Saint Charlie

It seems that way. But you are a WUM to point it out IMO.

Its a factual thread. People take things to heart too much. Feel free to start a positive thread. Looks like your last one was well over 2 years ago.

I don't expect top 6 any season, but am disappointed that a number of teams we were quite superior to last season have overtaken us over such a short time period. We are mid table, but all those below us (Chelsea aside) are relegation candidates which isn't what anyone expected. Les Reed said we would be there to capitalise when one of the big boys imploded - well this was the season and we have gone backwards considerably to the extent we can only beat the very poor sides in the league.

This.

Get what you are saying and over a long period there will be ups and downs. However is it really that unrealistic to feel the extent to which we have dropped off from last year is rather high? A further, similar drop next year would likely signal a good chance of relegation. Is it a bad thing to feel that this season we should really be playing better and gaining more points?

Is this a concern? Certainly suggests much above our current position is unlikely unless form is better in the second half of the year. Half Term grade: C-

67/180 Xmas mins (37%). Sums up his problem at the moment.

Sorry mate. Lukaku is a beast. Long is an erratic hard worker who will mostly fluff key chances.

Got to taake chances when on top, which we never do. Few midfield players who are really capable of scoring. Thats why we lost, failure to capitalise on our good spells. People talking about bringing Clasie on but its plainly clear that physically he is struggling with the pace of the league - he cannot do 2 games in 3 days, even as a sub. He cramped after 65mins of a game with a week rest beforehand FFS. Most teams today picked their influential CMs who played two days ago. We couldn't. Also, Martina showed why he never plays.

Only because they were bitter. He is obviously an excellent Manager. Won't be longer before bigger clubs than Spurs come in for him. Won today using a 'plan B' too.

Decent lineup. Hope Romeu and Wanyama finally works. Pretty much every other time we have played both Romeu has been subbed at HT.

Anyone think Spurs have a chance to win the title?

Thats the point. He isn't better than anyone who regularly starts. When we play him and Wanyama together it doesn't work and Wanyama is a better player than Romeu, hence he doesn't get many starts.

Looks a decent player but Ronald doesn't quite seem sold on him and he doesn't start many games. Will that ever change? Assume when Wanyama goes he will be replaced rather than Romeu stepping into the team.

He did. So would be better if he was able to stay on the pitch for longer as we rely on the sub being of the same level to avoid the team performance dropping. Plus, you may want to use subs for other purposes so at the moment when we start Clasie we are effectively down to two subs for tactical shuffles or reactions to injuries. As FF said, its not unreasonable to expect him to last beyond 70mins by now, especially when there hasnt been a game for a week.

More 4-4-1-1 I would say with the two wide midfielders (Davis and JWP) tucked in quite a lot.

Why would you quote the prices of **** players to justify Long's? Odd.

I missed half the first half signing my laptop into the Stadium and then got ill at HT after eating a salmonella filled hotdog just after the laptop fiasco was sorted [emoji20] Saw Long miss an excellent chance just before the salmonella kicked in and I had to go home and listen to the second half on Solent. Have Norwich tickets but may give it a miss. Know a couple of part time Canaries who might be interested if they win tomorrow.

Yours and my definition of "great" must be different, but fair enough. Matt Le Tissier was great across his career. Rickie Lambert was great across his Saints career. Long was excellent last night.

Was run ragged by Stoke too. But obviously a reason why Martina couldn't get a game ahead of Yoshida at RB on more than one occassion this season. They see him every day in training.

They think Carroll will be back. Cresswell is out having gone off yesterday and Tomkins doubtful. Lanzini may make the bench. Sakho, Payet, Moses, Reid all out definitely. Think they have drawn the last 5 but haven't scored many. Certainly nowhere near as fluid as at the start of the season.

I meant he was good as a sub, like against City, Villa in the Cup etc. Usually has a good impact. But Juanmi also good and showed glimpses of what he can do.

Tadic was good when he came on (as usual) and assisted Long with a nice pass. However, pretty sure the run you mention was from Juanmi, who was very bright.

What do you mean? I said I still don't rate Long over a season. He was good last night though, in very specific circumstances which won't be repeated many or any times in the rest of the season. Would I sell him now? No, because Pelle is injured and perhaps the Manager will now adapt our usual style to better suit Long, like last night. Was he massive overpriced? Yes Would I in the summer if a club came in with £8m or so? Absolutely 100%.

Was good when he came on last night I thought. Lovely quick feet, would be good to see him for a bit longer soon.