Sheaf Saint

I think it was against WBA, season before last.

Great stuff. No complaints about the penalty decision and perfectly hit by JWP. We've started well. Just have to keep it tight now.

They haven't said it's a tummy bug. They've said it's a stomach injury, which means (I assume) it's a muscular problem with his stomach. Of course it's possible he is still having problems with that after 4 weeks.

Last time he had a chance was earlier this season against Brighton in the cup, and he played very well that night. He has been injured since then.

You do realise it's possible he was carrying a minor injury and playing those games might have aggravated it, don't you? Yes, there is a possibility that he might have a move lined up, but it's perfectly feasible that the club is telling the truth about his injury as well.

And Ings, and Austin, and Bertrand, and Lemina - all unavailable today as well.

JWP and Stephens both have a lot of experience and can do a job when called upon as backup players. Valery shows a lot of promise, and can actually defend, but is nowhere near the finished article. Of the four that are starting, I would say Targett is the only one that really shouldn't be anywhere near our matchday squad. A defender who manages to let his man go past him every single time has no business getting starts in the PL. Hard to judge any of the subs really, given they have so little experience at this level between them.

Just goes to who how dreadful our recruitment has been over the last 4 years that we are STILL in a situation where Shane Long manages to get starts for us. He should have been upgraded and moved on a long time ago.

At the Asia Cup with Japan for the next few weeks (depending on how far they get).

One for the future no doubt, but is that really our priority right now? What we desperately need is players who will hit the ground running and immediately improve our first team. I'm really not convinced a 16 year-old from Motherwell fits that description, no matter how highly rated he is.

It's been lifted now... https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11703/11475256/sheffield-wednesday-transfer-embargo-lifted

If you consider what he said in his interview immediately after our win against Coventry which sealed our promotion, he clearly already knew he was going to be replaced as soon as the club found the right man to take us to the next level. He was hired and given a brief to get us promoted to the PL, which he did. But Nicola never considered him to be the right man to realise his ambition of European qualification. He might well have been a decent (ish) mid-table PL manager if he was given the chance, but we'll never know.

I think these things are negotiated on a case-by-case basis usually. I read yesterday that Man Utd are trying to demand some compensation from Real Madrid if they appoint Mourinho, even though they sacked him!

Can't please everyone. Of cousre a 3pm KO would have been better, but if it's going to be televised then I imagine most people would be happier to wake up early to get there than they would be trying to get back to Southampton from darkest Lancashire at 9.45pm.

Season 2 of ST Discovery starts on Netflix next week. Despite its obvious flaws, I enjoyed the first season so I'm looking forward to seeing what direction it goes in following the resolution of the initial story arc.

No, me neither. But when one or both of those two are inevitably injured/suspended, I would rather have Reed as backup in that position than be forced to play JWP in a role to which he is clearly unsuited.

Hosting on a decent, reliable server. I know the problems Steve and Baj had with the previous service and it was a case of either upgrade to a better service and start charging people, or shut it down and not bother with it any more. Personally, I'm glad they opted for the former. For all its faults, this place is a lifeline for a long-distance fan like me to keep in touch with other Saints fans, as I rarely get to matches any more.

So Shane Long is our only fit and available striker for Saturday now then is he? Might as well just give Leicester the 3 points now.

He was a bit more than that. Played quite a few games for us under Burley in our playoff season IIRC.

All comes down to his attitude and his motivation. Seems clear he has been told he has no future at Saints, and will be lucky to make the bench at best. If he wants to be playing regularly, and someone wants to take him on loan, then I expect it will be fairly easy to do a deal of some kind.

On the basis that he hasn't even given Wes a single minute of first team action to prove himself, I think this is the diplomatic way of saying "I don't like you... F*** off".

And on that note... https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/this-time-with-alan-partridge-steve-coogan-new-series-when-bbc/

Ings and Obafemi unavailable. Gallagher still returning to fitness. Gabbiadini gone to Sampdoria. Are we going to have to rely on Austin and/or Long up front again on Saturday? After how utterly useless they both were against Derby, I wouldn't be hopeful of us getting many (or any) goals if so. Defenders are going to have to earn their money with this game if we are to get any points from it.

"Ooooooh Gabbiadiiiiniiiiiii" Will forever remain one of my greatest memories as a Saints fan. Thanks for your contribution Manolo. I'm sorry it didn't quite work out for you as I'm sure you had more to offer. Good luck at Sampdoria. Ciao Signore.

So a very successful loan spell then, because that's the whole point in us arranging them for our academy products.