david in sweden

.." within the next 5 years ".... doesn't mean THIS season, and I don't expect many of today's starting line-up to still be here then.....it's down to a matter of time. Five years ago ......we were just getting out of L1 ....

I didn't bother to comment on the Liverpool fiasco game, and don't disagree with the comments that many of you have posted on here.... but ...with less than 48 hours to a home game against the bottom of the league side ...the biggest question is ; ....WHO are you gonna drop for Saturday's game? ...and WHO do you replace them with? Should we keep the same formation ..or ? 4 weeks ago, the team virtually picked itself, since when we've had the odd injury, and a suspension....so what should the team sheet look like on Saturday?...

[quote=VectisSaint;2278926 Difficult to see what could be said that was positive. Not a lot wrong with what Alps has posted really. Only apologists would see anything positive from last night. AGREED Vectis !.....I could think of quite a few explanations, but very few excuses.

YES, I recall people saying he was; too young, too skinny had no control etc, etc, but (in time) he developed into the player he is - but not without a few growing pains. The majority of players we " lose " .... or who retire cannot be " replaced " in the sense that they are " cloned ". There never was a replacement for MLT... or Niemi...or Michael Svensson. When you get a new player sometimes you have to change the system to suit the players. Not everyone has to be 6 foot+ to be a good footballer, although physical height can be an advantage, it's not essential for every position on the field. With KD .....OOC next summer, Jose Fonte will be the last of the L1 players who improved enough to make it through and to nail down a regular place in the Prem. IMHO ...Fonte has improved in the same way that Schneiderlin has. I hope he continues for a few more seasons, but if last night's fiasco is anything to go by, in time .....the next question will be : Who will replace Jose? - when he finishes......no-one that I can think of right now. I just know it's no guarantee that someone who is good in one team will be equally successful in another, and I am thoroughly miffed at those people who condemn someone new....after a poor start, or a few bad games.

1) ...that was my point in the first sentence. 2) I think Hunter is a good coach, but he not a young man, and Jaidi is his assistant (or whatever?)....perhaps with a view to eventually succeeding Hunter? Jaidi was interviewed (pre-match) on behalf of the U21's earlier in the season. It seemed to me that the two are working in tandem a.t.m.

Any goalie who's conceded 6 goals won't turn up for training the next day with a smile on his face, it's a matter of how his confidence will be affected. I hope to goodness he does keep his place, but you can bet they'll be changes of some sort for Saturday but playing the bottom of the league isn't always a walkover. It's the sort of game that (some) managers are inclined to give the bench regulars an outing, but I can't see it being another 6-1 game like last April. Villa are up against it right now, and will be all out not to lose on Saturday, and seeing your next opposition lose 1-6 at home must give some sort of encouragement.

call it unlucky ...or just bad timing .....but is the whole system seems just " a little too nice " for Saints players - at all levels. In the last week both the U18 and U21 sides have conceded 7 goals ....and after last night's shambles ....the first team don't look much better. There is no fear factor anymore and some of these players need to get to grips with reality. We have too much "pretty footbal" and not enough muscle in any team..

this was a bad game for almost everyone..we played at half pace and Liverpool literally had a field day. Stek has been reasonably consistent up until last night, but it's easy to blame a goalie when you concede 6, but our " so -called " defence was almost non-existent. BUT ...my worse fear is that RK may revert to KD or Gazzaniga on Saturday....

sounds just as unlikely as .. falling down a ladder, or dropping a bottle on your toe .....

"sell out " (as previously explained by someone) does not mean that every last seat will be filled - does it ? Some sections are closed because of fans segregation and not every seat in the Boxes will be taken up either.... I always read that as..... 30,000 and more.... and no real chance of getting two seats near each other....or empty places at the back of Row Z.

Sorry Dalek ..but Sir Alf Ramsey died many years ago ....or did you have someone else in mind?

