Chez

now I know why we went for the all red kit, its to ease the pain of seeing one of the best players in another teams shirt. I have to say I was actually very impressed by Ozil when they played us at SMS, he looked a top notch player, but I haven't much else of him, so I am perhaps not the best person to comment, but over the course of the season I'd wager that Lallana has been better (he made the PFS team of the year) and Ozil went for £42m, so £20m seems a tad on the low side considering the cost of these talented attacking players coming in from abroad like Willian, Mata, Silva, Hazzard, Oskar etc who are all in he £30m bracket. I suppose the likes of Kagawa were closer to £20m.

Having read the comments on here, it seemed like he is gone, but I just watched it and came away feeling fine. It didn't suggest a good bye at all IMO. I am not saying he won't leave, but I don't think there is body language or anything else in there that points to an impending departure. The fact remains, we are a mid table side and he and one or two others are better than that, so unless we pay more than they could get elsewhere why wouldn't they depart?

Obvious. He asked KL if she would be willing to put her hand in her pocket again, to cover the wages required to keep Lallana here for life, she said in response to take it out of your own pay packet, and the rest is as they say, history.

**** this progressing ********, the players just want their wages doubled and to play for the biggest clubs. They don't have time to wait for Saints to become a top six side... Seeing Lallana go will be worse than seeing bridge leave and that was the toughest to take.

As an England fan first and foremost we live in hope.

My favourite moment was his goal at Bolton away. He was absolutely at the top of his game at that point.

In lots of revolting colours.

His name got mentioned on MOTD the other night, which might explain his inclusion on this thread. He was absolutely woeful at SMS. One of the worse CM players I have seen in the Prem on that display. Maybe he has improved since then.

Some of these are not better than our starters. No one is better than Shaw, that's for certain. But there is some talent going on what I have seen this season (Remy apart, who is always injured). Krul Rosenior O'Shea Shawcross Jones Mutch Delph Mulumbu Arnautovic Remy Bony

he's not pacey.

Safari last time...bird watching this?

I meant at right right back. Any idea?

I wonder how many games Smalling and Jones, the supposed cover at right back for Johnson (assuming Walker does not go) have racked up between them?

BT took bloody ages to find any sort of goal scoring form. I think it is fair to say many wondered if he ever would. However, is all round game caused defenders lots of problems and that was much appreciated by fans. Gallaghers all round game is not quite the same. He was good in the air on Saturday, although he hasn't been dominating like BT used to be, but he stretches defences much more with his off the ball running down the channels. He was a huge thorn in Arsenal's side at SMS, running their much lauded CBs ragged. I worry about how clinical he is, I guess that's everyone's worry on here, but as BT proved give him some time and he could well become a real star. We'll see. That said signing wingers/strikers in the summer seems inevitable.

from his very first touch in his first game he looked top notch. He has got better of course, but he was `going' straight away.

I have always backed Guly as I thought he played pretty well up front in League 1 as a target man (a position that wasn't his favoured role) and he continued that in that Championship when asked. He did pretty well at right midfield as well, giving us a cutting edge going forward but with enough work rate going the other way. Some fans really turned on him after a very bad performance (by the side as a whole) away at Donny Rovers, but he certainly wasn't totally to blame, but a group of fans vented their anger on him and that dislike seemed to grow from there for some reason. Quite clearly the fans getting on his back effected him, but he did miss one or two chances he should have taken. However, the lack of goals in more recent seasons was such an unfair stat thrown at him considering by and large he played in central midfield. He actually did a decent job in that role, a position he clearly favoured. Coming in for the odd game here and there is very difficult, but he did well. Stoke away sticks in my mind. I wish the fella all the best. I like how many fans took to him and sang his name to try and overcome the boo boys. Having sung his praises, what will stick with me most is that first touch at Bristol Rovers. Hillarious.

There was a large block of seats in the middle that were untaken (almost as though a coach had broken down) all with scarves, so there were loads going spare should anyone have wanted an extra.

Very dull game. We were the better side, but they had just As many good chances. We dominated possession but did little with it. We were far too ponderous on the break and had no runners other than Gallagher and Lallana. Playing cork Wanyama and Morgan, oh and Davis all in the same midfield and then taking off Lallana left us with nothing in the final third. It seems its the fashion these days to park the bus, but I hope that is not indicative of what we will expect next season. On this evidence we seriously need to sign several attacking players to cover for the loss of jay rod and osvaldo. I have to say this game more than any other showed just how much we will suffer if Shaw is allowed to leave. He was our biggest threat in attack and simply outstanding in defence. Take him out of our side and just would not have offered any threat at all. He is immense and I worry that we will fall away like we did when Bale left. Hopefully he stays. I thought the Swansea fans were excellent. We were a little subdued. Enjoyed the scarf waving and the masks. Quite strange seeing so many saints players staring back at me from in the crowd as fans wore them on the back of their heads. Weird, but quite cool. Boruc. 7 Solid. Good decision making on kicks. Nothing to do. Clyne 9 very good game again. Like Shaw a real threat in attack. Fonte 7 solid. What a great season he has had. Very underrated. Lovren 7 better. Getting back to where he was before the injury, at last. I was getting worried. Shaw 9 another faultless display in defence. Would love to see him and cork cap the season with a goal next week, perhaps with ugly to get the third. Wanyama 8 a very good game. I am not his greatest fan. A football must be able to pass the football. He did that well today. If he limits himself to short passes he is very effective. It's when he tries balls over 15 yards he is poor. Cork 7 worked hard as always, but neither him nor Morgan unlocked the defence or made the runs beyond the striker that might open up Swansea. Morgan 6 quiet game. Doesn't need wanyama and cork next to him. Our three are so good playing all of them means we lose out in attack when we don't need to. Davis 6 very up and down game. Some tremendous pass and move, control in tight areas and keeping possession brailiantly, but on other occasions game the ball away cheaply. Lallana 7 great movement and touch. No idea why we took him off. Was he injured. Didn't look injure to me. All threat disappeared when he went off. Gallagher 6 worked hard and showed some nice touches at times, but some poor touches as well. Did win a fair bit in the air, but flick on went to no,one. I am still a little worried that. He doesn't take chances, but he could become a BT, time will tell. Lambert less of a threat than Lallana IMO, Reed needs to look to play forward a little more, first thought seems to be play short and safe. I want to see him turn and attack the space and drive forward not tippy tippy backwards to keep the ball all the time. Prowse not exactly the attacking move we needed at time, but not his fault.

loaned to Seville for the season.

Is Reed going to offer us enough cutting edge in the final third?

You'd think losing that sum from the payroll would mean a drop in season ticket prices not an increase. Yeah I know, replacement and shiny new contract for Shaw et al.

wondered if Stones' display on Saturday was indicative of what he has shown in his previous outings for Everton? If so he would jump ahead of Smalling and Jones for me. He looked class.

terrible news. Johnson is pony. I'd rather Clyne started never mind came in as his reserve.

Prefer it with the very dark blue as we used to have back in the old days. More than happy to go back it myself. Looks much better than black shorts. All my opinion of course.

Aye? Nike, puma and Adidas pay an absolute bloody fortune to the big clubs to provide their first team shirts. The puma deal with arsenal is monsterous.