The Kraken

I'm a fan of Sturridge. He showed when on loan at Bolton that he can score (10 goals in 10 games I think it was); but as you say he has barely played properly upfront and there just seems to be a little bit missing still. Welbeck, I'm not a huge fan of but he also has the same thing that he doesn't always play up front. Defoe is one of those that is decent at club level but not good enough on the international stage. The days of having Shearer, Sheringham, Fowler, Owen, Cole, Ferdinand etc to call upon are fast becoming a distant memory.

I'd take the liquidation route. Knowing you're doing nothing but making up the numbers for all time is utterly pointless for me. Wimbledon lost their club, formed a new one and got back to the football league within ten years. All from a club who often got gates in the tope league lower than 10,000. No reason that Saints couldn't do exactly the same and onward to the top division within 10-15 years; much less than a lifetime and a cup pt remember.

Exactly this. After the brilliant roller coaster ride we had to League 1 and back (which I wouldn't swap for anything) I'm stunned there are still people who'd be happy to see us plod along in the lower reaches of the PL for all time and never win a thing.

3 penalties this season out of 14 league goals.

When he came on against Reading he was awesome. Scored 1 and generally played exceptionally well. Aside from that he has done little and been rather disappointing. I'm worried that he's something of a flat-track bully; either that or he really needs to be given a go in the Ramirez role, which could be much more his position in the PL.

MLG's original link is bogus; it only lists 19 players in our squad. But if you hit the other links it has other players who aren't in that list (Butterfield, Chaplow etc) who are still listed as "SQUAD". Forte seems to have gone from it, though, which suggest we don't have a full 25. I listed the original September 25 as that's the only official list I could find; and presumably wouldn't change an almighty amount in January except for arrivals and departures. I think its a moot point anyway; first of all that MP wouldn't just throw him in for the final game (he's clearly not featuring today) but also because of Sharpe's comments at teh start of the season about not coming back etc. It would be handy if there was an up to date full list of the 25 players, but I feel it makes little difference, even if Sharp was available I'd be stunned to see him back and on the bench.

I think the point is, MLG: if there are spaces in the squad (as there seem to be) can Sharpe be added. Precedent with de Ridder going out on loan them coming back in might say yes (but then de Ridder was originally registered with us, so its muddy). Sharpe has never been registered this season, but if we have less than 25 in the squad, what's to stop him coming in?

No need to get so angry and uppity, fella. If you find the rules then post them up. And yes, I know it gets re-submitted at the end of January. Which is why Forren was allowed to sign, as I pointed out.

De Ridder has been in the 25 man squad all season. Our original 23, submitted on 1st September was: Butterfield (hg), Chaplow (hg), Cork (hg), K Davis (hg), S Davis (hg), De Ridder, Dickson (hg), Guly, Fonte, Forte (hg), Fox (hg), Hooiveld, Lallana (hg), Lambert (hg), Lee, Mayuka, Puncheon (hg), Ramírez, Richardson (hg), Rodriguez (hg), Schneiderlin (hg), Seaborne (hg), Yoshida. We then added Boruc as a free agent, and Forren was added in January. That's 25. And the only players you can add outside the window are free agents; Sharp is already registered with us (albeit out on loan) so we couldn't just re-instate him, even if we had a free space.

After a MOTM performance in the Cup Final, I very much doubt he'll have to drop down a division if he's intent on staying in the PL. He's already been attracting rave reviews so every English club will have been more than aware of him before yesterday. And Wigan will be in need of recouping a bit of money if they go down. Even if they miraculously stay up they'll have a job keeping hold of him.

Spot on punditry yet again Lawro's got nothing on me.

I'd rather have both. Can I have both?

I think we've got a central defence good enough for a Premier League survival team. Its certainly playing a lot better than at the start of the season. I don't see it as a top ten central defence, or to qualify that, good enough for a European spot chasing team. Hooiveld is prone to mistakes, Yoshida can be a bit hit and miss. Granted they've had some good games of late but on a consistency level it doesn't do it for me, its an area I'd definitely like to see improved. If Forren does that, great. If not I'd want to see someone else; a real leader at the back.

Which IMO would be fair enough if he were a youngster just breaking through. He isn't. He's 25. He plays for his country, who aren't exactly a backwater in international football. I'm intrigued as to what's going to happen over the summer for him to suddenly become our indispensible first choice stopper. It's one thing in recent weeks that he couldn't get in the side; its another entirely that sometimes he can't get on the bench, and when he did it was Fonte who came on instad of him.

Should that unlikely result happen, Dalek should apologise for being wrong just as many times as he's said he'll be proven right. So about 1,500 times, or so.

I too found it strange; I looked it up and he's played 28 league games this season. But he's on the bench today, and was against Swansea. Certainly one to look for; last season he was immense, though I admit I've not noticed him this term.

He'll be well in demand. Only 22, still quite raw but definitely a prospect. Reckon someone like Liverpool or Everton might take a chance on him (especially if Martinez goes to Everton).

Al Habsi is worth a shout too. Also their left back looks alright.

Fair enough. I don't mind adidas; they're a bit samey from club to club but otherwise "OK". Might do some decent training gear too.

Fair enough. I just feel the longer he goes without getting a game the worrying a sign it is. He's not a youth player coming through, he's a 25 year old full international. I've only seen in him in the U21 game at St. Mary's, and I guess 99% of the fanbase have about as much to go on as I do as to his quality; but he didn't show too much then to suggest that he's got a lot more than our current CB options, apart from maybe some decent distribution. And defensively he looked suspect, which was worrying. Still, maybe a pre-season could do wonders. My concern is that he's "only" 6 foot 1; i think we need to be replacing Hooiveld with a similar sized player (but better, clearly).

^^ Is that not a bit of an enormous gamble playing Forren? 4-5 months after signing and he's no higher than our 4th choice centre back

Are we deinitely getting Adidas? Or is it still just a rumour?

National anthem was utter sh*te too. Just let the band play it and the crowd sing it FFS.

Think you've got yourself a bit confused on this one, fella. A bit of research shows the FA Cup final was typically held after the league season, right up until 2010 when it changed.

When did it stop being the last game of the season? I always had it in my mind from growing up that it was the finale to the season. And that only recently it stopped being so.