westmidlandsaint

Agreed thought Morgan was awesome tonight, I remember talking to some non supporting saints friends back when we were in League 1 and said then that I thought Morgan was more suited to Premier League football and I think he has looked head and shoulders above what he has the last few years

Sky Sports linking us to Uruguayan International Sebastian Fernandez from Malaga who has been recommended to us by Gaston Ramirez

From the Villa OS.......don't think Vlaar will play TEAM NEWS Villa boss Paul Lambert is set to welcome back Brett Holman [virus] and Ashley Westwood [ankle ligaments], who missed the cup games against Ipswich and Bradford. Ron Vlaar has also resumed training, although the Saints clash could come too soon for the Dutch defender. Darren Bent [knee], Chris Herd [foot] and Marc Albrighton [foot] have all been ruled out. Southampton pair Jose Fonte and Adam Lallana are out with knee problems. Emmanuel Mayuka is away with Zambia at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Nice local game for me this one, unfortunately I'm in the Villa end (£20) with my villa supporting step-daughter and my best mate. They have been awful this year and have the distraction of the semi 1st leg away at Bradford mid week. I think if we can score early and get pressure on their fans will turn against them

Brad Friedel signed a new contact until 2014 with Spurs last week so I can't see that happening.

No didn't post it sorry........tweeted it if that counts

Was I the only one who knew when Guly missed it would end up 3-3??

With Billy Sharp I think it will depend on whether we stay up, if we do go down and one of Lambert, JRod or Mayuka goes he could be welcomed back in

Didn't their keeper John Ruddy go off injured in their game at Everton yesterday, apparently he was struggling before and reaggrivated the injury so he must be struggling for Wednesday

I don't think you can blame Di Matteo for sustainability that's more down to the 2 nut job chairman. At WBA he got them promoted to the prem and didn't have a great start to life in the prem and the chairman against the wishes of most baggies fans wielded the axe. At Chelsea he won the champions league & FA Cup and he got the sack for not playing Torres, if Adkins does go, I'd have him in a heartbeat

No doubt he's got the potential but it will be hard for him to ever break through without playing for one of the big boys and he'd have to oust Glenn Johnson & Kyle Walker too

Andy Williams

Yeah but depends which ex manager we're bringing back its not like we haven't got a few probably only a few that are capable (not that I would want any of these apart from probably strachan saggychops at a push) Strachan Redknapp Hoddle Jones Pearson Not sure I'd want any of the other ex managers

my summary ........... First 60 mins = **** Last 30 mins = Quite good Mayuka added a spark when he came on would like him to start v west brom. Cant wait for Ramirez, Lee and Cork to return. If we can get through to January and still be in touch with the addition of a new CB or 2, a LB and poss a out and out #1 we'd be ok

i am not someone who think Adkins should go, i really like the guy, however it does look like the players have stopped playing for him on that first half performance very lacklustre almost a resignation when Bale scored if Adkins cant rejuvenate them then Cortese is going to have to think can someone else

on Boruc - how match fit does a keeper need to be? it's not like they are going to be box to box for 90 minutes. Surely its more about reactions, agility and working on communications with the defence, hence why keepers can play up till there 40's.

Just out of interest some of the latest odds Harry Redknapp 3/1 Alan Curbishley 10/1 Alan Shearer 10/1 Claudio Ranieri 10/1 Delio Rossi 10/1 Fabio Capello 10/1 Rafa Benitez 10/1 Glenn Hoddle 10/1 Gus Poyet 12/1 Iain Dowie 16/1 Ian Holloway 20/1 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 25/1 Pep Guardiola 66/1

Gazzaniga is he good enough to play? if he's not why did we buy him? or if he's simply one for the future why didn't we buy another keeper as well. 4 games 14 conceded at 3.5 goals per game is shocking.

To be fair the academy as it is now didn't start until the mid/late 90's before that it was the old style YTS and rep sides.

A I do tend to agree with you, however I honestly think Lambert is an allround better player than Holt. I think the have had similar paths ie lower league players quick success with Norwich/Saints but in my opinion Lambert has added more to his game than just being the big target man that Holt is, Lambert has got leaner and fitter too. If Lambert does get to say 10 prem goals by Christmas then he has to be considered especially with lack of options at present. Interestingly I watched the football show on sky the other night and they were talking about how the influx of foreigners is now starting to have a real effect on the national team. Hoddle was a guest and he said when he was England manager he had club first team regulars like Shearer, Sherrngham, Sutton, Wright, Ferdinand, Fowler, Owen, Cole to choose from compared to Hodgson who yesterday had Defoe, Welbeck & Sturridge and the two latters aren't even regulars for their clubs, so why not play players like Lambert who are regulars....it seems over the past few years England managers hav picked fringe players at United, Chelsea, Liverpool & Arsenal because of the club more than the players abilities All in my honest opinion of course

Although we are only 3 games in there is no need to panic however what I will say is......... It has crossed my mind that maybe the policy of buying young is also if we do have a nightmare season and get relegated the players will have resale values, if we'd bought in all 30+ year olds it would have been harder to shift these payers (if needed) The hope would be that some of these players would stay andhelp get us back but we all know players of Ramirez quality aren't goin to play in the championship.

Thanks for posting this link a good read, some interesting views I still remain excited by the signing of Ramirez

I know that saints are going for a youthful recruitment policy but I honestly don't think this is the kind of deal that could be turned down if there was a real chance of it happening. This guy has been there and pretty much done everything, the amount that are current crop of players like lallana, Ramirez, jrod ET all could learn from him is incredible. The signing of Ramirez would have made a lot of people on the continent notice us a little more, the signing of del piero would only enhance this and help us attract players to take us to the next level. All in my opinion of course.

A fairly good sum up S-Clarke. I think the plan GK wise was always to get a number two to replace Bart and give Davis another crack in the prem if only for his loyalty, I think we'll give him until January and if not performing bring in a replacement. In an ideal world I would have preferred another CB and possibly LB, but overall I can't complain with circa £30m spent

If butland is already valued at £18m by Birmingham then Flowers must be worth £25m