Clifford Nelson

I never doubted Lallanas talents, but compared with what he is producing today he struggled last season and in the beginning of this one. I don't know what it is that turns him on, but AP found it, and now the light is on all the time, and long may it continue. I admit that whilst others kept talking about Schneiderlins talents I struggled to see them. He also drifted out of the game for long periods. All this changed when he got to play offensively together with Hammond. Now the talent has started to shine, and I have changed my mind. When it comes to Mellis I am still to be convinced and am quite relaxed about whether we'll sign him or not. If we do, it means that AP has seen what I haven't. I'll bow to his expertise and will look forward to him blossoming. I have been proven wrong before and no doubt will be done so again.

One european team I know of had three conditions for signing a new player: Technique, pace and character. Mellis had got technique, has got average pace for his position, but in my mind seems to lack the character to succeed. I had some doubts about Lallana and Morgan too in the early part of the season, but has changed my mind, especially Lallana. To spend money on the signing of a player which have suspected flaws in his makeup in spite of having been here for several months to prove himself doesn't look very wise to me. The suggestion that we still ought to do it and to use him as a back up seems absurd.

With gratitude to all those who pointed out the error of my ways, and that Reading doesn't come in until the third round. Thank you! Nevertheless, Reading in the third round, at home, still looks attractive to me.

And as I said, I didn't think that I disagreed with you. It looks to me that AP started with curing a badly leaking defense, then dealt with a team that didn't concede but couldn't score, and then ended up with a team which scores in abundance but has started to leak again. I'm sure that he is trying to deal with that right now. It's all a matter of compromises as any manager or ex-manager must realise, but the current goal spree has certainly made the games exciting to watch, and I tried to point out that attacking football is part of the Saints history, and on balance is better than bore draws, and remember that the saying of "one nil to the Arsenal" was never uttered in admiration.

If players can only be judged by other players or ex-players with a professional or semi-professional players, then we are in a sad state of affairs. As if banks can only be judged by banks. Mellis looked lost playing wide and contributed very little. The first time he looked OK was against Bristol Rovers as one of two offensive CMs, but he forgot to defend and was the cause for two of the Rovers goals. This he hasn't improved much upon, but Lallana picked it up in his place. Then he went away with England. I think you're suffering from believing that the comparative lack of skill in the lower leagues are somehow only suitable for other players short in that department. Personally I can't see a difference between the top third of L1 and the bottom half of the CCC. Mellis' skills should have shone. And from where comes the notion that CMs in the Prem or CCC don't have to defend?

I think I know what you mean, but for a team which regularly scores 3 it's a bit odd to read criticism that they can't grind out a no-score draw. We're suddenly back to the kind of football we played with Channon and Keegan: "So they'll score 3? Who cares, we'll score 4!" It's a bit nervy after what we've been through, and I must admit I would feel a little bit more secure if we could shut up shop a bit better. AP seems to think the same thing, but since we started out as a team who couldn't score at all I'm sure he knows what he's doing.

There is a price tag which will have to be considered if PNE is to releas Trotters. Talking him up now will increase the price on the tag. AP and NC will have to ponder what he is worth in the current market and do a bit of haggling, and at the same time have plan B in the back pocket. We will not end up without a CB for the second half of the season. As far as Trotters is concerned it will be matter of money as well, because he is a professional footballer. He may enjoy playing every week with a bigger club, but how much is it actually worth? Oh, how we'd love it to be about the love of the shirt and that when men speak they actually mean what they say. But then we grow up and learn the harsh lessons of life. I reckon we'll still see NT here in February.

Let's not forget the heavy weather we made of Torquay, and similarly to a degree of Northampton, which wasn't a night of beautiful football either. Let's avoid Charlton again, because it's starting to get repetitive, but what about West Ham and Reading? Reading at home has got a nice ring to it.

The unbelievable bit is that Fry allowed Pinnacle exclusivity without having established that they had the money. Was he duped? Didn't he check at all? Did somebody withdraw the money which he had once seen? Why wasn't there any warning bells when LC coughed up the £1/2M instead of the consortium? There are plenty of questions, but no answer which satisfactorily excuses the slip-up of a professional person. What I would have gotten in response would have been a carpeting and a grilling at the very least, but a price? Maybe insolvency is the business to get into...

I can't imagine AP would offer a contract to, or pay the wages for, anybody who might be able to provide "cover", especially a youngster from Chelsea, who is to "milky" for competitive football, as we once use to say. We definitely need another midfielder, who could do for what Wootton is doing for us, but in the longer term. AP will know where to find one of those, I'm sure. With so many players in the squad who will never see a first team berth we need players who'll bang on the door with both fists and demand a place, like Hammond, Trotman and Harding, for example.

