Saint Fan CaM

Next goal is crucial and the way we're playing now we're letting them come onto us more which as the defence tires will likely see them score a late equaliser.

Long needs to come off - looks like he has some kind of affection for WBA and is just not doing the simple stuff well (let alone providing a real goal threat).

Any streams please?

Of course this is correct. The club need to keep Stephens on display to provide the temptation for the big clubs to come in and buy up the next wonder kid from the famed Academy. Means the conveyor belt of youth will get a chance in the 1st team - it's the Southampton way right?

3-2 to Spurs is all I can see with this one and I don't see any team changes bar an injury getting in the way. I don't think Puel will be allowed to remove either Yoshi or particularly Stephens unless one is injured. The club need Stephens to be the next big transfer out to balance the books - probably. It will be without doubt a very well contested and entertaining game.

Nice game for the neutral? A good three points but if there had been 10 more minutes we may have lost that. Far, far too complacent from Redmond to lose the ball in their half which then led to their third and once again Forster acts like a statue when a deep ball comes in. I wanted to give Stephens the benefit of the doubt - I think he'll make it one day - but at the moment he cannot handle big forwards as often he just doesn't even bother jumping. Plus he gets caught ball watching and let's himself drift out of position meaning Yoshi has to clear up for him (if he can). Boufal has great feet, but often has no end product - needs to get his head up more. I did say in the match thread that I thought taking off JWP for Boufal was not the right move and so it proved (to a certain extent). Lastly, Puel made a huge mistake IMO bringing on the smallest player in the side to face what was obviously going to be an aerial bombardment by Watford at the end. Should have taken the opportunity to get Caceres on and give him a little match time. Overall delighted, but we made hard work of a game we bossed. Once again.

It's a long way from over yet. As the match moves on Saints could tire and the long ball will start to play havoc. I'd like to see Caceres come on at 70 minutes to provide some extra beef perhaps in a back 3/5 type formation rather than take Stephens off who I think has been as OK as Yoshida. I would not take JWP off for Boufal unless we score another or JWP is crocked - I actually think he suits this game more. Hope Puel doesn't tell them to sit back but keep up the fearless attacking we've shown so far.

Guys, guys, guys and gals. Do you not realise that now is the time that season ticket renewals are about to be sent out? This kind of nonsense is ALWAYS peddled out by the club about this time to maximise the new sales - it's something they feel they have to do to keep fans on-side (except Les wouldn't get away with it this season after his calamitous January statements on the CB situation). If by some incredible chance no cash rich club comes in with a silly offer and our best players do not want away, then perhaps we might just see a settled squad. Many past seasons of disappointment have taught me not to hold my breath!

Email sent.

£10 anyone?

I have a spare coach seat ticket on coach 46 for sale for £20 (face value £23) - coach departs SMS at 10.30am. I'm now travelling with a friend on another coach so don't need this seat. Let me know asap - I will deliver it to anywhere in Southampton area on Saturday or we can arrange to meet at Ted's statue on Sunday AM (about 9.30am). Ta - Dave

Will there be a coach thread or is that here too? Anyone from here going up on coach 46?

I understand the point you (and others) are making, however it's not as simplistic as saying the defence were OK-ish. There are other factors - for example, the midfield was quite often found missing, too busy passing sideways or backwards...the fact we were not looking likely to score any time soon...and there were some signs that teams in the bottom 6 were starting to get a run of wins being strung together. Couple that with an increasing fear that Puel and Black's coaching and tactics were not fit for purpose. Let's be clear - I was not trying to state I personally thought we would go down. Just that there is always a chance and it was arrogant based on a number of factors to think that we definitely would not. Based on past posts here, my impression has been that being overly confident was something reserved for fans of 'arrogant other clubs' and something we as Saints would not succumb to.

indeed...lol

Of course there was a chance - crass arrogance to suggest otherwise based on the previous 6 games. And from that I don't mean the results necessarily, but the manner of the defeats. Did you watch the games - were you impressed?

Delighted to have been proved wrong. I think Gabba is showing himself to be the real deal and Stephens is growing into a very capable and comfortable CB. However, before we all get too excited, let's remember who we just played off the park. Yes, Sunderland - a team that has looked very poor at times, so let's be realistic but also content that on that performance there's little chance of us going down.

Class from Gabba - looks like he's got the striker instincts we've been missing. By the way, commentators and on here talking about the first coming off his arm, but nothing about the defenders arms all over him which should have been a pen.

McCarthy Cedric VVD Stephens Bertrand Romeu Davis Tadic Boufal Gabbiadini Sims There are other players that could easily be substituted into the front line - Redmond, Long, JRod, Austin - however they are either too Championship level or too brittle.

Completely agree with this - Gallagher is scoring for a good reason - he's found his level. However, there's a good reason for sending him out on loan to provide him with match-time to hone skills - he's done that well...served the apprenticeship...so he deserves a chance back at Saints. If he's found wanting however, then we can sell or loan again - it's a win-win.

Yep fantastic...Boufal will be sure to bag a goal or two for us....oh.

Got no confidence that Puel and Black know how to win against this type of team. 2-0 Sunderland.

Have been waiting for a freaking age and I logged in at 8am this morning.

Marco Silva with Nigel Adkins as his deputy. Would be an awesome combo.

Not a good display, with only Gabbiadini looking a positive. I do not blame the players for this however. Puel and Black are to blame for not getting the best out of a largely gifted group of players - the coaching and method is just not good enough and they are dragging us down. I also hold Reed accountable for allowing the CB situation to have developed into a shambles - Stephens and Yoshida as a pairing provide us with almost L1 levels of ineptitude. If we win the cup it will be a miracle. Something significant needs to change to ensure we're not dragged into a relegation tussle...6 defeats in 7 should be a clear indication that the management of the team is not up to the job.

What a pathetic thing for anyone vaguely interested in competitive sport to say. We have as much right to expect our team to compete at the highest level as any other football supporter. Does a track athlete start his/her training thinking "you know what, I don't have a right to win this race, but I'll try anyway"?!? Throughout you HAVE to believe you have the right to be with the best or whats the point competing at all? It has nothing to do with what resources may or may not be at your disposal. Why are we so special? Easy - we are Southampton. And if you don't believe THAT then you should perhaps question what kind of supporter you are.