VectisSaint

Boscombe and Reading are still in, scope for a derby or two without potential embarrassment

Pelle doesn't train because he's too old, anyway that was the reason I was advised before Watford But I see Fonte is training this time. Not surprised about Mane, if he was concussed he won't play or train this week. Can't read much into it though, those who didn't train last week played on Sunday. No Caulker or Martina either.

I'll let you know. But don't hold your breath.

No he had been with Liverpool for nearly 2 months this time last year. I don't think anyone was expecting to hand in a transfer request at Liverpool.

OK, so you also employ sensible people to identify the players needed (I took that as given as we seem to have that already). Anyone that buys Wes Brown deserves everything they get. WE seem to be Chelsea's new feeder club, maybe it will work.

Pedro chose Chelsea over Msn U because London is allegedly bettrr thsn Manchester. Apparently the only reason.

Like Theo you mean? Doesn't work.

Buy them from a Top 4 PL club (we'll see if it works for Bertrand and Romeu).

Was very good when he came on, appeared to make a huge difference to the 2nd half performance, even though he was unfamiliar with the team, not sure why he did not start, the Koeman brothers clearly knew what they needed to do during the first half and made the change at half time. Does all of the defensive stuff very well, breaks up play and is comfortable on the ball. Gets booked, but so far having seen all three, they were all harsh, even the Watford one where he clearly played the ball. Good signing on the evidence so far, will probably never be as good as Morgan, but plays a very similar style and will be a worthy replacement given how much he has cost in comparison. He should do something about his hair, he looks like a thug and gets treated as one as a result.

He was fine 2nd half last night, being paired with Jimmy Gabriel didn't help, he is 74.

Totally agree. They are the last team we need to draw, can you imagine living with the barstewards beating us? Best draw for us would be Man U, Arsenal, Man City or Chelsea away so that we can field some reserves and lose with dignity, getting out of the worthless competition as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Well, we know we have to score, so it would make sense to focus on that rather than keeping a clean sheet, which in this competition at this stage at least gets us nothing. Just concerned that we don't have anyone likely to score, unless its Caulker - perhaps we should play him up front instead of Pelle (joking).

If we could score that would be a bonus. 3 games now with only a penalty goal to show.

Transfer windows are set by FIFA and do vary but generally most major European Leagues have the same or very similar window to England. The issue is not the date of the window, but the start of the leagues. Spain, for instance, generally starts 2 weeks later than England. So setting a transfer window to close 31 July (which I agree makes sense) means Spanish clubs would have to have their squads set up more than 3 weeks before their season starts. The transfer windows need to be co-ordinated nowadays because of the internationalisation of the top professional leagues. It would be difficult to have England close its window end July and Spain 3 weeks later, how would transfers be managed between the two countries? My view is that at least the window if it is perceived to be necessary should at least close one week before the start of the latest major league, so this season that would probably have meant 15 August, still not ideal, but better than the current stupid date of 31 August/1 September which this season even corresponds to the international break.

33 seconds: http://wall.saintsfc.co.uk/Article/1383772-60-SECOND-HIGHLIGHTS-Watford-0-0-Southampton Maybe it was going off target, but Gomes felt the need to make a spectacular save.

Ah now I understand, not decent chances "in your book". The "Book of What is a Decent Chance" by No **** Shurlock. Top of the Fiction charts? So you missed the save by Gomes from Pelle, the corner from Davis headed over the bar from Long, the run through the middle by Mane that resulted in him being injured, even the shot from Cedric (probably the least of what could be called a chance because it was a long way out, but we've seen equally good chances in the last year from Clyne and Vic). There were some decent chances, but we have a misfiring strike "force" at the moment who need a great deal more chances because of their poor conversion ratio.

Actually we did, we had several decent chances. Pelle could have scored from Davis' through ball, and then from the resulting corner (from Davis). Long could also have scored. Also Mane had a great chance before he went off when he passed across the box for Pelle, although it would have been a better chance if he had pulled it back for Davis who was storming in to the pen in acres of space (of course Davis may well have skyed it). We had 5 shots on target, whereas Watford had a big fat zero.

If there was an issue why have him on the bench? Would have made more sense to have had Gaston there is there was no way Tadic was actually going to play. Hope Tadic is OK by the way.

That's what happens when you don't go to games, you miss his motivational speech pre Everton. I'm sure its on YouTube or something somewhere.

No. Highlights were ridiculous, Mane was already off before they showed anything of Saints. They were really just interested in Watford were doing, really don't know why anyone watches this stuff any more. Romeu was good again. I'm also not sure the yellow was warranted again (for the third time), replays showed clearly that he played and won the ball, was it dangerous? Not convinced, looked like the Watford player made it look worse. Think Romeu has a reputation that precedes him, think he should grow his hair so that he doesn't look like a thug and refs might stop picking on him :-)

Funny how you missed the other excellent signings such as Ramirez, Osvaldo, etc etc. Selective memory.

Then we would have been docked 3 points for playing an ineligible player.

Everyone keeps saying this, even the commentators on today's game (FoxSports), but there is little or no evidence to support the case. I really want the guy to do well, but he really is adding less than nothing at the moment - give him his due he did have his best game for a while against Midgetland and did win us the pen. Still, not going to blame him for today.

Hardly reality to include VVD given we haven't signed him yet, and not sure that Clasie or Bertrand will be back even by then (though that's the aim). Unless of course you know something.

Neither was playing the top teams. I guess ideally we should avoid playing anyone for the first few games of the season until we have our team sorted out, wonder if we could organise this with the PL next season. Its not who we are playing against that is the issue.