washsaint

toe_punt is either a skate on a wind up or he has misspelt his users name

sign of a good team....not playing at their best yet still get a point away from home against a team that is the most boring side I have ever had the misfortune to watch. How Villa fans can stomach that week in week out I do not know. We are not going to win every game but the run keeps going. The NBC panel were impressed with Saints: not because they played well but the fact they stuck at it and got the point. This is a game we would have lost in years gone by. City won't come and shut up shop so should be a more open, entertaining affair.

Starting to think Saint Charlie is a parody account......no one can really be that much of a f**tard in real life surely? I can just imaging him running around screaming "nurse, nurse where's my medication". Would have thought he learnt his lesson from the summer that no one part of what we do is irreplaceable.

Over on RAWK some very fair, balanced and sane comments from Liverpool fans. Unlike many on here they really seem to believe Saints are in with a real shout of finishing top 4: in fact many believe we are nailed on to achieve this. I certainly did not expect to see the day - especially after the summer - where they are concerned about catching us to even have a chance of qualifying top 4. Amazing times! Oh, and it doesn't hurt that they seem to all hate Lovren too!

We do have cover........Lb - Targett, RB Toby/Cork, CB Gardos and Yoshi, Midfield - plenty of options, Strikers: Long/Mane/Rodriguez I would argue we are far better prepared for injuries than last season and Koeman has them playing far more intelligently and conserving energy than Pochettino ever did. Top 4 is a stretch but why not? Better to aim high than settle for mediocrity. Other teams also don't have this mythical "strength in depth" - key injuries affect them badly (see Sturridge at Scousehampton) and Man U not having any defensive backup at all. Ditto Arsenal.

Thanks - sounds like a truly united dressing room and things continue to look good!

Well you cynical sod Hypo, I am sat here at 46 years old with tears in my eyes. We are so very fortunate to be in the safe hands of the Liebherrs: most other clubs supporters would kill for owners like ours. I truly hope we continue our upwards trajectory: the Liebherrs deserve it. What a truly special club we are and the change over the last 12 months shows clearly what can be achieved as the club moves forward. Inclusive, caring and driven for success. Unbelievable time to be a Saints fan

Chelsea, City and Arsenal. Then we have the best chance ever of 4th as Man U, Liverpool, Spurs, Everton are not what they were this year. Realistically 5th or 6th but a shot at 4th.....we will have a much better idea in January.

what an utter load of b*****s from Saint Clark....there again, should not be surprised after his melt down in the summer. The guy looks completely assured - that's why we have only conceded 5 goals. Forster and the defence. His kicking is massively better than Boruc's (and with both feet) and you never think he is one second away from having a brain f**t.

And finally the Southampton Way is being acknowledged. Earle, Mustoe and Rebecca all VERY complimentary about the way the whole club is run and not down to individuals. Happy, Happy days!

As the title says. Toby was immense today and Bertrand is an upgrade on Shaw (where Shaw is in his career right now). Would love to get both signed up permanently in the next window.

Chez - I am assuming you no longer think we are relegation candidates (after the summer exodus)? Not trying to be snarky as you are one of the posters whose posts I truly do enjoy reading - but we really appear to have upgraded on every player who left in the summer. What a turnaround from the summer! Kudos to all at the club.....watching today never once did I think we would concede despite playing below par and looking very, very tidy up front. Highly unlikely, but could we truly challenge for top 4 this season? Liverpool and Spurs look terrible and that really leaves Arsenal, Man U and ourselves looking like the best of the rest.

What a bunch of pussies on here. We're 1-0 up against Hull who are no mugs (and coming off 2 good results) and this is a very tight game being played predominantly in midfield. Hull have done a good job snuffing out the threat of Tadic and Pelle (so far) but by the same token Saints defending has been excellent and Hull have not really had a chance yet. Those slagging off Long - shame on you! His tireless running off the ball and helping track back and defend. he's never going to be a 'champagne' player but he does a good job for us. And those moaning about Forster are just as bad. Part of the meanest defence in the League and yet still people moan about him. His kicking is solid and you never feel he has a mistake just around the corner (unlike Boruc). Hopefully Saints will be better 2nd half but if results stays the same there will be clear daylight between us and the rest of the division.

Good god there are some absolute planks out there. Anything a gk does will be magnified as there is no hiding place and any little mistake is seen by everyone. Foster is calm, the defense has confidence in him and he does not have boruc type moments of insanity. A great signing who will only get better and people saying he looks nervous don't understand goalkeeping. Anyone would look nervous playing against stoke.....As joe hart did

I believe he signed a 4 or 5 year contract (Targett) last year so LLP's statement is incorrect. Add to that, if he is good enough he will get his chance: most successful clubs have cover in all positions and we are no different. Keeping them all happy is a different matter.

Nuff said. Massive upgrade on Pochettino we have with Koeman. So fluid and playing tactically rather than just 1 way. Loving it

Agreed VFTT....very, very comfortable win despite being the sloppiest I have seen us all season. Never felt we would concede and Toby was outstanding despite Jose, Bertrand and Clyne not having their best games. Stoke offered nothing except kicking our players. It really does feel as though we could make a challenge for top 6 and, injuries permitting, top 4 challenge as there are only Man City and Chelsea that appear a cut above the rest of the division. Big games coming up against Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City and Man Ure.......if we do well against these teams anything is possible!

Getting back to the original question....... I think without doubt our best ever transfer window: by a long, long way! Koeman > Pochettino Foster > Boruc Bertrand > Shaw (at this moment in time) Toby > Lovren Tadic/Mane > Lallana Pelle > Lambert And with 40 million in profit! Unbelievable team, unbelievable manager, unbelievable season. Feel very vindicated with the "wait and see" approach as opposed to the vicious knee jerk reactions by so many on here in the summer.

lol.....shows what a clueless bunch of idiots post on this forum., Forgot some of the absolute drivel and nasty stuff posted on here and this thread is comedy gold!

old nick - would it really hurt you to have anything good to say about our club? All you do is take pot shots - re. your last comments, perhaps you have forgotten that in the dark years the Academy dd not progress as funding was cut. perhaps you should watch the video and find out what Reed says about when Markus took over? Of course the current regime is building on what Lowe, Jennings and Prost started - but to damn them with faint praise by saying this has been happening for years is to do them a disservice. But there again, would not expect anything less from you.

And you do know they have this marvelous inventions called planes that can transport people a long way Hutch?

truly superb insight into how the club operates. Not sure there is anything revolutionary in there but the attention to detail and cohesive, co-ordinated plan gives great confidence that we will continue to churn out young stars. Great to see how committed the club is to developing youth. Although the summer exodus may have left a bad taste, no-one can deny the immense satisfaction of seeing "one of ours" make the grade. The likes of Targett and Reed as good examples.

wow....the little c**k can not stop digging can he? Since when has this big mouth, thick as pig s**T twerp became a self-styled 'rent a quote' idiot. Weston - what on earth has happened to him? He seemed to be a decent guy until he got into the England squad and now he is billy big b*****ks

and the problem with moving england games form wembley is??????? They can barely get half full attendances as it is so moving England games across the country would be a very good thing.

Lallana is an idiot. Is he really thick or does he truly believe what comes out of his mouth? I think it is quite clear he is not the brightest but why does he keep digging his hole deeper and deeper. However, for those saying he showed no loyalty, etc. - there is no such thing (except fans) in football and we got 25 million for him. Which has been used to strengthen our squad quite significantly. So he gets his "dream move" and we get a stronger squad. Need to let it go - he's gone, he has done himself no credit but we march on.