Saint Fan CaM

Guileless in attack - have been since Christmas and still are now. There is not player in that team capable of an on-target shot from the edge of the penalty area. There is no sense of cohesion to the manner in which our midfielders and forwards link up and pass in the final third. Pelle may be a decent footballer in parts of Europe, but he's not mobile or decisive enough for the Prem. Mane could be good, but needs someone on his wavelength to assist him. Elia is all promise and nothing more. Duricic is promising and I think could eventually do a good job. Davis is OK as a holding midfielder but is useless in attack and defence. Gazzaniga is just about L2 standard - no more and persisting with him is futile. I would put Davis back in for Villa with Cropper on the bench.

Either Gazzaniga is up to it or he isn't and I cannot see any sense in testing him out now unless there is thinking in the management team that we're not ready for Europe yet and they want us to get caught by Swansea. By all accounts Fonte and Toby were poor yesterday - where are the knives for them and in particular Toby who probably has his bags packed already?

1-3 ... can't see the lads being able to muster the fight to overcome what has been a good Leicester side for quite sometime. Lets hope for a decent Ref.

They have to win and to do that they can't afford to park the bus. They will press hard and hopefully will make mistakes - plenty of those in the side. We just need to be prepared to battle and make sure there are plenty of chances. Would play Long from the start with Pelle and Mane - those three will terrorise their defence and draw out fouls/pens. Let them play or allow them too much room to get around the back and we could come unstuck with Kelv being indecisive. I reckon... 1-2.

It would be splendid to know for certain which players would be with us going into next season, however Clyne and MS will likely not be there and there may be others to depart...who knows? I've been following Saints long enough to know this is the pre-ST deadline drum-beat for sales - i.e. they want us all to renew thinking we're not going to lose any players. I think the club must take us all for mugs if they think we'll believe this nonsense. I buy an ST because I support my hometown club...not any one single player focussed on amassing a personal fortune.

W, D, D, L....so 5 pts and not enough to leap out of 7th.

Would love to see Eastleigh promoted, but sadly I think it will be step too far.

Is Davis actually an attacking central midfielder though? I don't think so - to my mind he is a utility player with a good engine who can play a decent pass. The reason our GD is so good is we essentially play with 7 defensive minded players and without the Schneiderlin/Wanyama/Davis there is a lack of cohesion across the front of the back 4. Davis is simply not an attacking midfielder - not his fault - doesn't make him a sh** player - just too much expected from him in attack in a team that plays a 4-3-3 system. We need an upgrade in the summer - there is no other player in the squad that can fill Davis' shoes AND be a goal threat at present. This player really is the missing link and the priority after replacing Clyne should he go (when he goes).

Great game for the neutral but we should have won if it were not for some frankly abysmal shooting from Davis once again. Ronald messed up a bit really - should have had faith in Reed to take Davis' place with JWP getting forward more. Toby actually had a decent game in DFM. Pelle and Mane were fantastic today individually, however I still don't think they are on the same wavelength and it's costing us - hopefully this will improve with more time together though. Have to say, overall we cannot be disappointed with a draw against Spurs and 7th in the best league in the World. Everything still to play for in terms of a Euro spot.

Gallagher has definately beefed up and improved his game, but he was playing against a boys team and not a great one at that. He needs more time at a Championship club on loan to help hone his trade before he's ready for top Prem games.

Krul would be an excellent acquisition. Janmat I'm not so sure about, but wouldn't be a disaster.

I know - I agree with you, we should be pleased if we secure some form of European adventure. However the fact of the matter is that this phase of the club's re-birth is tenuous. I don't want a quick flutter in Europe to ruin what we have now - we play great football and we're leading the way in player development - we're on the verge of real greatness and I don't want to spunk that away on one season in the lower echelons of the Europa league. History is unfortunately littered with teams that do that and fall to pieces putting their Prem status in peril because of it. Hopefully the club will allow RK to spend money wisely to re-build the team early this summer to prepare for what could be a difficult 2015-16 season.

0-2 Spurs I'm afraid. Poch will know exactly how to turn us over and he has the squad quality to be able to do it. Our season ended with the Stoke game in terms of player mentality. Europa is not really what the club needs this season...too early and it's likely to damage next season unless the squad is enhanced significantly in quality.

Can't see how SKD can be blamed for a freak goal - we should have put away the chances we had. Steven Davis was poor today. Pelle can't play with the ball at his feet - in fact he is just not consistently decent at anything apart from moaning. Tadic was largely anonymous. Stupid decision putting Toby in at DMF - better off playing him at CB and putting Reed in for Wanyama. I really don't like watching Stoke - they are worse than Wet Sham...Adams is just horrible player. Clattertwerp let Stoke get away with all the niggly fouls. Pretty much nails on 7th I would think.

Stoke will be no push-over - they're a solid well drilled outfit that will be physical and pressing. Usually. If they leave us with the ball we could profit, however I think this is going to be a disappointing draw 1-1.

I thought Davis had a great match and pulled off what was almost certainly a game saving save. As others have said 1st half was not great, but then 0-0 at half time when you're not scoring is not to be sniffed at. 2nd half and certainly after the pen (should the fouler have been sent off as last man?) we looked more composed and likely to go on and win. Not a game for the neutrals, but make no mistake 3 points at this stage of the season could prove very important indeed.

This ^ completely.

You know what, I think on current form Bompey would beat us right now - they score goals with ease.

Expect Saints to continue with a stumble into the end of season and lose so as to provide Hull fans with a glimmer of hope. 0 - 2. There will likely be some booing at the final whistle too. Maybe.

Wonder what reception Lallana would get if he came back to Saints? I expect he would be revered.

Pelle completely out of the game again now. Looking very poor money for a top 6 side and don't deserve Europe on this showing.

Why oh why shout a chant for Tadic when he's been largely ineffective for so many games? Mane has been twice the player for us.

Elia has not had sufficient time in the Prem or with the team to really understand what he needs to do make a difference, but I think he is a good player that could still come good. Problem is he may not be retained before he actually clicks. Overall our problem has been a lack of composure on the ball - Wanyama excepted. Stop the hoof - keep some possession for a while - get Mane on for Elia at 65 minutes.

This is not going to happen. Never.

Clyne has wanted away since before the exodus last year and I was surprised he was playing for us this season. Unless we can offer better money than Utd (or any other top 5 club) then he'll be gone 110%. We are another 3-4 years at the top of the Prem away from this reality starting to swing more in our favour.