Chez

He was certainly ineffective coming on in the cup final, but if you watched the Swansea game you will have seen a player come off the bench and literally run rings round the opponent. He was absolutely sensational. It should be noted that flair players have those days when the tricks and flicks don't come off. You can count the flair players on one hand who's tricks come off every single week. I watched Messi against PSG at their place and he gave the ball away all game - and we are talking about the World's best ever player. There is no comparison between the two. I'm just saying that players that dribble and actually attempt to beat a man (pretty much the toughest thing to do in football) don't always manage it. What's important is that they have the courage to come back next week and try it all again and hopefully succeeding. Not sure where this `poor attitude' comes from. I haven't watched the U23 game, so missed that. What I have seen is a player wiling to up sticks and move to a new country and face the less than perfect task of going straight into the physio room. When given his chance he has really gone for it, perhaps trying too hard at times, but when you have the ability to do things like this and this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H6TNY5vK1M then I'm more than happy to see him attempt it. In my eyes he is a tremendous talent. It's up to Puel to get the best out of him. Brilliant asset.

I actually preferred him when he gamely bombed up and down the line for us in League 1. Seems a totally different player now. Much more measured, probably a better all round game, but I'm not sure he is a stand out central midfielder, whilst I thought he was a stand out right midfielder able to get up and down, make the right choices but also have the pace and flair to do damage in the final third. I cant remember the last time I saw him beat a man for Arsenal. Obviously hes playing at a totally different level, so waltzing past fullbacks is not as easy as it was in league 1, but he just never does that, which is a shame.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooo. Not the players car park. Best bit of tarmac this side of Fareham...bastards.

Prem money alone last season was £84.5. Add to that the revenue from the cups, sponsorship and gate receipts and you get an idea of how much there is to (and we do) spend.

Swiss Ramble http://swissramble.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Southampton suggested it was £72.1m back in 2015, so you'd imagine it was considerably higher now with the likes of Austin, Forster and VanDjik signing huge new contracts.

One of the ****test saints players of all time comes up trumps. Good lad.

not trying to do a brave/stupid Southampton fan a disservice here, but have the daft ****s just mistaken a man in a red and white horizontal striped polo shirt for a Saints Fan?

Lallana was one year into a shiny new five year contract when he had a change of heart and ****ed off to Liverpool. Shaw was one year into a shiny new five year contract when he had a change of heart and ****ed off to United. Lovren was one year into a shiny new four year contract when he had a change of heart and ****ed off to Liverpool. Chambers was one year into a shiny new four year contract when he had a change of heart and ****ed off to Arsenal.

you can use stronger phrases like "we wont sell" and "he is not going anywhere" as West Ham did with Payet, but what's the point?

IMO only the third goal could have been prevented by a different CB, but even that one, if you look at carefully, is a tad unlucky and might still have been conceded. Check it out. Two midfielders go in for the tackle on the edge of the box, neither get enough of it, Stephens feels he needs to move forward to close the space, but as a result he leaves a little space behind him, which Zlatan goes into, and he can't get back quick enough...the rest is history. Stephens didn't have too bad a game if you ask me. I thought Yoshida has another very good game. It's been discussed to death and I don't expect to convince you here, but Fonte leaving the club doesn't stink of short term sell for profit. Personally I'm not terribly fussed Fonte was allowed to leave.

Having offered nothing but gushing praise, I do have a three moans. **** me you are detract from the match in the top tier. I hate half cut middle aged blokes in jester hats moaning at fellow passengers for not joining in with his out of tune OWTS despite it being 8 hours before kick off.If you want to look like Timothy Claypole thats up to you, but dont moan at me for saving myself for the actual game. I've a coice like Bane this morning. Why are Saints fans crying about United taking the mick out of the camera phone light thing. Why should they have a clue what its all about? Stop being so precious

oh and although its been said by every man and dog on here, Gabbiadini is a proper player. Not just his finishing, but his all round game, especially his first touch and movement. He is constantly making runs, some picked out, some not. A player of his quality really does show how average our other strikers are.

so much this. I'm not one of those that thinks we have the greatest fans in the world, but that celebration was great. Enjoyed watching it, enjoyed being part of it.

It might be strange, but two of the best Saints games I have ever been to have been defeats. The loss in the play-off semi-final second leg was heartbreaking, but it was still an absolutely exhilarating experience that I will never forget. I am not sure yesterday quite matched that in terms of excitement, but I was kind of blown away by how well we played. I thus came away feeling disappointed, but not devastated. It was obviously a very good game. I'd say it was easily our best performance of the season and in terms of dominance, right up there with the beatings we have given to some of the poorer sides this season (West Ham, Sunderland etc.). All it needed was a Saints winner. Despite lacking that it was still a great experience and something to add to the memory banks, which in the end is all that matters. The way we kept the ball from back to front was brilliant. Players like Yoshida showed great composure on the ball, waiting for the right pass rather than smacking it down a channel. The midfield hardly ever turned the ball over. Maybe United didn't press or get tight enough. But the first touch of every Saints player was immaculate, which meant they had time and space to work. No one needs a reminder of Romeu's ability, but boy can he play. I struggle to have a bad word about any of the outfield players. Perhaps Boufal tried a little too hard when he came on, but is that something to moan about? I did think Forster could have saved the first goal, or certainly got a hand to it, but its not the time to pick fault.

Academy is just another term for youth development system, so not sure why you would discount Shearer. You can add Rod Wallace (I don't treat the Prem as being something separate to the old First division) and Jeff Kenna to the list. Actually, why not Danny Wallace too since he played a couple of games in United's first Prem title.

"There's only two Caceres..."

I can imagine anyone buying a membership at the start of the season is bloody ****ed off that they could have waited until they actually needed it. Genuine question: Why did you buy a membership?

Is it possible to buy a membership for a linked person on your account as you would an actual ticket?

were those half way line bottom tier South stand actually available in the original sale?

£2m a position in the league, so if there are any correlation between away support, performance and results then that could be a sizeable contribution to the clubs coffers. That said, I am not sure there is any correlation though.

I agree with you, they are a top 7 club, but just for balance they have finished 11th in last two seasons and have been top 7 in three of last six seasons.

We were linked with Wimmer a while back and I would guess we made enquires in the last window too, but with Vertongen out injured there would be no chance of Spurs letting him leave. He made noises about being unhappy at not getting games. There was a lot talk about him returning to FC Koln. I think he went to watch them and the press were all over it.

this

maybe Saints are waiting until they have fleeced as many fans as possible for £26 memberships before announcing there are 5000 extra tickets which will be available to non members. Or am I being too cynical?