SW11_Saint

When he's a #2, or a #3... And that is what we have in the goalkeeping department - two #2's in Boruc and Davis, and Gazzaniga and Cropper as back-up to them. In my view we have never adequately addressed the goalkeeping issue. Boruc is a decent shot-stopper, but doesn't have the focus to be totally trustworthy (as Arsenal and other occasions proved). Kelvin is past his best, but a great guy to have around the club. Gazzaniga is quite simply not up to it and needs time at a lower level to hone his skill. If Cortese really has ambition for the club to progress then he needs to sort out this critical position and buy a true #1 in January. Begovic is the obvious choice, but his currency is likely too high and a move to a bigger club beckons, but there have to be others out there. Yesterday proved beyond doubt that some of the guys who have served us well on our incredible journey are really not up to Premier League life, we need better quality back-up.

His post-match interviews are getting increasingly tedious. No insight, no real explanation of team selection, tactics etc. I am starting to think he is hiding behind his lack of English...unless of course his interpreter is at fault and dumbing down what he is saying!

He isn't up to Prem league standard clearly, but Hooiveld and Gazzaniga were worse than him yesterday. All three are sub-standard for this division.

He is simply not up to it. Whether he ever will be is uncertain, but we can't continue to gamble with him in the first team. V short term I would give Cody Cropper a go. He can't be any worse surely? I seriously think we need to throw some money down in Jan on a decent keeper (poss Begovic if he'd come). All three of our current choices are flawed. We have gone too long without a truly top notch keeper. Time to act Mr. Cortese.

Oh oh seven... Still time for 3 more.

...in a few minutes apparently.

Fantastic performance, and just brilliant to be - deservedly - where we are. Wanyama's appalling lapse apart, every player was superb, and Lallana sublime, so great that he has added end product to his undoubted ability. His best ever game in a Saints (/Liverpool) shirt?

Great performance - exhibition stuff at times. All round great performance - Clyne, Morgan, Vic, J-rod, SRL, and Lallana all shone. My only slight niggle is that we didn't put them to the sword and score the 4-5 that our complete dominance warranted.

Great performance all round. Found a live stream for it - Schneiderlin's superb late tackle summed it up for me. Intensity, professionalism, class. Tweet of the day from*Jason Eden:* "If Southampton are to compete for a Champions League place then they really need to be beating these mid table sides."

He was immense. His superb late tackle summed it up for me. Intensity, professionalism, class. How France leave him out of their squad is beyond me. Their loss.

Get in!!! Yesssssss!

Seriously, how can a grown man inflict his personal (not to mention poor) taste in design on an entire football club, thus detracting from its history & tradition. Pathetic. Hopefully tittle-tattle, but I suspect not.

Well said. It is a difficult one. I am quite happy to sit down away (though generally you are 'up and down'), but also recognise that some games will be standing regardless - which I don't mind either. However I do also feel a little sorry for older fans who are unable to stand for a whole game and are forced to - they have, after all, paid for a "seat". The only way round it would be for clubs to allocate seats at the front to those who want to sit, and work the allocation from the back for those who don't. This will never happen however as it would be seen as condoning standing in seated areas, which would contravene stadium regulations. The other obvious answer is 'safe standing' areas, but that is a whole other argument...

Agreed, I think he looked absolute class last week - and if anything his vision was beyond what most of our players could cope with. They will get used to him though - and he them. His touch is absolutely first class. My only worry was whether he'd be a bit of a prima-doña and might impact team spirit, but his work-rate, and the way he reacted to the goal yesterday despelled that. Am genuinely excited about what he'll do once he's got his first goal out of the way.

Another 32 points until safety... Great performance, great win. COYS!

RIP Don. My mum and dad knew him and his wife. Think they lived in the big house on the corner of Milton Rd / Hill Lane?

Yes, Bill Ellierington is indeed alive still. Lives next door to my mum.

Matt Oakley. Once suggested we make him skipper and build a team around him and got widely derided. Derby did just that and reaped the rewards. A very underrated player.

Truly horrific. But then their home kit is blue shirt, white shorts, red socks. As it should be.

Pr1ck.

Oh to stray onto these nasty little threads where the spiteful little trolls with their comic book avatars put the boot into the guy who got us back to back promotions and turned our fortunes around. Pr1cks. PS NA played a shadow team, got stuffed and will likely be relieved to be out of a competition they won't win.

Could, and probably should, have won given our possession, but just didn't really get going. A point won on that basis. JWP really came of age yesterday - MoM by a country mile. Better things to come once Osvaldo has bedded in - he will help improve Ramirez too.

Possibly the weirdest thing I have ever seen on here. What the hell is the backstory on this?! Bit lame possibly, but simple, how about... Vic Wanyama, Vic Wanyama, Hey hey hey Vic Wanyama... [Ad infinitum] (Na Na Hey Hey by Bananarama)

Pathetic thread.

If only they'd selected that...