Minsk

We will have to agree to differ. Lobbing balls in to a static striker standing on the penalty spot is no way to unlock premier league defences. That is just bread and butter the the vast majority of CBs at this level. In any event, as I said earlier, if we want to do that we can use Armando. At 6'3'' he is only an inch shorter than Pelle, but much more mobile. Che is very good at holding the ball up and, again, far more mobile. I agree with others in that our problem lays more with the 10s and their link to our front 2. Hopefully that will change very soon. I think there are some promising signs. We have scored in 6 of our 9 matches. Failing to do against: City, where we should have had a penalty; Wolves, where Redders actually scored a well taken goal but was a couple of inches offside; and West Ham, where Broja hit the inside of the post and had a shot (somehow) cleared off the line.

I'm sure he was, but I doubt it would have been to the level he would have been training had he stayed here. Could have even arranged a match for him to play 60 minutes in. Even if it was against the U23s. Given the zero minutes for Scotland, I sincerely doubt he will be starting on Saturday.

So you wanted us to cancel Long's contract, which he signed more than a year ago, so that we could sign an out of contract 35 year old this summer in addition to Armstrong and Broja? You do realise that would have meant paying off Long and then having to pay Pelle as well? That really isn't, and could never have been, an option. Incidentally, Long scored as many goals as Pelle last season in fewer matches (11 to Pelle's 14, with only 4 starts) in a harder/better league. I will ask these questions again as they are still pertinent to the styles of play between Long and Pelle: How are Pelle's legs these days? What is he like at tracking back and pressing nowadays? What wages would he have demanded?

Now that the internationals are out of the way, let's get back to Saints. Match Day 7 Match Day Comparison: Last season's match day 7 was the 4-3 win away to Villa. This season was a 3-1 loss away to Chelsea. -3 points and -3 GD. -9 Points; -7 GD Head-to-Head Comparison: Last season we scored a last minute equaliser to earn a 3-3 draw away to Chelsea. This season we were doing well at 1-1 until JWP's red card gave them the impetus to grab 2 late goals themselves. -1 point and -2 GD. +2 Points; +2 GD Next up, on Match Day 8, is a home fixture against Leeds. Last season that was our final home match, in which we were beaten 2-0. Last season's match day 8 gave us a 2-0 home win over Newcastle. We could really do with a 2-0 win this Saturday too!! COYS

Zero minutes on the pitch in either match for Scotland. Doesn't help his match fitness and doesn't help us. Would have been better if he had stayed with us, imho.

Can't argue with any of that. Can add that Saka didn't do much and it was a stupid pen to give away.

Thanks

We have played 7 league and 2 cup matches. He wasn't fit/ready to be selected in the match day squad for the first 2 league matches and wasn't allowed to be selected for the last one. He was brought on as a sub in all other 4 getting around 20 minutes in 2, 25 minutes in a third and 30 minutes in the other. He also started both cup matches. I would say that is giving him a chance to show what he's made of, without putting too much pressure on a 20 year old's shoulders. Incidentally, prior to coming here his only experience of full professional football in the UK was a solitary appearance, as an 84th minute sub, for Chelsea in March last year (season before last).

True

Nice to see Southgate going with a more attacking line-up today. About bloody time!

I don't believe it! Came off the bench to score an amazing, winning, goal (which no other player would ever be capable of scoring) and he still isn't given a start in this evenings must win game against Poland. On the bench again! What is the idiot Albanian national team manager thinking?

I watched it. As you would expect, England completely dominated the match. The main problem was the final ball or a weak shot or a shot straight at the keeper. Brewster was terrible, but should never have been given a red. Tino played okay, without being spectacular, and looked like he came off unscathed.

You do realise they play different positions and would have different roles within the team? But just for shits and giggles: How are Pelle's legs these days? What is he like at tracking back and pressing nowadays? What wages would he have demanded? I am sure of one thing, had we signed Pelle as the Ings replacement you, Mr X and a plethora of others (myself included) would have been up in arms about it. But hey, maybe you're on to something? I hear Sir Ricky is also without a club. Maybe we should sign them both? They could be our modern day Dixon and Speedie........ Personally, I am very happy that we have Broja to use/bring on as a target man (should we have need/desire to do so). Much happier than I would be if the alternative was a past it Pelle. (If he isn't past it why is he without a club?)

Still not denying you are them yet still continuing to refer to them in the third party then? Strange man/woman/non-binary being..... And no, Andorra playing a 42 year old during their match with England has no bearing, nor gives any perspective, on anything that may have occurred in any other match between two other different teams at any point in time.

