Dan Johnson

Forster Cedric VvD Hoedt Bertrand Romeu Lemina Davis Tadic Long Gabbiadini Bench: McCarthy, Yosh, Targett, JWP, Boufal, Redmond, Austin

Madness! You can only assume that in addition to the results, there were other reasons as to why they sacked him (man management, training methods, etc)

Forster Cedric VVD Hoedt Bertrand Lemina Romeu Davies Tadic Gabbi Long

Extremely disappointing display. The manager stated that Watford were “fresher” it’s hard to argue with that assumption because of how lethargic we looked, Watford were everything we weren’t! In possession, Watford moved the ball fast and broke quickly, in stark contrast to our dawdling stride. JWP, Davies & Romeu all guilty of taking multiple touches to move the ball forward (when on the rare occasions we actually played through the middle) Too often defenders looked long, such was Watford dominance in midfield. Last season we complained that the team was built in Puels mould “uninspiring, apathetic” just like his interviews, I think now we are seeing that it is deeper rooted. For me, Saturday highlighted why it was so important that we kept Van Dijk. We’re lacking leaders on the pitch, we’re missing a player to push us forward, take the game by the scruff of the neck, give players who aren’t performing a bollocking. We’re too nice, weak, we need an edge which I think Van Dijk will give us. Ratings: Forster 5: Probably could have done better with the goals but you could say the same about the defenders\midfielders not running the Watford players down. Cedric 6 – Didn’t do allot wrong, was pinned back by Watfords pressing most of the game, so didnt offer as much going forward as normal. Bertrand 6 – Same as Cedric Stephens 7 – Our best Player, defended well, guilty of over playing once or twice though. Hoedt 6 – Average performance, not bad, not good. Romeu 4 – Completely out played in the middle, diving in too often. Davis 3 – looked knackered from the outset, was dominated in midfield. JWP 3 – looks half the player that he did last season, so pedestrian in possession, takes excessive touches, needs to move the ball quicker. Boufal 3 – On one or two occasions faced up to defenders got to the by line and looked dangerous, work rate is terrible though, looks to draw fouls and throw himself on the floor too often. Redmond 3 – Played one or two good balls but lost the ball more times than I can count, trys to beat his man EVERYTIME, nearly every time he gets disposed! Like a rabbit in the headlights with possession and just runs aimlessly, needs to be dropped Gabi 2 – Two maybe harsh, but he was in the game as much as I was!!! Not his fault, didn’t play to his strengths. He was made to run in behind after long balls, was not in the game AT ALL. Never ever looked dangerous. Tadic 5 – Looked ok, then started to draw fouls and throw himself on the floor. Austin 2 – Same as Gabi, chasing long balls, not in the game, not playing to his strengths. Long 6 – Looked lively when he came on, with Watfords high pushing and our insistence on playing balls over the top because we couldn’t play through the middle, the game suited him with the space to run into. Would start him against Palace.

I agree to an extent but Stephens is a professional and should accept the decision he's been dropped for a better player, you play your best players in football, I'd say we'd be close to having the best back 4 in the league as a unit if we have Cedric, Bertrand, VVD & Hoedt

Matt Target a loan target for Newcastle according to SSN, bid in waiting for response from saints.

Totally agree, I don't care whether he's "ITK" or not, i'd much rather read unsubstantiated\made up rumors over the incessant bickering\*****ing and moaning from the same old posters pushing the same old bull****! I'll choose whether I believe Tom28 or not and on balance he seems to have offered good insight thus far, I'll take everything i read on the internet with a pinch of salt anyway!

That team could do things!

From the first minute I saw him, I always thought he wasn't physically cut out for the premier league. In his first appearance for Saints (cant remember if it was a friendly or a Euro qualifier) he looked miles off the pace and too lightweight. He's a tidy footballer, would suit the Italian league. His replacement, Lemina, looks allot more physically suited to the premier league so no surprise. All the best to him.

I said probably, not definitely :-) For me, the following applies Romeu was the stand out player of last season, in front of JWP by miles! Van Dijk, Yosh, Gabbiadini only really had half a season each, which is why i stated over the course of the season JWP would shade it for me. I Thought Bertrand had his worse half a season under us in the second half (Although I think he's our second best player behind VVD) Redmond never lacking in effort but at times he was very poor, especially his finishing (due to the number of games if anything) Cedric is certainly a good debate, his improvement last season was almost as noticeable as JWP.

