Minsk

How many players can you name who have come back from nigh-on 2 years out due to injury and immediately performed to a decent PL level? How long has it taken JRod to start getting back to anywhere near decent form? How long should we put up with 'dire' results before we stop trusting the club on the CB situation? (Although, the last is a moot point as there not a damn thing we can due about the ineptitude of not bringing in another CB.) I seriously hope not. He has never played a top flight game as a CB in a back 4. If Puel is sticking with his 4-3-3 he should stick with Stephens. Otherwise he could well just ruin the lad's confidence; effectively reducing our CB options further still. If, however, he has decided to go with a 3-4-3 or 5-3-2..........

We absolutely should have signed a CB in January. Moreover, we should have done before, or with a day or two of, selling Jose to West Ham. We were even told Jose wouldn't be sold until we were in a position to replace him. To my mind, that means a deal agreed with the replacement player and his club. Whether that should have been Sakho is another matter. But, let's presume he was our first choice (given all the media reports): It was reported we wanted a loan deal with option to buy, exactly what Palace have. I could have understood it if Palace had bought him outright, that would have shown we missed out because we were unprepared to take that initial gamble; but that isn't the case. He has gone to Palace on exactly the type of deal we wanted. That simply tells me that either we didn't want pay such a big loan fee or that we didn't want to pay all of his wages, or both. i.e. decision taken for financial reasons, not squad reasons. That could be an expensive decision. The £2m fee is what 1 or 2 places higher up the league table; let's see how many points we drop before VvD is back, or, God forbid, what happens if Maya picks up an injury/gets suspended. As for his wages, he was (supposedly) meant to be the replacement for Jose; therefore, we can deduct Jose's saved salary - so he, effectively, would have cost us an extra 20/25k per week. Big gamble. As for Gabbiadini, great news; but we should have signed him, or a player of his ilk, in August - and not just gone for one who we knew would only manage a handful of matches fr us between then and the beginning of February!

Do you believe that if the window closed on Friday we wouldn't have brought anyone in? Or that we would have moved a bit quicker to get a couple of deals over the line? I am well aware that deals take time to complete. I am also well aware that everyone has known about Austin's and McCarthy's injuries for a very long time. Ditto the Fonte situation, especially as Puel was never going to give him game time during January. Maybe you are happy with the state of our squad, and the team sent to the slaughter on Saturday. I was disappointed with the summer window; I honestly feel we left it far weaker than how we finished last season. I was, therefore, hoping this would be rectified (especially given the aforementioned injuries) as soon as the window opened, not as it was closing. Do you honestly believe we couldn't have brought ANY players in by now?

Why? We signed the third choice Crystal Palace GK in the summer. First part of second sentence: 'unless something materialises off the radar'. Whilst it is good that it seems likely we will be bringing three players in, why wait until the last day or two of January? We have known about Austin's and McCarthy's injuries for a long time. We were also told Fonte wouldn't be sold until we were in a position to bring his replacement in. He was sold 9 days ago, and counting. The window has been open for over 4 weeks already. Had we brought in the players most on here could see we needed at the beginning of the window Puel wouldn't have had to throw in the towel in before the FA Cup match had even kicked off yesterday. Still, hopefully we will get a new spine: new GK, CB and striker; and they will all prove to be worth a £50m bid (each) by Liverpool within the next 12-18 months.

This. I live abroad, so obviously can't get to many matches. For that reason, at the start of the season, I bought a membership in case we had a good cup run, etc. Haven't done 5 homes (although now kicking myself as I knew I should have bought the 3 ticket home match Euro bundle and not used them). Now, anyone who qualifies can just buy a membership and jump ahead of me. Lesson learnt. Won't bother buying a membership again in the future; especially as I have already bought flights over for the final, but now probably won't get a ticket!!

Match Day 22 - home to Leicester - won 3-0 After getting through the FA Cup replay with a last gasp winner, we really upped the tempo with an emphatic win against the champions. A bit of a worry about VvD's injury, but great to see such good performances from JWP, Cedric and Maya. Match Day Comparison Last season also saw us win match day 22 by 3 goals to nil (can we have match day 22 every week please?) but against West Brom. Therefore, this victory keeps us with a...... 3 point deficit Match by Match Comparison Last season we threw away a 2 goal lead at St. Mary's against the Foxes and dropped two pints. Holding out for all three points this time around gives us a........ 5 point deficit Next up is a little matter of the LC Semi-final 2nd leg at Anfield, before an FA Cup home tie against Arsenal. Our next league match - match day 23 - is away at Swansea. Last season we beat the Swans at their place 1-0; whilst match day 23 also saw us win 1-0, away to Man Utd.

I'm pretty sure I remember him having an excellent match against United at OT in a cup when on loan to 'boro last season. Although, I think he played DM in that game. Anyway, I wish him all the best. Especially if VvD is out for any length of time.

