tajjuk

So at the moment we need Liverpool to claim a European spot, which means they need to finish 5th or 6th if both teams in the FA cup final are in Europe. We also need to the league overall to be in the top 3 leagues to earn the spots, which it's not http://www.uefa.com/uefa/socialresponsibility/respect/news/newsid=1911234.html Norway, Sweden and Finland are currently in these spots and England finished 13th last year and we are currently 4th. Lots of IFs there.

They aren't going to blame Fernandes because he pumps money into the club, same with the Chelsea fans they don't blame Abramovich yet have a go at Rafa. I'm pretty sure many Saints fans wouldn't criticise Cortese if it was his millions rather than the Liebhers. They are a mess though QPR, but they are only in trouble if Fernandes decides to stop writing the cheques, don't think they have any loans or anything like Pompry did. When they go down he;s going to have to write off a lot of expenditure, half their squad will have little re-sale value and those that do will have to be sold at losses.

Not match fit surely means he needs games, if we don't want to risk him not match fit in the prem surely the reserves is the place? he's almost been here a month now, 3 + weeks of full training should be enough to get his fitness levels up?

Depends first on staying up. I still reckon we will try for a top class CB, possibly in for Astori again or someone of similar level. A versatlile player that could fill in full back and defensive mid would be really good. And some extra class in the wide positions with pace. Essentially a Coutinho like signing. That's also presuming we sign Boruc and Puncheon to contracts. (also reckon we need to start the search for a Lambert replacement in case Jay Rod isn't it)

He was excellent against Everton in the system, poor against Utd where he was marked out of the game and since then he's been injured. He's had 3 or 4 niggle type injuries as well as one fairly lengthy one since he's been here. Don't think we have seen a full fit 100% Gaston yet.. He can easily fit into the system and I don't think the pressing will be an issue for him plus he will be constantly near the goal running at people taking shots etc. Having someone with real pace and ability to go at a man in midfield can change games. Look at all the attention Wilshere is getting, the key to WIlshere's game at the moment is he can burst past people in midfield using his acceleration and dribbling, leaving midfielders in his wake and defenders back peddling, this creates space and confusion. He then has the quality to pick a pass in all the space that then opens up. Gaston can do the same for us. Think of the kind of interplay Lallana, Gaston and Rickie were doing at the start of the season, the quick one twos, flicks and bursts around the box etc Now imagine them doing it more often in the final third because we win the ball back so high. I don't think its a coincidence that some of Gaston's best games for us have been with Lallana in the team. Harsh on Jay Rod and Davis, who have been excellent but once Lallana and Gaston get MP match fit they will be in the team because they have much more quality on the ball than the other two, quality which we will need to break down teams like Reading, QPR, West Brom etc who will play a lot more compact than Man City with bodies behind the ball.

Still a bit odd that Forren hasn't got a game for the U21s for fitness.

Nice read.

Er no. Before he got injured Lallana was behind only Mata in terms of chances created for his teammates. He's also still our top assister despite missing like 2 months. Puncheon has scored some key goals and been a lot better than many thought, however only as reently as the Man Utd game he was taken off a half time. He has many games where he is very inffectual, tends to go inside too often. Also agree with Phil not sure his footballing brain is quite there. A good player and has improved lots this season, but no way is he worth £10 million. Swansea bought Pablo Hernadez for £5 million and he's a better player than Puncheon.

Seems fine to have as back up. To get a left back better than Shaw we would have to pay £10 million plus. So to replace fox you are looking for a player who is better than fox and not as good as shaw and happy to sit on the bench. Hopefully we can find a decent player who could do a decent job at either fullback and maybe dm, then they could be back up for Shaw and Clyne as well as an option in the middle.

he did what two other keepers did in recent weeks, go out wide to the attacking player. Both Reina (against City) and Cech (against Wigan) left their goal to meet the attacker, both got beaten probably because they went too wide. Boruc did the same to a player much close to the goal, not much else he could of done I dont think.

Really depends on the first leg, would think though that they will take the Europa league seriously, some big teams coming in now and the competition hots up a bit. It'll be a while before the toon get another go in it as well. Her's hoping for a tense 0-0 at St James park with a few knocks picked up over either leg.

