Dark Munster

It is easy to loan out a player, unless he's a Tommy Fourpast (who even the Skates wouldn't want). If no-one in the lower leagues wants to have Kelvin on loan then he shouldn't be anywhere near the first team for us anyway. The other club probably wouldn't want to pay all his wages, but some of it would be offset. No-one says the whole season was a failure. The gamble that FF would not get injured was wrong. We picked up 1 point per game when he was out. A place or two higher in the table would mean direct entry into the Europa group stage, along with a couple of million extra pounds in position money. Luckily he didn't get injured earlier.

Yes, yes it does. If FF had got injured after the window had closed you'd have point, but it's well-known since last season that he's out for a long time, very probably for the whole season. Stek wan't brought in as a number 2, he was brought in as a number 1 replacement. A decent number 2 should also have been brought in. KD didn't do a Boruc yesterday, but his inadequacies unnerved the whole team. Compare yesterday's performance vs the one against Chelsea. If we'd had someone like Boruc in goal I bet the team would have gone on to win. It's ok if a back up does an occasional clanger (that's why they are back ups!), as long he's otherwise a solid GK. And for those who argue about wages and having too many goalies spoiling the broth, I'm sure the club could afford to leave Kelvin out of the squad while still paying his wages, or even give him a nice golden parachute. Like they did with that nutjob who left recently. The club gambled and failed last season, and history may be repeating itself. Of course they may be lucky and Stek will be back next week, and fit for the rest of the season. It's still a stupid gamble.

Yes, It's very peculiar.

This. When will they learn?

Yes, but those 700,000+ post threads are a joke, full of drivel and meaningless crap just to pad it out. Ours on the other hand is surely the bestest long thread in the world.

Clean up needed in aisle 13 ....

Indeed. It could've been Mane.

And practice. In the 1998 World Cup finals when England lost to Argentina on penalties, England coach Glenn Hoddle admitted they hadn't even practiced them in training. The penalty that knocked England out was taken by David Batty, who had never taken a penalty in his life.

Whoosh! Seriously, I've long been an advocate for the goalie sub being independent of the 3 outfield subs. What's wrong with allowing 3 outfield subs PLUS a goalie sub for injuries? A team could use 3 subs, due to a couple of injuries and maybe one tactical, and then unfairly get screwed when their goalie gets injured. Given the current rules, the team should have at least two emergency goalies, with at least one a regular in the team. Not much point having the emergency goalie and the reserve goalie both on the bench when disaster strikes.

I think we should do what we did at St James Park, namely bully a junior player into doing it, even if he has absolutely no desire to do so. Having an outfield player prepare for such an emergency is a waste of time, and totally unnecessary. Just like practicing penalties for a World Cup, which is just a lottery anyway.

Didn't one of the posters here meet up with Italian friends some time ago, and when he asked about Pelle they made donkey noises? I wonder if those Italian fans still think the same way?

This. How about 7 groups of 5 teams, top 2 from each group qualify, plus some 3rd place playoff spots to make up the numbers. The groups consist of the top ranked European teams, plus one wild card (who have to win a preliminary knockout with the rest of the lower ranked crap to qualify for the last spot in one of the groups).

Fair enough. I'm a cynical bastard who thought he was referring to what may happen to Hart in this match.

"It is important as you never know what may happen to Joe Hart," he added.

Good news, Ryan is indeed on the bench. Former England captain Terry Butcher has agreed with Roy Hodgson's decision to make so many changes in Lithuania tonight. "This is the one game he could have experimented in and given other players a chance," Butcher told Sky Sports News. In particular, Butcher is happy to see Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland given his first competitive start for his country. "It is important as you never know what may happen to Joe Hart," he added. I'm sure Stoke fans will be delighted to know that Butland will start, in order to protect Hart from doing a Krul on the artificial turf.

Comment: "If you were the Southampton of the racing world then every time you got anywhere near the front of the race you'd have to sell your horse to Brendan Rogers."

Any news on Fonte and Long?

Yes, Gibbs is from a big club, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's protected. Let's hope Ryan doesn't play, it would be madness if he does. So there's a good chance he will. http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/13840942.Southampton_s_Bertrand_determined_to_seize_England_chance/?ref=mac

I'm worried about Bertand's knees if he plays on the artificial turf tomorrow.

Netherlands needs to win and Turkey lose, I think. If Turkey gets a point the Dutch will be out on head to head. I'm sure our Dutch friends will correct me if I'm wrong.

"I thought Harry Kane's performance at centre forward despite the fact he didn't actually score was good. He did some fantastic work, setting things up. Jamie Vardy's only been on the pitch a few minutes before he sets something up." -Woy

Also it's very unfair that they have to play while all their stars are away on international duty.

Indeed it was. No injudicious referees please. Ok, that's probably asking too much.