Pelle scored 2 goals in 14 matches as a striker for Parma, playing in Italian Serie B, last season; compared to Theo who scored 3 in 20 (and had 4 assists) whilst primarily playing as a winger/wide midfielder in the premier league. But hey, never let facts get in the way of biased opinion........

Could any of our other strikers score a goal from the edge of the penalty area? I think so yes. Different angle but Arma did so at Everton. Who would have thought Che capable of a 40 yarder against Man City? Not saying either of world beaters, but both have proved to be capable of scoring goals from distance and goals from tight angles. You are correct that a big problem has been providing them with the service to do so. Another problem has been calibre of defender and goalkeeper they have faced in our matches thus far. Really hoping for a far better return from all in the next 7 matches. Aside from that, I didn't 'claim' he was best used as an impact sub at all. The use of a '?' indicates that a question has been posed. Ergo, I posed the question that he is maybe best used in that role at this stage of his career. The fact that both his current club and country managers, who get to see him train on a daily basis, use him that way would suggest it is. Maybe they are wrong. All I know is he has started 2 matches this season. Scored 2 goals in one (against League 2 opposition) and did nothing of note in the other (against Championship opposition). He has also scored 4 times for his country after being brought on as a 2nd half sub, and came very close to scoring (twice) when similarly used against West Ham. I am sure, before too long, we will get to see him start a league match for Saints. When he does I hope he scores a hat-full. Not ready to write off our other strikers yet though.

That's not what I said at all. Sorry if you are unable to read English and comprehend English properly..... Keep trying though. x

He scored his goal today after coming on as a 66th minute sub. He scored the winner against Hungary previously after coming on as a 78th minute sub. His best league performance for us was after coming on as a 74th minute sub against West Ham. When started against Sheffield Utd he did diddly squat. Maybe he is best used as an impact sub against teams higher than League 2 standard?

What a complete load of tosh!!

JWP had a very good match. Kept the ball moving, with some excellent long balls out to the wings. Never giving the ball away once. Mopped up when others lost possession. Not his best pen, which was well saved, and a great follow up - with his weaker foot. Second England goal from open play. Thought the match officials did well. Much better than the usual dross we see in the prem. Yes, should probably have given a second yellow for the elbow but we had the advantage of replays from different angles to come to such a conclusion. Would definitely much rather see this ref in charge of a Saints match than Mike Dean (ditto for the VAR operator).

Absolutely love Bamburgh, surrounding area, and Northumbria in general.

Fully agree about Ray Wallace. I'm sure he only ever played for us because he was Rod's twin. I've never really decided who was the better between Rod and Danny. Think I preferred watching Danny and have better memories of him; Rod was faster and more clinical (if I remember correctly), and certainly did more after leaving us. Would love either here now (in their prime of course). Think Tella is the closest we've got. Hopefully he will go on to become as much of a legend.

Which is why the 3 LBs mentioned were swiftly snapped up by bigger, richer, clubs. We seemed to excel at producing them at one point. Even Matt Target is doing well for himself at Villa (which is great to see personally, as his family and mine have close connections). It's also the reason why those of us who go back a bit further have opted for Golac at RB. Could have also gone for Mick Mills, who played RB, LB and CB or even Nick Holmes, who played absolutely everywhere. That said, of those you listed above, Kenna was a decent RB and Dodd was a great servant for us without being a great player himself. Have a feeling, in some future reproduction of this thread, an awful lot of people will have Livramento at RB and will be saying what an insane signing he was at the time.

Pretty sure JWP has tucked a couple of pens away this season. Armstrong has yet to play a match; Moi has 3 goals from 5 starts (1 from 4 in the league); Tella 1 from 3 starts (0 from 1, against Chelsea, in the league), and I thought he did look a threat when breaking at Chelsea; Redmond has 1 goal from 6 starts, plus a very good finish for his marginally offside disallowed one. He has also played well in the past couple of matches. (Hope he can keep it up); Theo hasn't done anything of note yet, but has been out injured - which isn't an excuse for him. I expect better of him and hope he at least matches his goal/assist tally of last season (3/4 from 20 starts); Djenepo is at least able to beat a player and go past him; it's just that he then ends up beating himself afterwards.

Armstrong has 1 goal from 7 starts, 4 of which were against teams who finished in the top 6 last season. Broja has 2 goals from 2 starts and 4 sub appearances (plus has hit the woodwork and had one very good effort cleared off the line by a bit of excellent defensive play). Tella has 1 goal from 3 starts and 1 sub appearance, and looked pretty dangerous against the European Champions last time out. Apart from all that, which out of contract/unemployed striker are you hoping we sign before the end of the year?