SNSUN

To repeat what I said at the start of the season, we have one of the best first choice back 5's in the league, and with Romeu in front we'll always be tough to break down. It is for that reason we can nick results like today. I still feel we'll lacking up front, but if we can get a goal, we're able to defend it comfortably. This season was all about being a work in progress, especially competing for trophies on 4 fronts. I'd like to see us active in the January window but a decent result today. As for Sims, well done. Looked like he'd been playing for years and was positive going forward, and well played to Puel for having the guts to play him. That's Hesketh, McQueen, Olumola and Sims that have been played in the senior team so far this season, on top of more experienced youngsters like Targett, Stephens, Reed, JWP and Isgrove, and even Lewis has been on the bench. A big middle finger to Koeman. MOTM for me today was Cedric but I can see why Sky gave it to Sims.

He still has over a year and a half left. It's usually 18 months before when we start looking to tie players down, is it not? I'd hope the club look to tie him down by February.

So they've ended their interest in Riquelme... ...for this hair... That's Trumpesque.

The question for us is: do we get extra money if Lallana achieves something at Liverpool? I remember reading the Mane fee goes up based on achievements, so I'd assume the Clyne/Lallana deals were weighted similarly? I'd hate to see Liverpool actually win something (as the country would never hear the end of it) but if it lines SFC's pockets with more cash, that can't all be a bad thing.

As the season goes on, it's clear there will be 3 sections to the league. Annoyingly the 'top 6', as the media like to call it, are all firing, and that is their own mini league unless by some miracle someone goes on a run of wins from below. Then we're in the race for 7th, about the best we can hope for, with the likes of Everton, probably Leicester and others, then the turd at the bottom, Swansea, Stoke and perhaps one or two others. Despite our proximity to the relegation zone, I'm still not worried. Thankfully I was working through today's game so could separate myself from it, but it sounds just like an off day. Sort out the goalscoring problem and we power up the league. Unfortunately we have to make do with what we have until at least January, so let's hope Puel can get it sorted with the players we have. Hopefully the international break gives some players a chance to get fitter and recover from injury.

Goes down in History that result... Good stuff.

I pray we haven't given ourselves too much to do now. If we'd gone 1 up, I reckon we'd have kept it. Inter come across as quite defensive. This could be a frustrating evening. There's always hope with Boufal and Austin on the bench, but I can't see many goals in the starting line up. Fingers crossed I'm wrong - ultimately we need to keep peppering their goal with attempts in the hope at least one goes in. A Saints goal before half time would lift the stadium...

It doesn't come as a surprise that people are interested in us, if anything I'm surprised it's taken this long. However as long as Kat Liebherr is happy to be here, I'm happy as we are. I'm not sure how I'd feel if someone came in and started throwing money at the team to make us the new Man City...

Left back is the position we're probably strongest in I believe A fit Bertrand is one of the best left backs in the league, and he's only just turned 27. If there's a position we currently don't need anyone in IMO it's left back. I agree that right back can be improved upon, but I reckon Cedric will get better - he showed flashes of improvement before he got injured. Aside from a striker (which I personally think we need as the 3 senior strikers we have can't 100% be relied on to be fit (Austin/JRod) nor score many (Long/Redmond)) the 2 other positions I'd be looking at to strengthen would be defensive midfield (we'd miss Romeu if he got injured) and long term a Fonte replacement.)

It's clear we all think we need a striker as that's pretty much what everyone has mentioned. Berahino would have been decent on a cheapie as he's out of contract at the end of the season, and had natural goalscoring talent, but he's recently been found to be overweight, which shows a lack of professionalism and desire to play for WBA, and has done very little in 2 years anyway due to the beef he had with them. Perhaps worth a stab for an Austin-fee but no more. Ings is a good shout if he's now fully fit. Personally I think we'll go for Haller, it seems we were linked with him at the tail end of the window and he's continued his goalscoring form this season. As for Defoe, he has a contract until he's 37 at Sunderland. If ,and probably when, they get relegated this season, that'll cost them a fortune. Maybe they'd be looking to sell on the cheap but I think he's not a Saints type signing. Whoever we bring in they just need to put the ball in the net! We have depth elsewhere.

