Lallana's Left Peg

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

I imagine the club would love that but I don't think it is ever that straightforward.

Usually Thursday when we have an away trip as the team travels Friday.

Cork only has 18 months left on his deal so clubs may well test the water with low bids.

We'll have to see who we end up signing. However, assuming we have enquired about more than 1 player I think we've done ok to keep things reasonably private.

Saints have done well to keep the player(s) we're after quiet.

It should be. Get Saints to chuck in free travel and lets take the full allocation up there.

They just don't give a flying **** about supporters do they

We don't really play with wingers and even then we also have several wide players in the U21's who the club may want to develop.

And Rickie as well!

Great to see Saints be so aggressive in every game we play and the belief in the squad instilled by the Manager gives our kids the platform to go out and more than hold their own. If we are to continue milking our Academy then we must try and keep Pochettino as he really knows how to handle young players and integrate them. He would be forgiven at several moments this season for turning to experience during difficult periods but his commitment to giving young players a chance and allowing them to make mistakes is unbelievable to me.

An absolute pipe dream but if the club managed to keep Shaw, Chambers, JWP, Reed, Gallagher, and a few others knocking on the first team door at the club for their careers it would be epic.

Makes sense. Jay doesn't look comfortable up top on his own to me so with Rickie injured Gallagher gets a shot. It will be a very different proposition for him to not only face a team of Arsenal's quality, but also work his way into the game from the start rather than come on when the game has opened up, but that is all a part of his development. Good luck to him.