VectisSaint

Except we were a Championship side when we signed him, not a PL one. He served us well in the Championship and League One, but he was 8 years younger then and he was more than adequate at that level. The Club made a big mistake when we were promoted not bringing in better backup in this position and continuing to extend Kelv's contract. It appears we thought we were improving by signing Gazza, but clearly this has backfired since now even Ronald doesn't consider our young up and coming keeper to be better than Davis. If Gazza is that bad (and personally I don't think he is and he should have played Saturday) then we should have already signed a better keeper as backup initially for Boruc, then for Forster, but for some reason the club have remained blinkered in this area.

Is he a top 8 backup keeper? Frankly I'm not sure he would curently be a League 2 backup keeper. We will never be top 6 if we persist with backups in this position who are not good enough. Not something we can instantly remedy, but we need to be working toward better before next season by not rrenewing contracts any further.

... and our record signing before Gaston, i.e. Jay Rodriguez, is not only still at the club but doesn't even make the Top 10.

Ronald said he took Davis off due to the injury in the first half. I want to believe that he was planning to replace JWP with Clasie rather than Davis, because otherwise it was a huge mistake, and not for the first time. We really need to find another Davis (and please no jokes about Kelvin), because it is being proven time and again that we can't play effectively without his energy, closing-down and link-up play in midfield.

Sunderland were well on top first half. We got some lucky breaks. 2nd half was very different. Recall Ronald being very unhappy with our first half display.

I remember Charlie George playing, but now I have this image of his two knees playing on opposite wings. I know they were shot, but they were surely never that far apart :-)

straws, clutching, at... It was marginal, down primarily to Kelv's awful kick. A decent team would have been 3 or 4 ahead by this time, the number of chances our inept keeper/midfield/defence combo gifted them. Fortunately (for us) they were so bad at shooting, the only person having a hard time was the steward in the concourse between Blocks 43 & 44.

True. Its a bit like saying Jesse Joronen would be better because he scored yesterday. Actually on reflection he would, it demonstrates that even a League Two keeper can kick almost twice as far as Uncle Kelv. Even Ronald admitted that Kelv's kick cost us the second goal [and thus 2 points].

We dropped 2 points yesterday because of the keeper. Whether another PL relegation fodder team has a gk who played crap yesterday is totally irrelevant. Villa also have skate Sherwood as manager, not relevant, if you honestly believe that Kelv was OK then you are welcome to your opinion.

Some people seem to be having difficulty with the concept of "record signing". The original list missed Jay Rodriguez who was our record signing for a brief period in the summer of 2012 before Ramirez was finally signed. Record signings used to mean some of our best ever players, Big Ron being by far the best. The original Ossie (Peter) was also superb, though his best years were behind him when he joined us. KK was also of course one of the best ever English players. David Armstrong, hugely underrated, great player. I didn't realise that Barry Horne was a record signing, have to say he was in an era where I did not follow Saints as closely as before or after. Alan McLaughlin looked to be brilliant when he was at Swindon, but for some reason never really showed that form again after he joined us. Delap and Delgado really started the downward spiral of record signings, punctuated only by J Rod of course. Gaston has been a disappointment, though there is still a great player in there somewhere trying to get out. As for Dani, he was still a top player, just a complete and utter ***** (and he is Argentinian by the way, only plays/played for Italy due to his parentage).

Then we need to get shot of both. I don't actually believe Gazza is currently any worse than KD, having seen him play a few u21 games. He is not great but he sure as hell can kick a ball.

No there weren't. I doubt there were worse performances in the Football League either, though I have not watched any of those games. Really don't know what people were watching who claim that he was anything other than dire. His kicking was awful, he was flapping at crosses (first 20 seconds gave us a taster of what was to come), his punches were weak if he managed to connect at all, he was not confident, he did not come for the ball (mix up between Fonte and VvD was due to this). He made one or two bog standard saves, but even with these your heart was in your mouth. I have to say it was one of the wort goalkeeping displays ever (I know if didn't have a complete howler like Bart or Boruc). we have to stop this notion that he is a great servant and so every thing is OK. He is not good enough (and to be honest has not been for 2 or 3 years). Of course its not his fault he had to play, but to have this standard of keeper as current 2nd choice is shocking for a top half PL team. At least Gazza would not have cost us the game because of his kicks (though he may have cost us elsewhere). Sorry Kelvin, nice bloke that I'm sure you are. Truth is sometimes unpalatable.

Leicestet had 10 players on intrrnational duty. They were also awful. It took them a long time to get back in the game after we started helping them. Fortunately for us their finishing was woeful.

What a complete load of garbage.

Of course we can. He is not good enough, his kicking is a disgrace. He was awful from the first few seconds when he flapped at that cross. He may be a legend, but there comes a time when a player needs to realise that he is past his sell by date. Yes, we shouldn't have had to play him, because we should have better backup (what is the point of Gazza if he is not preferred to Kelvin?).

Ladies and Gentlemen. The Award for the "worst performance by a team winning comfortably 2-0 at half time" goes to [drum roll] Southampton FC. That was absolutely shambolic, though not the first time we have been down this road. Whether Davis was subbed because he was carrying a knock or to allow Clasie to come on, the way we played from that point on was absolutely disgraceful (though no blame on Clasie). And as for the shocking performance between the sticks, well I hope I never see dear old Kelvin in a Saints shirt again. If he was a horse... If Gazza is not better than that shocking display then what is the point of keeping him either. At least he can kick. Still, I expect everyone will say how well Leicester battled back to get a point. Absolute ********. They were awful, but eventually the number of chances we gave them any team however bad would take a couple. And I haven't even mentioned Sadio Mane, what the hell was he doing today? Very good first half by the way. Thats what makes this sort of performance so unacceptable.

Feck whats happened to Stek? Our weakest position exposed again. Would rather Gazza to be honest than Captain Slow.

You're right of course, bit then JRod's injury was not a twist. He landed on it straight and it crumpled. That is the type of injury ee are seeing now in greater numbers. It could be partly down to the modern pitches having less give brvause of the way they are constructed.

There are singles still, but only in the Family section, which you can't purchase unless you have a kids ticket in your basket.

No. He is not right. Highly probable this would have happened to Danny sooner or later, unless he quit football. Injuries like this are more likely to be due to an inerent weakness. Dave In Sweden. 2 MLG 0

Sorry Whitey, but the second penalty shout against Chelsea was nailed on. Mane's foot was stamped on. And as for the first one when the Chelsea player tried to swap shirts with Virgil well, that was as nailed on as a nailed-on thing. BUT of course it takes the ref (or assistant) to see it to give it.

I checked on the OS match reports.

Yes, 1. Fonte and Pelle are currently on 3. He also travelled to Holland for the Ajax game.

I believe he was auditioning for the emergency keeper vacancy...

More likely he will not be available for Sunderland either. It is usually best to use the longer date, the short date is very optimistic. Even if he was only out for 2 weeks from now, he would need a week or so training to get back to full fitness. He must be a doubt for the Euro play-offs as they are 4 weeks away. If he has not played before them I doubt that Saints would release him or would strongly advise Ireland not to play him.