Matthew Le God

Yes he is, so what? Multiple clubs can be responsible for a player's development.

Depends how you define academy. Given the academy process goes all the way up to under 23s now and previously it was under 21s; then... Schneiderlin joined Saints aged 18 and was with us for his development years.

Ings was at Southampton's academy before he went to Bournemouth.

Yes he is, he played for the under 18 Southampton academy team for a season and then the under 21/23 teams, so how is he not an academy player? Of course Plymouth played a big role in his development, but so did Saints from age 17 to 24.

What uncertainty?

The link doesn't work...

Harry Lewis - Shrewsbury https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2015/08/31/shrewsbury-agree-sale-of-harry-lewis-to-southampton/ Will Ferry - Bury http://www.burytimes.co.uk/sport/15387616.Bury_FC_graduate_Will_Ferry_signs_for_Southampton_in_six_figure_deal/ Kingley Latham - Torquay https://southamptonfc.com/news/2017-02-03/announcement-kingsley-latham-signs-southampton-under-18s Neal Osborn - Torquay http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28470138 etc etc (Wrensup, if you are going to include Rodriguez & Clyne... then Redmond & Austin came from Championship clubs )

Of course Plymouth played a big part in his development, but he is still a Saints academy product. He played for both the Saints under 18s academy team and under 21s/23s.

Are you being serious? He isn't an employee of Arsenal, he is an ex-Spurs player who is now working for the BBC. He can't be charged with tapping up for writing that in an article.

I'm amazed anyone can think this is not a penalty... He kicks him... that is a foul

Can you answer questions a) and b)? I'm intrigued to know your answer for both.

"Low standard" compared to what? Can you name... a) another European league this season where the bottom 10 clubs have better players than the Premier League bottom 10 this year? b) another Premier League season where the bottom 10 had better squads than this year's bottom 10?

They aren't the worst team in the league for winning aerial duels. Remember theirs is a squad essentially put together by Tony Pulis to outmuscle opponents. Pardew is largely using Pulis' squad.

As things stand... only 2 points from 10th

It has a flaw though, in that teams that know halfway through a season they aren't going to make the playoffs can deliberately do even worse in the remaining games in order to get a better draft pick for the new season.

What is odd about the American sports system with drafts going to the worst team first and wage caps is that it has the feel of a Communist idea rather than the home of Capitalism.

Does it? I think it is one of the best line-ups he has picked all through a poor season. What is key is the tactical instructions he has given them. What would you have picked for today then?

I've never claimed to be infallible!

It looks to be a 4-2-3-1 system, why is that so bad? It is the formation Koeman led us to 6th place using. What is key is the tactics of where the defensive line is held, Pellegrino often opts to fall back deep when not in possession. How does he get time if Pellegrino doesn't pick him? That is self defeating.

That could possibly be explained if Pellegrino knew he was in last chance saloon and he has to get a win today or be sacked. A final throw of the dice perhaps so has gone more attacking than his normal cautious approach.

The bit in bold is pretty self explanatory as to how it affects the fans... we'd be watching a lower standard of football. Cue jokes of how it can't get any worse than it is this season, well with worse players it could!

Are we now criticising him for playing an extra attacking creative player?

You know there is a middle ground between" sitting in the dark ignoring phone calls" and "****ing it up at the local clubs"? Those are two extremes and neither is good.

It is surprisingly positive...

The Oyston's are worse than either of them.