shurlock

I think his preferred analogy is boxing: at least, a fat and f**ked Ricky Hatton had the sense to call it a day and get help from Sporting Chance.

The very same Tristan who mocks the average leafy, bourgeois Arsenal fan by calling him Tristan.

Shame -waiting for the next installment in the adventures of the mongboard's very own Carty and Elvis.

True though I think the players -as much as the system- have to take responsibility. Schneiderlin, for instance, scored more goals under MP and his system than Adkins last season. If he had carried on his form to this season he would already be on around 6-7 goals.

Not so sure about Davis- seen him get forward enough that he could have weighed in with more goals - after all, he has as many assists as Lallana.

Don't necessarily think its a language problem - even simple recognition of the fans, easy opportunities when his name is sung etc, would go a long way.

Don't agree at all - don't think Liverpool created any more chances against us than they have against other sides - was at the Emirates for the cup game and they created many more that day. In both games, we had the chances but simply didnt take them. If anything has frustrated MP, it's that we've not killed teams off, the sense of inevitability that our wastefulness will be punished as well as a lack of options to change things when we have to chase a game. There maybe some mental fatigue associated with our pressing game and the fact that things haven't gone our way. But apart from the Chelsea game, our system hasn't been worked out by any stretch of the imagination.

Given he's been in Wuxi for the unveiling of a massive £3.8bn investment project to turn the city into a major tourist and cultural hotspot, I doubt he's been anywhere near lil old southampton.

Mick and Ray said that they were working on getting MLT along. Any news on that front?

Right down to the blue tie.

Of course, those wins all came under MP.

Maybe he has a bit of gallic blood.

The dippers say the same thing - the rest of the team looks v.good- we're just missing a striker. Osvaldo promised to be the final piece in the jigsaw and there are no guarantees any future striker will be a success.

What the Liverpool strikers did was push up against our CB's. Too many players -Lambert being the worst offender- drop deep. I want opposing CBs having to turn as our strikers play off the shoulder or a striker staying forward and actually outmuscling a CB rather than managing to find space in parts of the pitch where they are less dangerous. Yesterday recall Lallana and Jrod attempt runs from deep in case of the early ball over the top - it seemed pretty futile and halfhearted in the system we play.

Sturridge was pretty dire yesterday

What does post 25 show?

I don't think he's managed to get the best of Ramirez - he's not really a MP type of player. Many managers have struggled with Puncheon not just MP, though it's still uncertain whether MP pulled the trigger too quickly or Punch genuinely wanted to leave for family reasons. Lambert is in the twilight of his career, though MP's system hasn't helped. Yoshida and Clyne have stalled under MP, though that may be due to MP's ability to develop players in the same position e.g. Fonte and Chambers, meaning that they've featured less.

And backed up by their performances on the pitch - they've all objectively improved. If you want to credit that improvement to something else, fire away pal. I'll take the players' word.

So what about players crediting MP for developing their game - Fonte, Shaw, Chambers, Lallana, Jrod?

Agree - must be kicking himself. Reckon an England call up was in the bag had Clyne played more regularly over the past few months. He hasnt put a foot wrong, though his crossing/passing at times has been erratic. Still not seen Chambers provide the same attacking threat as Clyne.

Morgan, Davis, Lallana? What are you on about? Last time I checked they had other responsibilities - and are not expected to get goals in the same way as Lambert.

The big unknown is the knock on effect on the players: how many might be more inclined to leave if MP leaves. It's blindingly obvious that they're fond of him and credit him for bringing their games on.