Chewy

Great stuff as always. My favourite bit this week is 'ivanovic is also a w4nker. No wonder Suarez bit him. Funny and accurate.

Once you get past the first page of wrist slitting, most on here have called it correctly IMO. Great start, inexplicably shut down after 25 mins or so and the goal was coming. It was offside, but not by yards and officials will make mistakes without the support of technology. A disaster from yoshida later and it was game over. I didn't think yoshida was bad until that point, but he does seem to have a clanger in his locker too often. Also, interesting that fonte was cut more slack last year for making the exact same mistake but that's our fans I guess. However, even with a dire 40 minutes or so, I think we were hard done by. De Gea was outstanding, martial looked composed beyond belief given his age, the price tag and the pressure he must be under, and two of their goals should never have happened (linesman and Yoshida). That alone gives me confidence that we will be fine this season, especially with people returning from injury. One last thought - why Shane long and not j-rod for the last substitute?

I just think the extra games in Europe will take their toll. I don't think for one second we will do a hull, but Everton last season might be a better indicator. Finished strongly but had a bad patch mid season as far as I remember. Without Europe I'd think we could challenge for 6th, possibly 5 th. not that I'd rather we weren't in Europe before Turkish pipes up ...

Well, someone's got to start this thread - can't believe it hasn't been started already. A chance to show off your skills, or a chance to be laughed at in 9 months time ... So, premier league positions, and I suppose we should add in cup winners (league and fa), euro winners, where we will finish in the three cups, and who will win the sack race. I'm going for: Premier league Chelsea Man City Arsenal Man U Liverpool Everton Spurs Stoke Saints Palace Swansea West Ham Newcastle West brom Villa Sunderland Leicester Bournemouth Norwich Watford Fa cup Chelsea ( saints semi finals) League cup Man U (saints round 3) Champions league Barcelona UEFA cup Man City (saints first knockout round) Sack race ... Got to be Watford.

Neither of us suggested anything of the sort. I know nothing about this at all. I just heard he was struggling to settle here and thinks he will be better amongst fellow Belgians. I wish him well.

It's not. He was unhappy, he will probably be happier at Spurs. That's it.

Got to be a bit careful about what I say, but the fact is Toby was really struggling to settle here; his extended injury lay off had a little more to it than it seems. He feels that he's more likely to settle at Spurs due to the significant contingent of Belgian players. That's why he chose Spurs, nothing more sinister, and certainly nothing to do with Spurs being an infinitely better club. We should be proud of how we stood by Toby, and should lay off him. He's a human being and has done what's best for him as a person. I wish him the best. Let's hope we get a comparable replacement but we should be careful on how we judge how we, the player, and the relevant clubs have behaved.

Not my forte so someone else needs to work out the lyrics, but surely something based on Take On Me by a-ha?

Really? Don't think either have a cat in hells chance of finishing above this years top four. If he goes now, it will only be for the money.

The only teams we didn't pick up points on today so far are hull and citeh, neither of whom are direct competition for us (for different reasons). So far then, a great day. Spurs winning would be the only bad result for us of the day, so I'm cheering on Chelski for the second half.

Obviously the usual few loonies on here using words like embarrassing and disgraceful. Someone also suggesting Forster had a bad game. ??? But most are calling it right, outplayed by the champions who finally found some form. Actually weren't that far off them for a while, but with Morgan off and a goal down, we tried chasing and were punished for a mistake and then having not enough cover. Not going to get too upset, and still think the top 4 is a chance, albeit an outside chance. Chelsea will win the league, and city will be second. No disgrace in being outclassed by either of them. In terms of the morgan sub, I kind of agree that maybe reed should have had his chance, I just think wanyamas yellow card made Koeman nervous about putting him as the anchorman. Only real issue for me is that for the second game running our crossing was awful. We've had at least a dozen corners in the last 2 games and barely threatened once. Oh, and the ref was dreadful. Mostly in our favour actually, especially with the aguero 'dive', but as bad a performance as I've seen since we got back in the premier league. Anyway, let's move on to arsenal. Another very difficult game and I won't be overly concerned if we drop another 3 points as we are still on for a great season, but I think we have half a chance of a result against their defence. Coys.

They've defended very well ... Just as villa did against us. Just goes to show if a team is organised and disciplined you can get a draw against anyone, but it's rarely enough over a season. Still think they'll struggle this year. And just as I don't think today means chelsea arent the best team in the league, I don't think Monday at villa shows our form is dropping significantly. Can't wait for tomorrow, should be a cracking game.

Honestly? Nothing more than a general dislike for each of the three teams. Want to see mopo fail and I'm not too worried about everton; their defence will cost them enough points this season IMHO. Can't stand Bruce, one of those managers that always bangs on about referees. Plus their owners attempts at rebranding them as tigers is hideous. Again, IMHO. As for Stoke, I know their football is better than it was under pulis but they're still an ugly side, and the city is a complete dump.

lol Was going to say away win because I really don't like Sam, then remembered how well Newcastle are doing. While I'm hoping our competition will be Man U and arsenal, I think it might end up being Newcastle and swansea.

Bearsy, thats genius

Not seen the now obligatory thread, so thought I'd put it up this week. Peoples thoughts and preferences? West brom v arsenal want home win, predict away win Burnley v villa want away win, predict the same Liverpool v Stoke want a draw, predict the same Man U v hull want a draw, predict home win Qpr v Leicester want away win, predict home win Swansea v palace want draw, predict home win West Ham v Newcastle want away draw, predict home win Sunderland v Chelsea want home win, predict away win Spurs v everton want away win, predict draw

Liverpool paid 35 million for andy Carroll. Juve paid nothing for pirlo. You utter helmet. And there's a long list of alternative comparisons if you want to further the discussion.