B_E_A_U_T_I_F_U_L_!!!!!!!!!! Those smug Liverpool fans who came on this boarding goading us about VVD have received a karma smack around the chops..

JWP was probably our 2nd best performer over the course of last season, he's really starting to improve at a faster and faster rate. Can see him being a very promient figure in the next season or two, keep in mind he's the same age as the "young, inexperienced" stephens, yet JWP has over 100 Premier League apps to his name. He'd be in my starting 11 every week, very underated.

I remember when Oakley became a world beater during his injury in the strachen era

Agree, I'd say with Lemina coming in Clasie will be the 3rd to leave. I'd say the 3 CB options are Sakho, Wilmer, Gibson The attacking player Roberts

Completely agree, its become a side show, a distraction, an unwanted circus. Cut ties, Ferguson did it with Beckham when he became a side show and squad disrupter, despite him being one of the biggest players in the world at the time. We are past the point of return, it serves the club and the squad no benefit having him around. Take the money, move on, lets have players who want to be here playimg for us.

“It is with regret that I can confirm that I have today handed in a transfer request to leave Southampton Football Club. “Unfortunately I feel I have no alternative after I was given notice of the Club's intention to impose a disciplinary sanction against me of a fine equivalent to 2 weeks wages. I will be appealing what I feel to be an unjustified sanction and their inability to follow the correct disciplinary protocol in due course. “Over the past six months I have held numerous discussions with representatives of the board, the former manager Claude Puel as well as the new manager Mauricio Pellegrino to inform them all of my desire to leave the club in search of a new challenge. “I am incredibly ambitious and want to achieve as much as I possibly can to fulfil my potential in what is a very short career as a professional footballer. I want to play European football again and challenge for major honours and as such I would like Southampton to consider the interest in me from top clubs should it still exist.”

It's a V good point, we have to decide what is most important. If it's his value then we should sell, if it's the principle of player power then we should keep him but accept it will affect his value...

I think the club need to tell VVD that if he wants to leave he needs to submit a transfer request and publically admit he's refusing to play for the club, that makes his position 100% untenable and would at least diminish the backlash from the fans.

Think any CB will be a downgrade on VVD personally, thats the reason we stand no chance of keeping him... If we re-invest in 2-3 players of good quality it'll be good business

I agree. Although allot of envious eyes are being cast towards Everton, i'd argue that even though theyve spent allot of money, loosing Lukaku could be the defining factor of their season. I know they've signed Rooney and other strikers, but rooney has only scored 13 goals in the last 2 seasons... the same as Shane Long

Saints showing up on SSN transfer Whispers, patrick roberts from man city at "3.9"

Live with in their means, like us you mean? Spurs havent actually signed anyone yet either! I think its just this window, rafa, conte, klopp, mourhino all publically talked about how mental it is and how hard it is to get players in. Id rather us sign 2 quality players on the last day of the window than sign players just for the sake of it early on. I agree with Les Reed, seems almost fashionable to get involved in the transfer window just for the sake of it,

I dont know why he signed a new 6 year contract last summer, only to demand a move this summer, im sure he would have been aware of interest from other clubs even 12 months ago. Personally, as much as i wouldnt mind seeing the club make a point, i still feel at this stage its better to sell. If its not this summer itll be next, so sell why the markets hot. Id put the ball firmly in liverpoils court and let the player know. The value is 65 million if liverpool pay it you can leave, if not you stay. See how much they really want him. I reckon itll end up being 40m and sakho.

For Me... Forster Cedric VVD Stephens Bertrand Romeu JWP Davies Boufal Gabbi Tadic McCarthy, Targett, Yosh, Clasie, PEH, Redmond, Austin, Long

That all depends on availbility of the players, though. If our 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice players arent released for transfer until the selling club has replaced them, should we just go and buy for the sake of it, a lesser player? I'd rather we got our #1 choices for each posistion in on the last day of the window, than sign the 5th choice early July.