macca155

Stephens was one of our best players can't drop him but maybe push him forward

Well that was desperate...... again! Thought the defence was ok Stephen's clearly benefited from being next to Hoedt and showed his class. Hoedt is a big lump CH and did his job. Cedric was our best player for what that's worth. That's it the rest were poor. Forster has to be rested his mobility is terrible he just cannot get down quick enough. Just look how good Gomez was as a comparison, and he is average for the PL. Saints don't score goals because the midfield is too easily bossed. Chalabah owned the pitch today and Romeo had no answer. Tadic Boufel JWP Redmond all have their skills but together they are lightweight. We could have Messi and Neymar up front and they would see too little of the ball to score. We all see know that VVD should have been sold early doors but principles always have consequences. No point crying about it just need to man up and sort it out. The team needs to fight for the midfield and play a simpler more direct game. Push the oppo back and let our forwards do their job. Crucially Saints need to put a bigger team out. Start from there and then build. How about McCarthy Cedric VVD Hoedt Bertrand Stephens Lemina Romeu McQueen Long Gabbi Bit of a pedestrian team but have to start somewhere and that lot will at least hold their own in Midfield. Oh and try shooting occasionally. Manager isn't feeling the love from me yet. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

You aren't a pillock but 100% wrong on JWP. One of our stars and loyal lay off him. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Don't get me wrong I'd rather he stayed but if he is offered a good deal with a bigger club then so be it. Just as long as he helps secure the maximum cash possible for Saints then accept it and move on. CB Is one of the easier positions to fill at our level. The team clearly needs a DM, attacking midfielder, and decent mobile forward who can a really score occasionally. Oh and a manager that can actually set a team up to win. Football is a team game plenty more players around. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

70 million is ridiculous for an injured player no matter how good a season he has had. Love him to bits but that money will seriously strengthen the squad. The defence wasn't the biggest issue last year. What was in front (And behind) was. Focus on that. VVD has returned a £55 million profit in 18 months good business. Thank you sir and good luck. Just pull a hammy when playing against Saints please. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Send him out on loan!!! He is a major asset for Saints now. He is looking better every game. There's our future right there. Keep him and play him. We can't moan that clubs nick our players, if we don't show some loyalty when we do actually find a decent player. Personally I'd push him forward a bit. I reckon he has the skills. Only a bit mind judging by his shooting last night Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Agree 100% he's proving to be a potential star turn and DM is an obvious next step. Bet Poch would have had him there by now A point at Anfield always a good return. Don't care how just says away draw in the book Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

I thought that Stephens was excellent in the first half against Chelsea. We were in line with the defence and he was covering Yoshi a lot which is worrying. The problem is neither are strong enough in the air and too easily bullied. On the ground they are both very good. I think Stephen's will be excellent next to VVD or similar. We don't have Lambo or Pelle helping out at the back either now. However the major issue is we have discarded our strong midfield. All the decent teams play with 6 defenders now, with two large mobile defenders sitting deep aka Wanyama and Romeu. That is exposing our defence big time. Personally I'd try Stephens in that position as he has the skills and pace. We could unearth a gem. We need a stronger bigger team all round. Team of midgets at the moment. As for the goalkeeper....... Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

No he isn't. I was there and he did ok. He did his job (not brilliant but I've seen way worse) he isn't as strong in the air as we need. He would be a good partner for Van Dyke. Distribution was good but he tired in the 2nd half and let a few slip. So what, I'd rather give him game time than waste time on a short term import. Can't believe the stick JWP gets disgraceful. He had a very good game and was constantly driving forward. Tadic in contrast was poor and wasteful. Bet hey what do I know I only go to all the games and lost my blinkers years ago. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

