saintrich

I think we can get by with academy players in certain positions, are we waiting for Targett to progress and possibly make the step up in the summer, before looking to move Fox on, perhaps? I would agree with a centre back - Davide Astori is clearly a player we have shown interest in in the past and turns 27 in January, so we could well get his best years out of him - is now available to leave Cagliari. Goalkeeping situation needs looking at - will be interesting to see if we do anything there. And finally I would only look to bring in a creative player, if Gaston gets moved on - otherwise I think we are fine.

I don't see why people get in such a fuss about others leaving early. Sitting in the second to back row, if I don't start walking down a few minutes early I get stuck on the stairs for at least 10 minutes - not a problem if I don't have plans afterwards, but sometimes I do.

Would leave Lambert on the bench and get Osvaldo and Rodriguez running directly at Kompany as much as possible. Kompany said in his interview after the West Brom game that he just wanted to keep things simple in that and not try to be a hero (incase of breaking down again with injury?). Not seen much of Demechellis either, but can't imagine he'd deal too well with being dragged all over the place.

What was said on saints player re: Osvaldo, anyone?

Diego, 28, told SunSport: "I know there is interest from Premier League clubs. I have heard Arsenal is one of them. "It would be the ideal destination for me because their style suits my characteristics perfectly. Of course I would say 'yes' to Arsenal. "Southampton have great organisation and discipline and big talents like Adam Lallana. But again there is nothing concrete. "Playing in England is a very attractive option at the peak of my career but I'm focusing on helping Wolfsburg get to the Champions League."

Henderson has played pretty well for Liverpool this season. Could come down to those 3 + maybe Barkley? for a place in Roy's squad, difficult to accommodate more than 1 of them, as I doubt any of Wilshere, Milner, Lampard, Gerrard or Carrick will miss out...

Hart - Man City Foster - West Brom Forster - Celtic Cole - Chelsea Baines - Everton Cahill - Chelsea Jagielka - Everton Smalling - Man Utd Jones - Man Utd Johnson - Liverpool Walker - Spurs Lampard - Chelsea Gerrard - Liverpool Carrick - Man Utd Wilshere - Arsenal Milner - Man City Walcott - Arsenal Lallana/Cleverley/Barkley - Saints/Man Utd/Everton Townsend/Chamberlain/Morrison - Spurs/Arsenal/West Ham Rooney - Man Utd Sturridge - Liverpool Welbeck - Man Utd Lambert/Carroll - Saints/West Ham Lots of competition for places there - The places where I've picked more than 1 player aren't neccesarily in order of who's most likely to get picked. The ones missing put as 5 back up's. No room for Defoe, Henderson, Young, Ruddy.

Not on TV?

What was the queue like down there? I was going to queue, but couldn't be bothered, relieved doing it online worked out.

clicked on 'buy tickets' at 9:00:07 and was allocated place 21 and got in within 30 seconds and bought.

Actually looking through their other games they seem to have Whelan on the bench quite a bit, more like to be Adam or Palacios. Just noticed they haven't scored in their last three home games (0-0 vs Man C and West Brom, 0-1 vs Norwich).

I can see Stoke lining up as: Begovic Pieters Huth (Played 120 mins) Shawcross (Played 120 mins) Cameron Arnautovic (Played 71 mins) N'zonzi (Played 120 mins) Whelan Ireland (Played 49 mins) Crouch (Played 81 mins) Walters Subs: Sorensen (120), Wilson (120), Wilkinson, Palacios (120), Adam, Assaidi (120), Jones (39) Bit of a mixed bag in terms of freshness.

We seem to have done really well compared to the same fixtures last season, but it will be hard to replicate the home wins against Liverpool, Man C, Chelsea.

They were working on the basis of last season to get tickets for the first few matches of this season, I suppose there was always going to be a cut off point though. If they included last season in the criteria for Arsenal it would make it even more of a ball-ache to get a ticket as everyone would be queuing for one... some people queued for hours last season for Arsenal tickets and didn't get one, at least this season if you are going to miss out you won't have to queue/get up very early. I doubt it'll get to STH with no games, I have 1 game and think it will be tough to get one.

Only done 1 away - hope it won't have sold out by then...

For people moaning about MOTD not showing our chances - were they better chances than Utd hitting the bar twice, Januazi forcing a great save from Boruc? Doubt it...

I had my season ticket confiscated for something else and was told to go down to the stadium and collect it - after making a tit of myself asking at the ticket office, I was directed to reception where a bloke came out and said I wouldn't be getting it back as I'd been 'drinking in the bowl' which is strictly forbidden. They were actually getting me mixed up with someone else. When i explained that I was the 'other' person who had been ejected that game, they said they'd give me a phone call the next day - they didn't. I went down there again 2 days later and they gave it back to me along with a lecture/telling off.

Ricardo Fuller - I couldn't believe it when we sold him 2 games into the 06/07 season, after scoring 6 in 6 at the back end of the previous season. Jhon Viafara (before he scored two vs Derby and enhanced his repuation) - I remember telling my mate that he was good footballer, not just someone who gets up and down the pitch well, and then watching on in embarrasment as he struggled with a 5 yard passing drill in a warm-up before an away game. Jermaine Wright - He was a solid player in midfield and I thought the stick he got was unfair - he then continued to be played out of position.

Webb seems to rely on his assistants heavily. There was a match last season and every potential foul, he looked across to his assistant and didn't once make a call with his own eyes.

Considering Sunderland were abysmal once they went 1-0 up, it's always going to be tough for striker to do much and he could have scored that 1 on 1 with Boruc on another day. Scored and looked excellent against Germany for USA a few months ago and also a hat trick away at Bosnia 2 weeks ago (who were unbeaten at home for quite some time).

Boruc Clyne Lovren Fonte Shaw Schneiderlin Wanyama Lallana Lambert Ramirez Osvaldo Subs: K Davis, Yoshida, Chambers, Ward-Prowse, Puncheon, Rodriguez, Cork.

I remember leaving my mums 50th birthday meal early so I could get to Saints vs QPR on time - got loads of grief for that, but tried justifying it when Darren Powell scored after about 45 seconds. I think lost 3-2 & Powell was typically gash for the rest of the game.

Dated 19th June, not sure so many will be saying Norwich to go down now.

Going in Co-op in the afternoon can get you some good reduced bargains - especially for meat if you are looking to fill the freezer. Bitterne is quite handy - can go in Savers for Toiletries, Iceland for frozen, Sainsbury's for main stuff and they also have a butchers and fruit and veg place nearby.

Sam Allardyce said in an interview that he wants a striker with pace.