There when Franny scored

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1434283-5-signs-that-southampton-are-on-the-right-track-to-safety#/articles/1434283-5-signs-that-southampton-are-on-the-right-track-to-safety http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/615067/Preview/

It should be remembered that his individual ability is largely secondary to how he fits into the back 4(5) as a unit. As someone has pointed out we have conceded 3 goals in the last 4 games, all of which were goalkeeping errors (although Yoshida was partly responsible for the Swansea goal). Accordingly, it could be argued that we'd have a couple more clean sheets without those errors. This suggests that as a unit the back four are reasonably solid, without being tested against the division's best attacking threats. However, it is fair to say they have been tested against a variety of threats in terms of pace (Dyer, Ba, both Cisses), power (Holt, Ba) and guile (Michu, Hernandez, Taarabt). In terms of the unit Yoshida is a pretty good fit it seems (he's more mobile than Fonte, but not as strong). Individually, he has done reasonably well although was not as good last night as he was against QPR and Newcastle, but won a fair number of headers against Holt and for the most part was composed and positionally sound. Where the centre backs have a quick full back on both sides you notice they are more comfortable asserting themselves which they have done reasonably well of late. If this back four can stay together there is no reason why they shouldn't continue to improve particularly with the addition of a keeper they can rely on. For Yoshida himself, at best you would hope he could develop into a defender of the type (and ilk!) of Jagielka. He shows signs of reading the game well.

I think this has been on here before, but it's a good read (http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=977124): "Lunchtime With `Arry Redknapp... Posted 22/01/09 12:23 EmailPrintSave I'll never understand women. Some of them don't even bother with the golf. I've got up this morning and her indoors has left a note saying she's gone up the shops and I'd better have made the lunch by the time she gets back or else. She says she wants spaghetti bolognaise. Opened up the fridge. Jesus Christ, have you seen what she's left me with? I'm down to the bare bones and no mistake. There's spaghetti, a tub of pasta sauce, some minced beef, fresh herbs, some parmesan cheese, a bottle of Baron Philippe de Rothschild Opus One Napa Valley 1987 red wine and Claudia Roden's 'Simple Mediterranean Cookery' book! Bloody amateur hour, I'm telling you. How the hell am I supposed to make spaghetti bolognaise with that little lot? I thought there'd be some top, top ingredients in there. Whoever's bought that from the supermarket should be ashamed of themself. It's a mish-mash of lopsided ingredients. The whole recipe has been badly constructed. It's scary, I'm telling you. I'm just standing there swearing and muttering to meself when the phone rings. It's Jeff Powell phoning up to say how brilliant I am and that I'm one of the best cooks of my time and that I could have cooked for England. I have to cut him off though because I've got Brian Woolnough on the other line saying I'm one of the kitchen's great characters and it's a bloody miracle how many meals I've made out of literally nothing. They're saying I'm like a Cockney Jesus, the way I've managed to feed the five thousand with the tiny amount I've had to spend in the supermarket and just my wheeler-dealer know-how. I need some better ingredients and fast. When I saw the wife come home from the shops yesterday with some spaghetti, a tub of pasta sauce, some minced beef, fresh herbs, some parmesan cheese, a bottle of Baron Philippe de Rothschild Opus One Napa Valley 1987 red wine and Claudia Roden's 'Simple Mediterranean Cookery' book, I had no idea that's what would be in the fridge when she asked me to make spaghetti bolognaise. It's a hard job I've got on here this lunchtime believe me. If I can even get anything into a pan it'll be a massive achievement and I know Jeff and Woolly would agree with me. Trouble is the wife can't take criticism. Too precious these days, women. That's the trouble. I'm short of people with the right character in this house. When you're as stretched as I am, a lunch is a massive distraction from the really important meal: dinner. I think I'm just going to have to serve up the pot of pasta sauce with some tap water and just hope for the best. If I can pull this mess round it'll be amazing really."

http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/statszone/archive/2012/11/09/the-silky-playmaker-who-could-save-or-sink-his-side-s-season.aspx

Ridiculous. The number of goals we have scored from Fox set plays - the ideal person to bring on to try to get one late on. Especially when not likely to be under any defensive pressure.

