The Kraken

Neither does judging him on one poor away game, as you seem to have done.

If you're suggesting that Arsenal aren't good at developing players, then I'm just going to have to disagree. Whether they've brought players through from their youth system or brought them in at a fairly young age, they have proven over many years how good they are at developing players into top international players. Ashley Cole, Cesc Fabregas, Gael Clichy up to the likes of Wilshere, Gibbs and Ramsay now. Even young players like Diaby, Sagna and Song have been brought in, developed and improved. Even Thierry Henry credits Wenger with massively changing and improving the way he played the game. So yes, I really do believe Arsenal are very good developing young players, whether it be from a very young age in their academy, through to young professionals with more to learn who have then gone on to perform well at Champions League level.

That's all very well, but it's only your opinion. Take a look at what Chamberlain actually said in the two press articles he did earlier in the summer. He accepts that he won't be first team regular. He even stated that moving to Arsenal would almost be like starting again. But he said he wants to go there to work with a manager like Wenger and be around the top class players Arsenal have in their ranks, and work hard in practise, then take his chance when (finally) given it and show what he can do. So he already knows he won't be first choice for some time if he does move. Yes, I'm sure there are financial considerations for moving. But he's still very young in terms of his footballing education; why shouldn't he choose to go to one of the best places for the development of young players we've seen in a long time?

I'm aware of that; but with only 5 subs on the bench (one a goalkeeper) there's not the possibility to have all options. De Ridder is primarily a winger but can also play up front, hence why he came on there against Leeds. Guly has played a number of games at right wing but it's largely accepted its not really his natural position. I fully expect to see De Ridder given the opportunity at right wing, particularly if Chambo does go.

So you're writing off Steve de Ridder already?!

I'm pretty sure Vince isn't saying it never worked when we went long. In fact, Ricky seems to be back to his first-season level of sharpness, whereby he's almost unplayable in the air for the defenders, so when Davis got his kicking right it was a very productive method of attack. But Vince is right; particularly in the first half Davis' kicking out was fantastically wayward, on a few occasions it was at least 15 or 20 yards away from where he was aiming. connolly in particular was quite animated in his reaction to the poor distribution. It did get better as the game went on though, but Kelvin's first half kicking was poor.

If only you'd feel the same....

Their fans were superb. Even when getting a tonking on the pitch they didn't shut up, and the "we all love Leeds" chorus outsung the Northam end for quite some time. Fair play to Leeds, their team were totally outplayed but they've got proper, noisy fans.

I'm still not sure. My first view of it (albeit from the other end of the pitch) was that it was definitely a penalty. Watching it on tv it's clear that it strikes Martin's chest first. I just think the ball then goes on to rebound off his arm; unintentionally I'm sure, but his arm is raised right up so, if it did indeed hit the arm, it gave the linesman/referee no option but to award the pen.

One of the sets of turnstiles was completely closed; the queues were ridiculous to get in there, glad I wasn't in there. I was in the chapel for the game, and the half time queue for beer was equally disgraceful. Why, when there is only one bar supposed to serve up to 4000 customers, are there only 2 tills, and 2 staff members taking orders? Dreadful service, unless you go down and miss 5 minutes of the first half you don't stand any chance of getting a drink any time quickly. Simple solution, install as many tills as possible and put more staff on.

Don't see why, to be honest. He needs to prove himself at this level before Prem teams will come calling IMO; at least with the type of cash offer that we'd take to let him go. And I just can't see him leaving us for another Championship team unless we're struggling in the division, which I don't think we will. Transfer window slams shut at the end of the month too. If we're challenging at or around the playoffs I do believe he'll give us at least one season, maybe more.

Watching it again, the thing that strikes me is just how hard the players work for each other. They're obviously very fit, but the desire to close down and pressure Leeds when they had the ball was very good to see. To be a success in this league, the first thing we have to do is make ourselves very difficult to play against, and we're definitely on the way with that.

This was my fear about the new bookies. I first heard it was going to be BetFred, which would have been decent enough. Finding out it was some nomark outfit based in pompey set alarm bells ringing; you can't bet online with them, only in the shop or over the phone. The queues to pick up cash are predictable and will likely put me and many others from betting with them, particularly if the odds are as bad you suggest. Much easier to just bet online or pop into a bookies in town.

