Alain Perrin

Ironic given how the deal was so often used as a stick to beat Lowe with. Morgan has really turned into a cultured player and, as many a manager has said, got better as we played in higher leagues. It shows how those close to the players can spot talent, even if we fans don't see it. The one aspect of Morgan's game that has really developed is strength; it's really made a difference to him. Sent from my RM-821_eu_euro1_276 using Board Express

To be honest better rid of the lot. Lambert didn't score today so off him too.... Or is that too kneejerk? Sent from my RM-821_eu_euro1_276 using Board Express

Early morning drug abuse is a fact in today's society.... Sent from my RM-821_eu_euro1_276 using Board Express

A point people miss is that CB is as much about the pair as it is the player. If you are playing with someone new, or someone who doesn't complement your style, then you can have a poor game no matter how good you are. Sent from my RM-821_eu_euro1_276 using Board Express

I disagree. I think we'll finish 11th.... Sent from my RM-821_eu_euro1_276 using Board Express

Apparently as part of the work, Fulham will move the Michael Jackson statue to a plinth in the middle of the Thames. River traffic will not be affected because he'll be surrounded by small bouys... Sent from my RM-821_eu_euro1_276 using Board Express

Need to start slowly, say a Radio station Sent from my RM-821_eu_euro1_276 using Board Express

But that's true though, isn't it? There is a cost in executing the transaction and the charge reflects that. It may not be exact, but it is proportional to the way you buy the ticket. It's not as if we are running the club at a massive profit, any (minimal, if any) excess will get soaked up by player wages. It cracks me up how people get the hump about this charge or that yet still expect the club to sign big names on big salaries.

I don't think anyone is claiming Ramirez is value for money; if they are they are barking mad. However, lots are claiming we should give him time to settle before writing him off as you have done. History is littered with just as mainly slow burners as failures.

Regardless of the background, which in truth we'll never truly know (_if_ anyone tells it is likely to be spun), Adkins will be a good manager for Reading. He will get them playing good football - but I doubt he can do that by next week. Reading have been defensively suspect and reliant on luck / counterattacking of Le Fondre, they don't play the Adkins way; but give him a few months and he could get them promoted next season. Next week will be interesting, not least because he should be the best informed manager we play against. Conversely, how Reading will set up will likely be a bit of a mystery to us - will it be a refinement on old Reading, or will NA change things. If they play as they normally do, it'll be interesting to see how MP's style will work against a defensive Reading.

Glasgow_Saint, Peacey, Hypochondriac and Turkish all keep posting on the threads I post on. Freaks the lot of 'em. Sent from my RM-821_eu_euro1_276 using Board Express

Exactly. That's the problem with these immigrants.... ff he can't take a bit of light hearted banter he should **** off back to his own country.... [/sarcasm face thingy]

Personally I think he's past it and think signing him up on any deal is a waste. Firstly he is 43, secondly he is, at least for now, got another job to think about. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/03/22/southampton-hand-striker-paul-lambert-new-contract/? Cortese out FFS.

An interesting factor is who still has to play each other as those games could be a win win for us. On that basis I think only having one game that can benefit our fellow strugglers puts us in a good position. That, coupled with the fact we have been generally playing well without getting results (as opposed to being a car crash every week) is a reason to be hopeful. Reading Away is a crucial game for us.

I can see from NA's perspective that still being under contract to the club is a problem. He wants to be able to take on new roles and, as a manager, the longer you are out of the game, the more difficult it becomes (just ask Curbishley). However, from a purely hard nosed business decision I can see why Cortese is doing what he's doing. If you have to pay Adkins anyway (which we do and will have to regardless - that's in the contract), then why run the risk of him working for a Villa or a Reading when you don't have to? If the contract doesn't say we have to pay up in a lump sum then that's the fault of NA's agent, not Southampton FC. Emotionally, morally, perhaps it is a different answer, but in the interests of Southampton FC I can see why Cortese is doing what he's doing.

What a difference a day makes. In the space of a bad result against QPR suddenly we've got a team that can't play the system. Such a bunch of bedwetters, I only hope the team have got more spine. QPR have a good team on paper and Samba was immense on Saturday. That alone snubbed out Lambert who is our single most important player in terms of creativity and goals. They counteracted us well - but that doesn't mean others will be able to do likewise. Most worrying isn't our performance, it's whether this is a sign that QPR will kick on. If they do survive it is one more relegation spot to worry about (plus Redknapp will be a smug git). Don't get me wrong, we are in a relegation fight, but we haven't become rubbish overnight. Bad performance: move on.

In my opinion Yoshida is made for this style of game. Not the quickest but his positioning is very good

My favourite is "worst player I have ever seen in a Southampton shirt" - the favoured expression of the knee-jerking reactionist. People forget that it is rare for any player to come in and make an instant impact. Often they need to get to know the players around them, the pace of the game, the style the manager wants to play - not to mention the culture, language etc. And that's before the burden of any pricetag or knee jerk judgments of the fans comes into play. What factors turned Torres from one of the best strikers in the league to a donkey? If you were offered him for £5m would you take him? I probably would because he must have had something and there's a chance that can be unlocked again. Some people make snap judgments about players; they find it hard to change their minds and forget that players are humans, just as prone to bad days (weeks or months) at the office as anyone else. I subscribe to the fact that most players have something that attracted us to them, but they won't always be on fire. The only danger is when you buy a player who is fulfilling the "form is temporary, class is permanent" maxim - e.g. someone like Beattie who would go on a streak and then not score for a few months. Assuming the players you buy have the skills for the job, the managers job is to try to improve / fix the issues, and if they can't, move them on.

Sturrock was a drinker. No ifs, no buts. I don't think that helped his cause with Lowe or the players. Fact is you can do well at interview, on paper he'd had a good lower league track record - but he wasn't first choice (that was Hoddle) so was always on rocky ground.

I favour being positive but in the words of the man with the chin, "it's a funny old game". A couple of injuries and we could be seeing very different opinions for any of the bottom 6. I don't think QPR will survive but I think they will begin to pick up results as the players gel. Hopefully that won't be before we play them.

I think the way we are now playing will suit Fox more. He's always been better going forward than defensively, mainly because of positional mistakes and the occasional concentration loss. As we press more he makes those mistakes on or around the halfway line rather than in our final third. It gives him more time to recover and his pace helps here. Shaw is better, but he's young. Fox is more than adequate backup,

Like him a lot. Good decision making, brave and gets right up after a tackle. As the bloke who sits next to me commented, "it's like watching one of those 80's game shows". I think the end of season away day should be japanese headbands: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B006KAPIGU/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?creative=22218&creativeASIN=B006KAPIGU&linkCode=asn&ref_=asc_df_B006KAPIGU11862129&smid=A2WZL2HM3U892U&tag=googlecouk06-21

I'm not sure "true pro" can be assigned to someone with the sickness record of Pahars. Great footballer on his day and responsible for many important goals but sicknote towards the end of his career.

And this is the difference from our relegation season when we were losing and playing badly. Yes we're still in the mix, but I feel more confident with this squad than I did with that one.

Same club as Mayuka...