Half-time, commentary just started on OP

Match Day 21 - away to Burnley - lost 1-0 Following a 2-2 draw in the FA Cup at Norwich and a great 1-0 first leg win in the League Cup, Saints managed to fall to a 4th league defeat in a row. Match Day Comparison Last season we won match day 21 (2-0) at home to Watford. Therefore, we now have a...... 3 point deficit Match by Match Comparison For this comparison Burnley are replacing Newcastle. Last season we drew 2-2 away at the Magpies. Therefore, we now have a..... 7 point deficit Next up is the FA Cup replay, at home to Norwich, before Match Day 22 at home to champions Leicester. Last season we drew (2-2) at home to the Foxes, whilst Match Day 22 saw us beat West Brom (3-0) at St. Mary's.

Spot on. Moreover, as Austin was ruled out for months weeks ago AND we knew we would also be without Boufal for a number of weeks (even before his injury) I was very much hoping a striker would have been brought in already; alas, hoping, but not really expecting.

Just making sure you were paying attention. Sorry, yes, my mistake. Last season we won Match Day 21 - 2-0 - at home to Watford. Indeed, it was were we started to turn things around, winning three in a row and 5 out of 6. I wonder if we can replicate this season........

Redmond will score the winning goal(s) today against Norwich; then you will all love him.

Match Day 20 - away to Everton - lost 0-3 Given our previous two results, I don't think anyone was particularly surprised by this result. What was disappointing was the complete capitulation after the first goal was conceded, considering we had more than held our own until that point. Match Day Comparison Last season we lost match day 20 (1-0) away to Norwich. Therefore, despite losing three on the bounce, we remain with the same points as at this stage last season..... 0 point deficit/better-off Match by Match Comparison Last season we managed to come away from the blue half of Merseyside with a point. Therefore, we now have a..... 6 point deficit Between now and Match Day 21 (away to Burnley) we have an F.A. Cup match away to Norwich (who beat us 1-0 up there last season) followed by the LC semi-final first leg at home to Liverpool (and who can forget how they humped us at home in the LC quarter final last season). Hoping for some sweet revenge in both of those encounters. As for Match Day 21 - last season we lost it (1-2) at home to Palace. I am substituting Burnley for Newcastle here, and last season saw us grab a point in a 2-2 draw away to the Magpies.

Puel chose him. They have known each other for years (since Black played in the French league). Puel wanted him because they are friends and Black speaks fluent French (therefore, he acts as Puel's ever-present translator, i.e. on the bench, at the training ground, etc).

He did. Eric Black was also chosen by him; hence why the French speaking Scotsman won't be getting the chop either, as many on here would like.

Match Day 19 - home to WBA - lost 1-2 For the second game in a row we managed to lose, at home, after having been in front; and, for the second game in a row, we had a player sent off - this time VvD, late on. Match Day Comparison Last season we also lost match day 19 2-1, only that time it was away to West Ham. Therefore, we remain on the same number of points as at this stage last season. 0 point deficit/better off Match by Match Comparison Last season we beat 'The Baggies' 3-0 at home. Therefore, with this type of comparison, we now have a..... 5 point deficit Next up, tomorrow, is an away trip to Everton. Last season we drew 1-1 with them up there; whilst Match Day 20 saw us lose (1-0) away to Norwich.

Match Day 18 - home to Tottenham - lost 1-4 Well, that was sh!te. I was very hopeful after going 1-0 up in the 2nd minute too. Oh well....... Match Day Comparison Last season on match day 18 we put 4 past Arsenal; this season their local rivals did the same to us. This means we are now on exactly the same points as at this stage last season. 0 point deficit/better off Match by Match Comparison Last season Spurs beat us 2-0 at St Mary's. At least we scored this time. Plus, I also feel we could have got the draw if Redmond hadn't (wrongly IMO) been sent off; and the 4-1 scoreline did somewhat flatter them, seeing as the last 2 came right at the death. Anyway, same points as last season which means it remains a..... 2 point deficit Next up, later on today, is Match Day 19 we sees us host West Brom. Last season we beat them 3-0 at St Mary's; whilst match day 19 saw us lose 2-1 away to West Ham.

Match Day 17 - away to Bournemouth - won 3-1 A good match, great win and three excellent goals. Hard to pick a favourite goal in all honesty; I just hope the 3rd is suffice to give JRod the confidence to return to his best. Match Day Comparison Last season we lost match day 17 (2-0) at home to Spurs. Therefore, for the first time this season, this victory makes us...... 3 points better off Match by Match Comparison Last season we lost this fixture by 2 goals to nil. This win draws us closer to last season's achievements, with a mere.... 2 point deficit Next up, after Christmas, is the visit of Spurs. As previously mentioned, last season they beat us 2-0 at St. Mary's. Oh how I hope we match last season's Match Day 18 scoreline - the 4-0 victory over Arsenal.........

