vectraman

Keep him. On his day (admittedly few and far between this season), he is a fantastic player capable of leaving any defender for dead. I think it's our set up and formation around him that has nullified his effectiveness this year. A change of manager could well give us the "good" Tadic back. I hope.

When he stood in last season when Bertrand was injured, quick pacy forwards/wing backs had him on toast. He doesn't have the pace to be a decent pl quality left back. He did look much more at home playing as a left midfielder, and delivered a decent cross. Man U played very defensively and didn't really try and get down our flanks, so he didn't get tested really. I would be pretty miffed if Bertrand was sold and we didn't replace him. Better still, we keep him

They've got Election Day pencilled in to announce VVD and Bertrand's move to Liverpool

And let's not forget, we could be watching a record 5th goalless Saints performance in a row! What's not to celebrate

Bingo! Someone else who can see that playing two strikers TOGETHER is the solution to our ineptitude upfront. Gabbiadini and long playing off each other could work. It is just that our manager will not try it. Ever. Also correct about our below average midfield. We need to get a couple of tall quick players in who are willing to get forward quickly to support the attack. Think we may need a new manager for that to happen too... Puel seems to not want the midfield to get forward. We desperately lack some height and bite in midfield, we must have the shortest midfield squad in the league! Davis, clasie, jwp, sims must all be no bigger than 5'8" I know messi is tiny, but these players are not him Romeu needs a cdm partner too. A yaya toure type of player and stature. J rod will go, I hope we keep Long though, played as part of a strike pair his pace and tenacity causes problems, which can bring Gabbiadini into play.

And it is down to the manager to inspire and motivate, to ensure the players perform to a high standard, which we did not see on Saturday. If they are injured, they should not be playing as we have plenty of squad players not getting a look in. If they aren't performing because they don't buy into the manager, well that's a different problem...

We won't finish 8th not with Liverpool, Man U and Arsenal to come. No chance. We won't get as many points as Poch did either. No chance. The performances this year have, on the whole, at home been sh1t. 17 goals, 9 of which in 3 games. So many poor games this season. Poor as in boring. I don't mind losing to good sides with a fight, but there is no fight. Against the top teams we've rolled over and had our tummies tickled. That is down to Puels tactics. Two up front? Never. Not once has he tried it, even though we can't score. Long - his stats look poor. But how many minutes has he played? What run in the side has he had? None. Play one game, sub next. How does that help confidence? Down to the manager, boring bloke, boring team to watch. Get rid of and bring back some excitement. Season ticket with Puel next year? No chance. I've never been so bored as watching the turgid crap this season (with a few exceptions). Also poor recruitment. We could all see goals may be a struggle without Mane and pelle, but we did sod all. Lost fonte. Bought nobody. All on the cheap, all depressingly predictable. I dread this summer, expensive exits, cheap replacements. Sorry Saints, a **** poor season. Yep, Wembley was great, but complete luck we got there playing reserves v reserves for first three games. **** in FA cup, **** in Europe. Bye bye Claude.

No shots, no excitement, kids are bored, I'm bored. Sort it Claude, it ain't working .

Sat here in the family centre, it's just sooo dull. Zzzzzzzz

Well, based on the thread title, I'd be happy if we picked up Fabianski from Swansea if they go down. If Hull go down, maybe their manager.... But realistically, whoever we sign will be unheard of, well by me anyway!

The time to judge him is next season Give him a full preseason, keep him fit and let's see how he does next season. He's clearly got talent, he has struggled with injury (I know we bought him crocked - always a slight risk), but he keeps getting crocked, so if he can keep injury free, if he can enjoy a decent preseason, then we will have a decent idea about him. But not after a 20 minute cameo against a quality team today... But I don't suppose there is much room for common sense in football...

