James G

I think, crunch some numbers, who can tackle and do a simple pass to recycle the attack. Is it Charles, Aribo, Armstrong, one of the defenders. Just anyone, put them in, then keep the team who played well before it all went pear shaped. It can't be that hard. The new players need time to learn Russball, neither of them should be starting.

It's the absence of Downes that has changed the dynamic, pure and simple. It's about keeping the team as it was, and finding a suitable replacement. Russ has tinkered with all the other positions and we're back to square one again. It needs to be someone who intercepts and recycles, Smallbone is not that person neither is Rothwell who came with poor interception stats. Also, too much faffing in the box today, play in behind and shoot. Pinball the ball and pursue outcomes. Get the goal, then spaces appear. Lastly, there needs to be more work on set pieces, corners etc.

Forest, as with some other teams, track their players each week with numbers, and it takes into account the opposition. The overall stats for alot of the players have dropped, so it wasn't so much the results that got him sacked.

I don't think so, but I didn't ask. I think that might be a Premier League rule. I'm back on 8th January, so I'll try and find out more that week. It was just mentioned. I spoke to them twice about two weeks ago, then the next time will be January

Yeah, I spoke to one of them maybe two weeks ago. I'm attending a function, I'm travelling down in the first week of January, then there is another event in Manchester in April, so I'll meet people from various clubs at both events.

I think it's happening. Stewart landed awkwardly and he thought it was nothing, he got a precautionary scan, and I think he's off for a couple of months at least. They are looking to loan Ings until the end of the season. It's going to be looked at in January, both sides are keen. At this point, Holgate is going back to Everton, again, reviewed in January

It is. He'll be sub for the next game

Goal saints

I was waiting on the team, I think the saints will win. I was thinking there was going to be more changes after all the interviews this week.

The stats seem to imply the system is working, it's the players that are the issue

I think 4213 is a great idea. Is it fair to say that when Saints have been ahead, they've managed the game fairly well. I think if they can figure out a way of being less risky at the start of a match and get the first goal, that may lead to better outcomes.

I agree, Manning and kwp need to be more considered moving forward. If you actually look at the system as a whole, there are alot of flaws. Swansea played with 5 at the back, Southampton have played 433 and 442 against Gillingham. I guess the concept is, if Southampton have 80 percent of the ball, then it only gives the opposition 20 minutes of actual playing time to score, but if the opposition attack quickly, then they outnumber Southampton at the back. It's a risky way of playing

So, a 442 is difficult to triangulate, but a 4231 would work, where the two middle players move back so it's 4 vs 4, and it keeps the triangulation. Also, it would probably suit AA better in behind and you could have Che or the new guy up front

Sunderland played a 4231, so when Southampton pushed forward with Manning and kwp to expolit the space on the wings, Downes would have stepped back to cover the defence, but it leaves 4 against 3 when Sunderland push forward quickly

Some are subject to medical. You can agree a deal, then do the medical the next day

A medical usually takes 8 hours, Sky said he travelled down last night

Bree is available for loan, I believe. Arsenal enquired about kwp a few weeks back, and Tottenham yesterday, just with the agent, no follow-up. Kwp is happy at Southampton, apparently So any new player would be in place of Bree I presume

Never heard that. I presume I am unattractive to deep sea fish

I'm not going to pretend I understand stats, but apparently there were positive stats that other clubs understand, and his scouting advised he didn't play as a number 1 keeper last season, but the team did it anyway Apparently goalkeeping improves with age at a different timeline to other positions, and he is doing well, above and beyond where he should be at.

Agents post this news to hype up sales and cause mischief

I think, because of the injury, he carries a risk of more injuries, because of the type of player he is. I think it was a sensible decision

Akpom picked up a knee injury pre season

It's fine though, it's your job to huff and puff and blow houses down

Yes, Fulham would be a better fit, harking back to what I said before. But he might stay too. You all say it all the time, he's a good player but he has his flaws.

Yeah, it's all odd, but JWP plays well because Southampton get fouled alot, but from Southampton's perspective they should aim to not get fouled as it breaks up play. From JWPs perspective, one of his big plusses is his free kicks so a team on the most fouled list is not a bad option