sambosa75

I reckon he'll stay this summer. He has got 5 years left on his contract. The club know they can still squeeze one more year out of him and still get bids of a similar size next season with 4 years remaining.

I just don't see the logic in this. By their own respective standards, it was an awful season for Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd (and Everton for that matter) who were always going to throw money well beyond our means at strengthening their sides. How do you expect us to compete with them in order to "kick on" and improve on our 6th place finish? Even with a good season, the best we could realistically hope for was 7th or 8th with a closer points gap than what it is currently. I'm not saying I am particularly happy with our results or performances in the league this season, bar the run to Wembley (and performance in the final) but to say we should have been looking to improve on last season's finish would have either relied on us throwing stupid money at the side which we were never going to do or relying on a few of the big boys having another awful season which was unlikely to happen given the money they were willing to spend to rectify their own problems. Puel doesn't inspire me with a great deal of confidence - not many players seem to really be buying in to what he is trying to achieve but I think he has/will achieve what was most likely at the start of the season, albeit in possibly the most uninspiring, insipid fashion.

Tony Adams at Granada...

Be interesting to see if Yoshida is happy to go back to being 3rd choice next season if, as expected, we sign a replacement for Fonte. I rate him (more so with a VVD alongside him) and couldn't think of many better 3rd choice centre backs outside the top 3 or 4 but think he might feel he has done enough this season to justify a first team spot from now on, either here or somewhere else.

Indeed. His Dad played an absolute blinder.

Well that escalated....

You are aware we only lost 1-0 to arguably the best team in Europe at the time? The gameplan was always to contain them for the opening 70 mins and then hope our superior fitness would see us through. It very nearly worked as we piled on the pressure towards the end of the game., even having a chance cleared off the line. It was a very different game to Sunday but you are completely wrong to say it was a letdown and we showed no ambition.

Pa**** Cisse. Hope I am way off the mark but reserving judgement for a few weeks yet. Although his start has been unbelievable.

Was he though? If we'd been Mané-less last season we would be in much the same position as we currently are. Our (Mané's) latter season form papered over some pretty considerable cracks in my opinion.

My fear too. We clammed up massively at the San Siro and Inter were for the taking. I think we'll be competitive at Wembley but I do worry our players will play the occasion instead of the game itself.

Chris Samba and Martin Caceres both free agents. Surely one of them is worth a punt? Best part of a month to get match fit for the final...

Good that he is still playing at a decent enough level. Best of luck to him. Seemed to really take this club to heart in the short time he was here. I always look back on our time out of the top flight and think it really helped re-connect the players to the fans. All of a sudden we weren't a stepping stone to bigger and better things or a final payday for players at the end of their career. We were a destination club. A club that players at that level dreamed of playing for. A lot of those players still have an affection for the club and look back at their time with us as the best days of their career. Richard Chaplow springs to mind as an obvious example but I know their are others too.

I have a spare Club Wembley ticket available. £300. Please get in touch if interested - s.arthur@live.co.uk.

In many wsys handing in a transfer request is the most respectful thing he could have done to the club and fsns. Respect to him for that. Saves us paying him loyalty fees etc... Can't imagine he would have done it without a move domewhrre already being lined up. Good luck to him.

It will be VVD. He is the captain already by all accounts - calls the shots in training etc...

Do you know him personally? Keen to know if your statement is based on fact or if Morgan's pride genuinely would get in the way of re-signing with Saints by choosing a move to West Brom instead?

Someone to link midfield to attack. I think Jay Rod and Austin are adequate unless someone very special becomes available and more of a problem is getting more bodies in to the box and in attacking positions from midfield. A midfielder with a penchant for late runs, direct dribbling and an ability to smash it in the top corner from 25 yards every so often would be my choice.

Absolutely chuffed! He and the rest of the lads are buzzing.

U18's got a tough game tonight versus Man Utd at Old Trafford in the FA Youth Cup.

Fully expecting a full strength side. This is our most realistic route back in to Europe for next season. Avoid Liverpool in a two legged semi and I'd be reasonably confident of springing an upset on them in the final. I am however preparing to be extremely disappointed that we'll waste a good opportunity by playing our reserves.

Anyone out boozing yet? Had a half day at work so might head out soon.

Interested Slattery wasn't mentioned....

I almost feel sorry for the lad. Get him out on loan, playing twice a week in the Championship, back in the habit of scoring goals. I have no doubt it is a confidence issue and not technical. He's getting himself in to good positions and not pulling the trigger. A few goals under his belt might just bring that ability back. I wouldn't give up on him. He always was a confidence player.

Whilst form recently is extremely disappointing, lets not get it twisted. Our insipid performances in front of goal, creating very little etc.. is nothing new. There were plenty of performances like this last season as well, until Mane decided to wake up 6-8 weeks before the end of the season.