Saint Charlie

Stomach infection one day then fine to train the next morning? Could be. But a one day stomach infection seems unlikely to me.

Doesn't look like anyone is blaming Reed really. He doesn't decide what we spend and has made numerous excellent decisions for us.

Decent goal record for a wide forward. Certainly comparable to Mane and Jay Rod, better than Long, Tadic and Juanmi etc.

Picture this morning of a grumpy looking Wanyama getting ready for training with Mayuka, the outcast banished to train with the U21s... Big positive however that his stomach infection which prevented him playing in a massive match last night has cleared up in time for a return to training today. Must have been a false alarm or some excellent treatment!

"Who the hell is Son?" "Son is average" Forgive me for thinking you don't know.

Previously we bought players to go straight into the starting XI and make an impact, like Lovren, Forster, Alderweireld, Wanyama. This summer we have bought a couple and the rest pad out the squad. Thats the difference.

Its just a talking point. Share your opinion by all means, thats what the Forum is for? I wouldn't say this OP is hysterical at all if you actually read it, and the other post was just to highlight an article that people would find interesting to discuss. Again, if you actually read that post you will find I disagreed with the article. I could have put the two together but the topics are different, so I didn't.

Spurs sign Sun leaving Saints as the only team with a negative net spend.

Move on as in its not even worth discussing how and why its happened? Isn't that a bit odd? Shall we discuss our partnership with Betfair instead?

Presumably because nobody (apart from Alpine) is whinging or grizzling.

If two injuries makes such a difference then it just shows either the squad is light or the backup players are very poor. The issues won't be solved by Van Dijk and I have reservations as to whether Clasie is really what we need anyway, although expect he will help.

Yes, last two years. We have lost the advantage we held.

Disagree with this too. Possible complacency but hopefully not anymore. If anything fans have been very quick to play everything down but the loss of backroom staff also cannot help. In the last year the best Physio and injury prevention guy, man who setup the whole scouting setup and U18s coach (vital at a club who wants to push players through) have all left. Eventually if you lose the best employees it has an impact. Same as in any company and it isn't always possible just to "find someone better." The top clubs never really need to do this, they add better to the best they already have. On and off the pitch.

We will have to go some to be relegation candidates, I don't believe that. But almost will be as hard to be top 10, and some teams we have been used to simply being better than the past little while have closed the gap big time.

Feels like the position of advantage we have put ourselves in the last two seasons has ended, would that be fair to say? Key piece being the previous two summers we improved the squad with summer signings that each fulfilled a certain needed role. Whilst Osvaldo was poor, the signings of Lovren and Wanyama were miles ahead of competitors and as has been proven, we had half a team (or more) that year with Pochettino who had top 4 potential. Last year again we did some great business and Koeman galvanised the club, continuing the onfield positivity and that reflected in the stands. This year just feels different, lack of identity with the team, no new signings that fans are really excited to watch for the first time, players who seem to be going through the motions and a much lesser number who will be coveted by those above in the coming years. It can change, Everton have had ups and downs where they go from top 4 contenders to mid table also rans (or lower). But for now is it fair to say we no longer really have a competitive advantage over the likes of Villa, Newcastle, Everton, Palace etc and are just another non top 6 team who could finish anywhere from 10th to 18th?

I don't see how Targett can really play this one? Perhaps Yoshida at LB would be better?

Will just be a CB IMO. An additional midfielder with a bit more attacking power would be a nice bonus but mainly need players fit again.

Cheap cover player who met the criteria of the coaching staff knowing him.

Its not like there are any Chamberlain's, Shaw's or Chambers' hanging around in the U21s though. The likes of Isgrove, McQueen, Gape etc are over 20 and not going to be PL standard. Hesketh is decent but too fragile, Seager a poacher but doesn't fit the allround game we need and a 19year old centre back won't suddenly start PL games.

9.3

There is/was something going on behind the scenes judging by the change of agent and supposed Villa interest. Could be affecting him, afterall his previous two CB partners and both fullbacks have moved onto to bigger clubs and gained tidy pay rises in the last 18months, maybe he has a slight feeling of missing out? Would be understandable to a degree.

Agree. This is taking it too far.

Doubt Wanyama will suddenly be ready to play. Targett only considered by default, he really hasn't taken his chance.

The team selection was wrong. The system was baffling. The performance was terrible. The spirit/positivity is evapourating. Summer recruitment, on the basis of replacing sold players and improving other positions has so far been poor. Caveat: key injuries haven't helped. Positive: Better chance to do well in other competitions, our squad players evidently aren't good enough to win games, we need our best XI playing as much as possible.

Obviously should be tensions, but the point remains the same! Our friend Neil Ashton: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3213295/Southampton-s-talent-struggling-break-Ronald-Koeman-losing-faith-prolific-St-Mary-s-academy.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490 I kind of agree, surely Jack Stephens is as good as the Cocktail? However the likes of Gallagher I don't think would add anything right now. Have possibly developed too much of a foreign heavy squad though, through selling all our young English players.