Saint Charlie

Shame Mane will miss a month just when he is coming into form, but our options by the end of the season could be class with Pelle, Tadic, Mane, Elia, Jay Rod and Long to choose from. Was watching the goals from last season a few days ago and its easy to forget just how good Jay was, scored about 15 league goals, many of which were class finishes. Will be great to get him back and linking with Pelle.

These games will be crucial. Tough run til end of Jan but then looks a lot better til the end of the season. If we could get 3 or 4 points from the next 3 then we would be in a decent enough position to have a go for the rest of the season providing we don't get another injury crisis.

Zero chance that after Ronald has mentioned the pace we have had with Mane and Long lately, and the fact Terry and Cahill's only weakness is to pace, that we will pick a paceless attack. IMO.

Lets hope for a Shano goal on Sunday, looks certain to start and Everton was his best game in a Saints shirt. Scoring goals consistently is the hardest thing in football and he certainly does offer more than that so hopefully we can keep sharing the goals around and he can keep unsettling defences. If come the end of the season he has scored in five or six of the 38 games (one so far) then he will have pretty much matched his PL career which is all realistically you can ask. He is our Soldado but probably with more impact!

Maya playing really well of late which is great to see. Bench options also way stronger now.

Yeah, meant to add Targett. He will do fine.

Pelle is prolific, Clyne and Bertrand have an equal number of League goals to Long, also Wanyama our defensive midfielder. Long does do more than score though, has drawn a number of key fouls in the season. Just needs to take more chances to really prove his worth IMO. Ramirez was slated but in his first season scored in about one in five league games. Long is on one in nine.

"Poncey" for poiting out Long has scored in one of our 18 PL games? Ok.

Or Man Utd, or Arsenal recently. Leicester is the only league game he has scored in and we are nearly halfway through the season. Luckily others are taking their chances well.

Agree. Hopefully no key chances will fall to him.

So would I. More fool Hull that they wasted the cash. I guess people have different opinions, which is fine. Absolutely cannot fault Long for effort, character etc but you certainly can for quality. Anyone that can't see that has red and white specs, and not the sort they sell in the megastore!

Justifying Long's value using Ramirez's fee tells its own story. He works hard, but wastes so much. Which is fine, because we know he does. And he does affect the opponents. But is miles better at winning fouls than scoring. Any goals from him are a bonus, which for a team like Saints shouldnt be the case for a near record signing striker.

27m if he scored a few more? What like 4 or 5 more goals (double what he has). Christ.

Forster Clyne Fonte Toby Maya Targett Morgan Wanyama Davis Pelle Mane Long and Tadic as impact subs.

Serious? Fair play. Keep on believing.

Ha, he oftens beats the man. Its whether he catches up with the ball thats the issue.

Hopefully we can at least keep a decent side on the pitch all game (Bertrand aside). Seems so many of these big games we have changes to the team so if we get beat with a strong lineup then so be it. Fonte will come back in and would expect both Wanyama and Morgan to start. One of Davis or maybe more likely JWP to be benched. Interesting also to see if Tadic starts.

In what way? Its an opinion, his finishing is generally poor, his first touch is poor, he doesnt hold the ball up. He is a runner and as I said he did really well versus Everton, but generally is underwhelming and not technically on the same level as most of our other players. Can do a job though. Don't see whats wrong with that? Would you disagree?

Cheers for posting. Class finishes for all goals and excellent from Mane for the second too.

This is close to the truth IMO but his game against Everton was his best yet as he created space for others and hassled a slow backline. He can have an impact but his finishing and touch is nowhere some like David Connolly for example. A player like Mane is way above his level though when on form. Whatever people say, £12m is about double his real worth, but he has made some good contributions this season, works hard, seems a good lad and we were desparate.

Mostly plays centre back for the U21s I think. Looked good pre season! We are spoiled with Clyne though - absolute top class right back who is great defensively and also has that rare burst of speed to use in the final third. Top player.

Still think its his knee Stevie?

Unless his kneecap is wider than his whole knee then thats not a knee! Clearly ankle/foot. Also a stud like that to the knee would have been a pretty bad foul.

Clearly his foot.

Yeah it is. Fonte said so. Just a cut at the top of Clyne's foot. Sure it will be fine.