Saint Fan CaM

Because Sammy was around at a time when Saints were playing more attractive football?

Well played for the win and delighted for Davis. Some dodgy moments though that would have been punished by a better team. Lemina was easily MOTM...superb performance.

Our best player...my MOM and new fav.

Joke right? Just in case the OP is serious....no.

We will lose this game 0-2.

A difficult one to predict. Whichever team Manager changes the elements of play that are not working will win, so I suspect that will be Palace as they've made the decision to change the manager although the new appointment could be another mismatch.

Absolutely this. OR there is a significant amount of influence from our Les on the coaching staff. My feeling is that both Puel and MoPe have been instructed to play in a certain way and field certain players, which in turn has shackled our more creative players - hence the goal drought. This all has been underpinned by inconsistent team selections and a lack of cohesion and team spirit. It's going to take a huge sea change to turn things around and just sacking the manager may not be the answer this time. The danger is that MoPe loses the dressing room in the meantime.

We need to make a change to the general pattern of play...every team in the Prem knows EXACTLY how we will set-up the team and play, irrespective of the players on the pitch. It is pointless putting Gabbi up front with Austin - they are too similar in style...i.e. they are both box poachers...NOT ceators. I would play either Redmond or Boufal up front with Gabbi. This then provides an 'extra' place for a midfield provider, but therein lies the problem because JWP and Davis are not good enough. Tadic can do the job, but where - central? Certainly not Long...he is worth nothing more than a bench space to run at tired legs in the last 10 mins. Fact is this squad is not built to deliver the quality of football aspired to...the coaches don't know how to adapt and in doing so they are removing all the maverick/inspirational/creative aspects of our best players (e.g. Gabbi, Boufal and Redmond). In summary it's a deep seated and very difficult problem we're faced with. Personally I fear for our season based on the evidence not of one game but the trend in a number key performance indicators over the last 24 months.

Thanks Saints...ruined my holiday (streaming here in Barbados so slightly joking lol). Gotta say we were pants and I've also gotta say told you so...buy too many Championship or lower quality strikers/midfield and this is the result.

Absolutely 100% agree. He is the common factor. And why the heck is Long getting instructions from the keeper coach for? The club is looking fooked up.

Come on Trousers, that's a bit below the belt...I gave a reasoned argument rather than a "it's all going to wotsit" post. Expect more from you. Time will tell and remain hopeful that the coaches find the key to unlock the goal drought.

I'm not as sure as some of you that this window could be classed as a success. Sure we brought in Lemina who I think will be a great addition and kept VVD...we're well covered at CB. However the club have not addressed the lack of goals issue - it really could be the undoing of us such is the problem. Many other clubs would be treating this issue with more significant measures - i.e. given that nothing has changed style-wise with a new manager, the root cause must lie with the players. I said ages ago that we had too many forward players that were not of Prem standard and I stick by that. Collectively they're not good enough and I'm not sure a single signing (like Boufal for example) will actually make a difference. If it were a single signing then it would need a player of a quality (that we rarely see bought) to make a difference - I'm thinking perhaps Maurez, Coutinho, Suarez or similar. Don't get me wrong...we'll be ok this season...however IMO we could very easily see a lower half squeaky bum finish.

No...not good enough for this level. Not sure what his strengths are to put it another way. Gazza got better...Forster has not improved much if at all.

AND?

Jeez...thank the fook I didn't pay to see this game. Reckon we could easily lose...too much mediocrity on the pitch and the bench is not much better.

Looks like a great signing - how long before the tapping up starts or his agent starts to get ideas I wonder? Anyway welcome to Saints Mr Hoedt.

I can't imagine the reception from certain home fans at SMS if he finally gets to play...may not be pretty and could unsettle the team perhaps?

If it were not for VVD I think we would be set for the season, but I would not be surprised in the slightest if he went late on I the window meaning we would be relying on Bednarek and...and...er, whoever. That is the Les...err...I mean Southampton way.

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.