saint1977

As SuperSAINT has said, Surman definitely is but going further back Steve Moran definitely was/is. Didn't Matt Targett say recently when he signed his new deal that he was a fan? Franny Benali of course, who could forget the You Tube 'shoot the Pompey scum' clip.

Exactly plus Liverpool will come and have a go at us, plus they aren't as organised at the back as West Ham were. I'd have Toby at RB if he's fit and Clyne at LB as not a game to risk Targett. With Morgan hopefully back, it'll be a very different game to Wednesday night.

That's how I see it. D&R beating York gives them a 5 point gap but a couple of York wins and they are in all sorts of trouble. 1-0 v a side that are practically down at home isn't great but Awful would be very happy with it. Going down the wire, think they'll make it and finish fifth from bottom or so but would much rather be challenging for Europe in the top flight!

Great win in the end, would have been more comfortable if Fonte's effort against the bar had gone in but a much happier afternoon than I enjoyed last Sunday at SMS. Forster's save from Austin was crucial, makes a change for him to not score against us although needless booking for Forster at the end when QPR were clearly offside. Mane MOTM comfortably and very cool finish, huge turnaround in fortunes for him. Elia decent again, Fonte and Yoshida had good games but Davis not quite his usual self. JWP off form and likely to make way if the new AMC from Mainz/Benfica can adapt quickly but still back JWP to improve long-term.

What, in terms of terminating his contract? Could be grounds to do so. Osvaldo is the reason why whilst MP was a good manager, he won't be thought of in anywhere the esteem of Koeman, huge mistake by MP. Thankfully, we've made so much money on other transfers that we can probably afford to write one off although if we could sack him and save wages, even better.

Looking forward to this one - although in the Northam for the first time in years rather than our usual in the Itchen because that's what was left. Two quite depleted squads facing each other, if we are able to have Maya and Sadio on the bench it would be a big help. Cork should have regained a bit of sharpness and hopefully being hooked at HT last week will have given Gardos a kick up the backside. Be good to be nearer full squad at QPR hopefully but for now, I fancy a nervy 1-0 win on Sunday.

On the train home (FGW) last night, a passenger was asked politely to stop smoking an e-cigarette. As a life-long non-smoker, I don't have a problem with them personally and it may help people quit the real thing. Most public places have banned them now pending further research. Colleague of mine used to smoke e-cigarettes in meetings when he was giving up cigarettes a couple of years ago, don't know what the policy is at work these days but probably prohibited.

I doubt he is making it up. Friend of mine used to take a hipflask in during the early seasons at SMS before stewards started tipping the contents away. Going further back, can remember being at Wimbledon v Saints 1997 (lost 1-0 and an awful game) and a big group of the Saints fans were openly drinking cans of Stella in the Arthur Waite stand at Selhurst for most of the game until a half-hearted attempt to confiscate the crate/s late on. Still see people ejected when I go to games - although doubt if it goes as far a ban unless they are repeat offenders. The most curious thing used to be having an ST in the Kingsland North/Northam corner in the early/mid 00s when WGS was in charge. Every game without fail around the hour mark, a strong smell of cannabis wafted from a few rows up from where we sat, and it wasn't subtle either, it stank.

Looks like it's been confirmed Long has broken ribs so that almost certainly means we should be in the market for a striker. Having some really bad luck with injuries at the moment. Don't see Koeman and Reed have any alternative with only Pelle and Elia fit and available. Mane may need rest post-ACON when he returns and doesn't seem like J Rod or Gallagher will be fit to feature this season. Luc Castignios is my guess, Twente will lose him for nothing this summer so could offer them a sizeable loan fee and effectively a 'try before you buy'. Even if Ings arrives in the summer, we've seen the last of J Rod one way or another I'm beginning to think whether that's his injury or a move. So an opportunity for someone like Luc to make an impact if he wanted to put himself in the PL window and solves an urgent shortage for us as well as competition when Long and Mane are back.

Exactly, some of the criticism of JWP does my head in. Was Lampard the finished article at 19 for W Ham - not that I'm saying JWP will be as good as Frank Jnr? No, of course he wasn't and was booed by their moron element. Barkley has had some sharp dips in form this term compared to last for Everton and was poor at SMS in December but he's still going to be at top level for another 10-15 years for England. Good chance JWP will join him.

Yes, I was surprised by that also but RK strikes me as an astute man-manager and whilst I don't think he'd have said that about one of the younger players just breaking into the squad like Targett or even JWP, he probably figures that Gardos as a regular for his national side in his mid-20s will know that was a poor display. That said, Gardos was excellent against Man U and Newcastle so that's why it surprised me. I also suspect the links to the two young Feyenoord CBs at the weekend plus Toby's return in a couple of weeks should act as a spur to ensure a better performance v Swansea.

