SNSUN

I was reading the 'Football Manager ruined my life' book yesterday and Alan Dzagoev popped up in it. I know he has attitude problems apparently but is still class and can score goals. Then I see today he's linked with Newcastle. Coincidence. Anyway could be worth a punt for us. Koeman seems to like decent players whose career has taken a wrong turn.

Is Trippier actually getting much game time at Spurs? He could be an option. Definitely need a couple of faces in.

What the **** was that? There I was saying I'd take a draw against possibly the best team in the country on paper and we ****, utterly **** them 4-0. Win against West Ham (as we've now proved we're capable of) and the season will start looking pretty decent again. Kicking myself for taking ever present Fonte out my dream team too for this game. Very unexpected result all round. I've got a lot of Arsenal mates that will be hearing about this for a while. Martina WTF?

We're gonna get a new arsehole torn tonight. Even a point could swing our form around but I just can't see it. Martina vs Walcott. Woof.

Merry Christmas all from Reepham in Norfolk. Hope you're all suitably full of food and drink and not arguing with Uncle Joe over who deserves the last Bounty from a tin of Celebrations! Here's to a completely shock 3 points tomorrow!

Mortgage on Arsenal win. r.p...

Tsk. I won't listen to these unsubstantiated womb-ours. Oh, and Come On You UteRuS! And other shyte puns...

It's almost like the Skates planted him fully aware of his failings...

Finger on the pulse of today's news there OTH! Gary is in charge there now. As for future managers, I loved it when we got Koeman as he's a name in the game, but I'd also be happy with an up and coming manager. Rowett at Brum or someone like that.

http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/norwich_city_u21s_7_southampton_u21s_2_1_4331473 Seager scored twice. Really pushing for a firsts team spot.

In terms of memories they gave me, since I've supported Saints in the late 80's, it's: Pardew, Adkins, Strachan, Koeman, Ball, Pochettino, Jones. For some reason I have strong memories of the Souness season too, but he misses the list.

I'd say the guy before Bennett (I forget the predecessor's name) at least enunciated his words properly. I could understand him, Bennett talked quickly and was largely un-understandable. Get the True Geordie to switch allegiance and give him the job, would be a larf.

So I've been playing an old edition of Football Manager and signed McDonald Mariga. According to the gospel that is Wikipedia, he's a free agent at 28 since leaving Parma. Is he any good in the real world? His playing history seems decent.

Stoke - decent team, started slowly but they'll hit decent form at some point. Will be a tough game but we're unbeaten in 8 ( and the Man Utd game we could've won before that) for a reason. Will either be a well fought draw or a piece of magic will win it for us. Mané to shine is my bet. 2-1 Saints.

I always thought loaning out Dyer was a strange decision. He did OK for them in the last couple of seasons. Plus Gomis is out of form, Montero started brightly but has faded, and now we see how good a manager Monk is as to whether he can change their fortunes. (Similarly Mourinho at Chelsea, if he's any kind of manager he'll turn their fortunes around.)

10-13 points there I reckon. Be happy with 10, ecstatic with 13. Any less and it's been an iffy run, and more and we're in dreamland. I would've said we'd have got 10-12 points from the last 6, but 14 is amazing.

I meant Matt Targett is another youth player who's made the step up and broken through, in response to the OP second paragraph. Should've made that clearer. :-)

...and Matt Targett.

There are a few for sale on eBay. Obviously the charity won't be getting the money (I'd assume) but any honest people could always slip some dosh into the poppy pot when they see one anyway. http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xsouthampton+poppy.TRS0&_nkw=southampton+poppy&_sacat=0

For "competition for Sadio Mané" read "Sadio Mané's replacement". :-) I wonder if we're still interested in Odegaard too. I know he's been linked with Championship clubs recently.

I wanted five to go above Spurs but right now I'll take any win! Surely we can regain some composure and see this out. Surely? Need to see more from Mané IMO.

It's Leicester all over again if we're not careful, 2-0 up at half time and they bring on two pacey players. Hope not another 2-2 here.

There's definitely a gap opening up in the Prem and we're on the cusp of it. Hopefully we can be professional tomorrow and get the win and keep pace with the top lot. Win tomorrow and weirdly we're still only 5 points behind rampant Leicester. Understandably Bournemouth players will be well up for this, and will probably give an extra 10% but simply we are the better team. As long as we don't suffer 11 brain farts we should have enough to win comfortably, but as ever I'd take a scrappy 1-0 win. Stupid work, wish I could be there but Sky will have to suffice.

Liverpool at home. Bugger, they'll have picked up by then. Still the home tie will help. Can't help but feel the cup is Citys if they want it. Decent draw for Stoke too.

That's a decent team. I actually thought Clasie would start for game time but it should be enough to beat Villa. Defensively strong with a Wanyama and Romeu shield. Villa's team is weak but their bench is strong, so a few early goals for us could be key here before they can make changes. I'd like to see Juanmi show us why we bought him, and while I'm not pro-Ramirez per se, I do think he has qualities that can win games and hope we see his best. A decent Ramirez in the squad permanently would be a big bonus for Saints, even if he's not first choice. Seager on the bench too, could come on and make a name for himself. I'm going to stick my neck out and say JWP will be our most influential player tonight... :-)