Forgive me for offering the humble opinion that he isn't good enough. I think he has mostly struggled to command a starting place in L1, so what is the future for him higher up in the leagues. I have remained unimpressed by him and will be quite happy to see him going back to Chelsea in January.

So is Baj cribbed from Hammarbaj or Bajen as they say?

I think both FF and I are very happy for AP to make his decisions, which he will. It's the fans expectations that I am pleading are kept in check. On this thread there are already those who considers his name for Friday, ahead of both Thomas and Perry. A youngster who just arrived from the league below the conference ahead of two seasoned professionals! Please, give the young lad a chance and he might turn into something spectacular.

If the reason for him turning down the loan move is correct he is very wrong. He hopefully has got a future here, but he is nowhere near the first team and a spell away would do him good and widen his horizons. If he is so shy so that he can't stretch to a spell away, then he is not mature enough to succeed as a professional footballer yet.

We are grateful for the help to get a location for SMS, but then the thoughts go to the various Southampton Vikings teams. There is no icerink for the icehockey club and no speedway track for the speedway club. Waiting for things to happen but doing little or nothing to make it happen seem to be the tune, and it doesn't matter what political party who is in power, it's just not happening. However, we have got a cracking football team!

Great to see a local player signing for the club. The best of luck to him! At the same time, can everybody, please, restrain themselves a bit. If he is to set the world alight it won't be in the next year or two, so why not give him the peace to develop in a professional environment rather than shouting for him to be included every time we're a centreback short.

One of those rare players who never gave anything less than his all. It's terrible to think of what is happening to him and his family. Nothing I can say and do will change the way they are suffering now and for days to come. Nevertheless, I raise a glass to a top player of this club and his loyal wife. Cheers!

And in our specific situation it allows us to attack with five players, which has allowed Lallana, Lambert, Hammond and Schneiderlin to play their best football ever for us. Just as there has to be supporters who has to have a whipping boy, they are also similar (or maybe the same) as the supporters who in spite of our recent success are desperate to get us playing 4-4-2 again. I cannot for the life of me understand why any other system is viewed with such contempt. Is it something un-British about it? Dave Merrington is religiously wed to it, and now Adam Leitch is on the band wagon as well. Why are we so damned narrow minded?

He reminds me of Frankie Bennett, the "flying waiter", of whom a lot was expected, but sadly injuries ended his career here. If Hammond was 400K, compare that proven captain with a young lad who just came from non-league. Let's use a bit of restraint, eh.

I think you're rather spot on, Phil. This would be a feasible way forward that hopefully wouldn't offend anyone and at the same time provide a foundation/centre point for looking after our heritage.

Doddsy doesn't appear to be that kind of person. I hope I'm wrong, but are we sure that he would have known who David Burnside was? We have a living piece of Saints history in Lawrie Mac.

This football club has had a very long break with the past. The best part of 20 years actually. I am delighted to say that the football which has been served up in the last few games have started to remind me of what a great attacking side we once was. As for our history and culture, that can only be picked up by those who know it, which must mean those who were here when Saints represented the spirit of Southampton the last time, and who are supporters in their own right. Fairly recent players like MLT and Dodds are not the answer, since they are still in their own careers. Lawrie Mac is the obvious choice, and for that job not the slightest bit controversial. He actually personifies a great part of our history. How anybody could object to him is beyond my comprehension.

Wotton sits all day long, and it is that very fact that allows Hammond and Morgan to move up the pitch and press in the opposition half. That doesn't mean that Wotton is a world beater, only that he is doing what he is told and better than many of us had hoped for. He can't be easily replaced by anybody in the current squad, and certainly not Gobern, because we haven't got anybody else with that simple quality. The only possible candidate could be James, but could he stop himself from trying to be clever in front of our own back four?

Our worst enemy have not been the opposition, but a cavalier way of underestimating them and a belief that we only have to turn up. We did it last against Swindon. I'm still nervous about it, but AP has instilled a different spirit in the team since then. If we prepare right so that we perform on the day we will win.

It's not difficult to hate Leeds. Apart from during their heyday under Revie when they were supported by the usual 12 year olds who no support Man U, everyone outside Leeds have always hated them. They are charmless, dour, physical and without any sophistication or style. And on top of that they now have Ken Bates. My god, what on earth is there to like?