the saint in winchester

Gunn Stephens Bednarek Vestergaard Targett Lemina Romeu Barnes Armstrong Gabbiadini O'Bafemi

I agree with everything you say, especially about Bournemouth's capabilities. The thing is, Eddie Howe is revered in the Club, everyone listens to him and the directors have given him a long time to get them where they are now. We are NOT in that position. A manager has less than a season to maximise our capabilities, as we can't risk relegation. The players know that and don't emotionally invest in the 'manager de jour'. I never thought I would be jealous of Bournemouth, but the truth is that I am.

You do realise Fulham are the home team? They won't be parking the bus and hoping for a draw or a late break against us. They will be going balls-out. We may be the team hoping to defend like crazy. This could be 0-0 but equally with both teams needing the win, this could have goals.

Proof that there's a lid for every pan. One man's meat is another man's poison.

Maybe we should buy Butland, then sell them Forster. Then sell Butland on. Convoluted I know, but we need to get the chain moving.

From BBC report on Scotland game ... sounds like we need to get the best out of Armstrong .... and can we get a bid in for James Forrest??!! Celtic's Forrest has the Midas touch right now. Everything he touches turns to goals. Twelve in his past 11 games for club and country is an astonishing statistic for a winger. His composure for all three goals spoke volumes of his burgeoning self-confidence.It was Stuart Armstrong, though, who dragged Scotland up by their bootlaces as the good feeling built up in Saturday's 4-0 win over Albania threatened to drain away with the Hampden rain. Following a first quarter dominated by the Israelis, the Southampton midfielder drove the hosts forward. His first foray almost brought a goal for Callum McGregor - a good hand from Ariel Harush denying him. But shortly afterwards Armstrong burst into the box again. His shot was charged down but fell kindly for Forrest, who lashed it low beyond the keeper to begin the turnaround.

Jacqui Oatley is both very good at her job and very nice to look at. But put me down for Lynsey Hipgrave on BT Sport. She's a total babe.

That's right. You tell yourself 'you win some, you lose some'. But it's galling at the time, and that game may decide a man's job, a team's finish etc.

This. There was a flick off the defender's boot. Yoshi flexed his body away from the ball so as not to take any pace off the ball. Disappointing the linesman couldn't differentiate between the defender's boot and Yoshi's chest. But then, as we all agree, Bertrand got nothing of the ball with that scissor tackle.

It sure does! Faulty form, fan friction, defensive dilemmas, suspect recruitment, curious selections ... and that was his time at Stoke. For Stoke, read Saints. He has until the end of next month to deliver, IMHO. A new DoF may not even give him that.

Is that David Moyes? Or is Chris Moyles about to leave the radio and be a footie manager?

He's also said he couldn't work again in this country after leaving Arsenal. So it won't be us he goes to.

Probably yes. But if Yoshida makes the team, then we have an indication that Reed was blackballing him.

This is like The Apprentice now, isn't it? We know one is going, then there's that pregnant pause when the door closes to see if he fires anyone else ... or will it be "Go back to the house, you two". Watch this space.

Yes agree with the principle of what you are saying. That the major decisions taken on the footballing side have been poor decisions. It is likely the new VC/DoF (whatever title given) will have to relieve Hughes of his job, so yet another multi-million pound compensation payout.

Wise words, Cloggy. To be fair, we also want Reed and Kreuger out but that's harder to make happen.

His performance 'up there' on Saturday was evidence that he could. So yes, let's give Vestergaard a go up front. Us older writers will remember when we used to send Michael Svensson up front for the last 10 minutes of games and 'go long'. Let's send a biggun up there again and see what ensues.

I would be happy with Lee Johnson, yes. I would rather we went for an up and coming manager in the Championship who wants to prove himself in the Premiership, than a journeyman firefighter who has dome it before and is barely motivated.

That IS our usual modus operandi, yes. When all hope is gone and too late for anyone to effect change, we sack the incumbent and expect the incoming to perform a miracle.

I presume this is a misprint, as Mata doesn't play for us. 14:33LEMINA: WE'RE FULLY BEHIND MATA Mario Lemina insists the entire Southampton squad is fully behind under-fire manager Mark Hughes. The Saints boss has come under intense scrutiny after overseeing an eight-game winless run that has left the club just a point clear of the relegation zone. "We are all behind him," the midfielder told Sky Sports. "All of the players trust in him and believe in him. "This kind of game cannot affect us because we are strong as a team. Now we have to win games to change the opinion of the fans, everyone. "We have to come back because we don't deserve to be in this place in the table because we had some good games. "We just need to score some goals to be in the other part of the table. We just need to be a little bit lucky, at the moment we are not." Don't think is anything to do with luck, Mario. And "we're all behind him" - guess that means hiding behind him.

Mixed feelings really. Something DOES need to change if we are to improve our status this season. But, like many of you, I don't believe changing the manager is in itself the be all and end all. Come the end of the season we need to restructure. And if Allardyce is the incoming manager, then I'd rather we held fire.

Hojbjerg, yeah. Would have considered Yoshida, but he can't get a game.

I presume he was back in the UK for a weekend and was just taking in a game. I can't believe for one minute he is considering coming back to manage us.

That's an unusual middle name. No wonder he favours Roger.

Gallagher is not on loan, he's still with us, but injured now. Agree we should try some of the U23 players. We may find some winners in there.