VectisSaint

Some suggestions Vokins may have been one of the players who tested positive for Covid. Otherwise its odd that he hasn't even been in the squad since he had a good game.

Can't think why anyone would think he was cup-tied, he has been with us all season. Maybe getting mixed up with Minamino.

But your point about Chelsea hoovering up talent makes no sense when you consider us being worse than Burton Albion. It might well mean we will not be able to compete with Chelsea or Man City but why are Burton able to be better than us? Do you think that the top teams only take the talent from Southampton? We have a Level 4 Academy, which gives us much more freedom and ability to recruit players, I'm not sure what level BA are but I know it's not the top level like us. The Chelsea argument of course has an effect but it doesn't really mean much outside of competing against the top clubs. Out Academy is crap and has been for a few years now, we lost our way (after Georges Prost) and lived on the reputation of a few successes in a couple of key areas (left backs and CMs), when was the last time we developed a top goalkeeper, a central striker, a central defender, even a RB? My view anyway is that the whole Academy system is broken and does not work for the PL. It needs to be fundamentally changed, young players should be playing competitive football from 17/18 not floundering around in u23 leagues played at training grounds. I think it would be better to go down the B team route as in Spain and Germany.

Looks like Theo is going to be back before Danny

So how is that relevant to being worse than Burton Albion?

A significant part of our best ever team, only saw him play a few times (for us), but he was majestic, his play reminded me of Ossie when he was with us, much standing around and spraying glorious passes to others. A true character. I don't get this "working man's George Best", don't know where that has come from, George Best was surely the working man's George Best. RIP Elvis.

And you know that because? If they have that is a flagrant breach of the rules (tapping up is still a breach of the rules despite what Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool think). They may have spoken to his agent, and his agent may have spoken to Danny, but that's not the same thing. His agent may be touting him to all other clubs but again that is not the same thing. The report is rubbish, and its not even current, it was reported some time ago in The Athletic. Do you honestly believe Man City are trying to decide whether to go for Erling Haaland or Danny Ings.

They might be better getting Marianne Spacey to coach the youth. She's not got much to do with the Women, as their league season has been terminated again I believe.

Old news, this was out there a few weeks ago. City trying to decide between Erling Haaland and Danny Ings, yeah right. Some rubbish cooked up by the media these days and people lap it up.

which was bigger than Highbury. The pitch at The Dell wasn't as small as some others, but the closeness of the terraces made it seem smaller than it was.

Why, is it the Final tomorrow? Thought it was just the 6th Round.

I think I would go as far as to say that it is unlikely that you will ever see a team from outside the top flight win the FA Cup again, unless there is some dramatic change in the way football in this country is organised or there is some freak set of circumstances. The gulf between the PL and Championship these days is far bigger than it was in the 1970/80s.

Never. Last team outside top flight was West Ham in 1980 when they were in Division 2, 4 years after us. Only 8 teams ever.

The point is that places players may have to go to which would force them to quarantine on return has not increased, significantly Portugal has been removed from the red list, so the reality is that very few would be affected in this international break, possibly our African players, but not even sure about that. Most red list countries are South America, Southern Africa and Qatar.

Problem is that during the 2 week break a large number of players will be away playing up to 3 games, so no rest and no club training.

Pity it couldn't have waited till the Summer, he could really have done with the break and the Saints training. Instead he will be away for 2 weeks, potentially playing 3 games, with the risk of injury and further fatigue for his employers.

Not sure why you think Semmens is a loser. Chairman can only operate within the limits set out by the owner(s). Ultimately the owner(s) are to blame. Not saying Semmens is all good but he is constrained by Gao and Ms Liebherr.

Signing Bertrand up for a new contract after today's performance would be a big mistake. I've thought for a while that he is past his sell by date, today confirmed it. Dreadful display, hopeless defensively and offered very little meaningfully going forward.

Appalling display today, apart from a few minutes after they scored. We were hopeless, complete La k of energy and ideas. Our inability to keep the ball was absolutely shocking, winning the ball and then giving it away immediately. Worst culprit today was one of my favourite players, Armstrong, but Bertrand, JWP, Minamino, Bednarek, KWP all shocking. Expected it from Redmond but then he hardly touched the ball anyway so didn't get the opportunity. I've hardly ever criticised Ralph, but it is beginning to look as though he is unable to motivate this team any longer. I still don't think we will go down but it's diffi ult to see where points are going to come from if we play like that. Really hope that Bertrand doesn't sign a new contract based on today's display, he was very poor.

and Valery is not JV.

No substance to that report at all, just speculation by some junior reporter. Who's to say Jose will even be at Spuds next season. Some people here just jump on the bandwagon born of speculation. If you go with this dross we won't have any players next year.

You can hope, but they are playing WBA. 1-0 Palace right now.

Steven Davis (just to wind Verlaine up)

Because he played for Spurs. What else did you think?

What if the game is abandoned?