Saint Keef

Matip injured again. I really wouldn't put it past them to come sniffing for Jannik in January. I may have missed it somewhere else, but do we actually know what injury Jannik has suddenly picked up that means he will be out for "4 weeks" according to Ralph.

West Brom have scored against the dippers! I feel the urge to put a black armband on and light a candle, Big Sam working his "magic"?

Haha. It's an age thing. Getting confused with the West Ham game. No, I'll be on Sky - Amazon for West Ham. Why is life so confusing? Thanks for straightening me out. You don't know where I left my car yesterday do you?

Haha......and Whitey Grandad, if that call should come, we don't want you overdoing it in the warm-up, maybe a game of Subbuteo whilst the others are warming up. I would imagine if Ralph does call for you, it maybe you will be on the bench. If you do get onto the pitch.....and score......don't worry about doing the knee slide in celebration. Just a modest wave to the (non-existent crowd) and perhaps a kiss of the badge. I'm only sad we all won't be there to witness it, but be sure of this, we will be cheering our respective Amazon Prime screens.

I just made toast and had a picture of Elvis on mine. Happy Christmas to all on here. I'm having a Christmas Pizza for lunch......... Deep Pan Crisp and Even!..... (I'll get me coat).

He's getting regular game time now and it seems to be doing him some good albeit not at Prem standard. We probably wouldn't get much for him if we sold him, so I'm just wondering if with Ingsy and Redders suddenly getting injuries, it might be worth calling him back in January as cover. It only needs Stu and Djenepo to pick up injuries (and let's face it - both have been susceptible to injuries) in the next couple of games and our options will look very thin. I'm not saying Josh is a nailed on premier league player, but to me it would be a sensible precaution.

Possibly Salisu, I hope he's ready, but if he isn't ready for 90 minutes yet then probably Jack Stephens. Of course, Ralph maybe playing a bit of a bluff game on Ings, Vest and Redders, and to be honest I wouldn't blame him if he did.

Agree with the two comments above. So what have we learned here? It appears Arsenal are sh*t whether there's VAR or not. The best bit of technology that does seem to work is the goal line technology, whether the ball has crossed the line or not.

I've just written to SKY saying I will cancel my "SKY SPORTS PACKAGE" unless they put subtitles on the bottom of the screen whenever Carragher is on. I told them I've watched Japanese mystery films without subtitles and still understood more of what's going on than when he's on. I'm considering calling their engineers out because there seems to be a fault on my set up. Basically on a Monday night, I get terrible interference on the sound, so bad that I can't make out what's being said. I've also ordered a new TV remote from them because the mute button is worn out. (although that might be Hinchcliffe's fault).

Thank you to rooney, Toussaint and Turkish for responding to my assessment of messrs Hinchcliffe and Carragher. Turkish - well spotted sir, that photo explains everything. Well played. As a kid though, I loved The Beatles, from the very same city (Dipperpool) but I understood every single word they ever spoke or sang. Jimmy Tarbuck (according to Scousers the funniest man of all time), I didn't like him, but I understood him. So......why the f** can I not understand Carragher? Here, exclusively for you Ladies & Gents is one of Carragher's sentences from last night's Monday Night Football........"Whackkk Wicckkkk chacckkkkk thaacckkk ticckkkk chockkkk macchhhhh flat back four whaaackkkk stackkkkk mickkkkkk nickkkkk tackkkkkk schlickkkkkk Sean Dyche thwickkkkk. I reckon when he had that spitting incident out of his car window (for which Sky should never have employed him again - no doubt the Scousers would have lit candles and worn black armbands if that had happened).......he wasn't spitting at all......he was just trying to clear his throat. Look, I know I shouldn't let it get to me. I know I should get out more. BUT I CAN'T! I'm now stuck in bloody Tier 4 here in West Berkshire. Anyway - to all fellow Saints fans on here, be it here in the UK or in the four corners of the World - have a great Christmas guys and a Happy New Year. (Hey - not been a bad year for The Saints has it!!!!)

