doddisalegend

I didn't expect most of our midfield to be crocked TBF. I was worried about having no back up for Pelle and Davis being our number 2 keeper at the beginning of the season. Those were the areas that looked thin on paper we seemed to have plenty of Midfielders when the season began. Even JWP being injured didn't seem to bad. But Davis, Morgan and Cork all getting injured in the space of two weeks has really screwed us especially as Reed is clearly not considered good enough.

I guess Koeman will have to play Reed now......there isn't anyone else left. I thought Mid field was one area we could cope with injuries guess I was wrong.

Meh same old **** as last season injuries mounting, no squad depth, crappy luck and not quite clinical enough in front of goal. Just like last season I got ahead of myself as my heart kept telling my head we could go better than last season and finish top six.......my head is now firmly back in charge we will slip down the table over Christmas now IMO before rallying in feb and finish around 8th. Hoping for a cup final.

So if you were assaulted at work you wouldn't have the problem with the guy who did it keeping his job and working with you every day because he was useful to have about. Team unity is more important than having a 2 goals a season striker on the bench.

Results not going away again tonight suddenly our lead on the big boys not looking that good (at least on the how it stands table)

Stoke score get in! come on Stoke

Burnley beating Newcastle. Just our luck another team finding form (and goals) just before they play us....

A goal made in Southampton according to the radio......

United catching us up on the old points now

Man U 1 up from the jolly green giant

Man U should have scored...

If we get Europa this season he can be a Thursday team player.

I don't think Victor being injured, Jack and Victors stats last year were very close (victor had more tackles Jack a better pass completion IIRC), was as much of an issue as Boruc getting injured ending up with our 3rd choice keeper was a disaster. TBH we can put a very good first eleven, and we could do the same last season, but after that there isn't much quality much the same as last season. Early season with a fresh 1st eleven, no injuries and a reasonably easy fixture list we look good and pick up points as come December it all starts to fall apart as players get tired, injuries and suspensions start to kick in.

We couldn't cope with competing with the big boys in the PL last season trailing off after a good start even without giving the cups a go. This season will be the same IMO except we are giving it a go in the cups (which I'm all for). If (big if IMO) we do manage to stay the distance in the PL (or win a cup) we will never cope with European games as well next season with out a massive increase in squad depth and that doesn't just mean more players but good quality players. To compete in Europe you literally need two 1st elevens I can't imagine we could ever afford that or attract enough players of the required quality.

Saints 1-0

Nice mike work on this stream no mistaking the err discussions with the ref

Ryan Segar nice goal

you don't think Morgan can pick a pass..............

Don't think Harrison would agree with you describes himself as a "tenacious, ball-playing midfielder who likes to get on the ball and pick a pass". Reed, who made his Premier League debut against Manchester City in December, is also similar in stature to Scholes. But he says coming up against the physical presence of players such as City midfielder Yaya Toure does not intimidate him. "I just play my game," he said. "It's got me to where I am now and I think their advantages are my disadvantages and my advantages are their disadvantages and that's the way I play." http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27237491

Surely all the gushing with praise articles were designed to make our players complacent, lose focus and thus destabilise us..........

You can when your playing in midfield when those three goals are conceded........ Toby is a class above most of our players

I'm not suggesting Ings but I don't reckon people should put to much faith in Jrod. No idea what he will be like after a long lay off coupled with not wanting to sign a new contract says to me we should find a replacement ASAP.

I'm surprised every time Mayuka gets on the pitch.....

Well it was weakening us not because Toby was bad, he did a good job, but because as you pointed out we no longer had our best back four on the pitch.

Of course it was the day if he isn't good enough to play for the first team, against any opposition, then what's the point of him being on our subs bench? Doesn't say much for the often mentioned "pathway to the first team" if you are the only player for that position left and you still can't get on the pitch. Another way of looking at it if Reed isn't consider up to playing against citeh he should have been used against Villa (along with Cork) to give our best DMs some rest for three big games this week. We don't have big squad we need to utilise them all.