Born In The 80s

As a family of long-time conservative voters, this is 100% my opinion. Can't believe that press conference. Utterly ridiculous that he wants to risk the integrity of the government on one advisor. Starmur must be very happy tonight.

This Cummings debate is really interesting. Personally, as someone who has voted conservative for a while now, I have been of the opinion that the Government haven't done too badly with the Covid crisis. Sure, they have made mistakes, but no more than Labour would have made if they were in the same situation. But this Cummings-defence has really got me. When you are sitting in on the SAGE committee, the body who effectively controls the regulations, you absolutely cannot drive to a property 250 miles away from where you live. The guidance, at the time, was totally clear. During that time period, the Government were so strong with their stay at home message that this a clearly a breach of his own lockdown regulations. Trying to defend his actions damages the integrity of the Government and I have been very disappointed to read tweets from all the big-wigs defending this. It also sets a dangerous precedent: if we have a second wave and have to go into lockdown again, how many people are likely to use questionable 'common sense' when they get symptoms? For that reason, Cummings simply has to go. If he doesn't resign, Boris must sack him. It is hard to understand how the cabinet can defend such a blatant breach and as a conservative voter I am disappointed.

I had a season ticket for over 20 years, but I've found myself attending St Mary's less and less over the last few years. After reading that statement from the PFA, and hearing club after club through staff on furlough, I think I'm done with this so-called sport.

My god - how bad is Bednarek? Watched him closely the last few games. Had no idea how terrible he was positionally. Worse than Vest and that is saying something.

He makes mistakes regularly and is a solid championship CB (as he will prove next season). The really concerning thing is I think he's probably currently our best CB. Yoshida, Danso, Vestegaard are all complete liabilities. And Bednarek, despite being a good tackler, is always hopelessly out of position. Not getting 2 solid CBs in the summer will ultimately be what sends us down this year.

This just simply isn't true. We have the worst defensive players in the entire league. These guys are ALL making critical errors every single game. Positionally they're appalling too. There is a reason Yoshida has been benched by every manager we have had since he arrived - Yoshida is now our best CB! This group of CBs in particular are the worst I've seen for quite some time.

Any streams knocking about?

Utterly laughable post. Foxy was a huge part of the team that got us promoted. Didn't quite cut it in the prem but was a huge part in, for me anyway, one of the most enjoyable seasons we've had i the last 25 years. The ungrateful disrespect fans have for great servants of the club is sometimes just embarrassing.

For my money this team needs at least 3 batsman in the off-season. Find it worrying that the new lad Donald hasn't got a go yet. Our top 3 at the minute looks absolutely dreadful.

Looking at these line-ups somehow he's going to have to find the right attack balance that allows us to score regularly. I have to say, attacking-wise, it looks the worst set of players since promotion. We have so many average players in the attacking third. One of Armstrong or Mo will need to seriously deliver; if they don't i just don't see us scoring. Also in the CF position I have no idea what he's going to do. Austin will be injured, Gabbiadini looks like he just blows hot/cold and Long just isn't a premier league striker (although can be effective wide). They have got to try and get someone in that position between now and the Burnley game.

True that they are 2 options down; but arguably they weren't expecting the services of Vince. It was a surprise when he wasn't picked for England honours. Northeast injury is a blow but the reality is even with him they would be severely down on batting options. Alsop needs to get back into the fold in my opinion. There's definitely a slot in the XI for him when he's fit.

The concerning thing IMO is that that was probably about par for that batting line up. 175 all out. Adams - Completely over the hill. Whetherley - Young lad learning the game. Vince - Very decent. Ervine - All rounder (not cutting it at this level anymore) Roussouw - Has he ever scored a 4-day ton for us? Not a 4-day player. McManus - keeper who is developing as a batsmen. Berg - bowler Taylor - bowler Abbott - bowler Steyn - bowler Edwards - bowler Possible the worst batting line up to ever be fielded in the top flight of the CC. When you assess the state of the XI, only Vince is really capable of scoring a ton. That is utterly appalling for a 4-day team. It's frankly unbelievable that the management of the club have let the batting become such a mess; it's not as if the warning signs weren't there.

125-8 currently. About right when you consider our batting line up. Urgent action is required by the management if we are to remain in the CC this year. First thing I would do is send Dale Steyn back and get a quality batting overseas in. When you have Fidel Edwards and Kyle Abbott, why on earth are you getting in a seam bowling overseas player? IPL is over and there are currently no T20 leagues going on. Many many options out there. I see they've done the same thing in the T20. They have 3 excellent spinners in the one day format in Dawson, Crane and Taylor. So they go and get what? Another spinner (no matter how class he may be)! Carberry is out of work. I don't see how he is a worse option right now than 4 out our top 7. He will have a chip on his shoulder and be desperate to prove people wrong; I'd be getting on the phone if I was Giles White.

