S-Clarke

Right, ok then? I get the sentiment, but Lovren is on a different level than Fonte. The beauty is that they've worked so well together this year and have clocked up a great partnership, but Lovren is the future and to progress we need to sign players who are at a similar level to that of Lovren etc. We can stay still and threaten to stagnate such as WBA and Fulham, or we can actively evolve positions in our squad to improve the starting 11 and the depth. I hope that's what we're doing. You cannot say he's been bad for us, for me...runner up to player of the season. He is an absolutely terrific centre back,a pleasure to see a player of his calibre player for my club and I for one will enjoy every moment he is here.

Top 6, competing in and around Everton's level. Without a massive sugar daddy investment and an enormous collapse of a couple of big established powers in this country, we're not going to break top 4 or top 5 anytime soon. Let's not think of that as an achievable short-term target, because it isn't. 6th, 7th and 8th is, and for a self sustaining club such us ours, with some great young English talented blended in, is a great achievement in my eyes. That's why this seasons league performance has to be seen as a positive, it's been largely built around our young players and academy graduates.

Can't recall a player who is on a season long loan, the club paid a fee. And he's only a sub for a relegation threatened french team, I'm not exactly sure he's what we wanted, want or need.

Ah well, this will all end well. For what it's worth you are being incredibly negative and glass half empty about pretty much everything, which is no surprise. All we can do is wait and see, but most are in the agreement that this will be a pretty pivotal summer in terms of our long-term aspirations.

We need someone to replace Boruc as a first choice keeper, not to provide back up to him. And that's all that Stekelenburg would do. He can't even get into the Fulham side.

Yep, he's got right back into his grove over the last 2 or 3 weeks, forced himself right back into WC contention. He's so much more than just a big tall striker.

Usually what happens, and that will then condemn MP to never speaking English again, I imagine!

“To be completely honest it’s not looking good,” said the rueful Saints boss. “We need to assess him today and tomorrow but it’s not looking good. “It’s not going to be good for him, it’s not good for the team.” He added: “I can’t really know exactly what’s wrong with him or when I’m going to see him again in a Southampton shirt. “We need to analyse him today and tomorrow and know the exact reality of his injury. “All the players are really affected, not just about the result, not just about the refereeing decisions, but more than anything about the doubt of how severe his injury is.” He'd have spoken with the medical staff who would have given some sort of initial diagnoses, so that's not good to read at all. I think its an ACL one myself, just by the way he landed and the sheer pain in his face.

Don't joke, they'll only pick this up and pretend we're their amazing rivals. They're just our little mini brothers, who we help out every now and then.

Doesn't that result confirm Leicesters promotion, if it stays that way?

Lol, Owen is just horrendous. I only get it as I have BT Infinity, wouldn't pay for the channel otherwise. [video=youtube;uD-LjX_K9Cg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD-LjX_K9Cg Is there honestly anyone out there with a more monotone voice?

oh and saints related, Utd 1-0 at Newcastle. We stay 8th. Oh, and Hull also beating Swansea which will all but secure their status today.

Palace winning!

Oh totally, not suggesting we sack him off! He's another position we can evolve, replace him with better quality for him to then become the backup - the way to build a very strong squad.

Clearly knee ligament related from what I could see. All force when he landed went onto his knee, which buckled and twisted, and then kind of hung in the air. The scream of pain and the fact he couldn't even keep his head still was a clear sign of the pain. It's not a good one.

Sunderland have nothing in my opinion! Still devastated we couldn't beat them this year, such a poor side with no quality in there. Norwich could well be in trouble, esp. with their run in - but I think the fact that Cardiff, Fulham and Sunderland are so **** helps them out a lot!

He does still have a few brain farts in him, doesn't he? Makes some rather odd calls sometimes. Still think we need to replace him in time if we're serious about progression.

Huge goal for WBA. If it stays like this, you'd have to say the current bottom 3 are as good as gone.

Hope we see him back fit and ready to go for next year. I don't think he'd have gone to the WC if I'm honest, but there are plenty of chances for him in the future.

Most sensible thing for the club to do is to buy a brand new first choice keeper, top class international level GK. Boruc then becomes backup.

Reckon a replacement and alternative to Jay has just got a little more urgent, we have absolutely no impact in attack without him. Don't think we'll be seeing him again this calender year if I'm honest, the silence is deafening.

Please don't give him the honour of a serious and sensible reply.

He's not going to be worse than Paulo, that's pretty much a given. So on that basis, he can become our backup.

Feel sorry for the lad, but he shouldn't be at this level. He lacks the basic instincts and attributes to be a top level goal keeper and that isn't going to change. He'd be a decent keeper at L1 or L2 level I imagine, but he's got to go. It's not good enough for a club in our position league wise to have someone of his quality as backup.

It was a good performance in that first half, but once again we're killed by the lack of depth in our squad - and big sides like City will just exploit that for fun. I still believe that if we have a full 11 to choose from, who are on form and fit...then we're a match for anyone, but the reality is that it's not possible to keep that going over the course of the year. To progress this squad we need to keep together what we have, and evolve the CB, GK and ST positions further so we're not so hopelessly out of our depth when we get just a few knocks. It will be an interesting summer, that's for sure.