Welcome to the Saints family mate and also to Saint Tex and USA Saints fan. Fascinated by our international followers and hope you can all get to a game soon and sample it live. I was at the 8-0 win V Sunderland and saw the fan from Darwin, Australia having his photo taken with the flag and what I think may have been Koeman's son. He was having a great day - as all of us fans were! Hope you get to your first game at SMS this season and once you do there'll be no other team you want to follow. My story is fairly standard by comparison - born in Woolston, left for university and London aged 18 and apart from living in Bitterne for a spell, never came back to live in Soton again. Kept my ST until moving to Devon in 2010 and with a new house purchase and the cost of travel, had to reduce my games for a while. However, have still got to quite a few games home and away and the petrol costs going down will enable me to attend more again now. Just bought tickets for Block 43 which have opened to Saints fans for the Swansea game first thing today and I can say that I'm as excited about going as I was for my first home game v Birmingham in the early 80s. Definately seeing more Saints shirts in the S Devon and Exeter areas.

There's been some great buys - and the odd dud - since 2009. My favourites are: Rickie - the best, just shading out Fonte. Best £1m club will ever spend, he gave us goals (nearly every other game too), assists, link-up play, leadership and a great back story. Penalties were as good as a goal and just like MLT, when Saints needed him to come up with something special (Millwall away, Man City first game back in PL, Chelsea home, Huddersfield home 0-1 down) he pretty much always did. Proper SFC legend who made the journey to the World Cup and 10 caps and 3 goals for England, not least scoring with his first touch. Fonte - Again, £1.2m stunningly well spent by Pardew who was great in the transfer market and doesn't get enough credit IMO. Class CB who has stepped up to the PL and quietened the skeptics, outperforming £20m Lovren at Liverpool this year. Vital goals too, not least Brighton away and Coventry home to get promotions. Like Rickie, a genuine SFC legend and leader. Harding - great free transfer and enjoyed watching him Jaidi - man mountain in L1, vital goals too. Now part of the club's scouting network Hammond - another great story and rise to the PL, completed with Leicester Puncheon - had his ups and downs but again, another to emerge and establish himself in the PL. Only £300k, sold for £1.9m plus loan fees. Chaplow - Energetic and big part of our NPC promotion Connolly - quality goals in L1 and a vital one on the turn at Brighton Sharp - top lad and vital goals to get us up. Shame the way he was treated. Richardson/Butterfield - did us proud at RB. Clyne - one of our best ever signings S Davis - Felt sorry for Rangers but rarely ever see him have a bad game, despite posters on here.

This. JWP is a good player now but is going to get one heck of a lot better. He's never going to be a Morgan but as you say, in that advanced role, we'll see a fine football brain emerging. Pleased to see he had more shots on goal at Newcastle and nearly caught Krul out first half from long range. Wouldn't mind betting he repeats that long range cracker v Bright pre-season a couple of times before this season finishes. Also, with the rich options we have in midfield, Koeman still preferred him when everyone was fully fit early in the season before JWP broke his foot so that tells you how much Ronald rates him. I think he knows what a future international midfielder looks like.

Think Koeman wants to sign Clasie although different midfielder to Morgan. However, didn't at least one of our Feyenoord visitors say that Clasie wouldn't be cut out for the PL physically?

Wow - we just won three back to back away games at Man U, Ipswich and Newcastle, all tough places to win. Calling MLG and Fitzhugh to the thread - when is the last time we won three away games in a row, let alone back to back? Elia, Reed, Pelle superb, Fonte striding out from the back like Alan Hansen. Gardos great again, bit unlucky for goal. Koeman got subs just right although would use Seager and rest Long next week in the Cup if there's any risk to his groin. Great week to be a Saints fan.

Hadn't heard anything about Sissoko but frankly welcome if he is missing as very much rediscovering his mojo after losing way at Toulouse. Heavily linked with PSG and Arsenal which seems to be one of the reasons Pards quit, Cabaye MKII from this time last year. Tiote at ACON I'm presuming. Cisse still banned anyway after an inexplicable forearm smash on an Everton defender off the ball at a set piece (Alcaraz?). Can't imagine Cork will start yet until Palace in the Cup so as you were in the second half last night. RK might start Elia again in place of Tadic to give us a bit more pace on the counter. He could play Long but he put in a massive workload last night.

