S-Clarke

He did have a few touches, but he struggled to do much with the constant hoofs.

Ah ok, fair enough. Yep, Spurs was very good. Agree with what you say on the whole, we're now a pretty solid and sound side. Attacking wise we may have been a little off color in recent weeks, but defensively we're light years ahead of what we were in August. There's a real strong foundation to build upon for next year.

Nasty, ugly team, with niggly ugly football players. Their players really do fit the ''ugly'' team definition. Effective though, got to give them that. For all our nice possession and better quality, we haven't been able to beat them home or away. In the same way as WHU, they're irritating, but effective in what they do with the group of players they have. (and we didn't beat them home or away either!)

I'd have to say Man Utd away was our best display. The way we penned them back for an entire half was incredible, they just couldn't get out at stages.

It also sort of summed him up as a bloke and player. Didn't make a huge fuss, he just rolled himself off the pitch. So many players roll around and around and around, just because they've lost a toe nail. He is kind of similar to Scholes, in that I don't think he lived up the limelight as such - very much a keep himself to himself sort of guy. Tweet just posted by him michael owen ‏@themichaelowen2h Special word for the Southampton fans too. To be clapped off by a whole stadium was amazing.

Very consistent, a very comfortable premier league full back. Very much like a right sided Ashley Cole in the way he plays. Let's hope he keeps away from mobile phones and the like though.

I think we've done alright in the end, had a feeling that we'd finish 15th/14th or thereabouts, which is probably a pretty fair reflection of us overall this year. We're definitely a competitive premier league side now and after the first 2 months of the season, I didn't think I'd ever be saying that. I think the basis of this squad is great, we've got some fantastic young players to build around and the finance to do that. I think now that we've stayed up this year, it's only going to get better for us in the long-run. We've now secured that enormous new TV deal, we've cleared any uncertainty in the backroom - and clearly have some finance here. Our young players/better players are all committing and signing up for the future and I believe Shaw will be the next in a couple of weeks time. All in all it's been a good season, which has built on the momentum we gained in previous years and has allowed us to put a pretty solid foundation down, with regards to PL football. Expectations are going to be pretty high next year, I'm sure, but I believe this club will deliver again.

We started the game so well, and could have been 1-0 up inside the first minute, but then Stoke got imposed their game and we kind of got bullied out of it in certain area's. In terms of possession and total dominance of the ball, we were on top - as we have been for most of the season. But the same old issues came back to haunt us from the last few weeks. We lack a real explosive injection in the final third. Whether that's a winger who is powerful and quick, or a midfielder who is pacey and bursts through the middle. Up until 30 yards out, we're as good as anyone, but we seem to completely lose idea's at this stage and more often than not, we check, turn back and go back to the GK or CB's, thus not penetrating the oppositions back 4 at all. We need to find an answer to attacking teams who put men behind the ball, it's all well and good taking the likes of Liverpool and Man City apart - but they come for the win, they don't necessarily stick as many behind the ball as the likes of Stoke do, so as odd as it sounds...we have more opportunities to get in behind those sides as they're more prone to leaving a little opening. The Stokes of this world don't, and we don't really seem to have an alternative at this present moment who can provide a bit of explosion in the final third. 1-1 is a fair reflection in terms of chances I guess, bit of a drab game all in all and a typical end of season showdown. Glad we've not got the uncertainty hanging over us and we can now move forward as a club over the summer. It should be quite exciting as we have a fantastic base to build from.

Have nothing against Owen, not sure why there is some bitterness in some quarters. In his younger years he was one of the best strikers in Europe, I think most people assumed he'd go on and become even better, but the reality is that he peaked at around 24/25. It's been an incredibly fast decline since then. He relied a lot on his pace and without that he struggled to make the moves and get away as he used to, the thigh injuries especially completely killed him - which is what often happens with ''quick'' players. I think he tried to adapt his game, but he never managed it and was never as effective without that yard of pace. Gave me some good memories in my teens though, against Argentina in the world cup, winning the penality against Brazil in 2002, the goal against Portugal in 2004. He never quite reached the heights of the likes of Beckham, Scholes et all - but will still be fondly remembered by most English football fans.

Just expect a huge price hike, and it'll be a nice surprise when it isn't as bad as feared!

Or not.

That's basically Sunderland's shirt from this year with our badge on it. That's the problem with stripes. Somehow we've got to make them look unique/different from the likes of Stoke, Sunderland

Doubt it means anything other than us wanting more competition @ RB.

Vidal, seriously? If he leaves Juventus he will move to Real, Barca, Man City. We would't even come into his thoughts. Same with Andrea as well, they're both first choice players at the worlds biggest clubs. They aren't going to come here, wherever we do. The 1st option is a bit more realistic though!

Great thread.

He did to be fair, but he did get his chance and took it. Not sure what happened to him here, but he seriously turned into an effective player.

touting, much?

Ah, the rush to ensure that they don't look like fools for making a mountain out of a molehill. Swing the argument back at us, good one.

Totally agree. People will say that our start was because we didn't buy a CB, but we did......it just took everyone a little bit longer to adapt, it wasn't down to our lack of signings. As we saw as the season progressed, our signings were excellent on the most part. And the same can be said for the last 3 years. Some of our fans act like petulant spoilt brats. They don't know how lucky we are. There are so many clubs in the world who can't buy anyone until they sell, or can't buy anyone full stop. We can, we are and we will sign players. If that's by the 1st of July, August or September, I couldn't care. If they continue their track record then who can complain?

lol

I believe the term sarcasm, has been lost on you.

I believe this is her, behind Markus. But I may be wrong, they keep themselves very private to be fair to them. They probably want it to stay that way!

He was a ****** for getting sent off as he was against Palace. But he did OK for us, but you have to say that we gave him the platform for his career. He then went to Liverpool and stacked up caps for England. I think he's got a lot to be grateful for from us!

Very good news, but it was always a clever bit of brinkmanship really. I'm sure both parties both had their plans, so it's nice for them to bang their heads together and come to an amicable continuation of what has been a incredibly succesfull reign. I'd imagine the ''plans'' include finance to extend the stadium (but, let's not get into that debate on here). And I think we should all start to become very excited by the calibre of players we will be signing this summer. I don't think we need many, but I have a feeling we'll break our transfer record again on someone we shouldn't have any right to sign.

Wouldn't say they're ''our'' stripes though, more so the Adidas branding!