Junior Mullet

From what I saw he fumbled and parried quite a lot. Luckily Villa couldnt finish for toffee. He is good at coming for crosses though.

If his shins are as ugly as his knees I can understand.

We didnt defend at QPR and I dont think we would at Villa. Attack is the best form of defence for us. Totally agree with your sentiments about beating them tomorrow. The only thing going for Villa will be the fact that their fans and ours expect Saints to win and that can sometimes bring the best out in players. Fortunately I dont think even their best is good enough if we are on it.

We need to be clinical and finish our chances. I think we will. I have no problem with Jos playing in this one. I think he will dominate Benteke and will pose them a threat from set pieces. I think one of our ploys will be to win as many corners as possible - they are awful at defending them. Cork and Morgan to boss the midfield.

Big chin, other than that he's a quality player. Will get a lot better too.

Lambert is an absolute diamond. He holds the ball up so well and even when he doesnt win a ball to hold it up he puts the defenders under a lot of pressure and hurries their clearances. The result? We win a lot of possession from passes and picking up loose balls in the last third of the pitch. We have pace, guile and superb fitness from the two holding midfielders and the three behind Lambo when (and this is not always the case) he plays as the front man. Lambert provides the ball, they provide the runs from deep, and that is much harder for defenders to pick up. There arent many, if any, like Lambert in the Prem and I for one am delighted to have him in our team.

Steve Davis played very well against them at our place, in fact his best game for us IMO. Interesting to see whether he gets a start this time.

Make no mistake about it, Villa are a very poor side. When I saw them at St Marys I said then that they would be relegated and what I've seen on TV since has strengthened that view. We should beat them the way we did QPR away. Saints have the guts, experience and ability for a fight like this. If we can get draws at Fulham and Stoke it amazes me that people think this sh itty Villa team will beat us. I am confident, even with Jos in the team together with his obligatory own goal.

Decent player with potential. Attitude may be an issue.

Clyne returning is so important for two reasons. First, we need his pace and second it allows Cork to go to CM. We have missed Cork playing there and IMO it was Cork's return that was the biggest factor in our stopping the early season rot.

What happened at Leeds was a disgrace. Thank goodness we don't have individuals like that calling the shots at our club, and let's be clear, it was individuals who brought about the demise of Leeds. That said Leeds have survived and will find their rightful place in the football hierarchy in due course. Pompey were always going to implode - they were a rich man's plaything - when he had to get rid nobody else wanted them because they did not and could not provide a buyer a viable business proposition (at the price needed). The foundation at Saints throughout is so much more solid - through ownership of the stadium, training facilities, supporters (numbers and weath per head) and the accademy to name but a few things. The players we're being linked with are mostly youngsters. It has not escaped my attention that these players currently worth £10-£12m or Euros now, could be targets for the best in Europe for double that in a few years time once they begin to show their potential. It's a shrewd move by the club. Very rich people are attracted by making big money and are prepared to take a risk to do it - something that scares the wits out of ordinary guys like you and I, but if you just try and put yourself in their shoes for a moment you can see the logic. Are our owners getting excited about selling Sharp for £4m? - I think not. Are they excited about the prospect of buying Asori for £10m, getting a few good years out of him, developing him and then selling for double, pocketing half of that and then reinvesting £10m in the next good youngster? Damn right. Trust me on this one Colin. If I am wrong I promise you a free kick at my nadgers in front of the Ted Bates statue (the good one, not the funny one) at a match of your choice.

We have incredibly rich owners, TV money next year is going to be massive, Chairman tasked with making us a team capable of challenging for Europe year in year out whilst playing the 'Southampton Brand' of exciting attacking football. Who actually gives a **** where the money is coming from? With our current set up a financial melt-down like the one we experienced under the ridiculous PLC regieme is simply not going to happen. Let's just enjoy the football ffs.

Zaha at Palace is coming on leaps and bounds this year. Looks a very good player that could play out wide either side of our 3 in our 4-2-3-1. Cant see him moving this Jan though while Palace are still in the shake up for promotion.

Wayne Bridge

Agreed. An injury to Fonte or Yoshida could be fatal if we don't strengthen now. I am surprised how out of his depth Jos has looked this season because I thought he would be the one to step up. Fonte and Yoshida are becoming a good pair.

Who would you suggest we buy for that kind of money to improve the first team? Or are you suggesting we need better bench-warmers?

I love the fact that we are talking about signing quality players for 10m or so.

We had problems with goalies a few seasons back until Richard Wright arrived on loan. You could tell immediately that he was solid, good and gave the rest of the team confidence. We need that level of solidity immediately and for me Butland is not the answer. I haven't seen enough of Boruc to decide whether he's that person but from the Arsenal game I think not. Davis isn't. I've been impressed with Gazza and think he will become a very good, exciting keeper in the next few seasons but we really do need solidity now. Those calling for someone like Friedel short-term were sensible in my opinion.

We'll get another 20-22 I think. I think that will be enough. Reading and QPR look bolt ons to go down. We'll be slugging out with Villa for 18th place I think. I hope Wigan continue their bad form but I think they've just got enough about them to stay up.

Most improved player as the season has gone on. Looks the part now.

Very good result. Other results suit us too. Still concerned about the second half of the season fixtures and it is clear we need a new signing to cover for Lallana in the short term and provide competition for the 3 attacking midfielders in the longer term.

His game is not good enough for this league. Agree totally with the club's decision to loan him out.

I said the same to a friend yesterday. We have some good teams to come at home at just the time they'll be fighting particularly hard for places. I think we will do enough away from home to stay up.

Not sure the Metro were mugging off. They seemed to enjoy it as much as the majority of us.

I'm glad that made me chuckle again. I'm happy not to be a miserable twit.