saint1977

By which stage we'll be back in the Championship. No, this needs urgent action. The club either back him (transfer funds for forward areas) or sack him. Puel was far too weak in the summer, he should have been on Reed's case all of the last two weeks of the window in the press to get another striker and he bottled on, and blathered on a lot of toss about Redmond as a striker and how he reminded him of Henry. Reed needs to stop congratulating himself in the press and get on the phone to some clubs. Let's see how good the Black Box is now - we need 2 forward players asap.

Hence why I never wanted him at SFC. So dull to watch - Le Branfoot he should be called. If it takes us 3 years to get rid of him like it did Branfoot, we are in big trouble. Squad needs a right good shake up. Get some of the samey midfielders on their bike and free up cash to get in some pace and power up front.

If Austin is out for any length of time the average in the league bit is very optimistic. Relegation fight and no mistaking. Need to get bids in now for forward players, even if they are loans for early Jan arrival. I called it as astonishing at the time that we went into a season with this many games with only THREE strikers and knowing two were injury prone. Redmond as a striker and Puel comparing him to Theirry Henry was as desperate as Poortvliet comparing Ryan Smith with Arjen Robben and Redmond has been about as effective as Ryan Smith. Probably a long time before we ever see Saints in Europe again. Pathetic decision-making over the summer has just done us in with a weak manager who is petrified to upset Les Reed. Koeman, MP, Nigel and Pards had more guts.

As Itchen has posted above as well, I was pretty sure Higgins had coached at Portsmouth as well and taken Darren Anderton with him to Pompey (remember as a lad that was mentioned at the time after Higgins' time ended with Saints). I may have that wrong as heresay of course. Hadn't heard about Eadie or Cureton moving from us to Norwich but would make sense. Higgins became the Wallaces' agent and the club felt he put a lot of poison in their minds forcing multiple transfer requests etc. Real shame for Danny as MS took hold at Man U and Birmingham and he was only one year short of a full testamonial (1980-9). He eventually got one at SMS in the early 2000s (which I went to) but it was low-key affair for those of us old enough to remember his career whereas in the early 90s he'd have got a full house at the Dell. Still, another player manipulated all too easily by their agent (see Mendes and J Fonte).

Enjoyed that - not just the win but moving the ball much quicker and better than the last few games, the ponderous defensive approach got the heave ho today. Sims stole the show, very exciting to see someone running at and beating the opposition - only player that has done it this season really, Redmond occasionally but Nathan didn't have such a good game today. Romeu Mr Solid and impressed with PEH, Davis might be more a squad player from now on. JWP improving this season but should have scored. Predictable that Stek had a good game on his return! With rumours of offers for J Rod and Boufal to the ACON, it might be time for a bold move and sell J Rod to get another couple of forwards in. One centrally as only Charlie looks like he can score, and another that can play off the front man, perhaps a loan move. We are heavy on central midfielders of a similar type so moving one of those on might free up wages, especially as I suspect we'll see more of Harrison Reed in the second half of the season.

Apparently Koeman hasn't been to many Everton U23 games either, despite their forum imploring him to look there for fresh energy. I've got no problem with RK, had 2 great seasons with him in charge and better to receive £5m than pay it off because we were binning someone unsuccessful. Having said that, the breakthroughs by first McQueen and now Sims do show why the board and RK had a difference in approach that was widening, hence Guan's 'new direction' posts. What's happened to Hesketh by the way? Outstanding in the league cup v Palace, had a mare in Israel and then disappeared again? Injury?

Get in VVD! That's what happens when he isn't bear hugged at every set piece!

Quite - don't understand why they aren't on. At least the boys and the crowd should well revved up now, ref is right under pressure now.

Ref is totally iffy - foul on VVV for their 'goal' and Martina and FF should do much better. Then when did the laws change so that elbowing someone off the ball isn't violent conduct and a red card. Poor pen by Tadic but poor error by Claude not starting with Austin. Get J Rod off and Charlie and Boufal on now.

