Chez

That could have been my description of Burnley after the game at Sms. Lot of teams winning ugly, defensively...luckily?

I see the usual 'if we lose, who gives a **** about the performance' has been turned right on is head. For the record I am absolutely delighted that we have won and are into the next round. That is all that matters to me today. I am not willing to sacrifice our place in the cup to add weight to the sacking of the manager. Win the cup and be relegated? I will take that right now.

Interesting summary, but Marcus died just prior to the 2010/11 season, whereupon Kat became the new owner. Cortese didn't resign until January 2014. In that three and a half year period we employed Adkins, were promoted twice, before holding our own in the top flight before finishing 8th. Did the music really die on August 11th?

Brum might go for that. They are paying him/us an absolute fortune, which could obviously be spent on other players. He was Baspuss' man and the Clot hasn't really fancied him, playing him out wide most of the season. However, he has scored 3 goals in the last five games, which might have changed things (its amazing how much better a player looks if he has scored).

Ha, I wonder if there was a single reader of Beavis17's post that didn't sing "Amadu du du, push..." in their head. I know I did.

The atmosphere at most grounds is pretty **** these days. Not all and certainly not at every game, but by and large its was better in days gone by. I put it down to all-seat stadiums, the price of tickets and beer. Lots of half cut, working class men standing in a crowd (enabling them to throw off their usual inhibitions) created a special atmosphere at football grounds. That is replicated on occasion in modern stadiums, especially at big games, but there really has to be an edge to the game. Even Man United away followings have been relatively reserved in recent times and they have usually been the most exuberant since our move to SMS. If we are just talking recently, then its probably just a matter of the enthusiasm/life being drawn out of Saints fans due to the now long term poor home form.

Having watched the Arsenal Chelsea game last night I wonder if we should be mirroring Chelsea's formation, which based around getting the ball to Hazard and let him run around with it all evening. No wingers, no one anywhere near him in fact, which would probably just be a waste of a shirt(s) as he never passes. Boufal needs to be more greedy too and giving him pretty much free reign and also requiring him to do a lot more might get the best out of him. I saw a post elsewhere putting the blame for our problems on the three players playing behind the striker, be that Tadic, Redmond, Davis or Boufal, and I tend to agree. They have not done nearly enough. Perhaps the time has come to change the formation, but not necessarily go two up front. Maybe this is too defensive for Fulham or home games, but three centre halves doesn't have to be defensive - Chelsea won the league with it, yet strangely no one seems to be copying it. McCarthy Soares Hoedt Stevens Yoshida Bertrand Lemina Hoj Romeu Boufal Gabiadini I wonder whether this formation requires new signings at all and whether Walcott and Sturridge would work. In my eyes we simply need to buy players better than we have, in any position. There are better CM than we have, even better right backs. If so get them in.

Good question, but I suspect Tosun will fill that central number 9 role and then Walcott and Bolasie would fill the wide positions - so maybe not.

As always I hope we put our strongest side out and I see no reason why we don't. It might be the last time we have a `premiership quality' team that we can put out in the cup should we be relegated, so let's bloody go for it. Struggling sides like Brum and Wigan have got to cup finals and no reason why our own cant do the same. I am not sure when Soares is going to be back, but if he is not far off then a cup game might help him back to fitness, so beneficial.

we brought in Bagpuss' son on January 4th back in 2005. Just saying. 2017/18 - July 12th Bednarek, Jan ? 2016/17 - July 11th Hojbjerg, Jan 30th Gabbiadini 2015/16 - July 1st Harry Lewis, Jan 16th Austin 2014/15 - July 8th Tadic, Jan 3rd Eljero Elia (loan) 2013/14 - June 14th Lovren, None in Jan 2012/13 - 6th June Davis, 18th Jan Forren/26th Tadanari Lee

you are right, neither are quite good enough in the air. Goals will always be conceded from crosses, but take out Pelle, VVD, Wanyama etc and you become much more susceptible. Not sure that is borne out in the stats, but we certainly don't feel as secure as we used to. Not enough pressure on the cross is another factor

I thought Gao used his own funds to buy the club. If that is the case the club has no debt. I guess he can recoup his money spent by paying himself a big dividend. Can he do that through a company loan? doesn't sound possible to me, but I'm sure someone on here will explain.

We went to two up to last night for the last 20 minutes and five minutes after doing so there was a gaping hole in centre midfield that contributed to their second goal. Perhaps two up front is the answer, I don't know, but it can create other questions.

people on here refuse to accept that we might be paying Austin the £100k a week the dildo brothers said he wanted to sign for them. Someone at the club must be getting a fair chunk for that to be the case.

pretty fair assessment. At home that space behind isn't always there, but away form home it is. In terms of `riskier' passing, I am not sure we have the ability in midfield to pick runners out. Last season Hoj was absolutely horrible when trying to pas forwards. He has kept things much more simple and most fans have liked what they have seen. In contrast Romeu has tried to be more progressive and forward looking with passes, but so many have been intercepted. Last night was a good case in point giving the ball away a lot. Boufal did the same.

ignoring the FA cup games, Bagpuss had a 16.7% win rate in the top flight with us.

I disagree. JWP simply plays that way, as does Davis and Tadic. It's amazing that these players did exactly the same under Puel, yet its MP that has coached them to do that. Some things are most certainly the current managers fault, but the idea that JWP plays a ball square rather then through the eye of a needle because MP has told him to is rubbish. It's the type of players they are. What's required are a few complimentary players that go the other way - dare I say it, a Mane type.

that is not the managers fault. Players first touches are not good enough and we have not enough players with the ability, strength and technique to play forwards. Players instead play it safer because they are not good enough or confident enough. Romeu a case in point. Almost every forward ball he played tonight was intercepted, so in the end stopped trying them. Accuracy and weight of pass is also a major factor. Again quality of player a major factor.

I'm with you. Almost every post on here focuses on MP, with the odd mention of Reed and Krueger. The players get a complete pass. That cant be right. It's a squad full of mediocrity. Massive trouble.

they can have our high street. When it rains it reminds me of scenes from the original Blade Runner movie. What a desperate place. Back to transfers, is Diafra Sakho any good? I see on the BBC website west Ham are knocking back offers for him.

what a very good point.

I am not sure I agree with all of your post. The `experiment' worked with Wanyama and Morgan, although I agree that keeping unhappy players is folly. Not sure the club accounts shows a huge pot of cash sat in the bank to pay for a new stadium. In fact there was a sizeable debt until the change of owner (and who knows whether a new debt will be created). Almost everything we bring in is spent on players and rising wages. JWP, Stevens, Target and McQueen are all being given first team games. You have to remember talent such as Shaw and Chambers was removed from that equation too, so youth is being given a chance. Have you seen him much at Brum? He still has a lot to learn and despite my serious misgivings about Cotterill's handling of him, especially playing him out wide, another season in the championship wont harm him in the long term. Selecting youth for the sake of it won't improve results. Players must be picked on merit. Bale and Shaw were the best players at the club in their positions at 17 so were picked. The others you mention are not. The homegrown talent hasn't been good enough. That is something that needs attention, but finding top class players every year is never going to happen.

We have training ground, academy and stadium. What other club infrastructure needs investment I wonder?

sense talked right there.

could not agree more. I'm not terribly fussed about hearing from the Chairman. All the talking should be done on the pitch if you ask me, but having made himself available you'd hope he would have a more concise message for fans. Blimey does he waffle.