Saint Charlie

Koeman said the situations are difficult, he said last year in the difficult transfer period (with mass speculation) we only played 3 times and this season we have played 7. He said he doesn't know what has happened with Victor the last week, he is ill and is at home but he will have to see in the next few days what will happen when he speaks to him. Clearly from what he said there is an issue there more than him being ill.

Our squad players have always been carried by other, better players. Now they need to do it themselves.

Hargreaves was probably right with what he said, we aren't going to be as good as last year. We haven't made signings that improve the team and have lost key players. Koeman has got this wrong though, beat them at football not their own game which they are well versed in.

26mins and nothing at all from the wingbacks in an attacking sense.

Five of this team would have been nowhere near our first choice side last year.

We have reverted to their level/style rather than trying to beat them by showing we have better players. Strange.

Half a dozen starts and I can't remember a piece of attacking play from Targett that has been good.

He is probably easing him in, especially on the physical side and I don't think he speaks English. I wouldn't have picked him for this game but surely we could have squeezed Tadic or even Long in to replace one of the CBs, especially as they only had one up front in the first game.

Near the bottom. So no idea why we need 5 defenders and if the wing backs play high then its the wrong personnel because they aren't attacking players. Hope Ronald has called it right but thats not got a great balance to it. Our confidence (and RK's in the team) must be rock bottom to pick a side that defensive.

That team would be in a relegation battle over a PL season I reckon. Slow and predictable, Jay aside.

Don't they only play with one up front and that player was a non event in the first game?

Exactly my thoughts. Really strange, especially with two wing backs who are lacking going forward and no goalscoring midfielders.

Way too defensive lineup IMO. Only two players in the XI who are capable of creating or scoring a goal and one of those is recovering after a year out. Odd. Especially against a team we are clearly superior to and need to score against.

Don't see why Wanyama wouldnt have travelled and Koeman hasn't mentioned anything and havent seen him ruled out elsewhere. Expect he will start.

http://mobile.wba.co.uk//news/article/wba-albion-berahino-2651741.aspx Interesting comments from WBA Chairman on the Spurs approach...

http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2015/08/27/club-statement-from-the-chairman Clear from Everton- fair play if they stick to that.

He basically sidestepped the question.

More on Ranocchia: http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/southampton-waiting-on-agent-green-light-before-bid-to-secure-hug

From Alfredo Pedulla I think.

He is the Inter Milan captain so probably a tough deal to do!

Saints interested in this guy according to Italian reports: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Ranocchia

Would be a decent enough option at the right price but not as a replacement for anyone or for more than £8m or so. There is a reason Spurs want rid.

Get it into the box for who to bring it under control, if Pelle is missed out?

You said the club said Wanyama is happy to stay The club have not said Wanyama is happy to stay. FACT.

I don't think he is happy but I don't know his exact state of mind, neither do you. What I know his he has ample opportunity to comment on the rumours but hasn't. He has unfollowed the Saints Twitter like Berahino, another Spurs target. Presumably through instruction. You say the club has said he is happy. They clearly haven't. We are both commenting to suit our respective agendas but there is more evidence suggesting he wants to move than there is that he wants to stay IMO. We won't let him leave this window anyway.