Chez

I always rated him so biased, but IMO he'd of been perfect in that role, allowing Morgan and Hammond to push on without having to worry whats behind them

has he had that many chances from 15 yards Nearly all his chots are from miles out.

anyone that went to Gillingham already knew that this partnership was going to struggle to work. You only have to look at the problems Davis had - no one to kick to - to know that an alternative to Lambert is a must unless we are hopeful of another season of 40+ games from him.

anyone else think that Morgan might be better in the more attacking midfield role? He has the ability to do things and I'd liek to see those `things' further up the field.

not this season, but negotiations for next season are going to start at some point and they are going to be less than impressed if there is a media backlash and this could effect potential income.

agreed. Wotton freed Morgan and Hammond to charge forward. It also allowed us to totally dominate posession and knacker teams out. We then switched to 4-4-2 to great effect when we had failed to get the goal we needed.

Where were you sat The9? I admit I was on the other side of the pitch in the first half, but I'm struggling to get my head round that description. Did he get to the byeline or actually put many crosses in? He certainly played some very nice cross field balls and kept the ball pretty well, but I don't recall him beating Molyneux. The second half was much worse and he bottled two of three tackles right in front of us on our side. He did beat Molyneux with one great turn, but he was second best several times and just didn't really do anything. I lie ther was that excellent cross field run and the shot just over te bar when coming inside. Decent moments showing he ability. More required though. This was not a display to win the Antonio/Puncheon arguement that was going on Friday night.

we did get a bit ragedy at the end and there was one crucial interception by Jaidi, when Fonte went walkabout, otherwise their striker would have had all day to score. Only to be expected when chasing the game.

Agreed. But they have spent a few bob on Richardson and Dickson. I can't imagine they'd hold back. They would either sack pardew or back him surely?

you think Pardew doesn't understand the scale of the job?

Well we loaned Antonio out on the 5th October last season.

why didn't we loan him out for the season?

you say it as though you are the only ones. There isn't a Saints fan around that doesn't think we need another CM and some of us were saying it just a few weeks after Hammond got here (and not because we thought Schneiderlin wasn't up to it). I just wish I knew who.

Agreed. It was the fist game FFS. No patience at all. The players tried hard, and after a very bad spell after their goal they eventually found their feet and on another day we could have got the equaliser. I'd like to think it was just youngers that dpn't know better, but thats not true, its older fans as well that just seem to want results or nothing. I feel sorry for them. Perhaps I need to look at myself. Maybe I just don't care as much as I used to.

in my eyes its fine to boo if we don't try, but I'm not so sure if we just play badly. Booing the side after one game shows a shocking lack of patience IMO as did some of the considerable moans at players for simple mistakes. It was hardly Palace of a few seasons back. Each to their own of course.

to me I thought Puncheon did the bare minimum. He didn't get to the byeline once, hardly put a crsos in, beat his man only once and that was about it. Far too casual. Oh and he bottles tackles. I like him, he has real quality, but he needs to do more in games when we are on top and to really stamp his authority on the match. I thought he should have been subbed far far earlier. He is Pardews pet. He, like all wingers (apart from one or two) are a bit hit and miss and he is going to be brilliant this season I'm sure. Maybe he needs a run on his natural wing now and then?

strange, because Puncheon was pretty poor and Antonio or someone similar would have been an ideal sub.

sure, but Hammond had a free header at the back post in the 1st half that he put over. He should have scored. It was not on target but that was the sort of chance you expect to take more often than not. That said we struggled ad will do without pace or Lambert.

We dominated the game for all but ten minutes. Why anyone would boo that is beyond me. Dissapointed yes, but booing should be used when the side has given up or not bothered. I thought Saints fans were better than that.

It was. He was utter **** that night. Ignoring that `aborration' will £500k be enough to prize him away?

you might have a point there. Personally I like the idea of having the craft of Puncheon with the change to raw power and pace. Antonio offers something very different, and when we are struggling to break teaks down he is a great option. We don't need another twinkle toes, we do need some pace.

his pace and pwer makes things happen. Holmes has the technique you describe but he lacks the pace. Which would you prefer if you had the choice? I might point out that not everyone that rates him thinks £500,000 is a `snip'.

was that the fella that was subbed at SMS?

actually you have provided some stats and some opinion. Saying he was useful in 4 games is not a stat, it is opinion.

and there were several games when he should have been brought on. Oldham at home being a prime example. £500,000 is a shed load of money, but I'm not sure I saw too many right wingers last season that left as lasting impression. He was unplayable at Bristol Rovers and Leyton Orient.