S-Clarke

There is a very similar, almost identical dynamic happening at Burnley this year. They spent a similar fee on James Trafford from City, only lower league experience. The general tone from their fans is that they want him replaced by their keeper from last year, he's too inexperienced, too rash etc. There are no glaring errors as such, similar to Bazunu, but lots of goals they say he 'should save'. I guess all goalkeepers need a start, but it does feel as if these City kids are getting thrown into the lions den a bit too quickly before they're fully matured (Gunn is another one). I reckon they'll all have decent careers for themselves, as Gunn is now demonstrating at Norwich (before he was injured). It's just the clubs having to deal with their growing pains.

With the greatest of respect, it wasn't a good day. We weren't front footed enough in our search for Ralphs replacement.

Yeah it was mentioned that we were looking for experience. Conor Coady was mentioned too, but that Leicester move was tied up pretty early. I think we were probably waiting to resolve the futures of DCC, Lyanco, Salisu and ABK before we brought in another CB - by the time we'd shifted those guys on it was late in the window. We were pretty lucky to snap up THB in my opinion, pretty happy with that one and not too bothered about missing out on so called experience.

Suspended as far as I can work out. 5 yellows.

Those 05/06 years were probably peak, you had all the takeover nonsense going on as well - people spotting Paul Allen's boat down at Ocean Village, checking for earlobe sizes in the directors box at games. I think that's when we had a couple of people on here who were massively fooled by Saint_David...? (i think that was him) Saintlee was sadly pulled in to that one, who I believe is no longer with us. It was a weird period where you had HelpMeRhonda and several other plants from proposed tyre kickers. We had a little revert back to those years last season when we had Nathan Jones family posting on here, even though they were absolutely not his family (it was just a coincidence that they started posting when he joined, and vanished when he left)

He was always a buy-to-sell project for us, we'd never have seen the best of him. Had we stayed up he may have given us another year, but I reckon clubs would have still be sniffing and hit our asking price. They did well to get him really, similar with Lewis Hall on the other side - they've spent money, but they've been quite clever with it.

That was as good as it got, it was a carry on from our end of season lockdown form from 19/20. My memory of the games after that one was massive inconstancy slowly progressing into losing every game as we were dragged into the pit towards the bottom by the end of the season, not to forget the inaugural 9-0. That wasn't a very good 11 - from that lot I'd only have KWP, JWP, Romeu and maybe Bednarek at a push in a PL team. Ralph did amazing to coach that into a relatively consistent rabble for a year or so.

It was from her if i remember right. But I don't think JillSaint is with us anymore

That was a weird game, freak. Massively damaging game for Spurs though, they've lost so many first teamers for weeks. That probably gives a clear path for City to walk to the title by January.

I don't really understand that view 'yet', he's only ever played 4 or 5 months of football at this level. Surely to be considered the best striker in this league, he'd have had to have been doing it for at least a season and a half? Sunderland's views of him stem from their L1 season where he was a beast, Lambert-esque vibes with that and how he took the step up. But I still think it's way too early to be calling him the best striker in this league, that's just setting up silly expectations in my opinion.

There is nothing more satisfying than a last minute win. Sometimes I'm confused as to what some fans actually want. We're not Barcelona, Bayern munich or whoever. We're Southampton, enjoy the wins when they come however they come.

I thought he was pretty poor in his general play when he came on, seemed a bit rushed, but he pops up in the right positions! Good sub to have.

That second half performance was so good, it would have been an absolute travesty had we not won based on that. We don't like making it comfortable this year, but there's nothing better than a last min result at any level. Just gives everyone that extra bounce. This bunch clearly have something about them as they keep going to the death, they've done it in every single game this year. The late goals are no coincidence and they are the sign of a very good team. We can somewhat see Leicester and Ipswich on the horizon again, but still a very tall order to get near them. If we can get ourselves a win to finish this block of fixtures and make 30 points, then we'll be in a great nick for the Christmas fixture fest. That's where season defining gaps are formed.

Isn't it the Afcon next year? That means we'll be without Sulemana for most if it not all of Jan, i doubt clubs will be sniffing in January because of that.

He's a PL player, he needs to have a crack at the PL sooner rather than later. I don't think he'd waste another year in the Championship with us, same with Downes in my opinion.

They'll both stay if we're promoted and we'll sign them in the summer (there is an obligation with THB), but they won't be here if we're not promoted - they won't commit in January to anything long term. If we were in Leicester's position, maybe, but we're in the playoff shakeup so it's all unknown.

Could be in the team next week, if not, then almost certainly the week after according to Martin.

He's a third CB really, he doesn't get caught marauding up the pitch like Manning. First and foremost he defends and he's not bad at that. We're not as exposed with him in the side. For me, Manning stays on the bench.

That was a really good performance today, we went for the throats from the off. They're a pretty inept side to be fair, but you have to beat what's in front of you. Stu Armstrong seems to be coming out of his shell again, he picked up some great positions in between the lines in the first half and some of his through balls were excellent. Sulemana is just too quick for anyone at this level, probably in the PL too - we need to make sure we maximise him this season as he almost certainly won't be here next year. CB are quietly going about their job, I like the partnership THB and Bednarek have formed - THB for me is the sort of CB you don't notice because he does everything without a fuss, such a coup to get him. Bit of a routine win really. Yeah, there was a little shaky spell but Martin's subs helped stabilise the game (as I thought Charly, in the 2nd half, was an absolute mess) - so credit to Martin for making the right calls there. There are some right morons at the stadium this year though - as soon as one of our player misplaces a pass, all you heard was ''Martin out'' ''get the fuck out of our club'' - seriously, some of these fans should hear themselves. Proper wallies.

He did, and we do this year as well which is why overcomplicating stuff with the tools at our disposal is incredibly frustrating. Adams, Sulemana, Downes, THB, KWP, Bednarek, Armstrong, Edozie, Fraser, Alcaraz - at this level that is a ridiculous level of options to have, all leading players at this level (and a Champion from last season). I'm not buying that narrative that we have a limited squad at this level. No chance.

He was on the comeback trail from his long-term injury, but then picked up a new long-term injury in training. They don't think he'll be back before next spring. Feel for the lad, but he doesn't seem cut out for the physical nature of men's football.

I couldn't agree more, this is exactly where I am. The big takeaway from the Koeman/Adkins and even Pardew years is that we didn't need to be constantly reminded of a style/system/philosophy, and we didn't need to have stupid empty platitudes from the players about how they ''love playing this way''. We just got the best players, put them in their natural positions and played the same 11 90% of the time. Low and behold we won more than we lost or drew. It seems to be the modern way though, everyone has been blinded by Pep seemingly reinventing football. But they are ignorant to the fact that Pep has the best players in their natural positions - low and behold they win games. That's all it needs, none of this overthinking nonsense. We're not the only ones guilty of it. Rooney has go into Birmingham and wants to play a possession style and it'll 'take time' or something, yet Eustace had them playing perfectly fine before by just using a non-complicated approach.

But this is Southampton don't forget! We sell better than anyone else.

Any seed of doubt is quite quickly extinguished when they see their payslip.

Frustrated with their output in terms of goals I guess.