Irrelevant. You expect a Prem referee to base each decision on its merits.

Your comments about Adkins are staggering. Shaw started his first PL game today at 17 (youngest every Prem appearance for Saints) and was tired. We needed to score and Fox, for all his defensive limitations, has an excellent delivery from set plays. Exactly what you need when time is running out.

The challenge on AL by Monk was as clear a foul as you will see. 90% sure it was in the area as well from the replays. The one on Clyne in the first half was also a foul anywhere else on the pitch. I'm amazed to see threads blaming the manger today. We actually defended well except for their goal - must be so disheartening for Adkins.

Much too simplistic to reduce the argument to whether we play 4-3-3 or 4-4-2. We adapt our formation depending on who we're playing. We have very rarely played an outright 4-3-3 this season in any game as this excellent website suggests: http://www.whoscored.com/Teams/18

Just seen it again in slow motion from a different angle. Huge and blatant push by Winston Reid on Fonte. It was clear that Fat Sam had told Carroll to try to win free kicks around our box by going down even with minimal contact. As the stats show, we are weak at defending set pieces and they are very effective from them. Perhaps we should have allowed Carroll to win the headers and concentrated on the second ball? Easy to say with hindsight.

Agree. I watched the whole game and the system was very effective defensively with us largely dominant in midfield and quicker to the second ball. We weren't as potent going forward as the midfield were more conservative with their passing with the result that we were more compact. Against Everton and Arsenal the system was probably nieve and too open against that qaulity of opposition, but no blaming the system today: Adkins got it right. Nothing any manager could have done about the succession of defensive errors so you have to question the recruitment in the summer for which I understand Adkins to be only partially responsible.

Some interesting discussion on Ramirez here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2012/09/uruguay_have_cause_for_world_c.html

http://www.zerocinquantuno.com/?action=read&idnotizia=6739 Ramirez, has not yet reached the green of the Penarol 08/31/2012 11:29 Editorial Zerocinquantuno article read 35 times Source: Il Resto del Carlino In May, when the season ended, you could easily assume that the telenovela Gaston Ramirez would keep bench throughout the summer. But the fate of the talented Uruguayan could keep in check the Bologna until the last hour of the last day of the market, that even the most incurable lovers of yellow could have imagined. E 'instead of what's going on. The Italian market closes its doors at 19, to deposit the transfer agreement Ramirez Suothampton to the British instead until midnight. The Bologna until yesterday, when you thought it would come the signatures of all parties, he felt an iron barrel, having been established in full the conditions laid down in Southampton. Only an entire day has gone without came the white smoke. And little has served the event in Milan, in the early afternoon yesterday, to thin the last clouds. The problem, now, is made up of the cartel, does not yet exist, between Penarol, that in case of transfer of the player is entitled to 30% of the value of his card, and the large army of agents-mediators following the story contractual Ramirez. "We are working on all fronts," he said late last night the digi Roberto Zanzi. Clear that 'close' Ramirez is the first option. If Ramirez leaves, in theory, could enter the Brazilian Elkeson, 'old' goal under the Botafogo, but it does not seem a viable solution in a few hours with an ocean in between. More secluded the opportunity to bring a dowry to Pioli in extremis reinforcement in defense. The name that has been around for weeks is eclectic baby Brazilian defender Inter, Juan Jesus.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11700/8036505

http://www.calciomercato.com/prima-pagina/esclusiva-cm-ramirez-verso-liverpool-752811 Given the difficulties of arriving at Southampton Ramirez, Liverpool came back to the assault against Bologna. The willingness of the Reds to snatch the player to Bologna, but subject to the conditions imposed by the Bolognese. Has learned exclusively by Calcimercato.com the request of Bologna is twenty million immediately. Liverpool has reached the maximum 14 but is ready to offer them a new proposal for the red and blue. The new offensive Liverpool has 5 million for the loan sale and a figure between 10 and 15 million for the redemption obligations in 2013. The Bologna try to resist, but given the player will have to start at the end could accept the new formula to make money in a year.

http://www.gianlucadimarzio.com/calciomercato/bologna-elkeson-possibile-il-ritorno-di-fiamma/ Sometimes they come back. Elkeson Botafogo is a name underlined in red for some time on the list of Bologna. Treaty in early summer, then the deal is complicated. If the Southampton able to define everything in a hurry for the latest details of the transaction Ramirez, there may be a flashback on Brazil. Would offer important, there is the out clause 6 million. The Bologna has second thoughts ...