Good set of stats. but once again it's down to how you interpret them..... Nigel Adkins used Ward-Prowse from the start of the Prem.season 1..(and he had a good bit of game time) whilst Luke Shaw had started (at least 13 games) by the time that Pochettino arrived. Shaw must have been regarded as the regular LB at that time - regardless of his youthful age. To credit MP for ...taking the talent out of Staplewood and playing them as SMS ..is somewhat of a misconception... They can't be considered new ....(but established squad names by then) ...don't know what that does to your stats, but I don't think MP wasn't so innovative in that aspect. Like Koeman he used U21 players when we had an injury crisis.

...and the thought that the other 3 semi-finalists ..have already beaten us so far this season .......isn't that encouraging either.

Maybe his choice of words sounded stronger than he meant ..or maybe not, but the very idea that we can just take the next U21 talent from Staplewood and create another Bale or Walcott took a knock at Norwich on Monday night. The U21's biggest defeat in many a moon, so it looks like we'll have to wait a while longer to see suitable talent from the Academy..(maybe Ryan Seager is an exception). BUT ....Koeman is right . If we are even to stabilise last season's League position, then we need to invest a bit more.. in a strike force, and ideally TWO of them. Whilst the defence isn't as tight as last season, it's still relatively OK, and we seem overloaded with a variation of choices in midfield..... Forster will be back sometime(I presume) whilst JayRod's luck goes from bad to worse. Gardos - even when fit - was never first, or even second choice CB. Meanwhile don't expect any of these three to suddenly pick up the form they had before they were injured. It takes time to hit the top level.

good analysis, but let's hope we don't have to use him too much all the same....but then again....who knows?.

.....and Liverpool are " top " of this particular League.......£14 million......ouch !

well....in general perhaps, but did I read it was rumoured that Gaston is on £65K /week?.....not so much difference especially if he can score goals. However, if it is closer to the £30 K (suggested above) ..where's the problem?

Ugh?....does it really bother you that much? Should I go back and edit it out ...or ?

I think Stephens has been unlucky because the Boro' manager seem to get it right from Day 1 and hasn't needed alternatives.....except for injuries or suspensions.

my thoughts, too...

of course. ..but right or wrong they're the only published stats. I've seen. and not surprsingly there's a world of difference between the top end and bottom of the Prem.

.and who'll be the first to say ..all our players are ...Average Well it's a good question, but talk SPORT have come up with another set of stats...... revealing that ......the 10 or so clubs in /around... the bottom half of the table (that's 10-20) have - on average - fees of around £5 million or less.) Saints and Everton in joint 8th place ...(apparantly) both have an average transfer cost of.... £7.3 million per player. (not so surprising perhaps, but it highlights the huge gap in transfer budgets that the various clubs have to fight with) . Those clubs above that... are fairly predictable, although Chelsea's average player costs only a mere £21.3 million The average MU player (if there is such a thing)... costs £27.4 million .....(there we are, we got scre*ed again on the Scheiderlin deal)...... ....but the club with the highest average transfer fees is Citeh at £28.3 average..but that's likely to go up - if they sign Messi or Ronaldo next year. Oh ...Er last on the list .. Bournemouth....whose average transer fee is just .....£700K ....WOW..... those were the days.

Charlie Austin for £8 million ?...not a bad bet. He was last season's Jamie Vardy.......if ...he keeps fit .... could be a good investment. We need extra strikers. Imho....Pelle DAGJFU...but most teams have marked his card by now, and he doesn't have the pace to get away from a fast-footed defender. Problem is now ....he has netted only twice in the last 7 Prem. games .......and we missed him badly on Saturday. With Jay Rod out again, we have no genuine strikers, although Shane Long does things his way, it's not enough. So Charlie would get my vote..or is this just another media skam?.....and a field day for the bookies - if he doesn't sign.

might have guessed Fonte would be out. No comments from anyone about his injury...." OK for Saturday " sounds a good phrase - if it's true. Meanwhile ..this is an ideal game for Yoshida to play CB, but after Saturday, Koeman may go with Caulker? ...because it's needs a bit of muscle against Benteke.

Paul Surrock deaprts -yet another club. I mean....you can't get much lower than the bottom of L2....what a pity his book came out so soon, there's be another chapter here that he'd have time to write..