VectisSaint

Given that a move north of the border was allegedly agreed in the Summer and was then pulled by Saints, much to Davo's annoyance, its hardly any mystery that he will move in January or next summer when his contract expires. Personally just a bit surprised that Gerrard will have him, thought he was more inclined to take youngsters.

Was once a stated philosophy of the club according to Les Reed (when Poch was in charge) to have the youngsters train with the first team. Another of the philosphies (like not loaning out young players) that were actually just statements of what was actually happening at the time. Didn't survive Poch's departure.

No, thank goodness we now have a fully fledged video analyst instead. Anyway, good luck hope he is good. Apparently was on the bench in Cardiff, didn't see any of our super sleuths mention that. Does anyone actually know anything about him?

Your remark only gives weight to this being the truth. It's not like this hasn't been mentioned elsewhere.

You know for a fact that there have been no bids I suppose. Transfers don't always work like that anyway. If a player is unsettled his agent will tout that around.

Though he has been nearly as bad on many occasions. The difference with Hoedt is that one day he will be good, whereas Vestegaard will never be better than hopeless.

But then most of our players are lower league level if you agree with what many post on hear so why push Sims and Read out but not Vestegaard, Hoedt, Ward-Prowse, Austin, Forster, Targett, Cedric, Stephens, Yoshida, Gallagher, Davis all of whom are supposedly not PL standard. If Sims and Reed are lower league standard then they would fit right in to our current squad.

Martin Cranie. Played for England at all youth levels, captained the u21s but never really broke into the 1st team, and then suffered with the "management" of Jungle Redknapp and George Burley. Ended up forging a career for himself in lower leagues.

From what I've read I suspect we won't see Bertrand back. Part of the problem, not the solution. No great loss, has been very poor this season and last.

We have strikers? Apart from Ings whether they are injured or not is irrelevant.

Now you're just being silly. Behave.

He's been on the bench a couple of times, but as far as I can see (according to the reports on the OS) he has not actually played yet. Played in the Youth Cup, but thats u18. As an aside its very difficult to get stats for the u23s from the OS (probably even worse for the u18s). Used to be you could get a list of players, number of appearances, goals scored etc.

Will he be added tothe squad in January so that he can actually play? Glad someone else asked who the guy behind Hoedt (on the left is) I've been wondering that as well. Don't recall seeing him in any of the u23 games I've watched. Definitely not Stephens on his right, actually looks more like Shane Long (but isn't). They've obviously been added as back up behind Hoedt who is just about due another horlicks.

Is Barnes injured? Certainly not playing for the first team.

Poch also had a team of coaches to assist, it concerns me more than a bit that Ralph H hasn't yet brought anyone in (he is bringing someone soon according to Blackmore) and will have to rely on Watson and Davis to work the team and get his ideas across. Can't see how he can make a huge impression in 2 sessions. Also not sure that he is very defensive minded, which is the area we need to work to improve - I'm guessing thats where he sees his new assistant coming in.

Be better if they shot Michael ****ing Dawson.

You haven't heard that from anyone who knows what they are talking about.

You've still got a striker though, just because you are ostensibly playing him as an AM, he is still someone whose skill/instincy is apparently be a striker/score goals.

I know it's only an opinion but you would seriously start with no striker. Picking Davo as DM is also a bit nuts, he is very poor there, his strength is behind the strikers, and anyway we have Romeu. Lastly Barnes cannot play, even on the Bench, he is not in the PL squad.

Anyone got any ideas about who Ralph H will bring in with him, assuming he is not going to rely on our two GK coaches as his team. Did he have a backup team at RBL that left with him? I like the idea of RH, he looks like he may be just waht we need (never heard of him before). My concern really is whether he can get our current crop of poor quality players to perform in anything like his style in the remainder of this season. You cannot suddenly transform a unch of players who give the appearance of being unfit into a high pressing outfit. That sort of fitness requires pre-season preparation, you cannot add that mid season (at least not in a PL mid season when games come thick and fast). There are very few of our players who seem to fit the mould, Long (but he can's score), Lemina, Redmond, maybe Ings and hopefully Armstrong and Hojbjerg. What Ralph will make of Austin, JWP and Vestegaard God only knows. In the end we can only get back to the old ways (I hesitate to use the term Southampton Way) when we have a Board that has a vision and a plan, while we are stuck with Krueger and Kat and what Gao seems to offer (i.e. nothing) it will not happen, whoever the manager and DoF is. We also need to be a bit more ruthless and upgrade on Watson and dare I say Kelv.

Is it Ralf or Rafe?

I might agree there is no one better in the line up but that doesn't mean he is the right man for the job. You're just saying he's the best of a bad bunch. I think he needs to focus on his game rather than worrying about other people, he really doesn't have the experience. Actually Yoshida is a better captain, now he seems to be ba k in the team. Ings is probably the best bet in the team for a future captain, but it would be a bit difficult while he is on loan. I like Hoj, but he needs to work hard at making his game consistently effective and would do better without the burden of being captain.

According to the FA/PL Suspensions web page, Hoj is not suspended. Before the weekend games only Lemina and Cedric were "one caution away", Lemina picked up his 5th, but Hoj was apparently not on 4 (despite what many commentatots, pundits etc were saying). Actually the site has been updated in the last hour since I looked and it confirms Cedric and Hoj now on 4 cautions. That said, hope Hoj has a better game than yesterday, guilty of bad mistake for the 2nd goal and overall had a poor game, not sure he is really the right man to be captain.

at St Mary's, why? Staplewood for that. Sure there wasn't extra training today? Seems odd to have seen only slow, slower and slowest. Maybe getting some extra training in how to run. Probably not picking up their P45s whi h is what they should be doing. Wish these three were bang average, that would be a huge improvement.

Its Yan