Chewy

Double post

Back to the op. I think it's too early to question much about him, the only query I have ATM is why we haven't added pace. If mayuka is the option, he should be on the bench, and if he isn't up to it, we need someone who is. A lack of pace out wide as an option has been our most glaring issue offensively for the last two seasons. In time, questions over the midfield partnership and how we accommodate osvaldo might need to be asked, but its too early. Wanyama was excellent in his first two games so some of the bashing on here is grossly unfair IMO. Our defence is immeasurably improved from this time last year, and the rest of the squad has talent and depth, the like of which we haven't seen for decades at saints, but we need that one further option I think. In terms of season predictions, I said that 7th is the best we can hope for, and I still think its possible. Man U lost 1 0 to Norwich last season and won the league FFs. We are clearly not going to do that, but the point is one defeat doesn't spell disaster for the season. Despite everything yesterday we had more possession, and if Webb had given us the penalty he should have we might have won and been joint top. People need some perspective.

Fair point, although the impact of the penalty shouts in the context of the game are a little different. Our one would probably have put us one up, away from home, allowing us to be tighter at the back; there's came when we were throwing people forward looking for an equaliser (which we wouldn't have been doing if we'd scored the pen) and didn't actually affect the result. While they were both clearly shocking decisions, did anyone notice how little appealing there was? Apart from osvaldo I didn't see anyone shouting, even lallana whose shot it was. We're always told play to the whistle but I wonder if we'd stopped and screamed if it would have made a difference. Possibly made it too easy for Webb to chicken out of the decision. I also wonder if his mistake on our penalty influenced his decision on the nor which one. All in all, extremely poor from our alleged best ref. Things do balance out IMO, but after last weeks decisions I can understand why we're feeling hard done by at the moment.

Agreed. Tbh lambert is the conundrum for our team full stop. Our best goal scorer, and extremely intelligent, but slow, and not really a target man. So he has to be one of two strikers as he can't play there on his own, and not mobile enough as one of three behind. our tactics have required one striker, and if we change back to 2 up front like yesterday, we lose our creativity. So where does he fit??

Osvaldo hasn't paid back any of his price tag in 135 minutes? Must be sh1t. Get rid ... Do you remember how long it took bale to settle at spurs, or Henry to settle at arsenal? I'm going to give him a little longer before writing him off

Big if there ...

Calzaghe retired undefeated, you sound like one of those punch drunk ex fighters who still believes they've got it but end their careers fizzling out with a few defeats taking the gloss off their once illustrious career. Your reign is over, accept it, move on, and try not to let all the hangers on spend all your money leaving you both broke and a broken man. If that does happen, turn to drink and drugs, it'll numb the pain and speed up your passing.

So do I, and if we do win and west ham don't, we will be top tonight!!! Fwiw I think lallana, lambert and osvaldo will definitely start so its one between ward-prowse, Ramirez and j-rod with the other 2 on the bench. I'd like it to be Ramirez but think it'll be jwp. Great options, though. Add in Davis, wanyama, spider and cork, that's 10 cracking players for the front 6, with different options for more attacking and more defensive scenarios throughout the season. And that doesn't include mayuka, guly, isgrove, Rowe or Sinclair. We've had some dark days but that's reason to be optimistic - topping the league, even if for one night, would be a fitting way to celebrate this.

Yes, that's the implication. But Turkish seems to think he's still unbeaten. All a bit odd.

Prodigies would be better than pubescents.

Great draw, but could be as many as 13 or 14 premier league sides in the last 16. Very happy but a bit early to get too excited. Need a few upsets to help clear the way.

Psv didn't reach the champions league so maybe memphis depay is now available?

Wtf?

Moron. Football doesn't have to be tribal. The best bit about the link is that almost everyone gave a reasonable opinion, something you'd never find on this forum.

Ok, so keeper and one defender wrong, but the rest of the starting team was spot on surprised there isn't more experience on the bench as an insurance policy but should be enough, and no guly anywhere? Coys

A few selection dilemnas, don't want to overplay the youngsters, so no chambers, shaw or ward-prowse; don't want to risk injuries, so shaw (again) and spider would sit out as they came off on Saturday? And maybe Clyne still isn't fully fit; want to give confidence to forwards, but don't want to tire out next weekends side. I think lallana, lambert and osvaldo will play Saturday so I'd rest them. Can't see an issue with tiredness amongst the keeper and centre backs, but want to give maya some game time. With that in mind I'd go for boruc, maya, hooiveld, Fonte, fox, Davis, cork, mayuka, Ramirez, isgrove, j rod. I'd have Clyne, wanyama, osvaldo and lallana on the bench. And gazzaniga, lambert and maybe targett.

Mopo managed him before. If its ok with you, I will go with his judgement marginally ahead of yours.

Or dependent on qualifying for the group stages of the champions league

It wasn't a ludicrous booking - he kicked him for no good reason, and if the ref had seen his second foul he'd have been off. Still, looked class. Thought lovren was outstanding, along with jwp. Wanyama dominated the midfield, chambers looked remarkably assured for his age without doing anything special, and after a poor first half, lallana was excellent after the break. One of those days though where passes didnt quite stick, and there were two headers that would have been goals if they weren't straight at the keeper. Wrong end for the offside and first penalty shout, but the osvaldo one was stone Waller, he had his arm round his neck. And if the ref wasn't sure, the linesman was looking right at it. Very poor. Overall a bit disappointing, and agree with the comments about needing width. Lots of possession but its all through the middle, and we've only scored two late goals from set plays despite playing two teams off the park. Optimistic, but without goals from open play there's some cause for concern.

On the thread about the summer of inactivity, to back up your agreement with Barry Sanchez that it wasn't good enough, you said second best in your life wasn't good enough. So, have you suddenly changed your mind or are you just trolling .... Hmm, I wonder.

Best so far

Lets hope he room mates with boruc. Sounds like they're as bonkers as each other.

Omg. That's all.

Look, if its to catch on the only option is brick in the wall. Much as I love wish you were here, it's not exactly terrace chanting material ...

Shouldn't be too difficult as he's still injured