I've been to all 6 finals, 4 defeats now I'm fed up with that, but what a performance today. If you aren't proud of that then you best give up now. Yes there were faults, our Goalie situation is worrying, but if the club could grow a pair and just keep some stability for a while the future looks bright. Appalling decision for our first goal but equally both Stephens and Romeo could have been sent off (as could Lingard). Football karma will come around some day. Still a good day to be a Saints fan. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

HOUSTON, WE HAVE... A STRIKER Quality

"That is not at all fair on Stephens. He was playing virtually alone in the centre of defence as Gardos moved about as much as a training dummy." Completely agree, Stephen's didn't have his best game but was exposed more than any other defender has in recent times. Gardos just isn't a Premier League defender, probably not even League 2 standard. However both were on to a hiding to nothing with zero defensive midfield in front of them. Stephens looks to have that touch of class and potential that we all want to see. However desperate day at the office and nobody comes out of this with any dignity left.

That was way too much stress for someone of my advanced age and weight. It was all released when Long scored.... we still can't find the cat All heroes but what a debut for young Stephens, very impressive. I celebrate my 50 anniversary as an emotional slave to Saints this year, what a rollercoaster and a 6th trip to Wembley. Lost 3 won 2 so far, let's see if they can even the score. correction one of those was at Cardiff, I'm too excited......

That was way too much stress for someone of my advanced age and weight. It was all released when Long scored.... we still can't find the cat All heroes but what a debut for young Stephens, very impressive. I celebrate my 50 anniversary as an emotional slave to Saints this year, what a rollercoaster and a 6th trip to Wembley. Lost 3 won 2 so far, let's see if they can even the score.

He was being pushed by the idiot reporter, what else was he to say, it was handball anyway so worthy of a comment. A rarity amongst managers a touch of class

What an absolutely spot on post. Exactly as I saw it. I thought Stephens looked very cool but I'd like to see him perform under more pressure. I've never seen a goal celebrated with such relief. All of us couldn't face any more of that. I was chucked out of my normal Kingsland seat so had an Itchen seat behind the dugout. The most interesting view was watching Puel, he was as frustrated by our turgid display as the fans. I get the impression he wants a lot more from the players or just more players. Clearly need to do something as JROD and Long certainly don't have goals in them at the moment. I expect free beer from the club at the Arse game for turning out for that game.... desperate. But hey a win is a win so on we go. We've had worse seasons. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Right........ Being beaten by Spurs is not unusual and I can live with it... again.i thoroughly enjoyed my day at WHL in May so a dose of the same wasn't to be unexpected. What I can't accept is our niave tactics and lack of nous. 1st 20 minutes we charged at them like mad men. It was obvious our team wasn't fit enough and they struggled after 30 mins to match Spurs who train specifically for this. Poch knew we had zilch up front so he pushed his team forward with just three at the back our midfield retreated and bang we were under pressure. Davis had to be subbed as he was out on his feet. I'm a big JWP fan, his talent from set pieces needs to be cultivated but he is a bit of a luxury player.and needs water carriers as cover. However goals and chances a plenty come from his free kicks so it is worth persevering, but he has to make a bigger impact. Redmond kills every attack as he cuts back. Use him as a sub and he might be more effective. Forster really worries me his form has nose dived. I wonder if he is carrying an injury. The sooner Mccarthy is back the better. I like him and he'll put pressure on the big man. Fonte and VVD are superb and are are civic treasures. They need to be retained. I can't bring myself to talk about Tadic..... desperate. Sims Hesketh and McQueen would all have added more to that game. They need to be used at the very least they would have had the legs. I thought Cedric was MOTM for us he had to survive intense pressure but rarely cracked. WBA will come with tactics to beat us so I hope Puel has the answer. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

