S-Clarke

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.

Hull are a decent side at this level, they hadn't lost at home since the start of 2023. One of the tougher places to get points at this level, and we got all 3 - got to be happy with that. We strangled them in the last 15 mins or so, they tired a bit I think, but our subs took control of the game and Hulls subs made them 10x worse. 10 from 12 is decent, when that run includes Leeds, Hull away and Stoke away - a really decent run. Preston away is another toughy, be good to get that out of the way.

Lis was never a signing for us though, he was bought as a SR player and we are the vehicle for his movement around their other clubs. We will see more of this, signing of players who aren't ever going to play for us, but move out on loan to other SR clubs for their entire career. Not totally onboard wit it, but it's how these multi club models work.

It's funny you highlight that one, it came in the middle of one of our worst runs in many, many years - Koeman was being questioned and the knives were out. I think we went on and lost the following 2 as well. 4 points from 24 available was the grand total I think. The Arsenal game was a total freak if anything.

The environment is somewhat dictated by what we've had to endure at home for many years, not just a few weeks. RM and Downes need to read the room a bit and understand that as home fans we have been sold a shit show for way too long. Whilst Saturday didn't deserve booing in isolation, it's just the nature of how the fanbase feels after years of not winning home games. We just need a run of wins, a decent unbeaten run at home, some goals etc, and the mood will start to change. At the moment the hangover remains quite strong. The difference with Leicester is technically they had one bad season where they dropped off and got relegated, we've had to endure years of the same shit surviving by the odd win or whatever (and mainly based on our away form I'll add). As home fans we need therapy and the people at the club now need to realise exactly what we've had to endure, and the frustration isn't just as a result of 1 game - even though it may come across like that.

Birmingham have dumped their manager, who has done better than us so far this season. But they've dumped him because their new owners want a celebrity appointment in Wayne Rooney. I'd feel pretty deflated if I was a Birmingham fan right now.

Going over the top with a philosophy is pretty damaging in my opinion. Philosophy's don't win football games consistently, the formula for winning football games consistently is pretty clear in my opinion - the best players playing in their best positions, with notable flexibility in the game for the players to adapt between. All I hear from the players is ''the style this, the style that, i've seen his teams'' bla bla bla - I didn't hear any of that when players came in for Pards or Adkins, they just played football and we won games as we had better players than most. Going too hard on a philosophy will ultimately handcuff good players, and we are wasting a season whereby we have players like KWP and Sulemana at our disposal - which is ridiculous at this level. I don't have a problem with having an identify that the blocks are built from, but I do have a problem when it's just about a philosophy 24/7 like it's some sort of new approach to football no one has ever seen.

On any other day this is a comfortable win, just a freak result honestly. The issue isn't todays game, it's those 4 defeats in a bounce meaning that we need to be pretty much perfect every week - at least at home to get anywhere near the top 2. Teams who go up automatic don't lose 4 in a row, so it was always a tall order after that. In the bigger picture 7 out of 9 isn't terrible, but just not enough because of the strength of Leicester.

Today was just one of those weird days you get, our issues were prior to this when we shipped goals against Sunderland, Leicester, Boro etc - that's what killed our season. We needed 9 points out of 9 from these 3 to bring us remotely back to the rabble, but we didn't. We cannot afford the 4 defeats in a row with teams like Leicester in the league, who will probably get in excess of 100 points without breaking sweat.

Win that 1-0 and it would be viewed as a comfortable, no issues win. Absolutely baffled as to how they got anything out of that, a total and utter freak of a result. Their keeper played a blinder, but our play 2nd half was all too slow and predictable. And when it goes on like that, you're only one random moment away from an equaliser. 9 times out of 10 we win that game, first half there was nothing wrong with us, but we went into a shells a bit second half. Plainly obvious to me that auto promotion is going to be no where near us this year and I have to say I'm pretty devastated by that, we shouldn't be a play off hunting team with the squad we have. But that's the position we've got ourselves in so we've got to run with it. We'll probably go on a winning run when it doesn't matter.

Maybe he'll need another 6 months settling in time there as well? Such a peculiar player.

There's no way it goes to anyone other than Saudi IMO. Book the flights now.

It's no surprise though is it, it's always all about them. I didn't see Wolves kicking up the fuss when their legit goal was ruled out at the start of the season.

These sort of posts really confuse me. One minute you've got people crying out for pragmatic tactics, not as open etc etc, we get that, we win....but it's not good enough. We won, who the fuck gives a shit as to how we won. I don't. You'll get wins like that over the course of a season, if you expect any football team to sparkle every week then you're in the wrong sport.

I saw that, it's only because of $$$$. Fifa rake in more money from all these rich countries and governments. Then they've put Saudi in pole position to host the 2034 WC. Feels pretty dead.

We had some horribly gritty wins under Adkins. Leeds away comes to mind, we were absolutely destroyed by them all night, we were shockingly bad. Only Davis got us over in that one. Teams who go up automatic don't look like world beaters every week, it's just not possible. You need a mixture of wins and we'll have more of these I'm sure.