There when Franny scored

Shame, love watching Boufal play. Whatever his behaviour was it's up to the manager if he wants to reintegrate him. Shouldn't be anything to do with the players. Chimes with The Times article that someone kindly posted about a split in the dressing room between the English and foreign players. If either or both of those articles are accurate we will probably be in for another difficult season, although perhaps our recent upturn in form is in part the result of Hughes establishing a detente? Is there any suggestion of who the protagonists are?

The decision not to send Alonso off was terrible and cowardly. He had a clear view and was only a few feet away. You don't see JWP lose his cool much, which says it all. Did Hughes mention it?

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/southampton-transfer-news-quincy-promes-spartak-moscow-january-window-a8185081.html

He must have wondered what he has done to end up playing for Italy and Saints! Dire attacking teams with the creative spark of a wet box of matches

Yes, I agree. The morons who booed him coming on are an embarrassment to the club. We have several players who I don't particularly rate but I can't understand the mentality of abusing your own players.

Horrible game of football. Davis scuffed it otherwise 0-0. Lemina an island of talent in a sea of sh*t

Is anyone able to find Gao's website that is mentioned in this article? I wouldn't mind reading some of his poetry! https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2017/08/270579/football-policeman-poet-farmer-%E2%80%93-and-now-southampton-owner Presumably it may be in Cantonese/Mandarin of course.

Point taken, my response was a little obtuse and poorly-justified. What I meant was that we were only ever playing for 8th or at a stretch 7th this season (as were most of the teams in the league). This will be the case in virtually every season for the foreseeable future. Last season was a very rare exception.

This thread title sums up everything that's wrong with the Premier League.

Very interesting post, thanks.

Any streams for today? I just tried to renew my Sportsmania subscription, but they are not taking any renewals until midnight!

Very interesting. Thanks for that Peter

Apparently, he did also pass the medical at Milan who were once famed for their sports science department (credited for allowing Maldini to play until 40+): Talking to Mediaset Premium ahead of AC Milan’s home clash against Sampdoria, Galliani has confirmed that Caceres won’t be joining AC Milan. “I can confirm that he will not be joining us. Our offer was not in line with his requests and could not manage to reach an economic agreement. He had successful medical but that was not enough. I can only wish him good luck for the future.” http://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/breaking-free-agent-defender-snubs-ac-milan-transfer-considers-m-39844

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jan/30/southampton-napoli-manolo-gabbiadini

Serdar Tasci due for Southampton medical today SIMON JONES: Serdar Tasci is due to have a medical at Southampton today. The 29-year-old has had late interest from other Premier League clubs but is expected to link up with Claude Puel. Southampton are looking to sign Nice goalkeeper Mouez Hassen also today and remain in talks with Napoli over Manolo Gabbiadini with the Italians pushing for £17m in one payment. Southampton have offered £13.5m plus £3.5m in add-ons and ten per cent sell-on. Gabbiadini has already agreed to join Southampton if the clubs can agree on the fee this morning. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4170922/Transfer-news-LATEST-Man-United-Arsenal-Chelsea-LFC.html#ixzz4XF2T2I23 Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

http://www.calciomercato.com/news/napoli-southampton-attesa-gabbiadini-i-club-trattano-e-lui-si-al-47161 Didn't train apparently. Could be getting close

Good article on him here - http://readsouthampton.com/2017/01/17/scouting-report-manolo-gabbiadini/

Lovely post. Well done.

Nyom - as clear a second yellow as you will see. Robson Kanu - clear straight red (raised arm and contact, not that that's necessary). Must have seen it as he booked him. VvD - should'v been straight red.

Very good post. A microcosm of what is wrong with this country at the moment; a popularism that embraces the notion that those who don't have the relevant qualifications or experience know better than those that do.

PROBABILI FORMAZIONI Inter (4-2-3-1): Handanovic; Nagatomo, Miranda, Murillo, Santon; Gnoukouri, Medel; Candreva, Brozovic, Eder; Icardi

I only saw the second half (on TV) and thought Pelle was sensational. Skrtel didn't know what day of the week it was. Out of interest, did anyone else see that he was welling-up when he was celebrating after his goal? Maybe it was linked to that forearm smash he got from Sakho? Anyway, he plays much better when he's fired-up. The stick he gets from our fans is baffling. Lambert was just as inconsistent.

I don't think you've made a tw*t of yourself at all as lots of people have formed the same view so maybe there was something in it. Myself, I haven't actually seen anything that indicates he had a questionable attitude. I have a vague memory of him having an extended period in Uruguay, but I understood that was on compassionate grounds? I agree with you entirely that he suits the 10 role with 2 people covering, but that is what is so frustrating. We had arguably the two best defensive midfield players in the Prem in Wanyama and Schneiderlin. He would have been well suited to playing in front of them and at times under Koeman we have been crying out for some sort of creativity. I accept that he hasn't really done it in the limited opportunities he has had. My complaint is that I think we suffer from such a lack of creativity that it must have been worth giving him an extended run in the number 10 position during one of several barren spells. We are strong enough defensively to be able to take a few more risks, but Koeman (as much as I like him) is the most risk averse manager I have known. I accept that is not necessarily a bad thing where the Prem is now only about results and money. It is just not my idea of football. Gaston is such a divisive figure on this forum precisely because he is the embodiment of this dichotomy.

Nothing in that article questions his attitude or implies his injuries are not genuine. It just says he's had a lot of injuries.

I agree with the sentiment of this. I can't recall Ramirez having a decent run of games in the number 10 position under anyone except Adkins when he did reasonably well. Poch didn't like him because he isn't particularly suitable for high-press, constant high-tempo football. Koeman doesn't like him because he is obsessed with defensive organisation and maintaining defensive shape. Lucky Poch and Koeman weren't in charge when Le Tiss was around as he wouldn't have got a run of games in a free role either. Could someone point my in the direction of the statement by the club that questions Ramirez's attitude / feigning injury etc.? I can only find the below quotes, one of which appears to directly contradict such alleged statements: Daily Mail, 20 January 2016 - 'The situation with Gaston is different to our other players because he is ending his contract,' he said. 'He is not in the plans for the future of the club.' Reuters, 28 October 2015 - "I was always positive about his individual qualities as a player," Koeman told the club's website (http://www.saintsfc.co.uk). "Sometimes I had my doubts about his physical (ability) in the Premier League because a lot of time he had injuries -- he was on loan to Hull City last year because it was difficult. "What I like from Gaston is, with all that kind of problems and with not a lot of opportunities, he was always working hard. He was always a very good professional. "That's important and then I am the first to give him that chance to play, that opportunity, if he is okay." Sky Sports, 25 September 2015 (in the context of giving Ramirez another opportunity "He played more from the right and then he can go in. That's the freedom that every attacker, every forward, needs. "But, in my opinion, he took too much freedom and then it is difficult for your organisation in the team."