Up to 7th; three excellent goals; proved we are the best team on the south coast! Very pleased for JRod. I hope this is the boost he needed to regain his pre-injury abilities. Well done to Puel for the half-time change. JRod probably deserves MoM for the third goal alone, but Bertrand, Davis, Boufal and Yoshida also had very good matches.

Match Day 16 - Away to Stoke - Drew 0-0 I am sure most would have taken the draw before kick-off but, having played against 10 men for an hour and completely dominating the match, it feels like we should have got more from this match. Match Day Comparison Last season we lost match day 16 (1-0) away to Palace. Therefore, this draw puts us exactly level with our points total at this stage last season. 0 point deficit/surplus Match by Match Comparison Last season we won (2-1) away to Stoke. This means, when looking at the actual games played vice number of matches, we now have a.... 5 point deficit Next up is a short trip along the coast for a Sunday afternoon fixture against Bournemouth. Last season they beat us 2-0 at theirs; whilst Match Day 17 saw us defeated, by the same scoreline, at home by the North London Yobbos.

Match Day 15 - Home to Middlesbrough - won 1-0 A very nicely taken first PL goal by Boufal proved to be the match winner. Match Day Comparison Last season we drew match day 15 (1-1) at home to Villa, so this is 2 points gained! Therefore, we now have a mere..... 1 point deficit Match by Match Comparison As previously mentioned, I am comparing our results against Boro this season with those against Norwich in the previous one. Last season we beat Norwich (3-0) at home. Therefore, we remain with a..... 3 point deficit Next up is Stoke away on Wednesday. Last season we beat them 2-1 up there; whilst Match Day 16 saw us lose (1-0) away to Palace.

Sorry guys, I've been travelling this week so a bit late in updating. Anyway, here goes..... Match Day 14 - away to Palace - lost 3-0 Following a cracking win (2-0) away at the Emirates to qualify for the LC Semi-final we completely blew the second chance in recent weeks to get back on par with last season's points tallies. Undoubtedly it will be a match that Frazer in particular will want to erase from his memory. I wonder if he will now come in for the kind of stick that Kelvin used to get from some after a similar blooper.... Match Day Comparison Last season we lost Match Day 14 (3-1) away to Man City; this season's 3-0 loss away to Palace is far worse but still leaves us with a..... 3 point deficit Match by Match Comparison Last season we lost by a single goal to nil away at Palace; this year they tripled their scoreline whilst we replicated ours. Thus, again, we remain with a......... 3 point deficit Had I written this before last night, I was going to say that maybe the players were saving themselves for a huge performance in the Europa League.... Alas, they managed to blow that one too, by only gaining a (last gasp) score draw to Be'er Sheva which saw then through and us out. Next up in the league is Match Day 15 at home to Middlesbrough. As they, obviously, weren't in the PL last season, I am going to compare results against them with those against Norwich last season. in 2015/16 we beat Norwich at home (3-0) whilst we drew Match Day 15 at home to Aston Villa (1-1). Let's see what Sunday brings.....

Bye... It would seem so. McQueen's natural/usual position is left-wing. He was only converted to full back this summer. Prior to Puel coming in he had always played LW/LM. Nor had the eleven that beat Everton on Sunday. Whether rate him or not, Martina has played 30 times for Saints - all at right-back. I'd say that makes him a recognised right-back. Oh, and we have won 2 trophies..... probably not in your life-time though....... This. The starting 11 consists of 9 full internationals plus Reed (who many have been banging on about being given a chance to shine) and McQueen (who has put in many excellent performances of late). It could be better, admittedly, but not too shoddy. It was always obvious there were going to be a fair few changes for tonight, and obvious to anyone with half a footballing brain who would be rested. (That said, I would have preferred to have seen a slightly stronger bench.)

Match Day 13 - Everton Home - Won 1-0 Following a dismal defeat, and performance, over in Prague Saints came good against the blue half of Liverpool and, more importantly, the returning Ronald Koeman. Indeed, it took less than a minute for debut boy Josh Sims to set up Charlie Austin for the simplest of goals, followed by more than 90 nervous minutes for those used to Saints blowing a lead; but, they managed to hold out for 3 valuable points. Match Day Comparison Last season Match Day 13 saw use fall to a 1-0 defeat at home to Stoke. Therefore, we have recouped 3 points giving us a...... 3 point deficit Match by Match Comparison Last season Everton beat us 3-1 at St. Mary's. So it's another 3 points clawed back, which also gives us a...... 3 point deficit Next up is a League Cup quarter final away to the Gooners, before Match Day 14, away at Crystal Palace. Last season we lost Match Day 14 away to Man City (3-1); we also lost away to Palace (1-0). So, once more, we have an opportunity to be equal last seasons points total on both counts. The last time we had such a chance we didn't take it; will we this time?

RIP. Condolences to all.