Chewy

This

Marshalls scottish. Not sure we can afford Richards, and I'm not sure he has the right attitude either, but certainly has the ability. I always thought he'd end up at centre back and I reckon he could do a job there for us. Personally don't rate Lennon, I think his best years are very much behind him. I suspect our targets for the attacking options will be abroad.

You can't play the high press with three defensive midfielders - it would completely alter our tactics. Even if you pushed Morgan further up we'd lose too much. I think both cork and wanyama are excellent and will have their role in different games but would rarely consider playing them together.

People writing off welbeck should remember how average Daniel Sturridge looked at Chelsea. Given a proper run in his favourite position, he will prove a lot of doubters wrong IMHO. I'd like caulker and Marshall and think we need a lb, an am and a cf. would very happy with welbeck but think that unlikely.

Gallagher and chambers on for jwp and Davis for me.

Fantastic news and well deserved by both. Can't see either of them winning, but the nominations are an excellent recognition in themselves. And what a story for lallana - with us in our darkest days, and now a standout premier league player for the saints. Hope it doesn't go to his head, though. Clattenberg wouldn't be happy ...

The "feet on the ground" thing is what impresses me most about the academy, and IMHO why so many go on to have a career. They have the right attitude to take advantage of their skills and make the most out of what they have. It's not just about the bales and Walcotts, but also the ben reeves and oscar goberns. Not quite got the skill but making a career for themselves nevertheless. That's probably the aspect that makes me most proud. I get the impression I'd hate to hang out with the majority of premier league footballers, but our academy graduates seem nice, down to earth lads who you could actually spend time with. Whoever is responsible for installing these values in the kids at the academy is doing a wonderful job.

On the Pochettinos question, I think he's angling for both a good pay rise (fair enough) and also some assurance that the board will back him to the extent that the club can progress, which will clearly require some investment. If (and despite what some will say, few of us really have any idea) the board won't invest much, mopo will clearly think he can't progress the club enough which will harm his reputation, and affect his future earnings as a professional football manager, so I don't blame him for trying to push the issue. The players and mopo clearly think they're a few players away from a cracking team, and I agree, so I can understand their enthusiasm for the board pushing that little bit further. So what investment is needed? A gk to challenge boruc (5-10m), a cb (similar), a centre forward (net 0 if we offload osvaldo?), an attacking midfielder / winger (expensive), and a left back (cheap, only squad player). If we are cute we can buy a player who can play left back and centre back but that's easier said than done, especially given what we expect our full backs to do in our system. You're looking at at least 30 million. We owe 25, but have 60 million income guaranteed, so if I (biased, obviously) was in charge I'd gamble on the investment. We've proved we are close enough, but lack squad depth, but with no european football we could cope with that squad level. The alternative would mean a reduction in performance on the field, and a reduction in the value of the club as an asset. Speculate to accumulate and all that - I think the outlay required is worth it given the prospects those 4-5 players would give us. Stagnation will lead to a reduction in the asset value. It's not my money so easy to say, but I'd back him.

Btw all, unit j on centurion industrial park (over the water from the old meridian TV building) will be unavailable for parking. Unit j is the jewson transport centre, first building on the right.

Well he certainly couldn't give you the clap.

Please tell me you appreciate the huge irony of you posting this. Given that you start 90 percent (or should that be 110 per saint) of threads he almost certainly was directing that comment at you.

5 wins IMHO. Cardiff are rubbish, villa woeful at home, Swansea bereft of form. The other two are trickier but winnable. Everton could be under a lot of pressure to secure champions league football when we play them. And I'm going for a win against Man U for no other reason than I can't stand them.

Lallana all the way.

Respect

Like everyone, gutted for him. I don't know whether he'd have gone to Brazil, if he'd carried on scoring would have been hard to ignore, but we will never know now. Hope he makes a full and speedy recovery. The silver lining is that our seasons finished anyway, so he's only going to miss about 2-3 months of serious football and in the final few games there'll be chances for gaston to get a sustained run, and maybe some game time for Gallagher or one of the other youngsters. And hopefully it forces the club to look for a serious option up front. But that's not to understate how bad a piece of news this is. Best of luck Jrod.

I'd happily take al habsi, Marshall or McCarthy, but my first choice would be begovic. The first three are likely to be well available, though, whereas begovic would cost a bit.

What a strange decision, this close to the end of the season. They have one game (their next) to save their season, a huge risk IMHO.

So you want the club to make comments, but don't believe them when they do? Ok then.

Onto 7 pages, roughly 4 of which have been slating gazzaniga who might be culpable for one goal. Gotta love the level of support shown here ...

Have you watched the game, or just seen the score? We gave an excellent account of ourselves, completely outplaying the champions elect on their own turf, who've cost a fortune to assemble. We're largely home grown, playing some delightful football, despite losing one of our best players to what looks like a very distressing (and World Cup ruining) injury. If the Lino isn't blind we'd still be one all. Yes, we need another keeper, the whole world knows that, but I'm probably even more proud of saints after that half than I was an hour ago ( if that's possible). Great team, great times ... I can survive being defeated by citeh and the linesman given how we play and all we represent.

What?

A minute longer than United did, and they were at home. We're defo better than them and will finish above them. Maybe.

So what were they linked to? Gaston not being on the bench or Morgan in for jwp?

Except bale plays on the right for Madrid.

Similar game to last season I reckon. We give it a go, give them a scare, and nearly, but not quite, get a result.