macca155

Dibling on and mugs a Getafe player straight away

Why are they all losing their sh** in a friendly

Who gave Stephens raw steak, he's on one today. Seems a good test today, they are a tidy side. This abysmal playing out from the back is going to kill us. However some good efforts from Smallbone, linking up well. Aribo not so much.

Watching in Spanish is a laugh. I recognised McCarthy what is he doing

I mean out of this world

That goal wasn't legal was it .... ridiculous

Good grief, as a combination that is a L1 Championship defence at best. Non existent midfield. Forward line is ok, tolerating Mara obviously, but they won't see the ball so irrelevant. Clearly auditions for Mara, Alcaraz, and maybe Charles This could be grim but hey ho only a friendly. Russell has the right to experiment a bit.

There are many many footballers around. Best not to get emotionally attached to a transfer rumour. Saints are nailed on to be relegated at the moment. It wouldn't surprise anyone. That will make it tricky to attract players. Personally I reckon Saints will pounce on some decent loans, rather than splashing too much cash. Do that right and the team will be more competitive than they are presently. Goalkeeper position is absolutely crucial. Sort that and I will feel a little calmer.

Err Football Manager game

Very important talent for Saints. He has certainly shown real maturity and skill. I hope he features but remember other teams will already know all about him, and will plan accordingly. I guarantee he's been tracked by a lot of them. If he starts nutmegging and sliding past Prem defenders, he'll have to watch his back.

Dibling and BBD already look a huge improvement. Aribo basically getting in the way of their double act.

Taylor is too slow to play LB in the Premier League, he'll get ripped apart and offers zero support to Edozie. Let's hope KWP can slot in there if no one buys him. Rest of the defence is ok. Downes and Smallbone connecting well. Problem is Aribo, Edozie, and Armstrong look exactly like they were in the Premier league last time. Need a bit of zip in the 2nd half

At the very least they need to look like a Prem side playing a Championship side. At the moment they are retaining pocession and looking reasonably solid at the back .... that's all so far, fair to say room for improvement. In a few weeks the likes of Toney, Watkins, and Harland will be spinning and shooting on site. Going to be a long season

Yes I was there, his first game I thought he was ok, drifted a bit. His later performances were significantly better. Very poor of Martin not to put him in the squad and give him minutes. Same goes for Dibling and SAA.

Seriously fed up with this, he looked an excellent prospect, pretty much ready for the 1st team imo which counts for zero of course. I wonder if this is because we bought Manning and Martin didn't want him to play second fiddle. We have to use these youngsters or we will never have a decent academy again.

Che is probably having a reality check. He's a reasonable striker who has shown he can bag 5+ goals in the Prem. He's a physical presence and remarkablely robust. He always gives his all, and personally I prefer him playing a little deeper. His assists are often better than his goal. He's an option for Saints and I suspect the contract reflects that. A back up plan if Stewart doesn't click. However I really hope the club don't waste money on Ings or Wilson. Both sick notes. Still like to see Paul Onuachu given a chance. Daft spending so much on him and not playing him. Probably on my own there.

Looks like their view is that McCarthy is Prem standard. Oh dear

Interesting that Dom Ballard has rejoined training. It may be that he is being viewed as an option. Other teams play 19 year olds, may be a risk but probably worth taking if it comes off. A decent loan is the more likely but he is talent. They could be looking at a forward line of Stewart, Armstrong, Ballard, and if the stories are true Ings. Not all at once of course but not the worst line up. Two of those have to prove themselves in the Prem. I'm hoping Armstrong will continue his form now under Martin's system. They would be supported by a combination of Sam Amo Ameyaw, Edozie, Frazer, and Sulemana (can't believe they haven't sold him). I still think the priority is to stiffen up the midfield, they'll be working hard on the Downes deal and someone to support him. That is where Saints are exposed at the moment.

Don't want to see KWP go but Downes is a more important player for Saints, that deal needs to be sorted asap.

Sensible move in the current financial climate. The club sees Bazunu (note I say the club see) as number one and McCarthy will fill that slot until he returns. He is experienced and isn't the worst choice. I suspect funds are tight and this is the sort of solution to a problem that costs the least. Like it or loathe it we are bound to see a number of these decisions.

I deliberately chose a 2007(nearest I could get to 2010) image as the OP commented on the difference to to 2010. Worrying about how far London will expand.

Flynn Downes situation really is tricky. Crucial to Martin's philosophy but it will clearly take time and serious money to praise him away from West Ham. Added complication that Saints are in the same league, they'll be wary of strengthening a competitor. That means an alternative option will be required early doors.

You could, even green fields when it was built. Amazing how much London has expanded.

It will be a busy summer, no doubt about that but they'll have an eye on FFP so I'm not expecting a raft of big money signings. It will be all about priorities and avoiding duplication. Number one priority is a goalkeeper, needs to be a decent one. All hail Alex McCarthy for his late season cameo but the team needs real solidity at the back. In defence I suspect ABK will be given a chance, but otherwise it will be steady as you go. KWP, THB, and Bendarek are all Prem standard, Stephens is an good backup and can more than hold his own if called upon. At left back I would start the process of bringing Meghoma into the team. Bale, Bridge and Shaw all started young and he looks an excellent prospect. Midfield is where the action will be, hopefully Saints can prise Downes from West Ham but they will want serious dough after this year's performances. Whether Alcaraz fit into the Armstrong role remains to be seen but I'm sure Martin will be looking to use him. You don't let talent like that go cheaply. Whilst questions remain over Smallbone and Aribo in the league where the football is played at a much faster pace, they will certainly be part of the squad. Charles will probably go on loan which means there will need to be some money spent in midfield to make the team more resilient. Up front AA will be a better player for this season and Stewart has a point to prove, I bet he is just desperate to play football. Edozie is clearly in Martin's plans and I hope Dibling and SAA start to feature. I'd prefer to see them used at Saints rather than sent out on loan. Mara and Sulemana will probably go so there needs to be some increase in depth up front. However there is the knub, consistent Premier league strikers cost £80+ million. Saints don't have that sort of money and they wouldn't be interested anyway. Lower Premier league teams have to bring on their own stars, or buy cannily from foreign leagues. Ballard was set to be ours until his injury. Lets just hope he recovers and can fulfil that promise. I'm sure Ipswich and Forest will occupy two of the relegation berths. That means Saints will likely have to compete with Brentford, Fulham, Bournemouth, Wolves, Everton, Leicester, and possibly Palace for the remaining place. They all have decent forwards capable of slicing our current defence part. Saints aren't without talent and will provide serious opposition but this is going to be one hell of a task. Fair to say there is work to do.

Same, lots of friendly chatter on the way back to the car. They've been through it for quite a few years. Majority are decent people just like us. For all this was great feeling, I don't ever want to be back here in a play off. To lose a game like this must be unbearable.