Surely we are going down in the 4-day format this time. On the face of it, an awful side they have selected for the game today. The tail starts at 5. The Dale Steyn signing was baffling; especially when you consider the fact we have plenty of bowling options and minimal batting ones. What would they have done if Vince had been in the England squad? Might need to look into getting Carberry back on loan. Batting line up is currently weaker than it's ever been and he is out of a job.

Player of the season is clearly Matt Targett. He is developing into a seriously good LB and it's something that we should celebrate...

Haven't seen a thread on him yet but what a complete **** Amazed he hasn't started getting booed. He doesn't give a **** and is barely running, let alone sprinting. His game is also littered with huge, goal-costing mistakes which we have been horribly punished for. I really don't want to see him in a Saints shirt again and he is one guy (not Redmond who always runs his heart out) deserves a ****ing rocket from the fans. Wonder how much we get off a lower league Italian club for him? Currently, I'd be happy with 8m.

First game coming up then. Surely the best batting line up they've had to select from in decades. Serious international talent throughout the side. How we lining up? Adams Rousseuw Amla Vince Northeast Dawson Ervine McManus Berg Abbott Edwards Holland might play for Ervine to give more bowling options?

There is currently only one positive: a Wembley appearance and 2 games from winning the FA Cup. Incredibly, we still have a chance to make this a historic season. The league is obviously gone and I think we are all resigned to Championship football next year. But if there's one thing that could motivate our useless string of overpaid, prima-donnas then it's a Wembley appearance.

Don't fall for it. Koeman wanted to stay. The club arrogantly started to believe in their own hype and gave him an ultimatum to either sign a new deal or go. He chose the latter and we have spiralled down the league ever since. Krugar, Reed et al are the ones to blame for that. Not Koeman. When you have a manager that is finishing 6th and 7th with Southampton FC you do not force his hand.

An extremely ambitious list. I fear you are dreaming mate. All but one of that list are commanding wages of over 70k a week and most have long contracts. Getting rid of that kind of player isn't easy and unless they have relegation clauses in their contracts (unlikely, I fear) we may be stuck paying most of them for at least another year. I can see: Lemina - 12m Bertrand - 18m Soares - 12m all getting sold. Hopefully we can get rid of Gabbiadini on a really cut fee but can't see us getting more than 8m for him. As for Forster, Boufal, Carillo and maybe even Tadic. Moving them on is going to be very tough I reckon.

75 million? Jesus ****ing christ! Does he need a lift up there? For that much I'll drive him! Guy didn't play well for the whole of 2017. He has a dreadful attitude. Cannot believe they got 75m for him! Look forward to seeing how he copes in a team that attacks and without 2 holding midfielders in front of him. From memory, Dejan Lovren has found life up there a little tougher than he did down here.

A few months on from the summer (and after a handful of fairly average performances), I see the Van Dijk situation as being a big problem for us. He seems moody on the pitch; even worse off it. But more importantly, he doesn't look anywhere near as commanding as he did this time last season. That is probably because he is going through the motions. I for one really don't think we can afford to have a guy like this in the side any longer. His defending for the second goal yesterday stank of someone who just didn't give a ****. However, if you do drop him you his value could decrease. Personally, I think it's time we have a look at a Hoedt/Yoshida CB pairing. Keeping hold of a player that doesn't want to be here (and playing him) is doing us no good.

93-7 and it looks like we are going down, which would be 100% deserved. Think that is fair enough (and to say that with our bowling line up really says a lot!). Can't remember a side give up as badly as Hampshire have in the last month of any sporting season (Abbott and Edwards aside). A huge clear out is needed and i reckon we need to recruit up to 4 new batsmen to make us competitive. Pathetic.

Doesn't sound like Liverpool even came in for him since we accused them of tapping-up... Saints received no bids for Van Dijk in the last day from anyone and nothing from Liverpool in weeks. If the rumours of bids for 70-80m were true, I don't believe for a minute that we wouldn't have accepted.

Have to say I'm very very disappointed with the way the club is currently being run. We have got an exceptional young batsman in Tom Alsop. He can't get a game and that is only going to be killing his confidence. Then there is Rousouw, who appears to be undroppable. The recruitment should be English players with ambitions to play for England. Surrey (who I am aware have more pulling power than us) have got exactly the right idea. Stoneman was a player we should have paid the Rousouw money to.