Polaroid Saint

Redmané looked good all game. Hodgepodge pure class. Tadic needs to chill out a bit. Long not at his best, but still a menace. Davis quality passing. Target did well. Pied admittedly better than Cedric, but expect them to swap and change through the season. The fact that Watford now go 36 games undefeated after taking a lead, goes some way to showing it was their defending not our lack of attack that meant it remained 1-1 (I.e. 10 men behind the ball at all times meant sending off affected them only a little.) Quite bouyed by that second half, despite feeling it is 2 points dropped on paper. Also think Puel knows his starting XI for Friday now though. Will a new 'attack minded' player be in the squad. Will Fonts be playing in Red or Black? Ah, football. You're back, for all your crappy home draws against 'lesser teams', I have still missed you.

Sweet. And the off-topic stuff is all nerdy grammar stuff. Almost the perfect thread!

Gawd. This is embarrassing. Mods, can you lock this thread and bin it or something. I came on here for random speculation, (plus the classic TSW distraction of off-topic over-eager positivity and ridiculously bleak predictions of utter despair), not to watch us turn on our own. (If we so that it should be strictly on a Wetters versus Goons basis). Anyone/thing today would be good just to lift the mood a little; contract extension, a world class Keagan type signing or even Robin Fridays pickled corpse, anything.

hehe. My point was (quite clearly) that claiming ANY ONE PLAYER 'hauled us over the line' is preposterous. I am glad you got that point: So much so that you fell into my 'cunning trap' and pointed out how preposterous it was when I swapped DAVIS for MANE! You have decided, based on your appreciation of the entire season, but focusing on the last ten games, that Mane's performance in those last ten games warrants special attention and praise - and that's cool; we all have our favourite players. I merely pointed out AN Other-Players performance in a vital game near the end of the season was EQUALLY important. Of course, I don't think Davis was our most influential player last year, I don't even think he was the most influential player in that game against Spuds (Wanyama was - I wonder why?). Truth is, I realised it was a good case in point to show that one man does not a team make; that's all we are really disagreeing about here, I happen to think we got to 6th as a team, you seem to want to praise one individual above all others. Would we have beaten Man City without Mane? THAT'S a decent question and supports your argument. Would we have won the other games without him? Yes, probably. But it's all conjecture, really and depends on your perspective when viewing our performances through the season. I, personally, think we fluked, no that's wrong, fudged sixth place when 8th looked much more likely with a few games to go. But was Mane the SOLE reason? No, not from my point of view, sorry if you find that an easy point to make, but often the obvious things are.

I did not know that. Then my ramblings have even more clout. Nice.

Whilst Mane was clearly a menace for the last five games of the season with six goals and running (some) defences ragged, it was a TEAM effort. The entire Saints team (to the obvious bemusement of the then manager) pulled together and won the four of five they were asked to, (with Tadic supplying nine assists those games). The most unlikely win, and therefore the three points that really made the difference between 6th and 8th came at White Heart Lane; where Mane completed just over an hour, had the lowest pass completion of any player on the pitch and no shots.Therefore, if you really want to reduce a team effort over 38 games to one players achievement at the end of the season, it should be Steven Davis you give the plaudits to. La.Sh!t. Just realised this is the Summer Targets thread and I've been drawn in. Balls. Ah well, I've typed it now. Sorry!

Quite. These are top athletes - they are not going to forget how to kick a ball or stay in position because of a couple of weeks off. Players with injuries or suspensions mid season can miss a couple of weeks or more and slot right back into the team. Sure, after a long lay off with injury a game with the reserves is good, but not always required. Preseason friendlies are not purely 'match fitness' exercises. Work away from the pitch, on fitness and tactics, is just - if not more - important and that is happening ("its happening"). Of course Fonte will be fine to start against Watford, and so will Forster and Soares if picked.

GK CB CB WB WB RM CM LM AM RF LF (In attack, obvs, the WBs drop and the midfield flattens in defence, forwards expected to run the diagonals)

How did I miss this? Sorry for the double post... ...I feel like a S*n sports editor now, the shame.

