VectisSaint

The words "Koeman admitted in December that he was keen on a move for Sneijder" are maybe a clue.

Fair enough I wasn't aware, though they are clearly still in use. Doesn't sound like anything will happen to them any time soon though with the council involved and them being listed buildings.

Very much doubt the gas holders will be decommissioned. Although their use as storage containers for gas is not as important as it used to be they still provide a means of balancing the pressure for the city gas supply for safety purposes. I suggest the answer to this problem is that we dig a tunnel, it would be appropriate from the great escape days.

Can't we adopt the Sutherland Brothers original version instead? (Why does everyone think this was a Rod Stewart song?) Anyway, terrible choice because Stewart's version was the theme tune to Sailor, series about the Ark Royal and all its associations with Skatesville. It would be more appropriate to adopt My Heart Will Go On, though not sure we want to sing about a maritime disaster. To be honest OWTSGMI is good enough already.

He was sometimes sick noted or injured when he was with us. Sickies were usually after a night out at Nandos. He was also always pulling up with cramp.

Apart from the fact Ronald said he is not fully fit due to lack of matches this season so far.

Something that always seems to work well, as per Sunderland last season and Sheff Utd this season.

Really really poor today, all round, didn't seem too interested in the first half, but got better. Davis and Wanyama were the only players who really performed, some others were OK. Tadic and Pelle, were they actually playing, Pelle seems to have lost his way since shaving off his beard :-) JWP at RB was a complete joke (but to be fair Ronald has made very few mistakes so far). How can you play someone at RB who can't tackle, is too slow to track back and who is not quick enough to do the wing? JWP will be a top player one day but it certainly won't be as a right back. Really impressed by Isgrove when he came on, really made a difference and has bags of pace and not a little skill. Morgan had one of his worst games, I felt sure Ronald would sub him at half time as he was on a yellow, but credit for the goal. Long was poor. If I really had to name MOTM at least on first half performance I would have said Tyrone Mings, though he faded in the second (and got booked), pity we let him go, he really does look useful. It was great vision and run to get behind JWP for the cross for their goal. The atmosphere was awful - what other club allows its singing end to be completely (well almost) sold to the visitors, it was like being at an away match today, and all the kids and first timers made it shocking (sorry if that makes me sound curmudgeonly). This really needs to be sorted out, we need the vocal support that our "home end" should give us especially in a Cup match. We really need to get the away support in a side or corner. What was with the queues to get into the Chapel, I heard the turnstiles were not working, but ours in the Itchen were fine. Programmes sold out well before the game outside, but they were selling them inside still at half-time around the pitch. Still at least it was only £15 for me and the daughter today so perhaps I should not complain too much

Clyne 1862 minutes Chambers 1641 minutes Clyne 20 starts Chambers 18 starts

Tommy Jenkins

To be fair he wss at Rangers for a while, it probably took some of the edge off his accent. But its def Norn Irish. My missus is from the North, but she has no accent all.

I can only assume you have never heard someone from Norn Ireland speak.

Except it won't be an assist (will it?). Trouble with some people who only look at stats for assists and then think SD is useless because he gets virtually no assists. What he does though is so often create the opening that ends in a goal, two or even three touches later. That said he has been guilty a couple of times recently of giving the ball away in dangerous positions, which is unusual for him. I think however it is because he is having to play deeper centrally when either Morgan or Vic (or both) are not available, and the mistake is magnified. Great player and is really much better this year under RK than under Poch. Would be perfect if he could find his scoring touch again.

Decent backup for Harri Reed. Also he only said he would not play for rival, Liverpool would .not count as rival for in CL.

England are aligned with Germany in terms of TW, so 2 reasons he can't be transferred until tomorrow.

Apparently not. Despite what Ronald actually said in one of the pressers, it seems like it is actually Yoshida who has gone and Mane is still here for Ipswich. Koeman was quite specific once, he had spoken with the Japan coach and agreed to delay Yoshida going. Prrhaps one of us was confused :-)

No, he is here for the Ipswich game, RK said he sgreed it with Japan coach. But you aren't the only one who thinks this fella on Solent said the same.

Except the one from The Times.

Looks more like 30 months to me.

Agreed, I was reasonably sure that putting two youngsters in to face Chelsea was a step too far for Ronald, but having one would be reasonable. I also think the 352 system would be more suited to playing Arsenal than Chelsea anyway. Without Schneiderlin it is certainly an option that has now been at least been proven.

Ronald had a point. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30637127

Believe me, I won't worry. Response to the original post by Steve. That said, 4th is not impossible, after all we are 4th now, and we have played every other team once. Just depends whether we have the determination to strengthen in January (in addition to EE) to provide depth to our "waffer thin" squad. We are likely to be seriously stretched in January without Mane and Yoshida (oh and that other wastrel) and Cork and JRod.

You forgot that he plays centre of a back 3 when we play 3-5-2, almost in a sweeper role. He looks best of all in this position from the evidence so far. Agreed he has been our best, but Fonte has been very good as well, except for one (?) total cock up which in the end made no difference.

Why can't we play 3-5-2 with McCarthy and Bertrand? Seems to me 3-5-2 is ideal for Arsenal where we need to be strong in the midfield. I would go Wanyama, Davis and Reed in the middle three rather than JWP who offers little outside of set plays and would start with Long and Pelle up front. Forster; Fonte, Toby, Yoshida; McCarthy, Wanyama, Bertrand; Reed, Davis; Long, Pelle. Bench Davis, Tadic, Mane, Gardos, Targett, JWP, Hesketh (if fit again). Almost looking like a reasonably strong bench again with players that can actually make a difference.

This was how the loan deal was reported: "Alderweireld joins from Atletico Madrid with the option for a permanent move, which would cost Soyuthampton £6.3m." Atletico still have to agree to sell him (they might not), and I would think Toby would still have to agree personal terms, but we have first dibs if we stump up 6.3m.