NickG

Carroll would have to have amazing scoring record in next few weeks and that's pretty unlikely. 13/14 Carroll 0 in 3 Lambert 7 in 23 12/13 Carroll 7 in 26 Lambert 15 in 38 11/12 Carroll 4 in 35 Lambert 27 in 42 (champ) 10/11 Carroll 13 in 26 Lambert 21 in 45 9/10 Carroll 17 in 39 (champ) Lambert 30 in 45 Last 1 ½ seasons since we have been in prem Lambert 22 Lallana 10 Jay Rod 16 Carroll 7 Suggest Carroll offers the least in areas away from scoring. Top English goal scorers- Sturrridge 13 JayRod 10 (crap scorer according to saintsweb) Rooney 9 Wellbeck 8 Lallana 7 Lambert 7 Carroll shouldn't be near squad IMHO - all our three well ahead on ability, scoring, form and flexibility.

The press reporting on saints must be running at about 95% false. Nothing seen or heard makes me think we are any more likely to be sold than other summers or in fact other clubs - could happen but doubt it. KL has said she wants to continue the plans and support the manager. Most of our progress and spending has been under her rather than ML - so why would her being more visible and involved be bad news? She may well be being charmed my our performances and MP and want to invest more? Shaw leaving looks likely but don't think that's certain. MP sounds like he is planning on being around for a while - although not much is long term with managers. Good chance of few signings - wouldn't be surprised with keeper, defender, creative midfielder and forward. Also predict lots of moaning and negativity in here with little basis. Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

Think your reaction shows lack of understanding. Cost cutting, in a business, is an specific aim to reduce expenditure to assist profit/loss. I don't think that has been the situation. Osvaldo has gone because he head butted Fonte. Not cost cutting. puncheon is he requested a move & palace needed to free loan place. Others because their careers were stagnating here never needed. The consequence of Osvaldo leaving is that our costs are reduced. That is very different to the club undertaking cost cutting. So, no need for your response. Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

How many games at most will Gallagher get this season? We only have 15 more. The club posted YouTube video today of Lambert playing foot tennis - which means he is fit again. As others have said, we were surprised when JWP and others were rated so highly as ready for first team - but club have been proven right. Surely it makes sense, if Gallagher has the potential to be a prem player to give him a few games? Would he get that if we sign someone else? What's the worst that can happen? We don't catch Newcastle? Not sure if you saw his miss on TV or at ground? I was there and thought it a bad miss, having seen it on TV he reacted well and although good chance not as easy as I thought. Both Osvaldo and Lambert have missed easier in last few weeks. I hope we don't rush into any signings - someone good who fits into plans for next season fine but we do not need anyone this. There isn't cost cutting. If NC was here, publicly stating we will fund club to top four I fully expect we would have exactly the same window as this. Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

Wasn't yours. Was additional point on same post sorry. Fitzfella amongst others moaning on pre match thread. Assure you not made up but sorry if wasn't clear. Reports are Lambert nearly back - our good first 23 games has given us a good opportunity to try squad / young players not be forced into signings which maybe more risky than would like. Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

My point is more disagreeing with the greedy sign anyone panic buys post I quoted. Guly isn't the only back up to Lambert is he? We saw Gallagher do very well against the 3rd and 4th best CBs (after Lovren & Fonte ). On the night the only criticism I had was the miss - but happens to best and now, having seen it on TV not as bad as I thought. You say, what if Lambert's injury reoccurs and Gallagher has a bad run - would suggest as likely, if not more, that if we sign an Italian star he won't click straight away. Also, with the way formations/ tactics change their are other options. If we put Cork/ Wanyama as DM we then have four more attacking players and to choose from Schneiderlin, JWP, Davis, Lallana, JayRod, Guly, Lambert, Gallagher, Isgrove - Chelsea do ok without scoring CFs! I'm not saying never sign a player, or ignore opportunities this window if right player available just we shouldn't panic and what's the worst that will happen if we don't? Tuesday wasn't a fluke and showed we have quality within. Hopefully Lovren and Ramirez will be back in a few weeks. Still don't think, after Fonte's interview, Osvaldo's tweets that Osvaldo 100% gone. Radio reporting Puncheon signed for Palace. Finally, think it is sad that fans have the lack of passion/ enjoyment / excitement that people such as Fitzfella showed on Tuesday with negative comments about Gallagher starting. Each to their own but I still get excited about seeing a new prospect start.

