Cabrone

He's a bit raw around the edges but to be fair he is 21 and has just come from the Scottish league. At the moment he's doing the defensive work just fine making us hard to beat but as he becomes more comfortable with the team and how it plays I think we'll start to see him making more forward runs like he did at Celtic. You have to be patient with him though, he didn't set the transfer fee - SFC and Celtic did and I trust that the club knows enough to think he'll go on to become a hell of a player for us. I certainly do.

Not enough width and too predictable. That said if we had put away some of our chances we'd all be saying job done. We can all moan at Wham's negative approach but Saints need to quickly figure out how to get round teams set up like this because they are going to face a lot more like this at SMS.

Tough game. Wham are going to be well drilled and obstinate, looking to score on set pieces or the break. We are favourites but can quite easily see Wham getting a draw or even a smash and grab win. Hopefully 2-0 to us - Ricky and Ossie getting on the score sheet.

Bale for Forecast Has there ever been as big a gap between the quality of the players in a deal? Shearer for Speedie had nothing on this one. Nice one Rupes.

If you watched him play last night then the answer is absolutely yes. Osvaldo should be the spear head and Ricky the foil. Two quality players that will click and when they do it will be good to watch. Patience needed though. Talk of Osvaldo on the left or right is nonsense. The guy is a centre forward and a damn good one at that. Play him where he will do damage. Get Cork back into the team too, he allows the full backs to bomb forward and provide width. He also allows Wanyama and Schneiderlin to squeeze hard knowing they have cover. Diamond for me. ---------Boruc Clyne Lovren Fonte Shaw ---------Cork -Wanyama Schneiderlin ----Lallana\Ramirez ----Lambert Osvaldo

Well played Ricky and watching his set up play for Welbeck shows me that he could play in the hole for us and be very successful with Ossie. Welbeck is a funny player for me, scores next to no goals during the season yet when he does he looks an excellant finisher. He really should be getting a lot more goals because he has the talent. Welbeck and Ricky looks like it could be a very fruitful England partnership if they both stay injury free. More importantly Ossie and Ricky should be an even better partnership for us.

Ali Dia was a bit of a laugh. OK so he couldn't play for toffee but come on, if anyone on here was offered a chance to have a go in the first team you'd jump at it too. Got to admire the guy's nerve. Also don't mind Fox, the man's a regular whipping boy on here but I think he's a perfectly adequate back up (emphasis on the words 'back up').

---------Boruc Clyne Lovren Fonte Shaw ----------Cork -Wanyama Schneiderlin -----Lallana\Gaston ------Rickie Ossie

I think we've had a very good transfer window. The absolute top priority was to get a good centre forward to take some of the weight off Ricky's shoulders and IMO we exceeded the brief with Osvaldo. Defence needed strengthening and all signs are that Lovren and Wanyama are going to be excellant acquisitions, both young and hungry and huge levels of potential. We kept all our top youngsters especially Shaw which is like a top signing in itself. When was the last time we managed to successfully hold onto our own talent? You have to go back to the days of MLT (and he was a complete maverick). The only downers are losing Puncheon, can't see the logic in that one and not cutting out enough players who realistically don't fit anymore but that's small potatoes compared to the pluses. I'd give it an A- or a B+.

The biggest problem yesterday wasn't Wanyama - it was that the full backs were not providing adequate width in the final 3rd and the whole team suffered. We need all 3 DMs playing, one infront of the back 4 to cover the attacking full back and the other two in the centre maintaining the defensive squeeze. For me Cork would be best infront of the back 4. He's far too good to be on the bench. We also need Shaw and Clyne back ASAP. Not knocking the two guys yesterday but Shaw and Clyne are unquestionably our best 2 full backs and provide a vital function to the team. Targetting a 21 y.o that has just arrived from the Scottish league after one anonymous performance amongst many is knee-jerk. The lad has all the attributes to be a damn good player but he needs time. He isn't the finished article and was never sold to us as such so he needs some patience from the fans.

Terrible display, as bad as our 3-0 loss to WBA although at least this result is not critical. Should have had a penalty, unbeleivable decision by the ref and I suspect the fact that he let Fonte off right at the end was him 'balancing the books' so to speak. We lacked any kind of intensity and were ponderous, predictable and devoid of ideas in the last 3rd of the pitch. Far too slow getting forward, far too little bite in midfield and far too little cutting edge up front, seriously dissappointing from a team with the players we have. I know we are better than this and I know we will improve. Just as well as today's performance would have seen us beaten by a decent league 1 team let alone prem opposition. The only outfield player that looked like he cared was Lallana. Boruc was OK (albeit the goal was a bit dodgy) and so was JWP but the rest were anonymous TBH. Norwich weren't much better either and I don't think a 0-0 would have been unkind to either team. A performance like this with the team we have is unnaceptable. It's not the losing, it's the manner of the defeat. I fully expect a drastically improved performance against West Ham in 2 weeks.

