david in sweden

......do you mean Mayuka, Clarkey ?

PLUS: surely this deserves a place, too ? " Nah, dis is a difficul' league to get out of ... der's a lotta good teams here, but wir gonna giv it our best shot ......" HR 2013.

I think that might have been the " normal " case, but Jay Rod would have been " a bit miffed " at having his goal ruled out and wanted more and it was right to give it to him. Gaston is not worse than Lallana, who put in quite an effort in the first half, and you have to give £12 million signing a bit of playing time..... ....and being a goal down at HT, it wasa good move to have a extra man up. Rickie might have scored a couple of another day, but their goalie kept his shots out and generally did well in the game. Admittedly, a surprise that a forward didn't score, but good for Fonte's confidence as there is a lot of competition at the back just now.

good response Turkish. There's a man with his finger on the button and an eye on the calender.

I've seen clips of MP speaking English (a subject I teach, btw)...I'd say it's " passable " and reasonable by some standards, but can surely be regarded as " perfect" - when compared to Chris Kamara IMHO - it's good PR to use the interpreter, because it's obvious that journo's try to put in spontaneous / controversial /awkward questions in order to get a headline. Reading his (MP) body language, I'd guess he understands 90% of the question, but using the interpreter gives him "more thinking time " before he answers. Foreign statesmen do it all the time.

.....He came off worst.....he likes to dish it out, but it makes headlines when he catches a packet!

won't argue the back line -use our " reserves " .... Cork and Steve Davis midfield. Maybe Isgrove and Guly. Use.... Jay Rod and and Mayuka up front. Rickie on the bench. (Don't bother to take Osvaldo....going to Barnsley would be the world's worst culture shock for him.)

I don't know how old (you) are Olalana....? but it's a bit unfair to lay any form of criticism on young Luke (at present). He was amongst the youngest of the Prem. debutants last season, but still got more games than any other player in his age group, and many who are older and more experienced. YES.. he still learning his trade, and there are flaws in his game, but he'll learn and if this is the starting point ..ask yourself how good can he become... in say 3-5 years time.? .. for my money, a 17 year old.. (sorry he's 18 now - isn't he).... to put in some of the performances that he did last season, puts him way ahead of any of his predecessors, and a lot of others far more experienced in the Prem.

..was never going to be easy for a 30 plusser like Danny to get a regular spot in the first team, but he (and Dan Harding) were first choice full-backs in our promotion season from L1. With the arrival of Richardson, he must have known his days were numbered, but he still managed a few games in the Championship, and played in the last half-dozen matches prior to our promotion to Prem. A good pro (and by some accounts) and a good encouragement to the youngsters. Even at 33, he'll be a good asset to an L1 side and may (hopefully) have a few seasons still in him at that level. Good luck Danny.

well surely our strikers ought to get a hatful against a team bottom of the Championship - who've conceded 12 in their first 4 games.

This is a very interesting (if often misquoted) question, first prompted by the signing of Kevin Keegan (in 1980) who was England captain during the period when we had other England players in the club, some of whom had also captained the national side - at some stage of their careers. The CORRECT question should be : When did Saints field a team with FOUR players who had captained England? The CORRECT answer would seem to be : FOUR.......during the end of the 1980/81 season. Although he didn't start in the first game, Dave Watson (who had been signed in Oct.79 and won 18 caps in his time with Saints) played in 4 League games alongside Keegan, Alan Ball, and Mick Channon (who'd played his final England game in 1977, but nevertheless had captained them on a previous occasion.) Watson then left in October 81 to be replaced by the emerging Mark Wright. Other players sometimes mentioned don't come into the same category. Both Channon and Keegan played their last games in MAY 1982 but Peter Shilton England keeper and Captain wasn't signed until August that year (although he spent 5 years with the club and is the most capped Saints player ever.) Shilton finally left in May 1987. Alan Ball who was first with the club between 1976-78 returned for a second time 1981/82. Mark Wright as a very young player during this time and although he'd debuted for Saints, he didn't get his first cap until May 84. Not sure he was England captain during his time with Saints. Mick Mills (who'd also captained the national side earlier) was signed in November 82. (and stayed until May 1985). Other players who (sometimes get included in this strange equation ) are; David Armstrong (capped twice ..once in 82 and again in 84) and Steve Williams (who got 6 caps 1983-84 ) before moving to Arsenal, but neither of them ever captained England, and neither did Frank Worthington or Charlie George who also played for us in the 1980's era, but were never capped whilst with Saints. Danny Wallace got his only cap in Jan.1986 (whilst Shilton was still at the club) .....but Russell Osman (former England player) didn't join until Aug 1988 (in Chris Nicholl's time as manager).. So the only correct answer is (as above ) FOUR . NOTE: However you look at it, it's extremely impressive that in a period of 10 years, Saints had fielded teams with 12 different English international players, 4 of whom had got their first cap whilst at the club.

once Rickie supplies Osvaldo with a few " assists " , it'll all be sweetness and light at SMS.

life is tough at the top Colin - isn't it ? Nice guy and all that, and sad he went in the way he did ..... .....but then again NA did have the £ million pay-off on his contract to comfort him in his hour of dis-appointment......

BBC Sport has printed an article naming the best 20 young prospects from Premier League sides (20 teams) Luke made 26 apps. for Saints last season - when he was still 17. next came Everton's 19.y.o Ross Barkley who played in 19 games, and 21 y.o Villa prospect Gary Gardner featured in 16 games. The other 17 lads had accrued only 15 games BETWEEN THEM, and half of them havn't yet played a single game in the Prem. Talk about quality. If Luke Shaw can become a first team regular when other clubs brag about having a teenager on their bench, but hardly play him...it says even more for the success of our Academy. ...and of course they didn't mention that James Ward-Prowse played in the first 4 games last seasson and added 9 sub.apps and a handful of Cup matches, too. Now that Calum Chambers has made his Premiership debut, maybe next season the Beeb will have to print a list of the best 20 players who have come through the Saints Academy.....

I saw that, too Duncan. Not difficult to predict, perhaps. He didn't seem like " Man.U quality" and I doubt if he'd have displaced Shaw had he signed for us.

it may be Guly's last season .......(or two), but he may still be of value to us at some stage of the season. Guly doesn't demand first team football at this stage of his career, whereas Puncheon desperately needs it ! good decisions all round IMO.

I'm wondering if any of their financial "brains " read the small print in that deal and calculated the eventual cost of signing AOC ? ....if they did..... then they must have been satisfied with that clause.....if they didn't they deserve to pay us every penny ..that's business.

just read that Man.U are (supposedly) offering £10 million for Luke Shaw:lol: OK so it's a joke RIGHT ?...is it really April 1st ..or what? Do they really think we need their money?.....After the size of the AOC deal to Arsenal a while back........I wouldn't even consider selling Shaw for £20 million....

.. and I suppose letting Hooper go didn't help either.

or alternatively ......when is the end of the Summer ?

.or is it..... a distraction?

I would say that Jos is the "weak link " (if we are searching for a scapegoat,) which is a pity because I like his style of play, but sadly he's a bit hit and miss. I think Yoshida looks more the part.

thinking back to all that close season media hype-rumours on " possible " transfer deals ..that never happened. Remember this one ; Nigel Adkins bids £8 million for Rickie Lambert........(no truth in that one, apparantly) but after the happenings in the last week .....I bet he wishes he had......

.....has scored 50 goals in last 104 apps. (since 2010) for Espanyol and Roma (thats a very good striking rate). + 3 goals in 9 games for Italy. Him and Lambert (what a partnership