IMHO that's rubbish. This is January transfer window. It would be a poor way to run a club to panic buy players due to players being out for a couple of weeks. We don't need anyone now . we would like players and need players to keep growing but not January panic buys. Tuesday was great night - with Lambert, Wanyama, Lovren, Ramirez and possibly Osvaldo still to return to the side. Who are our rivals for 8th / 9th getting stronger? Newcastle lost their best player! After seeing how fans tear into Fox, Ramirez and Osvaldo for not fitting into system I do buy MP's comments over your whinge

Hard to pick mom but thought Chambers was superb. He seemed more solid, quicker, and was reading game better than whoever came down his side, did he get beaten once? Involved attacking as well. Thought was better of two fullbacks tonight - Shaw was very good and offered more going forward but seemed to lose his position and was too slow getting back leading directly to a goal. Not slating him just why I'd put Chambers ahead tonight. Schneiderlin was every where, so reliable with possession. lallana works harder each game. Don't get the lack of passion / excitement from a few posters on prematch thread about seeing Gallagher. Good to see another young player and good debut Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

I keep seeing comments that we "need" a new signing in this window, or the squad is too weak. I am not sure when "want" turns into "need" as personally I can't see that we need any signings this window. Obviously we should always be looking to improve so we don't go backwards and there are clearly areas in the squad with less depth than others. Our signings, if any, should be players who will add to the squad primarily for next season, rather than West Ham like panic for this window. We currently are 9th with 31 points. Examples of final points totals for us at different points / game rates; - drops to only match the bottom's three clubs this season (West Ham, Cardiff, Sunderland) = 44 points - match our season rate last season = 48 points - finish season as we finished last season (last 16) = 50 - match our rate so far this season = 54 points - improve to match our first 16 = 55 points - improve to match Liverpool's season so far = 62 We should be safe for 47-54. (even if Lovren takes a while I think this season's squad is better than last's which got 19 points) If we get 50, Newcastle and Man U would need relegation form for us to catch them. If we finish as strongly as top four side, we would still need Man U and Newcastle to drop their form for us to climb the table - although we have both at home so possible. If Villa improve their points per game to the level we have been they will still be behind us if we only get 47. If we get into the 50-55 points range Villa will need to perform at the level so far achieved by Man U to Liverpool to catch us. If we have a disaster and finish on 44, due to us suddenly performing at the lowest level in the table - Villa would still be to improve to catch us. Buy no-one, or sign Astori, CF, winger etc - we are still very likely to finish 9th So we don't need anyone this window!! ....however, few top non-FA cup tied players..

He may have attitude but you are wrong about ability; Serie A - 35 goals in 69. La liga - 20 goals in 39 Total in those top leagues 55 goals in 108. Andy Carroll - 27 in 111 premier league. Over double Carroll's rate in possibly harder leagues to score in. And good scoring rate back to 2007. (Didn't realise Carroll's scoring rate so low!)

As always blinkered views based on incomplete facts are prevalent on this thread. Clearly he is in the wrong and it needs sorting - the difference in ability between him and, for example , Gallagher , would not be worth big problems with the team spirit. But how bad it was, whether he was initially victim of some thing but hugely over reacted, what he wants, what Fonte wants, what MP wants etc we don't know. But let's not pretend every player gets on or there aren't similar (albeit not as serious) incidents often. If as reported Fonte needs to be backed - and he has. Everyone maybe satisfied that's the end of it -IF there can be a reasonable colleague relationship. But public apology? He hasn't publicly said anything against Fonte think getting carried away with the press drama queens

So panic on here & elsewhere misplaced? All we knew was NC decided to suddenly leave in January. And that KL has committed to carry on plans and support manager (hinting continuing spending). Load of nonsense in papers & talksport. KL tried to keep him. I said I thought his departure maybe just personal / opportunity for him. We all know champions league would take silly money but NC wanted it. Maybe he was approached recently, offered silly salary plus silly budget and saw chance to drag a team up as he did with us but with more money? Maybe nothing else here changed? Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