Spot on. Big gulf in quality, big gulf in budgets, big gulf in expectations. Anything against the top 5 or 6 sides is a bonus, we will never compete with the true big boys over a season. Our place is between 7th and twelfth, I think any true Saints fan knows this, we'd just love a miracle sometimes .

Definitely. There is not a chance on earth that Bournemouth would have got that decision in the other box. Well done Boruc, very decent save, it wasn't a bad penalty.

Just back from Wembley. Saints, thank you for giving it everything, you made it a memorable day out for me and my two lads. I hope they'll remember their first Wembley final forever. Brilliant performance, made moneybags United look very ordinary. Without 'Z' we would have done them today. Hats off to him, he's a great player. But we had the better team! Next time... How can you have traffic jams on the M25 and M3 on a Sunday night? Mile after mile spent crawling along the M3, Christ knows why! I pity the poor saps who commute to that dump daily, but I'll happily pop up to Wembley once or twice a season - over to you Saints All in all, fab day, great support, and all the Manc fans I spoke to whilst queuing to get back to Gerard's Cross said we were far better, and they didn't deserve it. Ho hum

Brilliant stuff Gabbiadini. 2-0 up, great first half Saints

Forster Cedric VVD Yoshida Bertrand Boufal Romeo Hojbjerg Tadic Gabbiadini Long Yep, good old fashioned 442.

Mmm, here are my thoughts, but we all know we will go and do the unexpected, when least expected! For me - Sunderland - 0 Arse - 0 Watford - 0 Man U - 0 Spurs - 0 Bournemouth - 3 Palace - 1 WBA - 0 City - 0 Chelsea - 0 Hull - 3 Liverfool - 0 Midd - 0 Stoke - 1 By my reckoning 8 points, I'm sure somewhere we will get more...hopefully. We have a good side, just not playing to anywhere near our potential.

I believe Reed will happily try to convince everybody that Stephens is Fonte's replacement. This is all part of the Saints long term Puel plan of self sustainability. More academy players, cheaper wages, less 'names'. Already evident in young players being brought through, regardless of being good enough. We will stay up this season, no problem. We will then find that Gabbiadini is Jayrod or Longs replacement in the summer and one of them will be off. Our squad will become more and more mediocre, until we can stay up no more. No premier league team is self sustaining, and we will be no different. My opinion, but I think this season is showing our way forward. Depressingly below average... If the status quo remains - poor football, dull performances and below par results, I won't be renewing my season ticket next season. This year was a line in the sand season, the line has been drawn poorly League cup final is great - but early rounds were reserves v reserves and we lucked out. FA cup ditto. We just came unstuck early on. Versus Liverpool away we were very good, team can do it, but never ending changes is cocking up continuity and players confidence. Settled team = better results. But no, he can't stop ****ing about with the line up. Not impressed, nor happy.

What about Tadic?! Not even a squad player

repeat post - sorry.

Keep going Saints - you've been absolutely brilliant so far, let's get that goal we deserve

It is a non populist view, but I 100% agree with you. The only one of our current youngsters who looks up to it is McQueen. The rest are exactly as you say - underwhelming. Reed - a booking in waiting, plus too small, Targett, too slow, Sims, energy levels deceive a lack of talent. Stephens I reserve judgement on, too soon to say. If the youth are what our owners think are our future (cheap options) then I'm out. I don't get the "one of our own" obsession. Don't care where players come from, they've got to be good enough. Current youngsters are not good enough. If I wanted to watch the U23's I wouldn't buy a season ticket! But I do, and I don't get the excitement I'm afraid Willing to be proved wrong, but the premier league is too demanding for blooding avaerage (short*) players. * I'm not shortist, but our current crop are tiny. Premier league is all about pace and power, and I don't see either. Yet...willing to be proved wrong, but not hopeful...

I bet his reply would be interesting though

Great reply. The whole reason a forum exists. Express your opinion, respect others differing opinions ✅

You'll have to refresh my ageing memory - who bought Le tiss from us then? My dim old brain thought he retired ��