Bologna are supposed to have a public training session at 18:00 Italian time. Be interesting to see if he's there. http://www.ilveromilanista.it/?p=14700 Seems unlikely as he was insulted by fans when leaving the "technical centre" yesterday. http://www.zerocinquantuno.com/?action=read&idnotizia=6713

From the source that broke the story (http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=376437) http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=380296 "TMW - Ramirez-Southampton: can be closed today The Uruguayan could become a new player of Southampton, Pablo Bentancur, along with other intermediaries who are working on the operation, will arrive within a few hours in London to close the deal. Into the coffers of Bolgona should arrive about 14 million for 70% of the card. Ramirez would be ready for a four-year 2.5 million euros per season plus bonuses."

http://www.zerocinquantuno.com/?action=read&idnotizia=6715 D'Ippolito: "Problems for the sale of Ramirez of Bologna Alfaro" A lalaziosiamonoi.it, Vincenzo D'Ippolito speaks of problems for Ramirez to Southampton and consequently the Bologna could no longer afford Floccari if the money did not arrive from England. Hence the interest in Emiliano Alfaro, Uruguayan striker for Lazio: "There is a recent interest of Bologna, in the case fails to materialize transfer Floccari. As far as I know, there were problems for the release of Ramirez" http://www.tuttojuve.com/?action=read&idnotizia=107713 "Still problems for the transfer of Ramirez" "The negotiation between Gaston Ramirez and Southampton seems to have assumed the characteristics of a soap opera, before the player had announced an agreement with the English club, but arrived on time the blunt denial of Bologna, now that instead the two teams seemed to have reached the 'agreement is replaced by a new problem. As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Peñarol which holds 30% of the card the player has not yet accepted the proposal of Southampton, again blocking the transfer of the player, tried for a long time"

http://www.goalcity.com/?area=home&sezione=news_esplosa&id_news=419031&titolo=Rilancio+dei+Saints+per+Ramirez%3A+il+Bologna+tentenna The Southampton and 'pushed up the offer of 10 million for the talented Uruguayan Bolognese but it takes 15. It continues to be treated. Southampton does not give Gaston Ramirez. After the reverse of Bologna, now the Saints have upped the ante reaching more than 10 million. The Rossoblu are shaking even if the distance with 15 million of the initial request and not yet 'been filled.

From the source that initially said we were interested - http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=378714 "Hilton Hotel - Ramirez - Southampton, you can still make Negotiation still standing. Pablo Bentancur is still working for the transfer of Gaston Ramirez from Bologna to Southampton. The talks between the parties are frequent, the goal is clear: to transfer the player, who has already given its availability. Possible developments within next Tuesday"

http://www.fcinternews.it/?action=read&idnotizia=89971 "Gaston Ramirez continues to push for a transfer to Southampton. Yet despite the lack of formal agreement with Bologna, the British press reported other statements of Uruguayan playmaker confirming the deal: "With the Southampton we have reached an agreement, it is the classic range that for me or for my family I could not refuse.'s a club that strongly believes in me and that is growing, has just been promoted to the Premier League but in a few years will become a big ", in the words of Ramirez, now far away from Inter. However, according to the tabloids, Southampton is not yet sure of the deal, given the excessive demands of Bologna, and before closing would also consider other options in the market." Also: http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/268431/Southampton-close-on-signing-Gaston-Ramirez/; and http://www.express.co.uk/football/view/341412

http://www.zerocinquantuno.com/?action=read&idnotizia=6654 According to the website of the Gazzetta dello Sport, in these minute negotiations between Bologna and Southampton for the sale of Ramirez is definitely missed. The president Emilia Guaraldi did not fulfill the terms of payment guaranteed by the English club. Ramirez, then, could remain in Bologna, but at this time look at Tottenham, that after the sale of Modric to Real Madrid could raise the offer to get to Nino.

http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=376437