Not surprised SG is coming good - very rare that you find strikers with his height and pace. Losing a parent at such a young age plus injury held him back but saw his full debut v Arsenal under MP and caused them loads of problems aged 18. If he carries this form on, would expect him to be offered a new deal and given taller strikers mature later, I would get him signed up anyway.

Thanks Weston, interesting information. Wheater was a surprise but with Ervine and McLaren's late season form it didn't cost us. 1,2,3 in the order cost us all season and the season before. With Adams retiring I'd think and Carberry sadly ill, it's a chance to build a brand new top order that can compete in D1 so we have some chance of staying up. Smith has never been comfortable against D1 bowling, if we'd been relegated he might have been worth keeping but not now. Middle order has Ervine, Alsop learning his game, McManus earning as wk/bat, Wetherill, Berg - less concerned by that. Tommo leaves some free wages on the bowling to add penetration alongside Wheal and hopefully no more injuries for Topley and Stevenson. Giles White's recent track record on recruitment leaves a lot to be desired - one hopes the Cricket Board will act.

Batsmen needed I would say - Alsop and Vince can stay but Carberry unlikely to play again, Adams past it for D1 and Smith was never good enough for D1 anyway. So 3 top order batters including two openers. Wetherill can push for a place next term but we need 3 first choice, seasoned batters at 1,2 and 3. McLaren as Kolpak, Ervine and Berg worth another season. Agree with you on opening strike bowler although Topley unlucky this year. Some other good youngsters - Crane, McManus. Craig White can stay but Giles White has to go

Quite, that did my head in. If Durham are relegated then Kent should be promoted, much better side. Hants were a disaster and better performances in the last few weeks couldn't cover over how terrible we were. Does anyone know when Giles White will be sacked? Surely he can't survive that train wreck of two winters' recruitment?

You poor little troll! Bet you need therapy after watching such a terrific second half display? You can stick your 'losing interest' thread up your arse, along with your multiple logins you freak. Just a great Sunday, superb from PEH, Tadic, Bertrand and many more. Did FF have to make a save? JWP should gain confidence from his goal and has looked more robust of late. Happy to eat some humble pie on Puel, I'll have mine with Custard please

Effective so far, if not pretty. Quality goal at odds with the game. Tadic our best player along with Bertrand and Redmond. Both midfields horribly lax in passing, even PEH and Noble giving it away at will. W Ham look very weak at full back, Cedric has defended very nicely but crossing horrible and should have cut back for Charlie. When does Puel take Romeu off?

Need to get passing in gear but look dangerous on counter. Biggest risk is stupid yellow card by Romeu, Puel might want to take him off in the next 20-25 minutes with the notorious Moss as ref. Fonte distribution needs tighten up. Tadic clever in drawing foul there but dreadful waste from the free kick

Ideal. Good home win to the next round and another home tie to come. Hesketh re-emerging and delighted to see Harry Reed get a start, thought he did little wrong under MP and RK but not fancied last season. Austin gets another and more fitness. Pity the Pompey slayers couldn't take West Ham to extra time but looking forward to Sunday.

That's how I saw it as well, best performance so far building on Thursday. We looked so much more dangerous when Austin was on, glad he argued with Tadic on that penalty as you can see the confidence flooding back. I think Puel was right to bring Charlie on as sub though and I like the idea of Martina playing further forward, worth a cameo today and helped Cedric handle Montero late on. However this dafrT experiment with Redmond - aagh! He will be an excellent winger and rather than fans groaning we should we singing that he plays on the wing. Hopefully Boufal will make a difference when fit and restore Nathan to wide areas. Only having 3 strikers is a huge risk but with Gallagher scoring at Blackburn we may have a recall clause.

I'd agree with that bar Redmond coming off, he's played ok but he plays on the wing. In fact, that's what the Northam should be singing 'Nathan Redmond, he plays on the wing' to remind Les Reed's puppet of what his proper position is. Not a lot wrong with how we are playing but would be at last season's level if the manager had stood up to Les Reed in the media about the clearly obvious need about buying a striker.

