david in sweden

......in the beginning he had a defined role, but coming on for " player X " for a quarter of a game doesn't help him establish any real pattern of play.

for a time at least, Gerry Gurr was an exception, but " good young keepers " (I'm saying under 25) are few and far between, and whilst you can introduce an younger defender, or striker ......a young, inexperienced keeper is quickly " found out ".

True, but ambition exists everywhere, but if they want much more than just " a place on richer club's bench " they should consider the moves made by last summer's " defectors " and realise that the grass is not always greener than that at SMS. For those who are disatisfied, the best we can say is Thank you... and goodbye. A new crop of ambitious players (from the Academy.... or the Continent) will appear with a greater enthusiasm to better themselves.

Agreed ! I really think a lot of people are expecting far too much, too soon. This is only our third season back in the Prem. First season was survival, Second...8th the best ever....and after last summer..VERY many people (on here) were predicting....certain relegation. After signing half a new team, we still had a good "half season", but the problem was not the "regular team" but the lack of quality in the rest of the squad. Looking at the top four clubs... when they sub. one international...another (equally good) comes off the bench. Chelsea (who incidentally we played two drawn games against) are not (IMO) 10 points better than Citeh "football-wise" but have a genuine depth of quality in their squad that can change and link up almost seamlessly. We lack that capacity, (and please don't blame it on a failure of the Academy, either). A move from U21s to a Prem. bench is a very big step, and it takes a longer time to adapt. For all those sour comments on JWPs performances, (now around 80 games), yet he is still a way off the finished article. Likewise the emergence of Matt Targett and Harrison Reed is encouraging, but they still lack the level of consistancy that we expect from first teamers. We haven't had as many games as some other Prem sides, but the intensity of the season has begun to take its toll. Players returning from injury don't just pick up where they left off. It takes a run of good games to get back to their original level.Interesting to note that Spuds (playing the same MP high tempo game) have also tailed off a bit now. In past seasons clubs like; Newcastle, Everton and Swansea have made it to Euro. League, and we can see the result of that reflected in their poor level of Prem. games. and the "casualty list " of clubs returning to the Championship after one disasterous Prem. season is commonplace every year. That gap is far more than 3 league places. We may still fall at the last hurdle, but those " disappointed fans " on this site should note that even a 7th place finish is still the best we have ever achieved in the Prem. Because we've had a good run this season we should be truly encouraged, but the " CL dream " ....may have to wait for another season....or two.

it all looks good when everything is going OK, but if this is the best they can do, then we should seriously consider " new faces ", take the money and run..... Despite all the nice comments, I expect Clyne to go. £18 million sounds like daylight robbery, but with a year on his contract he should go. Next year he can walk away for £0. If Schneiderlin was unhappy last summer, he won't feel any better this summer and at 26 ......his boat (and valuation) will sink next year. Yes everyone says great things about Wanyama...but where is " the player " we saw at the beginning of the season?....He looks only a shadow of his former self.

I do feel a bit sorry for Elia. Coming into a waning side in January... I'm sure he's tried to adapt, but has made little impact.... (aside from the Newcastle game) I'm not convinced he'd ever become a regular - even on the bench. If he had Wanyama's physique, and Bremen were giving him a free transfer...I'd say yes, otherwise NO.

Strengths and weaknesses eh ? ..well....I'm sure the weaknesses are pretty obvious and.... as for his strengths....well..Er ...Um... I mean ...there must be some, but I can't think of any atm.. However, I would caste some doubt on your use of the phrase ..." ..young and improving all the time ", I think there's little evidence of that right now.

There..there....I bet you feel better now - don't you? Just think how it feels for (we) fans who've been around for 50 years .....

Obviously not a member of Dalek's fan club, but you can't keep a good man down - can you

Think PG has a contract till 2016.,so it's his chance to show if he's got potential. Even a 3rd choice GK, must be able to DAJFU ..or why do we consider keeping him? I haven't changed my opinion since last season's fiasco appearances. At least he'll be " show-cased " for other clubs to see him. My big worry is ... if he makes a repeat performance next weekend - and we lose v. Villa - even our 7th place Euro spot may be in danger.

tbf ...this was already a problem when we first got back up to the Prem. 3 seasons ago. Boruc was a good stop-gap (given those crazy lapses in discipline), but most good Prem. sides have TWO international level GKs......and they fight it out for the shirt. With Forster out....we had no reliable alternative.

