doddisalegend

It doesn't really matter who we play at the back. Spurs haven't lost at home all season, have conceded five goals at home all season and have the leagues top scorer up front...were going to get stuffed, and I say that as someone who is generally upbeat about our chances, to get a result at WHL we'd need a bloody miracle

People seem to forget he has only played a handful of games at the top level. He still has a lot to learn and will make mistakes but he looks quiet promising I think. Defending is a team effort pretty much every goal that people are trying to pin on Stephens several players have contributed with mistakes before the goal is scored.

First choice for what he was bought in because we ****ed up Jan, panicked and we needed cover. He may play he may not but he isn't even contracted to be here next season.

Caceres is here until the end of the season and was bought in as cover. This season is already over we aren't getting relegated and we aren't getting Europe it makes more sense to give one of youngsters valuable PL experience than some guy who isn't a long term solution to anything. Stephens can't get better if he doesn't play.

Austin gets goals every where he plays (which is kind of what you want from a CF) but he is limited. I think he would have done well enough playing under Koeman but he doesn't fit the way Puel is trying to play Gabbi's all round game is better. Puel had Austin trying to move around up front, out wide, dropping deep and being part of quick counters attacks which really isn't Austin's game. Austin in a team set up to his strengths (probably playing 2 upfront) would be an asset but we aren't going to be that team. I reckon somewhere like Palace or Watford he would bang in a **** load.

Hardly pools first goal came from a ball that went right across Arsenals area 4 Arsenal players failed to put a foot on it or clear it. Second goal Mane was left out wide un-marked in acres of space again poor defending. Liverpool's third goal was good but helped by Arsenal chasing the game late on.

Watching MOTD not sure our defending is any worse than Arsenal's comical attempts.

insightful

Here's the order you'll see the games in when you tune into Match of the Day tonight at 22:20 GMT on BBC One (23:10 GMT in Scotland): Liverpool v Arsenal Swansea v Burnley Leicester v Hull Watford v Southampton Manchester United v Bournemouth West Brom v Crystal Palace Stoke v Middlesbrough bit of a goalfest in the league today

yeah they'll smash us we can't defend (Kane is going to fill his boots) and they defend really well (no chance spurs will concede 4).

yeah considering our CB situation our defensive mids really need to be on it and sadly both of them are prone to lapses in concentration.

Who knows both Morgan and Big Vic stayed a season longer than I expected after the club put their foot down...

The Brummie Thierry Henry

Meh this seasons a dead rubber so it's a good chance to give our younger players some experience in the PL. Get through to the end of the season get in Ake and keep VVD along with Stephens and Yoshida and we have two good CBs plus two good upcoming ones to step up.

Unlike at Liverpool I doubt big Sam is asking him to play out from the back ever. Row Z lad Row Z...

Be lucky if he is back before the end of the season according to some on the injury thread.

Yes isn't that what the prof is upset about he wanted Stephens rotated... I think. To be honest his post is a bit of a confusing mess

How frustrating we finally get the scoring side of the team right but have lost the early season defensive side. Imagine if Puel had had Gabbi at the start of the season Still only one team playing football today we were excellent going forward.

Is Pogba the most overrated player ever or I'm missing something....

So is Jose going to go on one of his ref rants today post match.....

right up until he makes one of his customary stupid mistakes...

So that's Cedric, Romeu and VVD (plus Koeman) off to Barca this summer then. Is this the "Southampton Way" working at full throttle as we become Barcas feeder club

Really?

Doesn't look likely if this is anything to go by http://www.football.co.uk/southampton/claude-puel-tells-martin-caceres-he-must-earn-his-place-at-s/8430508/#gstrIHTBiroGll6h.97

I've always said Id take 17th if we won a cup final so I guess I'd take 14th and losing a cup final. Personally outside a european spot and the relegation zone league position is pretty meaningless the mid table sides tend to swap around positions on a season by season basis depending on who has the best luck on injuries and average players finding a bit of form.