Spot on. Only decision is who to start out of long and mane. Just for his pure unpredictability I'd probably go with mane.

I would also start with cork against City if Davis is still out as its a different game and we will be severely tested defensively, but am happy with koemans starting 11 last night. And thanks for the reminder about liverpools plight. So far, this really is the season that keeps giving

I know. Gotta love keeper threads, there's nothing better for demonstrating how clueless some people are at judging footballers. Do you remember the boruc one after his first game? The one with the spat with someone in the chapel stand. The majority of posters on that thread thought Davis was a better bet and that boruc was a waste of space, a has been. I remember saying on that thread that although ring rusty and unfit, he was clearly a class above Davis, and actually talked to his defence to help organise them, something that hadn't happened in years. I think it's fair to say I was proved right on that one, and I think I will be proved right about this: Forster has the potential to be one of our very best ever keepers. If you listened to people on here, boruc is better than Forster, Davis is better than boruc, and some rated gazzaniga as a better bet than Davis. So on that rational gazzaniga is better than Forster. And lo and behold, there's some people on this thread saying Forster reminds them of gazzaniga! Clueless. The class level difference is blindingly obvious to anyone who knows anything about football. What was obvious last season was that our second choice options for keeper were unacceptable at this level. So we bought an excellent prospect who needs games to develop in the hope that boruc would be happy as a second choice. After he spat his dummy, and given that our club ethos is all about a happy camp, we had no option but to get rid, but done in a way that means we can call him back if needed. Is Forster a better keeper today than boruc? Possibly not. Has forster got the potential to be better? Absolutely. So play him, develop him, accept the odd blunder and reap the rewards. You only need to look at the likes of morgan and lallana to see what happens if you stick with people who so clearly have the talent. And lastly, for the love of God, will people stop going on about the size of his transfer fee. It's irrelevant. Surely as a saints fan, seeing the fees we received this summer, you must appreciate that fees are not just about talent, but about availability and demand.

Best, blackstock, James, Gillett, gobern?

Don't know why I put myself through saints web at times, some utter morons on here. Forster league 1, Mane southern league, koeman getting it wrong, Saints very poor ... Some of you need a serious reality check. First, Forster ... Error of judgement which cost us a goal. But he's still young, has helped us to a remarkable defensive record the season after breaking the scottish record for clean sheets and played for England last week. I still think he might, just might, have the potential to be really good. And the error wasn't that bad, it's not as if he cost England a trip to the World Cup like that league 1 standard Shilton did all those years ago. Next, tactics. Davis is injured, you're playing a team that will have 7 defenders where both centre backs are back-up players so do you play a third deep-lying midfielder who is excellent at passing sideways, ensuring your possession stats go from 65% to 75% with no added penetration, or do you give it a go with another forward? Well done koeman on giving it a go. Hindsight is wonderful, and given how the game panned out, having long or mane to come off the bench would have been useful, but the game should have been finished long before. The main issue last night was the standard of crossing. And while I love Clyne, and he scored the winner, set up by Bertrand, I do find it amusing that they are 1 and 2 in the motm poll when they, along with tadic, were woeful in their crossing last night. Clyne had 2 that went behind for a goal kick. And even from corners ... We had half a dozen in the first half, and aside from Fonte heading straight at the keeper, didn't threaten at all. But that's where my issue with last night ends. We dominated, were by miles the better side, but struggled to break down a back 7. When there's that many defenders playing so deep you can't play over or through them (without a messi) so you need width and quality crossing and the crossing wasn't good enough. Add in a mistake on one of their three breakaways and in the end I'm grateful we got a point. But overall, as a saints fan I'm still delighted. Not sure if this draw means this is no longer our best start to a top flight season, but it's still utterly remarkable. And for people on here to be criticising koeman, the team, or people like Forster is just ridiculous. This is as good as it gets. Just think, it could be so much worse. Pity the villa fan, a once great club, finished 6th three seasons running while we were languishing in league 1, and you turn up to see your team play 7 defenders for 90 minutes and pray you can sneak something on the break, in an empty stadium with no atmosphere. You get utterly dominated, sneak a point, and are 2 points off relegation. We really are in a good place, guys. Enjoy it and stop moaning

Probably because you remember the game from St Mary's last season where, despite fielding a 9-1-0 formation they managed to score three goals. Still, a few minor differences this time; firstly they haven't got Fabian "I haven't scored in years but will score a goal Ronaldo would be proud of" delph playing. Second, we haven't got Maya "here Mr agbonlahor, let me miss the ball completely and let you have a free run on goal" yoshida playing. And third, we don't have paulo "that cross looks like it's going to the edge of my six yard box, there's no way I'm coming to claim that, far too far, sh1t where did that centre forward come from, oh dear me maybe I should have moved those 3 yards and caught it" gazzaniga playing. Of course, if the team sheet reveals that I'm wrong about yoshida and gazzaniga, I might change my mind. Mind you, even then their defend in numbers strategy might still fail given that they have, well, absolutely no defenders. It feels like a strange parallel universe where I can say this, but I'm actually perfectly confident.

Ok, good fun. 29 out of 31 on the first, more than happy. 39 out of 50 on the second, though all those I missed were from before I was born. That said, missing one of the most important figures in English football was a bit stupid. And 160 out of 198 on the last. For some strange reason, the season I struggled most with was 07/08! Don't want to give too many clues, but I can't believe I missed out on the football colossus that was jermaine Wright ...

27 for me. Peed off I missed magilton and tessem, but more meh about Watson and banger. Was pretty darn hard to be fair.