Agree with most of this, he has gone missing in a lot of games this season and can be one dimensional in his play at times. However to let him elave on a free would be silly. To get a similar lvel player to replace him we'd be looking at £3-4 million. So sign him up unless he wants absurd wages. I'd like to see us sign a 'Coutinho' level player though to challenge all the spots behind Lambert. I can see us going for an Astori level player, a quality centr back that will prbably be first team. Having 3-4 decent centre backs is a must as we have seen this season form ourselves, but also look at even the likes of Utd, City, Chelsea etc, key defenders like Kompany, Terry, Vidic etc. get injured, you need decent back up. I agree with Delldays, provding we stay up and we sign up Boruc, Shaw and Puncheon. I can see us getting another attacking midfielder/wide man, a quality centre back, and another defensive mid to back up/challenge Cork and Morgan, maybe another fullback as well. Could easily see us spending another £30 million for 3 quality signings.

Puncheon, Boruc and Shaw. All 3 signing new contracts is more important than new signings in the summer.

Tough but if we are on our game we can beat anyone. Cabaye is back on form for them, Ben Arfa might even be back as well. Cisse though isn't scoring. Think same team with Shaw back in, maybe Forren in if he could get a couple of U21 games over the next two weeks? Ramirez and Lallana coming off the bench would be good options. The Europa league game might be key though.

I think it's unlikely we are going to hit top 6 form, which I'm pretty sure that is. Newcastle away won't be that easy, they are good at home, have improved in form with their new signings. They were only beat by Bale on Saturday, otherwise they were pretty close. If we play like we did against Man City we can pick up results against anyone though. I would like to think from our home games against QPR, West Ham, West Brom, and Stoke we can get 10 from 12 points. We have a decent chance of picking up points from Reading, Norwich, Sunderland away and probably Liverpool at home. Reckon Spurs away, Chelsea home, Newcastle away and Swansea away will be zero points. We needa bout 37 or 38 to stay up, I reckon we will get to 41. lol, is that West Hams remaining fixtures? Stoke away, Man City away, Chelsea away, Liverpool away. Everton away, Spurs away and Utd at home. No wonder they are where they are, they have 4 of the top 6 to visit away from home! They could have 1 win in 10 by the time West Brom visit.

First bit of quality in the game that

15 minutes of lumping to come from West Ham then.

Used to like West Ham back in th day but allardyce has turned them into everything I hate about a club, hoofball, preference for huge players, signing the same old average prem players, poor amount of youth players brought through. Hope they go down next season.

Game really lacking in quality, think one goal will win it. Lots of humping by West Ham only really Joe Cole that looks to work it around. Villa trying to play the better football but not much creativity seem to be waiting for Benteke to do something on his own. Tompkins looks a good defender though.

Is it me or has MP seemed to have made Lambert faster? first time in a long while I've seen him run in behind and actually not get caught up instantly.

yeh draw would be good but reckon Villa will win.

Gaston is injured, hence why he didn't play. Tough selection choices for MP but i think we'll need Gaston's creativity against some other teams. Remember Man City attacked us and played to win and dominate the game, Someone like QPR won't play like that, they'll sit deep and pack the box, that's when we'll need the like of Gaston and Lallana. Also Gaston pressed and harried well against Everton and was a real threat, that was under MP's system. I reckon he'll start most games once fit but get less 90 minutes.

Would like to see us overtake the hammers. Specially after the way the media drooled over the way they were certainly staying up and had 'done it' a lot better than us and reading. Think Villa will beat them today and reckon we will beat them at SMS. They've only scored 7 away goals worst in all the leagues I think.

Lallana in behind Lambert to replace Gaston, Shaw or Targett out wide in Lallana's spot to help with the extra pressing?

Jay Rod is wearing red saints 'aap' top, shorts, 'skins' type leggings, gloves yellow boots. see pic #10 Hoooiveld is wearing same top, same shorts, sans leggings, gloes and yellow boots. see pic #11 Player in 31 in the background is not wearing the 'aap' red top, he's wearing the darker coloured zip up top with a collar. So it's neither, unless one has changed tops. Might be that it is Gaston but we don't want prying Uruguayan National team eyes to see him.