Saint Charlie

Hopefully we promote Forster from the U21s to the first team soon. Koeman will back that move.

Bournemouth signing Grabban also. Him and Afobe will have cost nearly £20m combined which is eyewatering. But I don't think they will get relegated so fair play to them for proving many wrong so far.

Apparently we were tracking him with a view to a move in the summer.

Why would he give them game time if he doesn't think they are good enough to help the team win? Its easy to pick Shaw or Chambers but Pochettino didn't give Gape or McQueen a start or barely any minutes, ditto Isgrove. Why? Because they weren't good enough. Barely any PL Manager plays U21s unless they are good enough - exactly how it should be.

Luck in this game. Superb Manager though.

I thought Dyer put his hand out to hold off Rose and didn't really know where the ball was. But he did move it from Rose's path. Not deliberate.

Alderweireld's long range passing is crazily good for a centre back.

Also pretty obvious FF or someone close to him has a personal link to Gallagher, so he probably does have some info that wouldnt be in the public domain, albeit from a very particular perspective. Foolish to ignore that.

Although it is clear the U21 players that aren't already in the side aren't PL quality now. Is that Koeman'a fault or the Hunter/Reed setups?

Apparently those offers were ludicrously incentive based so perhaps the Leicester fee was more up front. But compared to £10m for Afobe, Gray seems to have far higher levels of potential. Less than £4m is barely even a risk.

Martin O'Neill said on BBC he has seen a lot of Demerai Gray as watched Brum a lot this season and if they gave paid £3.75m for him then its a huge bargain. Certainly seems very cheap for an English player of that potential! Be interesting to see how he does.

BBC just talking about Kante at the start of the Cup game against Spurs. Shearer saying he spoke to some of the players and they said they have never seen a player as fit and able to run right to the end of games. Easy to say "work on fitness" but some players are just more naturally disposed to certain levels of fitness and agility.

Not yesterday, no. But everyone knew Clasie wouldn't play 90mins and there is no chance anyone was suprised when he went off. It was very predictable. I was at Norwich and we left him on a couple of mins too long, he was knackered, got easily done for their goal then hooked straight away. The non completion of 90mins in that position is a bit of a liability.

Its not really about them specifically. At 2-1 down after 75mins you wouldn't bring Reed on.

Not yesterday, no. But called it 5mins before that our last sub would be JWP for Clasie because he doesn't do full games. Would have been better surely to have another forward option, maybe Seager in the last 5mins. But effectively we only have 2 tactical subs and used them at HT.

Its not the quality thats questioned. Its the fitness and ability to play a whole game in a key position. He has been subbed in 100% of his starts for us which is just odd. Robs us of an additional tactical sub to use.

Surely we did that sub not for tactical reasons, but because Clasie had done his minutes and needed subbing?

Pelle is better than Long IMO. Tadic and Mane generally better when Pelle plays too.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3392127/Swansea-bid-club-record-12-5m-Burnley-striker-Andre-Gray-desperate-quest-goals-relegation-battle.html Swansea linked with a move for Gray. Unfortunately he has already played for two clubs this season, so it couldn't actually happen. Shows how much of a pinch of salt is required with any media report!

@bigadamsport: #saintsfc Koeman insists formation didn't affect result. Says he's talking to board about signings & Pelle back Wednesday

I'm a Koeman fan but if we play 3/5 at the back in this one I will probably start to turn. Get Pelle in for Long, and go back to the team that has done well for us in the past. I would play: ----------------Forster (Stek)------------ Cedric----Fonte-----VVD----Bertrand -----------Romeu-----Clasie------------- -------------------Davis-------------------- Mane-------------------------Tadic --------------------Pelle----------------- Some variant of this personnel is the best available side by miles.

I can see he is a quality passer and that in a slower tempo league he could dictate the play pretty well. My main issue is that he has been subbed in all his starts. By now he should be able to play 90mins. If he can't now after 3 months of full training, will he ever be able to for us? Interesting also he hasn't picked up a single yellow card yet for us. Either an exceptionally gifted tackler, or doesn't really try to make any. You get a yellow so easily these days.

Davis Richardson Fonte Seaborne Dickson Chambo Chaplow Hammond Lallana Barney Connolly(If fit)

Pretty sure those are his quotes from this weeks press conference or last weeks. Certainly nothing new and Mirror is usually a heap of ****. Would IMO be good if he stays, obviously a good Manager. I think we have seen that he isn't a top 4 quality Manager so be interesting to see what sort of other offers he would have anyway. PL is the place to be afterall.

What is the keeper doing for the 2nd goal? Wonder if The9 still thinks he is better than Forster? [emoji38]