David Connolly's goal at Brighton in lge 1 : losing 1-0 with 6 mins to go and Huddersfield breathing down our necks Connolly scores having come on as sub only 10 minutes previously. Fonte followed up to get a vital last gasp 3 points. Hooiveld's goal at West Ham : big goal as it stopped them opening a gap on us and gaining real momentum. Lambert's goal at Leeds : the win was a big confidence boost after an almost total siege. This was the result where I started to believe in promotion. Lambert's goal at Villa : vital 3 points against a rival. Lambert's goal against Chelsea(h) : effectivley gained a 3 point advantage over our relegation rivals and a massive confidence boost.

Solid pro, was instrumental in bringing the winning mentality back into the club and played a big part in pushing us all the way back to the prem. Best of luck at Leicester, they've signed a very good pro there.

Puzzled why so many want to see Ossie play behind Ricky, Ossie is our best goalscorer and should be up front either alongside Ricky or with Ricky dropping back into the hole. He's a CF - play him there and he will do what he does best, score goals.

------------Boruc Clyne Lovren Fonte Shaw ------------Cork Wagamama Schneiderlin ----------Ramirez --------Ossie Ricky

I don't know what that journo as expecting but I for one never expected a walkover against an underestimated Sunderland side yet we still created enough chances to beat them comfortably. Our main goal threat is Ossie and he must play up front with Ricky just behind in support. Not on the left or the right but right at the top. These two need games to start to read each other and when they click they will be potent. JRod should be benched IMO, his biggest weakness is his lack of cutting edge. I suspect he's a bit too much of a nice guy, needs to look at how Ossie operates and get a bit more selfish. I'd use him as an impact player later on. Same with Adam. Gaston should be put infront of the midfield in the creative role and Cork put behind in the protector role to allow the full backs to bomb forward and let Morgan\Victor to squeeze the life out of the oppo midfield. Despite the article I saw a very good team in the making on Sat that just needs to gel together. We are going to get hiccups on the way but this team has the makings of being one of our best ever given a bit of time. Looking forward to this season but the prem is a tough league and we are going to have to fight for everything.

No, you don't get rid of your best players unless you get a silly offer. Personally I'd be playing Cork in the starting XI between the defence and Schneiderlin\Wagamama, he provides a fantastic defensive shield when he's in that position which allows the midfield to press + the full backs to get forward + improves the team shape IMO. An underrated player on here.

JRod's feet were onside but his upper body was ahead of the Sunderland defence because he was accelerating forward. Very tight and on another day it could have stood as it was so borderline but technically it was offside. Great pass from Ricky to create the chance in the first instance.

He's going to be top class when he gets into his straps, probably quite a few cards too - never a dull moment with Ossie. Wagamama is something else - I can't believe we got him for £12M, Celtic got mugged and the top 4 must have been asleep at the time. He's got to be right up there as most dominant midfielder in the prem, a real powerhouse. Have to say Morgan looks small in comparison and we all know how good Morgan is. Quite a player.

Frustrating result but a lot to be excited about, when the boys really start to gel over the next few games we should see some fireworks. Ossie is class if a little volatile (but we knew than anyway), Gaston looks like he means business and Wagamama is a monster. JWP + Adam also had a good games. Make Ossie the spearhead, put Ricky in the hole and let Gaston supply the bullets and we're going to do some damage.

Fans are allowed to get excited and a good job too, it's what gets them through the turnstiles. Football is one of the few areas in life where you can let go with your emotions, postpone reality, talk shyte and dream a little. We've had enough crap to put up with over the last 8 years, we've paid more than our dues into the misery account and now it's time to enjoy ourselves. If you can't smile when the sun is shining when can you?

It would be very tough to finish above either of these two, even if Arse don't sign anyone and even more so if Everton manage to keep their players. They are still two top teams who will be there or thereabouts next May. Was a bit concerned that Arse might have put a 12th hour bid in for Ossie TBH esp after Saturday's result. Glad they didn't. As far as SFC is concerned I think the Don will have let MP know that he expects at least a good crack at europe, even if we don't get it. I think that with his big ambition he's looking to overhaul these two teams.

Football is a market place and every player has his price. I'm sure if Man Utd stump up enough he would go but 10M is a long way off and besides, he seems to have his head screwed on and would know that a transfer to a top 4 club would probably mean a lot of time out of the team, just when he needs as much experience as possible. One day he'll go (assuming we aren't having a go at champs league ourselves and with Cortese who knows) but I still think we've got him for another year or two yet.

------Boruc Clyne-Yoshida-Lovren-Shaw -------Cork Schneiderlin-Wanyama ------Gaston ----Ricky-Ossie Onus on the full backs to provide the width with Cork supplying defensive cover. Sunderland are going to be tough opponents, thought they looked OK against Fulham and Altidore looks like he might be a handful. Going for 3-1 to us but wouldn't be surprised if Sunderland poop on the party.

Let's see how he does with Ossie in the team. I'm hoping he'll come more alive with a player that likes it played through the channels or ahead of him. Big season for Gaston and I think he'll come good, he's got some quality about him. Need to get off the guy's back and cut him some slack, if he doesn't do the business Poch will take action anyway. I have to say I haven't been this excited about a Saints team for many years. Still can't quite believe we've signed Osvaldo.