Saint Fan CaM

Unless something changes in either team dynamic or tactics we'll lose this one. Wet Sham have goals in their team...at the moment it's not obvious where ours will come from. I would give Lemina a go next to Romeu with the instruction one of them holds back if the other attacks. Save Davis for later when we need a more steady hand. I would also start Boufal ahead of Redmond who went missing 2nd half last game.

Well if the due diligence has been done half as well as the recovery Markus started, we'll be ok. Thanks to Markus and Kat - it's been a blast.

Agree it's not Gabbi that's the problem, but my issue was with Redmond. OK he had a decent shot on target, but largely went missing for the 2nd half. Tactically we are just too predictable in the final third...mostly everything goes out to the wing...no triangulated passes to cut through centrally, for example like the lovely move that had the pass from Davis for Gabbis goal in the last friendly.

Very good signing- just what we need (on paper). Good luck Mario.

An interesting thought. Does VVD have the same agent as Vardy by any chance? It would not surprise me to find some less than savoury story behind the scenes.

This is exactly the type of player we need to partner Romeu.

Interesting...I've noticed we rarely have a player peel off at the back post for a corner yet here is Stevens doing just that. Nice.

Romeu, Davis or JWP. I like a midfield captain. Preference Romeu.

Utterly utterly complacent from Les & Co so far. Of course there's still time but for a supposedly great scouting setup the club just seem to sleep walk through the transfer window.

It's not just about the individual quality of a given player...its laos about their ability and suitability to fit into what appears to be a VERY inflexible system of play. Fact is the team is not performing as a unit as effectively as the season we came up into the Prem IMO.

20th based on what I saw in the last home game. Shocking all over the pitch...nowhere near Prem standard.

Fixed.

This what happens when a club gets complacent in terms of new blood...at our level you need that to provide competition to drive up standards. We've gone backwards over the last 2 seasons and now look a less cohesive/effective side than our first season back in the Prem IMO. Poor show Les & Co.

This is dire...no invention...the Southampton way?! It'll be the way to the Championship if it carries on like this. Midfield looking decidedly league 1.

To be fair I quite liked the City itself...got some nice history and they've smartened up the place. When you think of the money in the area, Southampton's visitor attractions are quite poor by comparison. The new West Quay area is a step in the right direction, but there's so little to see to commemorate or market the City and its history. Whatever happened to the monorail system that was talked about for example - innovative public transport to connect key areas of the City including SMS would attract tourists and generate interest. I could go on.

My feeling now is that it's pointless trying to turn VVD round...he's burnt his bridges and the squad will hardly respect him as Captain. For me the answer is to sell him to the highest bidder other than L'Pool and buy a decent goal scoring midfielder to keep the pressure away from our CBs by maintaining an attacking threat. Gylfie is the man to do this.

Would like to see him at Saints but just can't see it happening....just not the type.of.player we sign and £40m+!?!?! Nah.

It's not bullying if its found that someone at SFC is in some way complicit in the sorry affair - why always LFC. And the manner in which agents are allowed to operate further muddies the waters. As has been said before so many times...we are victims of our own success.

I don't know but something smells here. I'm very surprised no-one seems to be questioning why it's always Liverpool our players seem to want to defect to (mostly). It would not surprise.me to find out that some at the heart of SFC has a VERY close connection to L'pool and that these deals are being set up in full knowledge that a.bjg money transfer will be coming our way. I think the club should stay firm and make the player honour his contract even if that means sitting in the reserves. This circus has to end for all the reasons spelt out already. But it won't...we will sell...we always do, despite the lies spun by Les. I'm slowly getting worn down by it all...its not.the same game anymore I'm afraid.

As with so many arguments on here, seems for some it's got to be one way or the other. Going to watch a professional football team is partly about a tribal based wish to win over an opponent and partly to be entertained - the two sit hand in glove together and anyone who says they don't care for one or the other is in my view not being honest. The 'club' based argument is hardly relevant today IMO - how many of us hold both a season ticket (or purchase many match tickets) AND retain membership of 'the club'? Not many Of the 30k home supporters I would wager. So what makes a supporter? Someone who pays money to watch the team and buy merchandise? Is it that simple and does the amount of time really matter? I primarily want Saints to win...or if not win then to demonstrate that they've worked hard to attempt to win. If there's some flair on show too then even better. Among the other stuff, I like to hear the Managers honest commentary and the Radio Solent reflections afterwards, as those things add to the entertainment of match day. Hell, even logging in here and reading posts/posting thoughts is part of the deal (although the forum is a shadow of its former self unfortunately - [waits for the usual culprits to throw insults]). My view in simple terms - football is a sport...a professional football team selling match tickets to members of the public enters into the world of the entertainment business.

I do like the grit and determination he seems to have in spades...doesn't give up a cause...chases back to defend when needed. An honest player. Sure he was not at the top of his game last season, but you could say that of many others under Puels reign. Another season for Long is not the worst decision the club might take - not upskilling in central midfield for example would be worse IMHO.

At the moment the weirdness of Puels system and rotations have to be eradicated such that the likes of Boufal, Tadic, Redmond, JWP, Sims and even Davis know exactly what job they're supposed to do and how to it with best effect. Often last season we played so deep and wide that the central midfield was a ghost town waiting to be overrun. To be honest it's difficult to know under these circumstances exactly what other players we need, other than ones who are not scared to take a shot from further out than 6 yards.

It's fanciful thinking but you can't blame a man for wistfully looking back on a golden time for Saints - when will we see a hero like SRL again? Having said that, I suspect Mr A is on a big wind-up here.

Stephens has definitely proved himself to be capable and is the more natural right footed player at CB. Alongside VVD he will learn and get better still, his value will increase and therefore will attract more potential revenue to the club. Nothing against Maya, but a home grown English CB is a rare commodity would surely be the first choice?

Welcome MP the 2nd coming. Let's hope you succeed where others failed and then some. I hope to be entertained.