mitch01

How is it glaringly obvious?

Utter drivel. Fox got plenty of assists last season and was at least competent defensively. Most teams in the league below would take him in a second. He's not a PL player, just as Billy Sharp, Dean Hammond, Richard Chaplow and Kelvin Davis aren't either. The difference is his only competition for a place is a 17 year old who has had some injuries, and therefore he plays in our team. He does not warrant the vicious comments on directed at him on here.

I think taking it away from Lallana could disrupt his form further. I agree that he hasn't been as consistant as we would have liked this year but I still see him as one of our best players. Hopefully he really kicks on next season, as captain.

God I loved Niemi. Stunning keeper.

Jason Euell put in the single most inept performance I have seen in a Southampton shirt, away at Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup under Dodd and Gorman.

Ramirez has had a disappointing first season all things considered. I still think he will become a great player for us though, starting next season.

Seconded

The thing that surprised me most about Butterfield was his ability to cross the ball from deep positions. Adkins utilised it very well against Boro (home) and Palace (away) especially. Good move from Bolton.

Christ, this means I might actually have to come to like Reading now (once they are nice and relegated, of course.)

Thats true, players have done less and got England caps. That doesn't necessarily mean Cork has merited one, though. That said, Cork has looked far more accomplished in this league than I thought he would at the start of the season. We really have looked a different team since he came back from injury in November.

I'd be amazed if Cork ever plays for England. He's a great player for us, but I'm not sure he is comfortable enough on the ball for international football. A great player without the ball, just a good one with it.

Delighted. Chelsea won't have it easy next time out!

Do we still have the option of recalling Sharp?

...but who is going to add the bite to our midfield? Can we recall Deano? In all seriousness, good move for him. He was absolutely excellent last season before his injury vs Bristol City, possibly our player of the season up until then.

Hope Nigel finds himself another Premiership job, but please not Reading before we play them!

Boruc player of the season? That really is a mad shout. Schneiderlin, Lambert or maybe even Luke Shaw for me. We have been immeasurably better defensively since he came in vs Swansea at home.

Not a good Premiership keeper, but still happy to see him sign on to effectively end his career here. His presence can only help the squad and it is good to see that Cortese perhaps isn't as stone-hearted as I had thought.

...is the correct answer.

Yesterday was the first game of Pochettino's reign where I have been disappointed with the performance. Otherwise we have been very good, and I am still pretty confident of a finish around 14th place. Not going to panic just yet.

Very disappointing day, but I wouldn't say alarm bells are ringing for me. I have been impressed enough by our other performances not to be throwing toys out the pram just yet.

He has put in some great performances this season, but I'm still not sure that he is the long-term solution for our right wing. Would be delighted to be proven wrong, just as he has proven me wrong this season so far, but he and Davis are the two players in our first team who I still have reservations about. Definitely deserves his chance with this new contract though.

Just his name to the tune of 'Brown Girl in the Ring'.

Love the goal away at Leeds. Such a pure hit on the volley.

So many have gone so far OTT with their comments on Fox. Good player, struggling in the Prem. No need for all the vitriol on here at all, especially given his strong contribution last season.

Why would we have dropped either CB for today? They have both been outstanding recently, and I don't even think either were particularly bad today.