The S*n recycle the Tello story for the billionth time today but add in something about Midfielder from Malaga, Recio: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/premierleague/1512888/southampton-line-up-15m-double-swoop-for-barcelona-striker-cristian-tello-and-malaga-midfielder-recio/

#BraRaised

Brilliant. First time I'll be able to wear a shirt with VIRGIN on the front since my 25th Birthday Bash. Anyway, those of us who visit The9's shirt thread knew this weeks ago. Red n white, virgin/saints/Mary all good. Carry on.

Brilliant. First time I'll be able to wear a shirt with VIRGIN on the front since my 25th Birthday Bash. Anyway, those of us who visit The9's shirt thread knew this weeks ago. Red n white, virgin/saints/Mary all good. Carry on.

Chris Packhams polo shirt on tonights springwatch. Replace the brown with red. Perfect. ****kng spring watch? Yep, rock n roll me.

Point of pride this. Thanks for sharing.

That's the one. Left under a cloud and maybe not enough club experience, but from what I could make out at the time it was a case of managing huge expectations and equally big egos got the better of him - two things that (arguably) not such an issue at Saints. Hugely regarded coach who maybe needs a 'SFC' to rejuvenate his career. Total speculation on my part, but if I were Less I would at least get him over for a chat.

Julen Lopetegui Derided for over tinkering with what was arguably the 'best squad' in the league, but has fantastic experience working with youth development, which might fit our '5 year plan' perfectly... ...worth a left field gamble?

So that everyone is on the same page, here is the BBC report from today. As Hamwic rightly says no-one really knows what will happen; but logically if the plan is to stop economic migrants coming to the UK from within the EU (which, from what I can understand, is a major part of the 'out/leave' campaign) then that would, of course, subsequently include all current EU footballers. Meaning they would be treated with the same restrictions Non-EU footballers are now. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35919247 Seems like a fairly neutral article to me, but I am sure some will take umbrage as it is the leftie-pinko-eu-loving-BBC, but still, worth taking on board the opinions of those in the game (agents etc) even though NO ONE KNOWS. Personally I feel the suggestion that 'Elite sSport will have the clout to do what it wants' is probably the most salient point. I would also recommend reading Soccernomics which does a great job of explaining exactly how important a country's financial status is to its subsequent success in both domestic and international football.

Gutted he has gone to Stoke. Thought we might get him in the summer. I have been tracking this player for years and years. He is class, could not rate him any higher. *wonders if anyone will bother to read op*

I have had the 'pleasure' of being at the last four abysmal away games at Sunderland (the league loss last seaaon was the worst game ever in the history of all football, at any level, ever, in the world, ever). Because of this, today, I am as far away from the North East as possible. As all of Saints results are all about me, obviously, I predict a Saints away win. Score? A one-nil thumping.

Yeah, Yoshida was utter sh!t at RB versus Villa too. FFS. Whilst Cedric is definitely first choice RB, we've seen RK deploy a slightly 'lopsided' defence effectively before. Anyone watching can see Yoshida is a clearly capable player who's gradually reducing the number of errors each time he plays. Players can get better you know? UTS

Can anyone recommend a stream for the game? Cheers.

Inspired. If we all write a letter it might help? here's mine: Dear Big Vic, I , as a lifelong Saints fan... ...wish you all the best in your endeavours and hope you are feeling better after your stomach upset this week. It's a shame you missed the game on Thursday, but I don't think even your 'giant-pirouetting-on-skateboard-whilst-shielding-a-baby-otter' routine would have elevated the 'pile of poo' performance from the whole team enough to scrap a result. Frankly it's a shame the whole team didn't have a stomach bug, perhaps the under 21'a might have shown more guile and gumption. But I digress... ...good luck playing football this season, I hope it is in the stripes (yay stripes!) of Southampton. Since you have joined, Kenya is my favourite of the African countries. We love you and sing songs for you lots, so please stay; it's about respect. A Saints Fan (since that thing we won n that that time ago).

The regulations clearly state that any attempt at 'Irony' or 'Sarcasm'* should accompanied by a or a , possibly even a . *I would suspect that 'Sarcasm' is the (ever-so-slightly more) correct description of Darth Fry's effort here.

Second Oldest Club in Football? Cambridge University AFC. Think Whelk's 'stereotype' is more to do with Fry's sexuality, and well done to Whelk for being open about it and having his perceptions changed! Gosh, Gays like football too! Who'da'fortit?! Girls will be playing it next, or something. Edit... ...not now CUFC, my bad!