyama etc left. One thing missing on this thread is what fans would have done to resolve the problems we were having after we conceded the first. Both CB were being bullied. The midfield bypassed. But what options were there? Where was our land of the giant CB to bring on to cope with Deeney? Who else was there to bring free legs on for JWP or Hoj - who was ****ing terrible second half by the way. Would an extra CB have been the answer? Blimey, I just can't imagine how many more 'why be so defensive' posts there would have been on here if MoPo had. But that was what I was thinking. I am in slight agreement with a few posters that McCarthy might have cleaned Decoure out Schumacher style to prevent the goal and perhaps he didn't want to get hurt, but at the speed these guys are playing it might have been that he was just a little late to get there. Have to say the save he made before their first goal was one of the best I have seen by a saints keeper for a while - well since FF got here. I know the majority on here blame MoPo for everything. I never wanted him myself and don't back him, even if this post might suggest it, but players win games as well as tactics and I'm afraid ours are lacking. Yes we showed we can play first half, but Watford are not a great team (I might add that if you blame MoPo for second half you have to credit him for the first) and if your legs only last for half a game then that's not acceptable. Things do look ominous. As others have said, turning wins into draws and draws into defeats mirrors 2005. Can we turn it around? I am not so sure. Will a new manager turn it around? Again, I am not so sure.

Personally I've not been totally convinced by McCarthy. Small sample size of course. We really do need to upgrade, but I have raised this questions before, can clubs like Saints revamp squads by offloading players they don't fancy or can they merely bring players in when others are bought (because they are good) or contracts come to an end?

nothing, and I repeat nothing, will ever make me forget his display at QPR the following season. He knew he was off to WBA, down tools and quite literally stood (with hands on hips) on the half way line after losing a ball allowing QPR to race away on an attack that I think led to a goal. A complete a total lack of professionalism in my eyes during a really tough period for Saints. He was bloody average, so the very least I expect from that type of player is some ****ing effort. The skates despise him and for once I am happy to be in agreement wiht them.

sounds more appealing than Balotelli

you absolute bastard. You've made me think of Nigel ****ing **** Quashie again. Its taken me years to forget that ****.

what a very good point this is. Puel struggled to get goals from those player and that contributed massively to him getting the sack, yet MoPo is expected to get a different tune from them? Has it become impossible to refresh squads without players coming to the end of their contracts or being sold?

Good news. He needs to get games and be tested week in week out. It will be interesting to get reports from Fulham as they will expect him to shine not simply 'hold an end'.

Strange situation with Walcott. He doesnt want to leave Arsenal - its his club no matter how long he was at Saints as a kid. Wenger doesn't actually want him to go, but he simply cant offer Theo the first team games he desires. So you've got a player that isn't pushing for a move like VVD did. I don't think he'll take much of a wage drop and I don't think Wenger will allow him to leave on the cheap. So if we want him we are going to have to make a huge investment. If that is the case then will we get the right return on that outlay? I'm slightly torn here. I've never been overly impressed with his all round game. His crossing and decision making have never been as bad as the media made out, but has any player had as many blocked crosses as Theo - Jesus Navas perhaps? With Theo it's all fast straight, lines and you need to thread balls through to him. He's much better without the ball than with it. And that's perhaps the reason to sign him above all else, we would be signing someone that makes runs off the ball that stretches opponents and helps unlock teams. One concern would be that I don't know if we have that quality of pass in the final third. Tadic can spot a run, although Gabbiadini might not concur, so maybe all the terrific movement Theo offers wont be wasted. I am being too harsh. He has also scored goals, more than I thought in fact - 1 in 2 last season (which is outstanding), and some were very good finishes indeed, but he relies a lot on supply, and we don't offer a lot of that. Without that supply will he be effective and can we get the best out of his attributes?

was suggested on this very thread several weeks ago (and on previous transfer threads too I might add). There is talent in the championship. Keiran Dowel also at Forest for example (all be it he is on loan from Everton) will make the step up in time. Not sure these championship players would turn our season around, but we shouldn't ignore it. How good is Maitland-Nils by the way? What a talent. I'd be considering him for England WC squad.

you just never know, maybe all the big sides will go out somehow. Wigan did it...

Not a big fan, have seen enough of him to be one, but to be fair he was struggling with a hip injury for a large part of the game.

i think you might be right. Saints fans unhappy at an FA cup win. Whatever next.

The Pellgrino out shout is everywhere on here but I've hardly heard it at games. Saintsweb is not fully representative of the saints crowd. No skates at games for starters, not that I am saying its skates calling for his head I might add. You are right about Sessignion. Quality.

But are we winning the cup? Don't answer that. I like to enjoy any small victories in life.