Saint Charlie

1. Play Mane central every time 2. Get Forster back once he is able to as will give players and fans a lift 3. Make a Jan signing to lift the club 4. Hope in the next couple of games we can grind out a result and end the bad run. (I really don't think any of the players not in the lineup are any better than those who are, which is part of the problem really. Many advocating Romeu but he was guilty of not tracking Cabaye last week....)

He was ok, but to claim he will be better than Schneiderlin?

Massive claim to make based on what we have seen so far. I don't think he has it in his locker to be that level.

Presumably they were pleased the club is unique in the way it treats people?

Watch the Kane goal and tell me Fonte, Cedric and VVd weren't anything other than abysmal for it. You can't say today there back 5 were ok.

Top drawer? Surely not. If he is then Schneiderlin was from an entirely different chest of drawers. Was better today bit still think he is physically short in this league.

First half yes. Second half our midfield got nowhere near them. He did well pressing in the first 20mins, absolutely. Defending and winning balls near to our goal rather than higher up? Less so.

The first sentence is wrong. So didn't bother to read the rest. Fonte was dire and culpable for the first. Cedric was dire and involved in both goals. Van Dijk very poor for the first. Bertrand poor for the second.

Sounds like a physical approach. Maybe Pelle and Long up top. Cedric's place must be under threat so Yoshida could come in (or Martina).

So would various other players who Saints don't own and therefore can't pick!

Probably about the same as Long if he stayed across his 4 year deal. Not playing well at the moment but has made big contributions and will also probably be able to get what we paid at least for him, whereas it would have to be a mug club to pay anything above £5m for Long. Wanyama has been a starter most of his Saints career. Long is an overpriced and poor impact player.

We may not be, but could be. Newcastle who are considered dross and relegation material could quite possibly be above us after Boxing Day. I hope the Club are aware of the situation even if fans are not.

Long is always a let down. Like today and like against Palace. He isn't the answer.

From the YT coverage RK saying we will be more physical against Arsenal. To be that would be Yoshida for Cedric, Romeu for Davis and Long for Tadic or along those lines. Doesnt sound like Pelle or Wanyama would miss out if we are going that way. To me those changes would make us worse, not better.

Disagree. No chance of us winning a cup in this form.

He struggles with defending which is a bit of a problem for a full back. Also only tends to grt forward to good effect when playing with Tadic who is excellent at linking with his full back. Another signing who has potentially but isn't suited to week in week out PL football at this stage. Unfortunately we have a few from this summer.

Not financially. He will be a free agent in the summer so will want to wind his contract down to maximise earnings when he signs for someone on a free. Plus I doubt we would want him and Pelle on our books as could never play with both of them.

Still 12th but the team in 17th are only 4 points behind us and we have two tough games to come now. If we get say 1 point from those then we will be easily 15th or 16th.

I don't really see what he can change. When you look at the bench none of the players on it have showed they deserve a starting spot (many the opposite). Will he bring Reed in from the cold? Martina? Ramirez? Maybe a game against a good team like Arsenal, and these comments, will spark a reaction but if not then it has to be either a couple of good January signings or perhaps a shock Managerial change (not my preference) as currently we are showing relegation form, performances and 'atmosphere'.

Still wondering if he will get a Christmas bonus...recruitment largely to blame for current position IMO. Although I guess they are working to a restricted budgetn in mitigation. Would be interesting to know how Wilson compares to Mitchell in the opinion of someone who has dealt with both.

I'm interested to see where he ends up as would be suprised if a top side took him. That said, also shows how good it must have been to play alongside Schnedierlin. Wanyama's partner keeps being rotated because none of the options are really quite up to it.

Did notice today that there aren't many players would would feel are leaders. A few young players making their way, a few flaky foreign players and not many with any real link to the club. Farcry from having 5 Eng Intls in the side. Seem to have lost our identity somewhat.

@SimonPeach: Koeman: "I was expecting a difficult season honestly because expectations were higher than what is normal for Southampton"

Another poor display. In the moments where quality (instead of effort) were needed he was yet again found wanting. To think he will cost £20m across his contract...

Second half he was anonymous and barely won a ball. Plays one or two nice passes but nothing special IMO. Just not suited to this league and looks a bit out of his depth for me.