The9 - please pass our congratulations to Newport on doing the double over the blue few. The skates I know were expecting a bit of trouble before and after the game. Onto Saints. Brilliant display of controlled, tactical football with plans well executed. Fraser almost undid it with a bit of an airy flap but luckily Mata blazed wide, other than that very few alarms. Forster 7 - Was commanding on crosses with one notable exception (see above). Proving a very good signing but still looks like he's got a major mistake in him somewhere each game but playing in the PL will gradually eliminate that. No shots to save which you don't expect at OT. Clyne 8.5 - Nearly a spectacular start and can't remember an error on what was his first game back. Bertrand 8 - Like Clyne, very solid, a couple of loose passes which knocked him down 0.5 from Clyne Fonte 10 - Didn't see a single error and caused panic in the Man U box at set pieces Toby 10 - for 20 minutes, even when getting injured his interception stopped Di Maria trying to get in Gardos 10 - wow, to come on and play like that from the bench for 70 minutes. More pace that I'd seen before, gained two yards on the rapid Valencia to get across and stop a dangerous cross coming on the counter. Morgan 9 - superb JWP 8 - stuck to his task well and made Carrick go sideways. Nearly a super breakaway goal but should have hit a volley after the first flick and looked to work De Gea as it was sitting up nicely. Hits his set-pieces so well that I'd like to see him try from range when he has a good opportunity sometimes. Davis 8 - Mr Reliable Elia 8 - Good 60 minutes to start with Pelle 8 - Nice of Smalling to want to swap shirts in the first half. Held it up well after we scored, appalling lack of protection from the officials. Tadic 8 - Very composed finish and broke well after we scored. Needless booking irriated Koeman though. Reed 8 - Got stuck in and gave us an extra boost of energy to see the game out. Just a pleasure to watch such a professional display.

I'd echo that - Lambert for £1m, Fonte for £1.2m, Hammond £400k, Puncheon £300k, Harding on a free, Barnard £200k, Connolly free, Jaidi free. I know we had an advantage in L1 financially but Pardew made some superb buys that in Fonte's case we are still prospering from. He also talked Lallana into staying and helped with Morgan's development. Pardew has his flaws as a manager/character but should feel comfortable in his operating environment at Palace. The Newcastle situation was a bit odd - 8 year contract but if the salary was lower than most of the league and heavily reliant on very ambitious bonuses, the move makes even more sense. Palace didn't go OTT in the summer window with the Pulis stand-off so would imagine Parish will have a fair amount available to Pardew for January purchases/loans to liven the squad up. Puncheon will probably be happier working for him, he is on the record as a big fan of Jason's, than he was for Neil Warnock. Alan Pardew still has a decent rep overall with SFC and WHUFC fans but expect plenty of goodbye bile on Newcastle sites and the usual stuff on Charlton and Brighton forums.

Give it 10 minutes tops before he is red carded.

Not seen him play but probably. Trouble is, you want to bring players that age into a side going fairly well, asking a lot to make an instant impact when confidence is low. Shaw was an exception in 2012/13 but we might not have much choice with our squad so thin in forward and wide areas.

Yep totally. Matt Grimes to Saints with Mane to Exeter in January would be even better if a bit harsh on Exeter. Seriously, I'm not sure he's good enough for L2 on this evidence and recent games. Someone compared him and Papa Waigo - Papa had his faults but he was miles better than this bloke and I watched most of our games home and away in 2009/10. At least he got into dangerous positions despite the offsides and got a few goals. How crud can the Austrian League be? Would prefer to have Antonio to him, not that I think he is PL calibre either. Long has also been dreadful but at least he isn't trying to deliberately get sent off. Gardos has done alright but terrible otherwise. Club needs an active transfer window to get some fresh faces in or use more of the U21s because this lot have been well and truly rumbled.

To be fair Patrick, if you take Mane as an example, that was as much Koeman's signing as the scouting network's. Mane had destroyed Koeman's teams a couple of times in European competition. After a bright start, he wouldn't look out of place at Plainmoor playing Conference football the last 4 games but hopefully he can either improve or be dropped when we reinforce the squad in January, which clearly Ronald wants to do. Actually, Ajala and Bowman would be quite insulted by that... We've been rather unlucky with injuries in central midfield - which is stronger in depth than most PL teams - but need more options in wide areas and definitely up-front as don't see J Rod being up to much for a while when he comes back.

Bit harsh Chris, Boruc does need to be recalled until Fraser has eradicated the indecision though. He's been excellent overall but confidence looks shot and PL teams will exploit it ruthlessly. He got away with one V Sunderland but not at Villa. Joe Hart is a quality keeper and even he makes mistakes but a bit mentally stronger than Fraser. I think that's the issue, he's just got to go with instincts when coming off his line because they are usually right so don't agree with your comments about not reading the game, he's had a couple of bad setbacks in TV games and needs a break from the spotlight but will come back stronger.

Would agree with most of that, Yoshida solid, rare Fonte error, Victor excellent, Clyne too, Pelle better than recently. Tadic did OK but clearly still troubled by groin problem. Forster needs dropping asap and surely we have better in the academy than Mane? Is Sims developed enough to be on the bench? Where's Isgrove? Clutching at straws I know but Mane really has been that bad the last 3-4 games. Long worked hard but terrible miss and header second half, De Gea shouldn't be anywhere near that.