Lallana's Left Peg

Isgrove is in the starting 11 as well to be fair. Both he and Reed could still make the bench. Reed played against Charlton in a friendly just 24hrs before he played against Sunderland in the League Cup if I recall correctly. EDIT: I don't see Rowe on the bench so maybe he has a chance with the first team squad tomorrow? Unless he is injured of course.

Fantastic news. I've had lots of friends around mine who don't support Saints but the book caught their eye on the coffee table and they thumbed through it enjoying seeing players they had previously forgot about. The more Saints fans have the opportunity to see and buy this book the better.

We had the better of the game in the first half, didn't create too much but when we did we snatched at everything which was frustrating. Second half we had the better as well but the game really opened up and they had several breaks which threatened us.

I suppose it helps that Pochettino drills into the team they need to play the same way both at home and away so the mentality of the players won't be different. And also away from home we are far less likely to play teams that sit back and it has been breaking down teams that sit deep at St Marys which has been a bit of an Achilles heel for us at times.

He is quite laid back like Luke, but they are slightly different players. Targett not as direct going forward but his defensive positioning and decision making is pretty good considering his experience. He's coasted through many of the games I've seen him play for the U21's. Not by standing out and doing brilliant things, but just by looking very comfortable and a little unchallenged at times which is a good sign as that is what Luke was like as well.

Sad for any fan to lose their life at a game but didn't the family of the lady who passed away seek to 'come after' Saints for negligence when the lady in question was crushed by her own fans? I may have got my wires crossed and be wrong and / or unfair but I'm not entirely sure our club or fans should getting involved in stuff like this anyway.

All fair points about his development but I still don't think it is evident as to what his best position is. At his age group (and in playing for England U21's) he looks like a very good holding midfielder in the middle, but I just don't think Pochettino fancies him there. And there are other things to his game I think he needs to develop when playing further forward. There is no natural position for him at the moment based on the way we play, but he is on his way to being a very good player anyhow.

The crunch will be Manager / player retention in the summer. Whilst all of the above are positive steps, if we lose our drive and focus at a football level then fans won't care so much about the aforementioned. As supporters we care most about what happens on the pitch.

If we keep the Manager and our existing squad then with a couple of astute summer signings there is no reason why we can't compete that the level Everton are. However, we have big question marks over retaining our Manager and top players right now so before we talk about the next level I'd snap your hand off right now if you offered me keeping our Manager and existing squad for next season.

No loan fee and Osvaldo reduced his wages considerably in order to join Juventus.

Goals and highlights: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1aszpn_fulham-0-3-southampton-all-goals-and-highlights-epl-1-2-14_sport

A nice way to look at our second goal. Keep the ball in one area of the pitch, drag the opposition team across, shift the ball the other side to impact their shape and then score. Stuff like this doesn't happen by mistake. EDIT: I see Trousers got there before me

Senderos has been dropped recently - they've been playing someone called Dan Burn. I think he was on loan at Birmingham. No idea if he is any good. I reckon Fulham are there for the taking tomorrow. If we want it enough, I think we'll win.

No Berbatov for Fulham tomorrow - he is joining Monaco apparently.

Lets not forget here that this is also a big win for the other Saints players. They wanted Osvaldo out, and the Manager / club have agreed to it. We should always be about the team being greater than the sum of its parts, and for that to happen the spirit and atmosphere within the group is very important. It would have been very logical for the club and Manager to stand by the player given his talent level and the investment in him. But that the players wanted him gone has shown than the ethos of what we are is far more important than any single player - and that is a good thing.

We're just going to make up names now?

Posted this in a locked thread: Makes sense to free up some wages. There are a few in the squad due a new deal. Cork only has 18 months left, as does Davis. Jay Rod is due contract discussions as he has made 45 starts (or something like that). A number of our young players will have contract accelerators in their deals where they earn more based on starts and / or after every year of their deal. It wouldn't be unusual to see Jay Rod and Lallana earn more because they've played for England, too. With Osvaldo leaving as well, that will leave plenty in the pot for some summer moves for whomever is in charge. I think the club have done well, though personally I'd prefer to see another senior striker join.

Makes sense to free up some wages. There are a few in the squad due a new deal. Cork only has 18 months left, as does Davis. Jay Rod is due contract discussions as he has made 45 starts (or something like that). A number of our young players will have contract accelerators in their deals where they earn more based on starts and / or after every year of their deal. It wouldn't be unusual to see Jay Rod and Lallana earn more because they've played for England, too. With Osvaldo leaving as well, that will leave plenty in the pot for some summer moves for whomever is in charge. I think the club have done well, though personally I'd prefer to see another senior striker join.

I don't think they are. I think the only difference is the way the players express themselves when they are on the ball. Ward-Prowse plays very conservatively, Davis plays forward more but is pass first, and Puncheon is more of a dribbler who cuts inside. In terms of the base formation and framework that Pochettino plays, I don't think he would change that based on whomever was playing in that position. I've not seen any evidence to suggest he does either - there are certain responsibilities and expectations of the player in that position and I think all three players mentioned are expected to meet them. The only difference as I say is when the player has the ball and that is down to ability.

They both absolutely have started lots and lots of games this season in the position that Puncheon would have if he stayed. The inside-right position where the player can come deep and get involved in play and also tuck inside to allow the full-back to bomb on. That is where Puncheon has played for us under Pochettino. As has been said though, they have different qualities. Puncheon dribbles with the ball more and is quicker. He definitely has more of a goal threat. But there is nowhere else Puncheon would play for us this season other than in that position. He's not going to play behind the striker like Lallana, and that role on the left is Jay Rods.

Ostlund potentially?

Lambert always carries knocks in the second half of the season and Gallagher shouldn't be the only remaining senior striker in that case. I know Jay can play up front but he is not the sort of player we like up there and isn't too comfortable with his back to goal. Other than that I think we've made some astute moves this January in terms of moving on players and freeing up funds for the summer.

With Ince set to join Crystal Palace on loan, Palace must decide which of Jerome or Puncheon they make a permanent signing. The Palace fans believe a fee has been agreed with Saints to sign Puncheon. We've got rid of an awful lot of wages this window. Could bode well for the summer.

I don't think it will ever happen, I think we've got the balance about right now. The issue with more and more kids being integrated is that you lose the 'safety' blanket of having senior pros in the team which allows the team to perform to a good level and for the kid to develop without much pressure on them.

Devondowski