Saint Charlie

If Long starts it has to be up front instead of Pelle because he is largely poor out wide, especially away from home. He is a striker and doesn't have the technique to play what is effectively a midfield role. He was also pathetic at tracking Pieters in the Stoke home game - runs well forward but not back.

A few more interesting comments from Ronald in the press conference for the written media. Its on the Saints YT. He sounds like he could be persuaded to stay longer and help the club grow and says we should (like all PL sides I guess) be able to spend more next summer. He is very clear on the finances though: no risk will be taken and we have one of the smaller PL budgets which is offset by having a good structure and belief in what we are doing. He mentions bottom 4 budget, but I think that can't be right.

Be amazed if we sold in Jan, although as his contract is running down you never know if somebody did put in a huge offer. Imagine he will just go in the summer though and despite iffy form of late is still our best central midfielder.

I always think there isn't enough movement in training judging by the photos. Everything is too static.

Only watched for 5mins but we are utter gash as Alpine would say. The coaching setup is certainly interesting. Lots of change in recent years and the current coaches at U18 level don't seem to have a massive youth pedigree when given the rep of our academy we could surely attract the best.

He is the one we got from Shrewsbury I think.

Jesus wept [emoji38]

This will end well. Although agree difference between this season and last is we haven't adequately replaced Clyne and Schneiderlin whereas last season the replacements for Shaw, Lovren, Lallana and Lambert did well. Thats a fair comment. We won't spend in Jan though & arguably whats the point in doing so?

Obviously its nigh on impossible to replace the quality of Morgan but we haven't even signed a player with similar attributes. Attributes that were very key to the success of the team the prior two seasons and which have been noticeably lacking in any of our current central midfielders.

U21 football doesn't prepare players for the quality needed to play in a PL starting XI then. Besides, few U21 regulars make any PL benches apart from in times of an injury crisis. Look at the main players we have brought through into the first team setup with success and few spent more than a year playing U21 football before making the step up. Because they were just better players. The U21 league is mostly made up of players who will end up in the lower leagues. There is no obvious solution either.

Also there is such a gap between U21 football and PL football. Someone like Seager scores better than 1 in 2 at U21 level yet isnt seen as a viable option for the first team, even off the bench. Similarly Gallagher was an U21 regular and can't get a game for a struggling MK Dons side.

True. But like with be signings its tough to do continually and get right. Plus quite a few of our better players have strong ties with Koeman so we have a better chance of keeping them. He has done a great job with the resources provided and if he stays it would be an indication that the Club wants to keep pushing forward.

Got to be looking to keep Koeman if at all possible.

Who is the Schneiderlin replacement then? It isn't Clasie in terms of the attributes Morgan brought (stamina, agility, pressing, control of a game)

He has some weaknesses of course but also strengths and in his position is certainly the best player we have. Still young also and will be difficult to replace when he goes in the summer. Shouldn't be made a scapegoat for poor recent form.

Agree re Pelle and am sure he would have been fined for it.

Erik Pieters will confirm that!

Amazes me how people get so intolerant & personal on a Forum when someone has a different opinion to them. If I'm a bellend because I think we can do better than Shane Long then fair enough I guess. Hope you have a nice, agreeable day tomorrow! ☺

I think the issue is Mane would be best in the central position of the three, but we seem reluctant to play him there as we might get overrun. Look at who other teams have in that position, and their goal/assist output versus Davis & JWP. Also Pelle isn't going to run in behind ever, so its only Mane that does that.

What can be "gutting" about a 3rd round cup draw?

[emoji38] 1. Its an internet forum 2. If people didn't have opinions it wouldn't really work 3. None of the thread is attention seeking 4. n/a

Any expansion on 'decent techique' in relation to what Solly March would bring?

Byram plays mostly in midfield now and doesn't stand out. Out of interest, how many times have you seen March this season and what do you think he would bring attribute wise? I live in Brighton and have seen a couple of live games this season and he is talented but nowhere near PL first team ready at this stage. Far better for him to develop at Brighton for now (plus no reason for them to sell with the PL riches in sight).

Remember its sell to replace with someone else that the Manager trusts and who will actually provide competition and improve the team. Long is always going to be peripheral because he isn't good enough. Not just sell and lose an option in the squad. Thats not the point of this, its saying we can have a better player than Long, who as proven by some of the responses about how hard it will be to shift him, isn't a top half quality player although is about the most dispenable player we have who is worth £5m+.

He wouldn't get anywhere near the Valencia team!