......if we're lucky !

back to hindsight again, but Nicola Cortese (remember him?).. said in an interview ...that the Liebherr bid was made in late May, but " ignored " by the Administrator...as there was a feeling at the club that SFC didn't want " a foreign owner " .....and MLT's efforts to promote the Pinnacle deal had won over many fans. As it was ....we got the best of the deal, but lost Dyer and Surman in the intervening period. (Two more Academy gradutes with some pedigree, incidentally.)

.....which ironically .... is the life story of many players......it's the asute manager who can sign them.. and then make it work. (good example is Alan Pardew).

.....and if Chelsea took back Drogba....would Saints consider bringing back .......no... I won't say it ....

Mmmm...who decides what is the strongest team? .......The manager, of course...and he selects the best players for each game depending on the oppositions strengths / weaknesses and our own on-form / fit players.

me too. Watched many Euro games on TV when Ajax were a top side and JK seemed to be on another planet. His timing and a passing were superb - not to mention his goals.

......or .......looking at it another way.....if we get an offer that " we can't refuse " .......would we say no thanks....?

Good point. I'm pleased to see that refs. allow play to continue, (after a foul).. if it's an advantage to the attacking side, and later go back and caution the offending player.

Have you watched very many Ice Hockey games ?

I'm always interested in your input, especially with your refereeing background, but reading above I am surprised there aren't far more fouls given in games if this is true. This suggests that ....any defender who tackles an attacker who is in possesion of the ball is - de facto - committing a foul. How can this be in reality? When is an " interception " legal, and a tackle deemed to be a foul? It surely makes nonsense of any consistant standard of refereeing. For interest sake....would YOU have given two penalties in the Sunderland game? ....and not for the one against Shane Long? We have both seen excellent examples in games of split-second timing where an attacker is disposessed fairly, and he loses control / possession of the ball. It's not a foul....but it's the defender's task to stop the attack, and regain the ball. If this leads to the attacker " falling / diving " ..who gets the yeallow / red card?

I wasn't aware of the original post Donatello, but based on your stats. I suggest that some of the issues raised have omitted things like previous Prem. experience. Last summer we " lost " 3 former Academy players (Lallana, Shaw and Chambers) and it is wrong to think that bringing in a new player is like changing a tyre on your car. Past experience shows that not every seasons crop of youngsters automatically produces the same quality as those (mentioned) who had left, as was the cases with Walcott, Bale and Oxlade-Chamberlain. Looking again at your list, I noted in ALL of the other 7 clubs mentioned ...only FOUR teenagers were used.(One for 1 min.) It's more significant that, of the number of Saints' young players named (EIGHT in all) ...at least 6 used were actually playing their debut games and regardless of minutes played, the mere fact that they even got off the bench shows the success of our Academy system. Obviously not all will develop into Prem. regulars, and it takes time for a young player to adapt to regular football. Given the whirlwind start Saints had early season, I don't think anyone would have considered breaking up a successful team to bring in inexperienced youngsters at a time when we were sitting in the top four. Of those Saints' listed, only Ward-Prowse can be considered a " regular ", whereas players in the other clubs mentioned like; Gibbs, Wilshere, Terry, Sterling, Gerrard, Lambert and Evans are already established Prem. players, (most of whom have already played at international level), and although they may qualify as " Academy graduates" from their mother clubs, are considerably more experienced and much older that those on the Saints list, SIX of whom are still in their teens. Past experience (over several decades) shows that the most successful youngsters are those who come into a balanced team set-up, and take 1-2 seasons to become established whilst still in their teens. Whatever criticism you may have had... I would be interested to see anyone else's alternative stats. as I can't argue with yours.

No sorry ! we can' t sign him.........Dave Merrington would never be able to pronounce his name of Radio Solent.......

Many people seem to be concerned over the amount of time it would take - if the game is stopped for Video review. I watch quite a few games every week on TV and have noted the following from my own stats. (Of course I don't do this for every game, but periodically). 1) Controversial decisions (penalties etc), occur - on average - 3- 4 times a game, often less. 2) normal stoppages like throw-ins can take anything up to 20 secs after ball goes out. 3) Corner kicks often upto 45 secs, sometimes longer. 4) Placed freekicks can easily take 1 minute , and I have timed one at 1min 15 secs.) Referees (apparantly) add-on 30 seconds for the delay each time a player is subbed, hence the normal 3 mins after " the 90 ". the TV replays, we all watch are frequently available in 10-15 secs. after an incident. Where's the " justice " when millions of fans see it, and the ref. doesn't ? I really can't see them as game spoilers, and " correct decisions " by officials would go a long way towards giving them more credibilty and less supporter abuse.