That squad could probably win the Champions League - and I'd have Pochettino as the manager, however I wouldn't want to be the one picking the first XI!!! As per the OP question... I ask myself, where are we weakest? Attack IMO. "Past 3 or 4 years" in the opening post rules out the likes of Bale, Walcott, Ox-C etc. So basically, who is the best striker we've had in that time? Pellé and Rickie. Seeing as Rickie's best days are behind him, that leaves Pellé... ...So obviously, my answer is Mané. :-) Him and Boufal would tear up this league! Mane is one of the better players we've had in the last few years.

Weirdly in my mind, this is one of those games where a loss wouldn't be devastating. Chelsea are improving and have quality players, but as we've shown recently (not least last Sunday) we're well capable of giving anyone a game. With our strongest available team,, I think we could get a point from this game, which would be a very good result. A win would be massive. I'll predict an entertaining 1-1. The line up 100%Saint said above is probably correct, although with Martina in for Cedric.

I remember David Hughes scoring an overhead kick in the 90's. Was that his first? Was a pretty decent goal from memory. Also Vignal scored his first with a free kick apparently, but I don't remember it. Dark days of the lower leagues....

According to this, Targett, Bertrand and Cedric should be back on Sunday. Don't know how accurate it is... http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php#c4 Be nice to get some full backs back, however admirably Cuco and Sam have filled in.

That goal was proper nawty. More of the same please!(I'm off to work so miss the rest of the game. Grr)

Seb Haller has 6 goals and 3 assists in 11 games this season. I still think we'll go back for him in January. I briefly thought we'd do something similar to Austin and sign Berahino on the cheap in January as his contract is expiring, but then I see he's overweight, showing he doesn't really give a toss. Best steer clear of that one. Shame as I thought he could be the next Defoe. WBA should've really taken the money when they were offered it. I wish JRod could get fully fit and back to his old self but I can't see it. We can't rely on Austin and a misfiring Long forever. I'd love to see an Olumola goal this half...

Back 5 looks ok, Stephens resorting to the position he played when we signed him. Midfield is decent. We need JRod at the top of his game, and Isgrove to show why Barnsley fans love him. Strong bench though, which is good if we need them. Sunderland's team is stronger than I thought it would be. Strong back 5. Still winnable.

Sunderland fans seem to think our under -12s could beat them at the moment, so I'm comfortable with us playing a few youngsters for this game. I'd be happy seeing Stephens play right back, the position he played when we signed him, but what about Valery? Didn't he have a few promising games early season? Also Boufal should definitely start this game. Give him some confidence.

I'm still inclined to say I'd take a draw... ...was what I was going to post. ********. Iheanacho again. 1-1. Still could go either way.

You're cutting it close for flying to Italy! ;-) I am pleased to say work is done for the weekend for me and I'm off to the pub. If no-one is showing the game in Windsor I'm going to break windows and bust heads. (Fortunately I'm friends with a nice landlord...)

Me also, but thankfully only until 3, when the good customers of Boston Manor won't see me for dust as I'll be hot footing it to the pub. Wish I were there. Good link though.

Strongest line up is: Forster, Martina, Fonte, VVD, McQueen, Romeu, Davis, Hojbjerg, Tadic, Long, Austin. Bench would be: McCarthy, Yoshida, Stephens, Clasie, JWP, Boufal, JRod. Not that we'll perhaps be playing our strongest team but they'll all be itching to play at the San Siro. For me it's Stephens on the bench in lieu of Olomola and Reed as we need the extra defensive cover. Hopefully no knocks in the next 32 hours. (Have put Boufal on the bench as don't know his fitness yet.) Big night for McQueen if he gets the nod over Yoshida for left back. Anyone know what sort of cop the team Inter are putting out? I take it it's not their strongest...

Gutted not to be going but shift work is my burden once again. That said, I finish at 3pm tomorrow, and after racing home and getting changed, I'm straight down the pub to watch the game, as I'm off over the weekend and can get thoroughly plastered win or lose. (But hopefully win.) Those going have a great time, be good, and do us proud. (And let's hope the team do too.) Jealous.

A colleague at work that supports Wigan said he saw the Saints/Burnley game on Sunday and was amazed how good we are. He remarked how our club gets it right in the transfer window every summer after big sales. I remarked that Redmond aside, those were players at the club already from last season. Great coaching I think. Looking forward to seeing Boufal in action too.

I'd take anyone beating Liverpool, even Spurs, and it makes me sick to say that! A game between Liverpool and Portsmouth would be a tricky one though...