I credit our players with being more rationale and less fickle than supporters such as OP. You say yourself they were happy in summer of 2013. So if they are going to take your lead and review things five months later, what will they think? They will think that as far into the season as 23 November we were playing Arsenal with opportunity to go top. Arsene Wenger saying one of best two sides he has played this season. They will remember that as far into the season, and before being hit by injuries we were 1-0 up at half time away from to Chelsea playing better. They will be proud that England management have recognised the ability of Clyne, Shaw, JayRod, Ward-Prowse, Lallana and Lambert - amazing. Three players in full England side. International prospects? Ignoring the fact we are the England managers pet club haven't Yoshida, Wanyama, Lovren, Osvaldo, Steve Davis, Boruc and Ramirez all played internationally since the Spring /Summer? 7 December we played Man City. Probably one of the top 5 sides in Europe at the moment. Facing side with Kompany, Toure, Nasri, Ageuro, Navas, Nagredo, Dzeko etc. We finished game with a young side of 21, 18, 24,30,18, 19,23,24, 18, 24, 27. Pellegrini said pleased with point and " Southampton are a good team and if you give them the ball they have dangerous players,*I felt for us that it was a good point, not that we lost two points,’ he said. ‘Southampton played very well, they had better possession of the ball. ‘Southampton have good players to keep it, and they tried to play.* Vincent Kompany said of our boys " " I think Southampton were actually in control of the game. "We will look at this and think that we did not get beaten and moving on it was a tough game so wasn't a bad result." "Every team should be disappointed if they don't manage to maintain a result," he said. "But it is a very good Southampton team and many teams will lose points here. "It did feel like a top game, it did feel like we were playing a top side, so for us we take a positive out of the point and if we manage to win the next game then ultimately we will be happy with the draw." But he is only a title winning international captian and premier league player of the season. Season fizzled out? Goals gone? What were your goals in the summer? Top half? Well that goal may not excite you because looks so comfortable. Still chance of finishing 7th! Still in FA cup. We have 5 players with some chance of playing for England in Brazil world cup final. Won 3 out of last 6, with two defeats against 3rd and away to 6th. They were so happy 5 months ago....where did it all go so wrong??!! Or is it just irrational fickle fans in a panic reading articles in mail so clearly muddled they contradict themselves?

When did MP threaten to quit? Interview I heard was more him saying hopes to keep KL happy. Always chance manager may leave in summer - do well move up, badly get sacked. Particularly if employable in other countries. NC did quit and certainly negative. Too early to see full impact. Osvaldo - hopefully hot headed moment and players can move on, if not seem spirit more important than one player. League form isn't very poor. Have you been to games? Points gained over period disappointing but few disappointing performances. Funny, those who moan about ambition and say should know our place....moan when we get beaten by Chelsea, narrowly by Spurs and Everton. Get good result at Newcastle and Man City. Have you asked KL about selling the club? If not what's your moan? Some idea in your head or rumour and she should jump to respond?! She said "I'm absolutely committed to ensuring the club continues its success" "complete support to build on.." Excited about future, poised to move in training ground, "plan way forward" looking forward etc - only fool would guarantee to please you as things change but these are not things you say to sell something - you say its for sale! Sunderland agree disappointing. Sounds like should have killed game off but we were only 2-0 for very short while - often happens if team gets one straight back play changes. Agree shame about injuries. Rest not even worthy of response just nonsense looking for moan.

Good initial statement. Some nice bits in there which are more than bland holding statement. Goods news and not the disaster some were predicting. Early days but I'm not going to worry Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

He was brought in on short term contract to sort out issues in the club. Think was lack of control / processes / records and to get rid of excess squad players. Maybe good contact for getting us some of Man City's spare players? Will know what club / players need. Although lots of rumour, not helped by self contradicting articles in mail we don't know much. We don't know club for sale, takeover etc. All we can be fairly confident of are KL and MP's comments. Cortesse resigned, KL made attempts to keep him, MP staying. We don't know from a good source, as far as I know, anything about NC working notice, KL wanting to sell,takeover. Few days ago BBC had their football business / finance expert giving his view. No claim to inside knowledge just opinion. He thought most likely reason was that NC left purely for personal reasons e.g. his view / plans changed, maybe another opportunity, family or needing change. He also said that KL could sell players and pocket money. However unless she wants to get a few million short term there is no point. If she wants to sell, the price could go down by more any transfer fee. The value for a buyer could be viewed as lost value in squad plus lost potential. My view....NC's drive , vision and arrogance (refusal to set a limit or see other clubs as bigger) is a loss but without knowing facts, his replacement, budget or whether club for sale we cannot get too excited or depressed.