Interesting, I actually thought JWP was much more visible on Thursday and had way more physical presence. I was quite encouraged but perhaps that was only my opinion and perhaps the manager agrees with you? Redmond up front I expected to see but is a concern. Shame J Rod got a knock after a couple of good cameos. Will be a tight game, hope Sigurdsson is closely marked. Fonte v Llorente will be an interesting battle.

It's worth investigating as it clearly wasn't one of those 25/75 decisions that goes against you sometimes. He'd predetermined Arsenal would have a penalty. Judging by their shock, I doubt Arsenal were involved in any misconduct and it's hardly Wenger's style. The most likely factor, judging by his pathetic displays in prior Saints games that he's a **** ref who isn't good enough for parks football and is desperate to be noticed. The alternative is that he added 4 minutes from nowhere and gave a penalty on 94 so betting patterns globally on the game would be worth analysing. I think that would be way too obvious though, and still maintain it is competence and brown nosing rather than corruption.

Jose's comments say it all on Madley. I can accept refs making mistakes like we all do but these weren't even 25/75 ones - Long foul and penalty - the ref is unfit to work in professional football. Halsey's comments last week were interesting. The refs association would do best by suspending him and then demoting him until they get to the bottom of what his thought processes were today. He also needs to get properly fit to conduct a game at this level. Hopefully we don't ever get to be reffed by him again and the club could ban him from SMS and the club need to really put pressure on the premier league around that. Puel was far too timid in his comments but well done Jose, worth the fine to root out cheating. Onto Saints. Good display, midfield and back four very good but the club need to look at whether there any free agent strikers we can bring in to give Long some competition. He worked hard and moved intelligently but that was Conference level finishing. MLT would probably help the midfielder sand forwards one to one with finishing coaching if asked. We need to try something different.

Has anyone seen Liam Fox's staggering comments on UK industry? Wow. That's on a par with some of the deluded crap Corbyn and Smith have been coming out with in the Labour leadership campaign. The theory that May was using some of the figures on the Tory far right supporting Brexit to politically hang themselves before things get serious is looking apt. What the **** does Liam Fox know about business? Michael Heseltine, one of my favourite politicians, had it correct: the Tory right think they know the theory of business but know nothing of the practicalities and most if not all have any experience. Those on the centre of the party tend to have more experience. Boris for all of his faults at least knows he's a novice on this aspect and even he won't try and lecture others on commercial experience. Do we want Liam Fox anywhere near Brexit negotiations?

I'd like to add Steve Dunn's name to this thread. Worth putting in there for Shipperley's disallowed goal at OT alone in 96 - I've seen it loads of times and cannot see any infringement or even a hint of one where you could see where the ref might have made a genuine mistake. Even Fergie didn't know why it was disallowed. He was shocking at every Saints game I saw including one of the early home games at SMS, where he sent off two players (Villa) and was so inept that he enraged both sets of fans. I think he then got into trouble IIRC for antics at one of the refs' 'away days'/workshops or equivalent. Kettle V Wolves in our first Championship season lived up (or down) to his reputation of being the worst ref in the country although D'Urso must have run him close with his bloopers over the years, not least booking Barry Ferguson twice v Blackburn and not sending him off. Mind you, he made up for it seconds later with a staggering penalty award for Saints when Short 'fouled' Beattie.

I agree although Wheater only left Essex because he had no chance of getting the gloves off Foster. Bizarre decision by Giles White to loan him out for a month when we are fighting the drop but that's nothing new, I'm sure Mr Teflon will survive Rod's bullet yet another winter. He was a very average player as well so hardly a surprise. At any Test ground club he'd have been sacked last winter. Clearly there were problems when Benkenstein was coach and those have eased a bit since he left and hopefully the upturn hasn't come too late. Fine effort with the ball today, although the last wicket partnership is irritating. Our bowling looks so much more varied and great 5-for by Berg. Vince needs to get his head in order - lucky today's drops off Balance weren't costly. Bit cross with England for picking him a year or two early IMO. Let's see what unfolds tomorrow - Smith and Adams need to fire up top as Vince looks shot, Alsop is a talent but young so lots riding on our two middle order stalwarts Ervine and McClaren. Great performances at Taunton but will interesting to see if the pitch has spice for both sides.