waterlooville saint

I'm not expecting anything except a defeat, and hope we keep the score down. However, there is the fact that they didn't beat us last season either home or away, so there is a straw to cling to ... for a few minutes at least. Other straws include that we got thumped by Chelsea at home last season and beat them this season ...

Wish him well in Turkey. As others have said he's been really exciting at times and at other times incredibly frustrating. Still if he was consistently exciting he'd of been at a top 6 club rather than us. His sign-off message is really classy.

I don't think any of the new signings will start tomorrow. I think the 2 CM's will be Diallo and JWP and Aribo will come in to play in the "10", of that's the right term for the central player of the 3 that are playing just behind Adams. I think some of the new signings will be on the bench and may get on the pitch at some point in the 2nd half.

I've always quite liked him. Always gave his all and had some really good games for us, but there was always an error not far away. Thought he was unlucky to get injured last year as thought he'd made a good start to the season. Hope this loan works out well for him.

He's been a great servant for the club, but this is a great move for him and he did appear to lose some of his pace towards the end of last season so maybe this is a good move for everyone. Thanks for everything whilst you've been with us and all the best for the future Oriol Romeu

I do hope we win this as a number of family members and work colleagues are Man Utd fans. Hopefully they'll turn up like they did against Brentford. I have very fond memories of the victories over them in the '90's at The Dell, especially the changed kit at half-time and the 6-3 victory. Fingers crossed it turns out like those days.

I've always felt that Bednarek isn't as bad as many on here make out and it's interesting to see that backed up in these stats. The think is that the way we were playing last season and probably the season before, CB's were very exposed if our possession game was turned over, because our FB's play really high to give us width. When Oriol Romeu went off the boil towards the end of last season they became even more exposed. When they are exposed and get it wrong it looks terrible - I remember a goal either last season or the season before where he got it all wrong in a 1:1 against Burnley.

In the draw 😀 I read it recently, it's an easy read and gives some really interesting insights - well worth a read.

I'm not a tactical expert but I am getting rather fed up with complaints that we don't have a plan B or that we've only just started playing 3/5 at the back. It's not new, we played it a number of times last season. Ralph has also explained in a number of interviews why we've been playing it this season. I think we ar doing some variations further up the pitch this season, I think we started with a 3-4-2-1 formation on Saturday or something like that. It will be interesting to see how we line up this Saturday given the impact of the changes after 70 minutes.

Not optimistic about tomorrow's match but hope we at least put in a good performance. I hope we play like we did there last season and the 2nd half of the friendly with Monacco. I think we'll play the 3-5-2 / 5-3 -2 formation we've been playing in pre-season and hope we'll see something like - Bazunu, KWP, Salisu, Bednarek, ABK or Stephens, Perraud (or Djenepo if he's not fit), JWP, Romeu, S. Armstrong, Aribo, A. Armstrong We'll also make good use of the 5 sub rule and expect to see Lavia and Adams at least used as tactical subs early in the 2nd half. Roll on 2pm tomorrow to find out.

Provided the majority of the new players get up to speed fairly quickly I think we're going to be finishing somewhere in the 13 - 16 range. I think we'll get off to our usual slow start so will flirt with the relegation zone initially but soon get into a reasonably comfortable position for the rest of the season. I should also add that I have bought a season ticket for the first time in about 20 years so it's all my fault if we are relegated.

Really sorry to hear your news Minsk. Hope that you're not in pain and able to continue to enjoy The Saints wherever you nmay be. I've been a long-standing lerker onthis forum and always found your posts thoughtful and insightful, as well as enjoying this thread, so wanted to find my login details just to post this and say Thanks.

A potentially exciting signing that never worked out. All the best for the future

Disappointed to see he's not in the lineup today. If we do have to sell I hope we hold out for a major fee and insist he hands in a transfer request. Although on the last couple of seasons form he will be a great loss I don't think he's played very well so far this season.

Wonder if Delph said he would stay if they kept Benteke and now he's off to Liverpool he's decided to leave too.

Thanks to Morgan for being with us on the journey from L1 to Europe, shame you couldn't stay with us to make that final trip to the continent for a competitive match. I don't normally asy good luck to any player joining Man Utd but I do hope Morgan is successful there ... and really pleased he's not joined Liverpool or Spurs.

I recon it all depends on next week - if Arsenal win and we get a Europa slot Morgan and Clyne will sign new contracts with release clauses if we don't qualify again next year or Champions League in 2 years. Not ITK, purely my thoughts

19 for me

The great thing about the team is we have goals throughout the team - we have 12 different outfield plays who have scored in the PL, not including own goals... and we've had a few of them.

Brilliant result ... especially as I watched it with my Man Utd supporting stepson, who disappeared upstairs before the final whistle

We're back to having the best defence in the league

What's the limit on the number of loans from EPL teams?

Pleasantly surprised by today's performance, a big improvement on last week's friendly. Was expecting a thumping but in the end we deserved something from the game, but you don't always get what you deserve in football

Pleasantly surprised by today's performance, a big improvement on last week's friendly. Was expecting a thumping but in the end we deserved something from the game, but you don't always get what you deserve in football

Great news for the players and the club. Further recognition for a fantastic season