Saint Fan CaM

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.

Still lots of *****ing and no real news then...

Absolutely spot on analysis - could agree more. Plus he delivers a press conference that is as inspiring and interesting as a lump of dried turd.

I'd like to see some nice padded seats in the Kingsland premium areas, the same as in the Itchen and a simple mod - let's face it the ticket price is the same! Regarding the hospitality suites I can understand why the club would want to improve the areas, but it doesn't really affect me so doesn't really float my boat. I agree with Golden Balls - the atmosphere is overdue consideration, but I would find a way of diluting the away support by splitting them on a corner - best bet would be moving them to the Kingsland/Northam corner, thereby combining the Northam home support with the Itchen North.

I have long been of the opinion that the club have purchased too many players of championship quality, to add to a few home grown players of limited ability (Stephens is the exception - he was my MOTM Sunday and deserves to play next to VVD next season). Long, Redmond, Austin, JRod - while they have all had flashes of brilliance, none of them have been exactly prolific. Boufal and Gabbiadini both have something about them, but are not being coached well in my opinion. Forster is another story - I just don't get what's going on there, but his kicking is dire. Overall I do not believe there is any sense of purpose or plan in our attacking play - it's either get to the byeline and hit and hope or run at players and lose the ball - that's the strategy. More likely than not we'll stop in attack and pass sideways/backwards, as we don't push up as a coherent unit. There's a dire lack of movement from those not on the ball - no-one offering themselves as an option and if they do, it's likely the ball player will misread where they're running too and give the ball away. Something has to change. It's all so very uninspiring...it's been a very long time since I witnessed such a terrible end of season game. Two independent and reasonably reliable sources have told me Puel is going - I prefer continuity and stability, but this time I just hope they're right.

Thought we moved the ball around well enough and got clattered on many occasions because of that. Defence was OK apart from Forster who once again makes a crisis out of a drama by staying rooted to his goal-line rather than claiming a ball that's 4 feet away. Midfield was OK, but we still look pretty clueless in attack - too one dimensional. Think we could well receive a tonking from Arse in the week. Not really impressed with Puel's tactics, but prepared to give him another season to see what he can do.

I've had enough of Forsters statue like performances. Seriously poor.

So very, very poor and I blame Puel and Black. Having said that Boufel, Tadic and Redmond ALL went missing in midfield today... defensively Hull wee first to the ball and in attack we didn't move forward as a cohesive unit. Big shake up required in the summer. Gabbi has gone backwards - another decent player having his skill coached out of him IMO. He'll be on a goal draught now.

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!