".....our players ALWAYS look for safe options, if there's a pass there's no movement after it ....Our defence is excellent but without Fonte and VVD that could change very quickly." Very sound points. 0 0 away to Stoke in December isn't a bad result but the circumstances leave a bad taste. This was always a year of consolidation. 6 years of progression was always going to end at some point. Puel has a weak squad in some areas, and I hope his style is a response to that. The use of youngsters is a major plus but boy do we need someone up front who occupies the opposition defences. Oh and pass forward sometimes. Progress yes and that is to be celebrated always, but I fear the Spurs game will show us how empty our tactics bucket really is. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Soundly beaten by a better team today, it happens but Saints put in a good performance. Puel had to rotate the squad but they still looked tired. I thought Bertrand look leggy and was struggling a bit. Conte put 3 on Tadic and allowed Bertrand the freedom of the left side, he had done his homework. Classie clearly isn't the most effective player but JWP and Holberg cannot play every game. Personally I would have put Reed on as he would have helped Romeo (how good was he today) a lot more. We all know that we need an attacker and a right back but we have what we have and Chelsea will value those three points. This was always going to be a horrible part of the fixture list, Everton and Liverpool will probably help themselves to a few points but after that Saints can take stock and start moving forward again.

The stadium itself is fabulous and those TV screens are massive. However as others have said it wasn't built for football and it is a terrible venue for a Premier League team. It is a massive stadium but it isn't high and completely different to Twickenham or Wembley and the fans are a long long way from the pitch. Outside there were loads of decent catering outlets and easy access beer tents. They had drink only queues which I wish Saints would do. The DLR offered an easy route back to Waterloo so for everything other than the footie it was a good experience. West ham have made a huge mistake here and are going to have a serious problem. We were halfway up the upper tier and the view was worse than Newcastle. There wasn't a chance of making out anything from the other end. For a different sport it would be perfect. Their PA is worse than ours which I didn't think was possible. I just can't see how West ham supporters are going to create any sort of atmosphere. A previous poster was right even the Saints fans who were winning away in style were struggling. A few big OWTS but the chants died pretty quickly and in the end we had to leave it to the lower tier to dance around a little. Upton Park was a gruesome experience and a horrible place to go. Never an easy game and to have let that go is criminal in my opinion. I'm a child of the 60s and have fond memories of the hammers, they have always struck me as a decent club, fragile and unstable they may be but I've always loved games against them. Yesterday was sterile it was like playing a poor man's Arsenal. I wouldn't wish their current predicament on any football supporter not even Pompey. They'll be 'focus group' reporting right now followed by an army of experts who will start messing with the 'experience' to artificially create an atmosphere. Watch out for flags cheerleaders, piped music, crowd 'generators', and probably a lot more pop corn. It is an extremely rare event for one set of supporters to feel any sympathy for another set of fans but it might just be justified on this occasion. Macca

Wonderful event stadium very comfortable. As a football stadium it will be a noose around their neck. The fans are so far away and disjointed that it's impossible to get an atmosphere going. Saints fans were split in two and frankly we had the same problem. Three goals helped us overcome that though. I suspect they'll regret this move for ever.

These extensions are good news. Tie down the talent you have and keep the club stable. It's good news for Shane he has been unappreciated by the clubs (and fans) he's played for and it's good to see him so at ease. He has secured his family 's future with that contract which for footballers of his age is vital. Like Davis he is a consummate pro who is a role model for the youngsters coming through. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

It's a dark place but we've got to go there [emoji53]

everyone should go dressed as Frank Saul! My dad still hasn't forgiven them for it . Your Dad was spot on, that transfer remains the most outrageous swindle ever. Like swapping Kane for Ali Dia. I've hated Spurs ever since. And no I won't let it go

Koeman always has an eye on the squad so he'll make a few changes to keep players match fit. Wanyama will be rested and Mane is out. I doubt he'll make any other changes other than the usual Davis / JWP interchange. Classie and Bertrand need game time. I reckon Stek Cedric Fonte VVD Bertrand Romeo JWP Classie Tadic Juanmi Pelle I'd prefer Gaston to Juanmi but he'll be off at Christmas so no point in investing time. Hopefully he'll get a good subs appearance though.