Harry Faz

He did look out of sorts earlier in the season, and didn't seem to be busting a gut to get forward . I'm not sure whether that was because he was under instruction to hold back. He seems to me to be playing a lot better over last couple of months , and much better at getting forward - which is key to this team having any effective threat ( like his assist for the goal against Spurs). We need him to play well through to the end of the season. I wouldn't be surprised if he got a move in the Summer - everyone else of his quality and length of service has got their move.

perhaps this season isnt going to be a total write off after all ?

this, we have had the opportunities to kill a lot of games off this season, but we squander too many chances .......if we could fix this, then we would be in top half of the table .

and replace his mate MP - not very likely

my all time favourite experience supporting saints, shame it feels right now that it may be a while before we get to do similar again

As others have said a true Southampton Legend. Watching back the videos of his goals does show how poor we are at shooting now . Loved the Ricky story - from factory worker to England striker , and wouldnt want to change that , but i wonder if he would have been even better had he been discovered at an earlier age.

a subtle way to show that he is on his way back !

just saw on the bbc website that kyle walker is being sold for £50m ..........so if thats the market price for Walker, then for me Virgil is easily worth £70m .......

agree. for example, when we' lost' Toby we replaced him Virgil - we wouldn't have had both here at the same time.

Has Les spoken publicly since the end of the transfer window to explain why we didnt replace Fonte ? One of the things that does annoy me about him is that he makes grand statements about what we will / wont do / and how we are so well organised - and then when events turn out differently he often disappears . He has clearly done much good for the club - and he is happy to take the praise for that - when things appear to go wrong - you dont seem him. That strikes me as the act of a weak leader.

perhaps theirs isnt a sustainable model ?

I have thought Reed had done a good job up to now . I know much of what he has said has not turned out to happen - but often that's part of the negotiation process and like anyone in life he cant control everything. However - this time he has clearly messed up - he was clear that we wouldnt sell Fonte until we have a replacement . That hasnt happened - that has to be his fault, as he could have kept Fonte , and as he himself said Fonte had continued to act professionally. Sorry Les , no excuses here - you have left us in a whole .

Wow just Wow ! We so deserved that , hopefully give Puel and the boys a real lift !

Excellent - he has got better and better this season, we have no -one else who can do the job he does. I know it doesn't mean he will stay to the end of the contract , but it is a vote of confidence in where we are going as a club - as he isnt doing the Clyne / Wanyama tactic of running the contract down .

Thanks for doing all that . I agree with the majority of what you have written. I think where we went wrong this summer is we bought too many with potential , and havent bought enough in the core / older categories . When we had the exodus when Poch left we bought Tadic / Pelle - and brought in Toby on loan, all players who were ready able to make an immediate impact , we need a couple more at this level now, especuially if Jose goes. Its all about balance , and we got that wrong this summer . Not a terminal problem , but IMHO they need some more proven ability in this squad - a couple of signings could make all the difference.

This in a nutshell -i like our business model - when it works we get to see great players like VVD , weve done really well out of it in the last few seasons - but we wont always get it right - and like all of the other clubs of our size, if we get more wrong than right we will fall down the league .....

totally agree

When will we learn , sit back and you invite trouble ... we played for a 0-0 , and got what we deserved. pathetic.

thought it was like watching England in the Euros .....same lack of belief , not showing for the ball, taking the easy pass, not making the dangerous runs ........

Its been a very long time since we signed an established big name player ........Keegan ? Its the huge wages these guys are on that is the problem....

So if we dont accept the way the world is .....what should we do ?

He will go at some point , always was going to - same as he was always going to leave Celtic, nothing to do with our ambition , its the way the world works .....all we can do is sell for top dollar/ at a planned time when we have a top class replacement lined up / and enjoy him whilst he is here ...

Ive always wondered why he didnt take them for us - you'd think any striker - especially an international - would fancy taking pens and adding a few more to their tally each season. Instead weve had Tadic, JWP and Sadio take them instead - none of which have filled with the same confidence as Lambert . I know it was a high pressure situation, but his kick was terrible . I can now see why we used the others ahead of him.

I dont share the view that Ron acted really badly here. He did very well for us over the past 2 seasons. He wanted the board to invest more than they want to in the new 5 year plan. I think he may well have stayed another year , but not signed an extension , but the club didn't want that - they wanted someone who bought into their 5 year plan. Im not critical of him or them. A parting of the ways is best outcome - he goes to a club that wants to spend big, we appoint someone who is happy to work the 5 year plan. Im looking forward to seeing who we appoint, and confident that we will continue to build , albeit at our own pace.

I think the top 6 will be the big 6 with the deepest squads. I would be really pleased with 7th - the best of the rest . If we do that - the next question for the club is whether they are able and prepared to spend the big cash which will be need it to have a real consistent go at establishing ourselves with the big boys. Many teams have had a decent season or two , but over time it needs big investment to sustain a challenge on those top places. Clearly that is Saints aim - but its as big a step again - as all the steps weve taken so far with Cortese.