Saint Charlie

This best time was early to mid last season when he was playing wide right and whipping in good crosses. But we don't play that way anymore.

Yeah he did well. Lacks composure as we know and finishing is poor but he has a good leap and made good runs that created space for others and certainly ****ed off Terry and Cahill. Deserves another start but hard to see him having a great Saints career overall as he just lacks that bit of quality IMO and isnt a reliable goalscorer.

Loan move woulf be ideal for Gallagher but not Boro. He wouldn't play much there. Forest maybe.

Not sure. Soccerbase shows he has 8 yellows plus the additional one that made the red. Not sure if neither, one or both of those count. Stupid rule though in the modern game. Neither he or Wanyama are dirty players, just competitive and these days one mistimed but innocuous tackle equals a yellow.

Great to see him back to being a threat again. Was really good today and combines very well with the full backs to release them. Certainly does that better than Mane or Elia IMO. He looked brighter when he came on versus Palace and was certainly involved in more dangerous areas today. Good sign. Now if we can get him to shoot...

Same as most wide players. If they did it every week they would be at Real Madrid.

Whats the problem? Should I not mention Wanyama will get a two match ban with one more yellow just because its not necessarily positive? Its not negative either, its just...true.

Its just a talking point mate. Not looking for a sour angle at all but Wanyama is one yellow away from missing two games so worth a thread if we have any others who might also be dodgy, like Schneiderlin. Especially given both players are so key to us. If we only discussed things if and when they happen then this forum would be pointless.

I think there are another 3 games until the cut-off: Burnley, Everton and Hull. Two match ban for anyone who gets 10 yellows. Wanyama has 9 and I think Schneiderlin has 8. Nightmare would be both missing the same games. Ten yellows these days in 30 games is easy for central midfielders to pick up, not sure it really deserves that severity of ban, but those are the rules. Hard to see Wanyama going 3 games without a booking but hopefully Morgan can make sure he doesnt get two out of three games (he probably should have got one for the Fabregas tackle). Anyone else remotely close to 10?

Great performance, great game and a well deserved point. Plus Points: 1. Really good defensively minus the goal and great to have Toby back. 2. Forster with some quality saves, showing that whilst he never comes off his line, he is a quality shot stopper. We havent seen it a lot as haven't been under the cosh a great deal this season. 3. Mane is absolutely brilliant and has kept us in the race for Europe last few games. Most fouled player per mins played in the league and such a threat. Brilliant signing and will surely have a wonderful career. One Negative: Bringing on Djuricic and JWP (especially the latter) did more harm than good. Neither touched the ball for 10mins when coming on and neither pressed or closed down quick enough. The shot that Forster saved leading to the scramble at the end was entirely JWP's fault, he was massive favourite to win the loose ball and then bottled it giving it to Hazard who teed up Oscar I think. When it is physical and a high tempo game he is a passenger and the one time he had a dead ball to deliver it was awful and gave Courtois a chance to launch another attack. He isnt a baby anymore and has to do better if he wants to get minutes on the pitch.

Good chance for Long but he needs to show more than he has until now.

Best team is: Forster Clyne Fonte Toby Bertrand Morgan Wanyama Davis Mane Pelle Tadic So play that.

Good move. Huddersfield saying he is joining in the summer. http://mobile.htafc.com/news/article/huddersfield-town-ross-wilson-departs-2334289.aspx

Top insight.

In the Palace game Morgan was coming too deep to get the ball from Fonte and Yoshida as if they werent capable of playing a 10 yard pass. In the first half 67% of his touches were in our half and he only entered the oppo penalty area 3 times all match. Toby's quality on the ball enables us to play out of a good organisation and get good ball position. He also has good spirit IMO. A valuable combination.

Very debateable. At least at times Gaston looked class. Long has been poor overall and if Jay stays and we sign another attacker in the summer then I can't see him being a regular for us ever.

Surely we aren't doing the thing where we pretend someone is worse than they are when it looks like they might not stay?

To be fair though, if City come in he will go there. He says he would like to stay and I believe him, he probably does, why wouldn't he? Bit he would also be happy to sign for a top Champions League club. Just have to wait and see. Big positive that he would consider staying. But lots to happen before that occurs of course.

Interesting he says Atletico will have the final say. If City for example put a serious bid in then AM would want to accept that and buy out our clause. Would be amazing to keep him here.

He did say he was still a long way from joining the first team training and was very clear about that. Based on that I can't see him playing before the end of the season, no point risking it as he won't have time to get up to speed anyway. Going from reports of him still looking to move, it would be a huge shame if his last moment in a Saints shirt was him hobbling off the pitch at City.

"Ronald, any update on the fitness of Jay Rodriguez and Emmanuel Mayuka?"

Long, in hindsight, was a terrible signing. On a 4 year deal with decent wages and its hard to see a time he will be a first choice for us. If someone came in with £7m or more I would let him go this summer and let Koeman get someone in that he rates.

They will easily get more than £6m for one of the top PL scorers, who is English and still relatively young.

If they had gone to ET and won tamely it would have been better IMO. A loss will refocus them for the league and Mourinho will give them a kick up the arse. First goal would be interesting like last year, but hard not to see them scoring at least one so we will need to be miles sharper than of late to have any chance.

Fabregas and Hazard are the ones you have to deal with. Let them link up and they will boss you and they are very, very good because they can create every time those guys are on the ball.