BallBoy

Pelle suspended for Tuesday? No real options if he is.

Decent team considering Schneiderlin is still out. I, too, thought Hesketh looked good in his cameo on Monday. The game passed him by when we went long but before that he looked skilful, tidy and intelligent. The bench finally looks to have some strength there. We should be ready for all eventualities. Long and Mane are very different but they are unlikely to play together very often. I like them both. Mane can be a match winner even on an off day.

I do actually agree with this - but it's not just the "big" teams. We are now recognised as a very dangerous and capable outfit by everyone. To the best of my knowledge nobody has rested any players against us. They have shown us complete respect. United will field their best possible side on Monday night. We will have to continue to earn our right to remain where we are. There will be no surprise factor to help us get the odd good result. They will all have to be earned the hard way. The "big" teams have complained for years that others raise their games against them. I think our position means that we are now regarded as a "big" team by most others and as direct competition by Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea etc.

The worst of this is that the likes of Mark Lawrenson can now say they were right - and they probably are. To maintain a challenge for top 4 we needed to show we can compete with teams like City. Sadly we have shown that we are still short and with suspensions and injuries looming things look a little bit bleak. Back to reality. On the other hand - 3RD IN THE TABLE!

Big surprise. Lawro predicts another shock defeat for Saints. I agree with others. Eventually he will be right!

First of all I do not justify what Evans did. It suggests a lifestyle that I find abhorrent. However, I have seen little on this thread to suggest that many people actually know the facts of the case. If I could do a link I would but Alison Pearson (yes a female) the Telegraph columnist gives a very good account of what was related in court. It would help if people actually knew the facts rather than the fascile attitude that "rape is rape". There are degrees of almost every crime and mitigating factors. I am not going to venture an opinion on whether Evans should immediately return to football. I do, however, think that we need to avoid knee jerk reactions and understand that few things are black and white.

Some great memories there and good quality presentations for the times. The semi-final defeat to Everton twisted the knife yet again but I just loved being reminded of the good times. Loved the Keegan "goal" that never was. Armstrong should never have been ruled offside for that but what a way to make up for it. One of the most exciting games I have ever seen.

My favourite is still the simple (and innocent) enquiry - "who are you playing this weekend?" This could easily be followed with "where's that?" but, frankly, it's not even necessary. Fleetwood or Morcambe says it all.

Hate to say it but a full house following a good run is usually the kiss of death. Despite that, I am very confident this time.

It is true that we have yet to play any of the established "top" teams but it is also true that we have yet to play Burnley, Palace, Leicester or Villa to name but 4 from off the top of my head. It is also a fact that we have actually beaten Arsenal at the Emirates. Having said that it is also clear that we lack the depth necessary to compete at this current level for a whole season. Suspensions, injuries and fixture pile ups will hurt us. However, we are allowed to dream. Chelsea, City and Arsenal are probably the stand out teams this year. Spurs, Everton, Liverpool and United are struggling. 4th place is unlikely but not impossible.

It's a little disrespectful that the BBC headline is that Chelsea are 9 points clear of their title rivals (Man City)! It's difficult to argue with the logic of this in view of the vastly superior resources of both these teams but it is still factually incorrect at the moment. I am not under any illusions that we will probably fall away from this position when injuries and suspensions kick in but at least let us dream. It's what football fans do.

Very disappointing. The sad thing from our perspective is that Clyne will understandably think that playing for a "big" club is the best way to get selected.

I am exhausted. Excellent day.

Can't help worrying that Saints may have ....ed up on these transfers. We have precious little expertise in getting deals done quickly. I remain optimistic though because it does not make sense to let Gaston (and Jos) go if we are not confident of getting our new men in. Both players look good. Mane excites me. More importantly, we have kept Morgan & J Rod. A good window as long as these deals are completed.

This story seems to have been taken down from the Sky website. Not sure if that is significant.

So many things to be happy about today:- 1) Coming from behind away from home. 2) Dominant performance. 3) Players beginning to gel as a team. 4) Majestic performance from Morgan. 5) Pelle off the mark and playing well. 6) Beating West Ham. 7) Beating Sam Allardyce Off the mark and confidence improving 9) Silencing the bedwetters. 10) Spring in my step on Monday morning. Feels good.

I don't know where to start or even which thread to post on! 1) This just gets worse and worse and worse. 2) I don't care about keeping the young players. I want to keep the old ones! 3) If Schneiderlin and Rodriguez go to then we are down to bare bones. 4) We do not have time to build a new team from the foundations we have left. 5) We have lots of money but no bargaining power with new players. Why would they come to a club so obviously in decline? 6) There are a few positives and we still have some decent players but a few defeats at the start of the season will send us into complete meltdown. 7) The academy lads are not the Busby Babes. I feel pretty sick. We need new and experienced players quickly.

I make it we have about £50 million left. We need to spend it fast before the rest of the senior players give up. I have tried to be optimistic but we have quite literally lost our 4 best players. No team can do that and call it progress.

Maybe Guan is just amused with our desperation. Tease isn't he. Having said that I doubt that Burnley would have put a striker on their shopping list unless they felt they were going to lose one. Ings is their equivalent of Shaw - their most saleable commodity. They are probably doing the same as us and waiting for what they think is the right price from whoever is willing to pay it.

I am not as pessimistic as some on here seem to be. I would not be surprised to see others force a move but I think "force" is the keyword here. It is pretty apparent that the club is not going to be able to "invest" in the way we have in previous years. The cost of the training ground and money still owed on players means that we need to be more economical. It is also apparent that we need to increase the size of our 1st team squad. The club have said that players will only be sold if it right for us. Is it not possible that the decision to sell Shaw (for a massive amount of money) was made months ago with a view to achieving these objectives? Lambert was a one off. I have said for some time that if we can get through this summer and just lose Shaw, then I would settle for that. Koeman will now have a shopping list and the dream need not be over.

Just seen this. Nice to see our 2 Southampton boys starting but why no Lambert? Pretty much everyone else is getting a go. I really hope he gets a decent run in the 2nd half.

This thread has gone off topic. We have strayed from debating whether Danny Welbeck is good enough for Saints to considering who the next England manager should be. I am grateful for Guan's contribution. His comments make sense and seem authorative. I hope the board can hold the line. I, personally would settle for Shaw going as long as we get what he is worth. It's a big ask though.

Why "can't" Guan talk about Shaw. If this is unofficial information then, by definition, he "can't" talk about any of it. Does this mean his statements are actually official leaks?

As has been said before - "Born in Liverpool, made in Southampton." Until I have seen playing for Liverpool he will remain a Saint for me.

Have to admit that it has taken the shine off it for me. I just like to see Saints players in an England shirt (and on the pitch). I agree that Sterling needs to play but I thought Adam would get the nod over Welbeck. They are all good players and the margins are fine. I suspect Adam will only get on if we are winning. Barkley would be the impact player from the bench if we are losing. Roy will take a draw.