Saint Charlie

Good win after poor first half. Long had a golden chance after 1min to make it very different but as usual his touch let him down....luckily he won us a pen with a good run but otherwise he was woeful today, awful touch and Bertrand was having a go at him for not getting back into shape a couple of times. Such a frustrating player to watch and even more so when you think what Koeman could have done with the £12m if able to identify someone himself. Paul Mitchell's parting gift I guess. Four year contract too.....jeez. Quality pen from JWP and nice that Mane was the first over to him. Toby good at right back, he really is a class act. Pelle also very good I thought and great to see him get a goal. Proper team player. Nees to start Tadic and Mane up with him from now on. Nobody combines as well with the full backs as Tadic and he has more composure than Long could ever dream of. Kelvin with some key contributions. Only negative (Long aside) was Koeman's decision to start Wanyama when he only needed one booking to miss two vital games. We could have started JWP or Reed and everyone knows you only need to make one small foul to get a yellow these days.

Doesn't make a huge difference IMO. We know he is going but he has 2 years left on his contract so we hold the strong position, especially if multiple teams want him. France Intl, still young, proven PL quality. Probably the 2nd best of his type in the league. Less than 30m is disappointing IMO.

Herrera was more and hasn't got a Spain cap or much of a European record. Schneiderlin is one of very, very few outstanding players in his position in the league. Fernandinho cost Man City 40m, Mangala over 30 too. With the new TV deal as well prices this summer will probably be higher and he is a proven class PL player. If there is a bidding war it will work in our favour but we shouldn't resign ourselves to taking less than he is worth.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/11526017/Manchesters-dominance-of-English-football-is-over-but-United-have-the-derby-edge-over-ageing-City.html Gary Neville putting Morgan in the same sentence as Bale, Pogba and Hummels saying whoever gets him will massively boost their title chances. IMO he is easily worth £30m in todays market, maybe more due to the new TV deal.

Both Bird and Andre Adams unavailable for the first game through injury...

Wouldn't overly shock me if Chelsea came in for Mane at some stage. Was excellent in both games against them, could play wide on either side for them and wouldn't cost a lot by their standards. Very good player and should do really well next season.

We were indeed. So better then to ensure he is available for Stoke away and Spurs at home seeing as the Hull game is the last before the 10 yellow cut off. Might as well keep him on the bench and only use if needed.

Ball winning ability is his weakest attribute so he will never be able to carry out that same role as effectively. He is possibly more suited to another European league where the game is slower, less physical and more tactical.

Would it even be a huge suprise if Gardos is moved on or loaned out? Ron does 't seem to be a huge fan, its hard to see him ebing a first choice and he has lost his place in the Romania team.

Wade Garrett in "hasn't got a clue" shocker. N'Zonzi is a good PL player.

Fair enough if he gets called up, but it isn't based on performances for Saints.

He has the type of "bite" we have lacked since Chaplow left and provides valuable commercial opportunities on the Emerald Isle.

He did specifically say for Palace and WBA away that it was at least in part due to the fact they play with two strikers. Obviously our available personnel is another key factor.

Koeman has tended to go with 3-5-2 when we have played teams who play with two strikers but not against the majority who play with one up front. Interesting option though.

I'm talking about someone saying drop Pelle and play Gallagher. IMO he isnt a better option and isn't banging in goals for the U21s demanding first team selection. That is all. Bringing his personal circumstances into it is very poor.

Agree. Gallagher is a good prospect but not an option right now. Pelle going through a tough time, but isn't crap. Drop if needed but the likes of Mane could play up top and would be more realistic IMO.

We won't finish above Man Utd. We won't finish in the top 4 but 5th - 7th is all to play for.

Gallagher has scored one goal in about 7 or 8 U21 games. Unless you have travelled to some of the away games up north you won't have seen them all as not all are streamed. Hardly the form of someone who is going to come in and take the place of Pelle. Suprised nobody has mentioned Seager as he usually gets a few shouts after a game we don't score in.

Cool. Really think Gallagher would do any better?

Long is pretty crap. Better without the ball than with it. But he hasn't really disappointed me because me was 27 when we signed him and had never been more than an average lower half PL player so he has performed to the level he has within him. Not sure Koeman is convinced by him at all, would have been better to wait a couple of weeks in hindsight and let Koeman get someone in he truely wanted. Fans like someone who hares around and chases defenders so his complete lack of a first touch and composure often goes unnoticed by the "get stuck in" brigade.

Gallagher? Come on. He has been largely poor and out of form for the U21s. You are as much of a negative wally as I am, apart from you take it too seriously and get offended by internet forum posts. Lighten up!

I did a thread about it at the time and was told there were no strikers available in January, so we can't blame that.

First JWP, now Pelle. Your threads are very negative. We don't really have many other options than Pelle. The main issue IMO was Mane should have started.

Pelle attempt, was a great attempt and a great save.

Exactly. Thats why despite the oppos seeming poor we don't beat them all.