doddisalegend

Interesting that Clyne who was frequently praised for his tackling doesn't even make the top 10 of the list in the OP while Cedric, who people claim is defensively suspect, does make the list and with the highest percentage of successful tackles in the top 10 players to boot. Of course their is more to a being a good fullback than tackling but from what I've seen Cedric is pretty good going forward to. I wonder what the assist/cross stats are like for Cedric and Clyne this season? I've always rated Clyne but over the last few weeks, as he has found his feet, I can not say I've watched Cedric play and felt the team has missed Clyne all that much.

Did Sunderland even have a playing style to change? They have had so many managers I doubt they've managed to pin down a playing style in the last few seasons............unless **** is a style. If nothing else big Sam will make them harder to beat but he hasn't had enough time to implement his way of doing things yet hopefully this isn't the week the Sunderland players "get it"

Sadly I think it's serious

I work with a couple of Liverpool fans who can't wait to tell me how Southampton sold them a load of crap in Lambert, Lallana, Clyne and most especially Lovern pretty much from the day they were sold.

and yet he has made 97% of his attempted tackles successfully so it seems to be working for him.

Yep first couple of PL games he did look a little lost by the pace and physicality of it all. The Everton match when he found himself up against Romelu Lukaku in full flow was painful to watch at times but even then you could see he had ability. He has been improving as the weeks have gone on and this Sunday he was my MOTM.

Cedric comes in at no 10 having won an impressive 97% of all the tackles he has attempted http://www.thisisanfield.com/2015/11/stats-lucas-leiva-the-premier-leagues-top-tackler-so-far-this-season/

On the O/S lets hope he wins it should add a few more noughts to his price tag next summer http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20151103-sadio-mane-caf-african-player-of-the-year-ten-man-shortlist-2781869.aspx

Better hope Vard...err Leicester can keep it up all season then

Personally don't want to see Yoshida as a full back unless we are having a dire injury crisis.

Don't think anyone doubted he is a decent manager. He just ****ed me off with all his will/he won't antics about staying at saints while secretly setting up a new job at spurs. He could have been upfront about it but chose to be a sneaky little c unt instead.... still more than happy with Koeman so it all worked out in the end.

Sunderland are turd even when they beat Newcastle they were the far worse team and should have lost. We should be beating teams like this........but Sunderland have been turd since we returned to the PL and they have a knack of being sh it and still beating us at their place.

Won't Victor only have one year left on his contract next summer? If so, like Clyne, he won't go for as much money as the fans would like.

I think the defence is getting better week in week out. Early season it was a bit of a mess but that's understandable given that Fonte was the only survivor from the regular back five of last season and that our DM positions were also in turmoil early season after losing Morgan and having Victor trying to force a move to spurs. I think if everyone stays fit at the back we will see more clean sheets as the season goes on.

To right last year our answer to losing Morgan was to put a CB in Toby in the midfield much better options now.

They don't have Vardy up front. They got through our defence several times in the second half but when they needed someone to pull the trigger of finish the move they had no quality at all. There was one move where their players played right through our left hand side with some nice one-twos. One of their players then heads into our area and just needs to put it on a plate for several of his team mates queuing up to take a shot somehow he instead ends up belting it right across the pitch to no one. It was like that all second half.

You forgot Tadic is sh it to not as good as Lallana ...no way

Personally think Cedric was more than good enough to replace Clyne ok his first couple of games in the PL he struggled but every week he is getting better. His movement when attacking is better than Clyne's, his crosses are decent and he is now defending very well. VVD looks every bit as good as Toby IMO (in fact MOTD2 tonight were singing his praises tonight) and he offers far more goal threat at corners than Toby ever did. The only player we haven't really replaced is Morgan but then that would have been a very tall order considering what a class player he is. Our bench also looks far better than last season (at least when Jrod and Long are fit)

Whole load of blue lights (and two horses) heading towards the train station as we walked past the Marlands no idea if it was trouble or they were late for their tea break though.

Think he looks a good player just needs match fitness that comes with playing regularly certainly looks an upgrade on JWP.

Yep our centre backs were happily raiding into the Bournemouth half with the ball because all they had to worry about was that old cart horse Glenn Murry as soon as they brought on some pace our defence had to drop deeper makes you wonder why Bournemouth didn't start with their second half team and formation in the first place.

What a load of crap he played very well first half but faded second probably because he isn't match fit yet.

We won't sell him in Jan he will go in the summer. Can't see the club putting their foot down in the summer only to sell him mid way through the season.

ehhhh what game where you watching? He was a beast out there today Bournemouth's midfield couldn't cope with him. Not very often you see a red carded player walking off to a standing ovation while the fans sing his name but that's what happened to big vic. If his range of passing was better and more accurate he would be a top top player.