He was embarrassing but amusing in a pathetic way. Always being disagreeable and moaning on every thread. Loved disrespecting other posters. Tried debating then his stubborn ill thought through views would get him into a corner. Whatever happened to him? Glad no-one replaced him Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

Think a lot is fans' expectations.. You will be doing very well if all forwards hit form at the same time. Barry said that Hooper / Ricky van w / altidore in our first 11. JayRod 9 goals 2 assists Lambert 6 goals 5 assists Lallana 5 goals 6 assists Total 20 goals 13 assists Hooper 5 goals 2 assists Altidore 1 goal 1 assist Ricky VW 1 goal 1 assist Total 7 goals 4 assists Also Lambert and JayRod offer a lot more to the team than many other forwards. Form dipped but not bad half season! Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

Totally agree. Hope both make Brazil - insignificant how many miss for us in comparison, just hope back in time to get fit for their teams. Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

Some of things he says are subjective, some clearly biased from an anti - KL dance. But surely he could see the complete break down in logic for some of those (eg NC selling RL/ NC leaving will trigger RL's departure {although NC was selling} and negotiations now stopping Or the one where the forward who plays more than any other forward in country is joining team who play one forward, already have 3 expensive ones to play more? Surely these defeat his aim and make things worse? Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

I'm confused about what is going on, even if base info on one source - Daily Mail / Ashton. Seem almost contradictions sometimes with same story or is it me not understanding? KL will run the show Or KL will appoint chief exec to handle affairs Players openly threatening to walk away - openly? Who then? KL has been rejecting advances to sell Or KL's involvement raises fears she may sell NC's departure means players leaving starting with RL. Or NC was in talks with West Ham to sell RL but now cancelled due to his departure. RL wants to leave as he has a restricted first team role and fears lack of regular football threatens world cup place therefore move to West Ham. Or Facts = RL has played in every prem game for us this season. RL played 90 mins in more games than any other attacking player for us. Even at 31 RL has not only played in every prem game but started FA Cup. No other forward in prem can match this! West Ham have record signing just back from injury, given Cole new contract, signed Traore. Are not rated as highly by England Manager, play one up front - play more? Improve England chances? KL -promote fear of cashing in on players Or KL values Shaw at £30m and only sell for world record fee. NC tolerated KL and kept her at arms length Or KL owns club & NC's boss? KL has no experience of running club (but owned one for while and family owned it before that) Or NC great chairman (although no previous experience of running club) MP does know why NC left but can't say due to restricting contract. Or NC and MP very close with NC giving him contract. MP spoke to KL five minutes ago Or KL only spoke to MP for five minutes. Players asking to leave Or MP saying no players ask to leave. KL been too involved Or KL never goes to games / not interested / only spoken to MP once at party. MP met NC to discuss (alone?) MP in tears for meeting (already said MP won't talk about meeting??!) NC resigned. Or NC negotiating compensation Too confused to have my dream wrecked, can anyone assist?

Maybe I wasn't clear, or you missed my point... Barry - 'bigger' doesn't matter! What is it anyway? Crowds? Then spurs and everton are not far ahead and have 12th highest crowds this season so why would you put our club (add in stadium academy ) as 20th? If its historic trophies (not that Everton have been winning much) maybe you are in awe of skates? CB not sure if its just your default response but I'm clearly talking about NC's stated ambitions not where we have reached today

What you miss is that football isn't a competition for who is the biggest in some Barry's subjective test. Its about winning games. Winning more games comes from better players and management - who are more likely to be at your bigger clubs. A year ago we were told on here we are light years away from spurs and Everton etc. NC showed this isn't true. We have been competing with them. Yes we are behind but in second season have hugely closed the gap, because NC was open minded and ambitious. Historic trophies or being 'big' don't attract good players - money, where club are competing and prospects do. The signings of Lovren, Osvaldo, Wanyana this season showed we are attracting players good enough for top 8. I could not see us competing with the top 4 ever, but would be silly to say its impossible as someone may want to fund it. Respected pundits felt it was good that we questioned the natural order rather than accept others will always be better. Everton and Spurs do not get significantly better crowds. My view is our academy feed is better. We should aim to break into that group. Of course, others will too. I'm frustrated about yesterday's events and feel its a real step backwards. Its hit the most important thing for fans - optimism. As others said, felt similar last year as thought we would steadily improve with NA, so maybe it will be OK. The only thing that is clear from reports is we don't know what's happened and why. We maybe for sale, or about to invest more, or plod on - all could fit. Others CEOs could do a good job , my fear is not so much losing NC but losing the bought into vision. And those looking for silver lining ....I don't even like stripes!!

Anyone else a likely contender?

Agree. We have 17 games left. In last 17 last season we got 23 points. Even worst teams Wigan. Reading and QPR got 18, 15 and 12. Do as bad as the terrible already down QPR and we will have had an amazing drop in form but still safe on 42! We should cruise 20 points which would give us enough for 8 last season. The most likely outcome is a battle between us and Newcastle for 8th. Wouldn't write of 7th but that is more to do with fitness of Rooney / RVP and pressure on their manager. Which is why we don't 'need' a January signing unless it is a good longterm signing. Pretty sure both Man U and Newcastle have some hard games coming up and still to come to us.