Not only am I reduced to watching Burnley on a wet Monday night but I'm also having to listen to that footballing "genius" (in his own head) Andy Hinchcliffe - who never ever made a mistake in his whole career....... as a bang average player for Man City, Everton and Sheffield Wednesday. He never ever missed with a shot, or failed to hit the target: he never gave a stray pass, never failed to mark his opponent, never got caught offside...blah blah blah. My god what a bore! He must have a bloody good agent to get the Sky gig. And whilst on the subject of pundits. I know some here didn't like Ally McCoist on Amazon Prime. I admit I have never been a fan of his, but I will say this for him. I am English, he is Scottish, yet I can understand every word he says. Unlike another of Sky's pundits, Mr "Monday Night" himself....Jamie Carragher. What I don't get is, he is apparently English, yet I can only understand about one word in six that he says. I'm sure he is speaking a foreign language most of time. Practicing his Outer Mongolian language lesson whilst being paid by Sky. It's like going on holiday to some far flung country, where you only know about four words of their language. You listen to the locals talking and occasionally you hear one of the words you know. For me, that's like listening to Carragher. He could be reading out a recipe for a sponge cake for all I know. Oh well, that's got half-time out of the way - only another 45 minutes of Andy Messi....sorry, I mean Hinchcliffe.

I'm not sure they will let us know. They might keep Fulham guessing right up until kick off.

I continue to be really impressed with KWP. We have picked up a really decent full back there. Someone mentioned "resting Che for this one. Don't agree, his hold up play and strength, as well as his goals and some really good assists, he's finally the player we were all hoping he would be. AND he scored a wonder goal against City a few months ago. They will be very worried by him.

What's that then - one defeat in the last 11? Yes, we're a bit disappointed we didn't win last night, but to me, it shows how far we have come in a relatively short space of time.

I didn't know him but sounds like a decent chap from those who did. At least he lived to see us sitting on top of the Premier League. RIP.

All very well having two players for every position, but Pep tends to change it for each game and I watched them last night against West Brom and at times they looked they were a bunch of strangers. Undoubtedly very talented individuals but not playing great as a team I'd say. Yes we have a lot fewer options but there is something to be said for playing a settled team where everyone knows their own and their teammates jobs, and playing well obviously helps.

Haha, You really need to stop eating strong cheese before you go to bed,

Apparently - ordering on line - today is the last day for guaranteed delivery before Christmas. Includes the Sportsbet adult shirts (I've treated myself!). I'm falling in love with the sash.....probably a lot to do with the results. KEEP THE SASH!

I am probably the least techno savvy person on here, so for anyone in doubt, I've signed with Amazon Prime Video today on the 30 day free trial. £7.99 per month thereafter and you can cancel at any time. It set up immediately and I am currently watching Wolves v Chelsea on my PC. It's fine. Saints games against Arsenal, Man City and West Ham (29th Dec) are all exclusive to Amazon Prime Video, so if you sign up now you will get access to all three and it needn't cost anything if you remember to cancel after 30 days., Plus you can watch any other prem games they are showing. Man City v West Brom later this evening. Arsenal v Saints at 6pm tomorrow. If you can't watch it live they are showing replays of games. (I think later in the evening but also next day. So....... Anyway - I hope that helps some - apologies to others who already knew all this.

Another Liverpool defender injury yesterday - Matip. They will definitely need to go shopping in January - we need to slap a £70m price tag on Jannik now. I'm not saying he's itching to go, but if Liverpool came calling, the prospect of playing alongside VvD (obviously not this season, but in the long term) might be very tempting for him. Just saying.....

Carriillo couldn't bag his own shopping.

Start with the strongest team. Keep Romeu in. we are more likely to get a result against Arsenal than we are against City so play our strongest team and try to secure 3pts.. If Romeu gets booked, so be it, then bring Diallo in for Man City (that'll test him!). Man City will either be on fire or they won't. They've not looked like their old selves of late, but still think they can turn it on when they feel like it. I'd also stick with Stu and Theo. Bring Redders/Djenpo on when they tire. Having just watched Arsenal v Burnley there is certainly nothing to fear at The Emirates. Could go either way but if we play as we have been we're definitely in with a shout this time.

Yeh, but tell them to take their time coming just in case she's still there.

Four observations... 1. Well done to the crowd who were allowed in. We could hear you loud and clear. 2. Compare what KWP offers this team compared to Cedric Soares. He is composed, he can dribble, he can tackle and he can cross the ball with some accuracy. 3. Is it too early to say that in Jannik Vestegaard we have another potential VvD. He is absolutely commanding that defence and has become a big threat in the opposition box. 4. I didn't quite catch which part of Sheffield was the ref born in. Sheff Utd should have had at least 4 yellow cards. It appears someone had super-glued the cards in his pocket. Well done Saints. Excellent performance.

A win for us and we could also do with Brighton getting something at Leicester - a draw there and that would keep us in third.