A strange statement, given that to move on to "bigger and better things" Poyet will surely have to prove himself a success at Brighton? I think we'll finish above BHA, but I think both teams will be inside the top ten.

Not in the squad. Happy to help.

Dry your eyes, you blouse. Getting all upset about a few kids singing songs, what's the matter with you?! Christ almighty, wah wah wah, you ruinied my day.

Turkish, you really are edgy and hilarious, as ever.

Opinions Roger, it's all about opinions.

OK, seems like no-one has done it yet. Here's some player ratings from my visit to St. Mary's: Davies: 6. One excellent one on one save that kept us in the lead, but his distribution (mostly in the first half) was really poor. Got better second half though. Richardson: 6. Solid enough, didn't offer too much going forwards but looked fairly solid at the back. I'm still not convinced about him as a player, but didn't do much wrong today. Harding: 7. Had one poor moment early on where, from a Leeds free kick, he was caught the wrong side of his man which led to a decent shot on goal. But linked well with Lallana and looked pretty comfortable otherwise. Fonte: 8. Pure quality, still a cut above even at this level, great player. Martin: 6. In the air, fantastically dominant, Leeds didn't get a look in and didn't look like wanting to either. On the ground, looks vulverable at times, and I'm not sure if he's the permanent answer for a partner for Fonte. I was in the Chapel, so a fair distance away, but it looked like a pen to me. Lallana: 9. Brilliant. Just brilliant. Can't wait to see how good he is going to be this year, he really is such a talent. Hammond: 8. Great goal, and a really dominant performance. I'm not his biggest fan but he showed today that he's more than capable of leading of good side at this level. Cork: 7. Did the simple things very, very well. Didn't really stand out in a huge way, but that was testimony to how he went about his job in such a very tidy and efficient way. Guly: 6. Flashes of what he can do, but I still very much believe right-wing is not his position. Won't see the best of him unless he's played in "the hole", which seems his natural position. Just a shame we won't do that very often. Lambert: 8. No goal scoring opportunities but his link up play was superb. Not only wins almost every header, but knows where his lay-offs are going too. A great option to have up front. Connolly: 7. I thought he was quiet all game, then started and finished the best goal of the game, and what a calm and composed finish. Worked well. Subs: Chaplow: 7.5. Bags of energy and did exactly the job that was required of him. De Ridder: 6. Flashes of what he can do but some things didn't quite come off. Schneiderlin: 6. Did what he needed to in the short time he was on the pitch.

Is it f*ck :lol: I love living down here, but Liverpool has got far, far more going for it than Southampton. You don't win a European capital of culture award when your city is an ugly sh*thole.

What are you on about, you loon?

I'm not a huge fan of Seaborne; defensively I think he's ok (but not great), but when he's got the ball he's just so prone to the big hoof. I thought for a while it was being coached out of him, but the last few performances I've seen from him its been back to the old ways. Also, at this level of football, I truly believe you need one real mountain of a centre half; in the mould of Jaidi. We already have Fonte who, while not small, is more the "player" of the pair. Jaidi, despite his criticisms, rarely loses anything in the air and is a real intimidating presence for strikers to be up against. Seaborne doesn't have that same sort of aura about him. Gorkss, for me, is the player we need at this level. Seaborne is IMO more a replacement for Fonte when he's unavailable than Jaidi.

:lol: Did you read the post above your's, or just ignore it?!

This is getting a bit much, isn't it? Lard thinks that way, he shouldn't have to necessarily justify it in massive depth. I think Saints will finish around 10th this season; playoffs maybe if we sign a defender and a centre forward. Do I have to justify why I think that? Do I have to give a list of all of our fixtures, and how we'll perform in each one? Do I have to make predictions for how the rest of the league will do, in order to justify how I came to my conclusion of where we'll finish? Lard is entitled to his opinions. You (and I) are entitled to disagree with them. And sometimes there are no clear facts to underpin an opinion; its called gut instinct.