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De Boer is the more natural choice for them. Doubt Everton would be massively more attractive than staying at Saints, but you never know.

Problem with Stek is that he just doesnt save any half good shots! How many goals did we concede with him in goal that Forster would've saved? I reckon at the very least 5 or 6 of those 19 goals Big Frase would've got. Be interesting to go back and see some highlights of some of the goals conceded from the start of the season.

Who will stay and go? 2016 Maarten Stekelenburg (loan expires) Kelvin Davis Will Britt Joshua Debayo Jake Flannigan Gastón Ramírez Marcus Barnes 2nd year scholars 2015-16 Jake Hallett Richard Bakary Kyle Clinton Ollie Cook Alfie Jones Joe Lea Stuart Wilkin Olufela Olomola Carel Kayembe I think Jones and Olomola have featured pretty prominantly in the u21 so likely to be offered new deals. Anyone else from those, or the more senior players? I thought Debayo had potential from a few pre-season games I saw but hasnt done much since. Flannigan unfortunately doesnt seem to have pushed on and not sure about Barnes either? Ramirez will get a good contract elsewhere and Davis to retire, with Stek either signing permanently or returning to Fulham.

Thanks!

Going through this and no doubt we'll be linked to some good players (mainly from Europe), but was wondering who's out of contract this summer? Ramirez the obvious one, any other first team / squad members? and what about youth team players?

I also think he's pretty good, but last season we were probably a body short in midfield with Spiderman and Wanyama being the obvious two first choices, but backup being quite limited. We therefore saw Reed and Toby get a few games in there when various injuries / suspensions were in place. Obviously Toby and Schneiderlin have now both left the club and Clasie and Romeu, too fairly established central midfield players, have come in. This has pushed Reed one further down, but I am a bit confused as to why he hasnt played much in the cup or at least got some more minutes off the bench when we've had a few of the midfield down. We've also had more strength in depth than previous seasons, and are now at the point where we can potentially have 5 or 6 strikers in the matchday squad (Pelle, Long, J-Rod, Austin, Juanmi, Mane, Gallagher to a stretch), whilst in the past we've also only had a couple of established players, and therefore had players like Gallagher (and Reed) maybe drafted in a little early. There's therefore less slots available for the younger players to even make it on the bench, but fingers crossed we'll see him get in the matchday squad a few times more til the end of the season, and hopefully make it out onto the pitch. Would love to see the likes of Reed, Targett, Ward-Prowse and Gallagher tearing up the premier league, but maybe they're not good enough (yet...)

Was pretty shaky at the start of the season but seemed to improve a bit. Crossing was particularly woeful on a number of occasions I saw him earlier on, plus giving away a few bad fouls / getting a little lucky with a few penalty shouts. Seemed to improve a little when played ahead of Bertrand, but not sure he's yet ready to be a regular, and havent seen his last 2 or 3 games.

I'd be incredibly p-ed off if he went anywhere this Jan. Especially for less than we signed him for. We've finally got good options upfront - and before anyone says 'J-Rod's coming back'...

Widescreen next time Mr Nacho!

Was pretty awful although Alfie Jones has looked decent on a few occasions (especially coming up an age) and was ok last night. What happened to Wood who looked pretty good early in the season? Something that does strike me is how much smaller most of our players (apart from the defence) are compared to other teams. Obviously Gallaghers a big lad, but most of the others barely seem to scrape 5'6! We're not exactly powering through teams...

Every time the West Ham owners (or the son) seems to say anything its just made out like they're so in the know about everything in the world of football and run the best club in the whole wide world (yes miss, look at me, we're so amazing), or they're really bitter...

Was very good last night, but was definitely one of the weakest players against Palace, where his crossing was pretty awful. Good to see him put that right last night though.

Was very good against Palace and very good again last night

He better be a really good player on the level of Schneiderlin / Alderweireld then, or I can see a lot of upset. If it's a bargain basement loan or £3/4/5 mil player they are really taking the mickey.

Hopefully this means we've got a bit more wages ready to cover our new superstar striker, plus the 2 or 3 other top players we should've signed in the summer... Is there actually any news on 'the good lad around town' (taken from his twitter) Gardos?

Havent read the full thread, but where was Bertrand on Sat? His crosses would've at least beat the first man... Martina put in a few dangerous balls from the right but Targett on the left was quite suspect with his crossing. Very unlucky though not to get a foul when he outpaced Zaha only to be 'slingshotted' back by Zaha pulling his arm. What the hell was that non-decision all about?!?! Referee had an absolute shocker!

Davis only played the first half and JWP came on at his usual 70 odd min mark. So they should both be pretty fresh, and I doubt either will play the full 90 in all 3 matches. Am I the only one who think that's Seager's actually not that amazing?! I have watched quite a few u21 games, and although he's a good finisher, I think Scott Dann would've probably finished him within about 5 minutes of him being on the pitch...

Really want to see Bevis Mugabi dictating the backline.

Agree. Would Pochettino really play Targett if he had Bertrand? Is Reed as good as Alli? Is Seagar proven that he's better than Gallagher (who struggled for games in the championship)? Maybe he's saying this as the youngsters are becoming complacent from all the previous success other players from the academy have had? Perhaps he hears the murmurs from the crowd 'why is x playing when x from the academy plays in that position' (when the person watching in the crowds has probably barely seen that player play).

Someone with a bit of fight in him! Get him in!

Both recalled as they werent playing regularly enough. Would be silly to throw Gallagher into the first team though if he cant get in the MK Dons team. Maybe he'll play in the U21 cup tonight? Or on the bench on Sat instead of Seager?

I wouldnt take much from that BBC 'vote' - got to be discounted if they've given Rooney England player of the year?! 3 goals (against France, Slovenia and the mighty Lithuania) and 2 penalties (against Switzerland and San Marino) but generally playing like an absolute donkey (and getting paid £200k a week for it).

Why wouldnt we? J-Rod is injured and it's yet to be proven that he will ever get back to where he was, and Seager is totally unproven.

Seems he's staying with Wycombe another month.

See he played in goal for the last 6+ mins on Sat after Wycombe's keeper got sent off giving away a penalty. Couldnt save the pen but showing good responsibility as a young lad out on loan to step up like that.