Lallana's Left Peg

I know we have a few on here who have relations in the Academy and / or links to it - any word on who has and has not got a scholarship for next season from the U16's and if any of the existing scholars who haven't already done so will get Pro deals? I have been told the U16's are decent with a few really good prospects. In the last few years we've had to supplement our intake with players released from elsewhere and it's shown in U18 performances. There was talk from Les Reed earlier this season about perhaps buying some players for the Academy to make up for that delta in talent level so we'll have to see what happens there. For reference the takeover occurred nearly 7 years ago so around next year (or maybe the start of next season) we'll start to see the fruits in the U18 team of any recruitment done under the current regime assuming we target 8 - 10 year olds (if not younger) as most other clubs do.

Points away from home Aug - Dec last season: 13 Points away from home Jan - May last season: 10 Points away from home Aug - Dec this season: 10 Points away from home Jan - May this season (thus far): 11 It's definitely an issue for us if we want to push on.

I am - we messed up Europe big time. Only thing that would make up for it is qualifying again.

You know, if Everton weren't in an FA Cup Semi-Final I think Martinez would be a goner.

It's not pointless as it provokes discussion around perceived team needs, ambition and means. It affects public perception of a club and can influence supporter opinions. You can of course dismiss that it has any semblance of truth until it is proven as fact because there is so much nonsense published in the media but it's worth discussion in my opinion.

VVD. No-one else has come near to his level of performance.

Our conversion rate per chances created ratio continues to plague us. I think Austin was the remedy to this but his fitness is an issue. We're in good shape and so nearly there but we're too often just missing that killer instinct in big games. Nothing too much to moan about though.

I suppose we haven't got room for that when we've got Pelle going through his flicking fit stage in every game.

Think we could do with him for a handful of games a season but for the 60k a week he's costing us it's not worth it and he hasn't been fit enough or consistent enough to justify a place in the starting 11. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that he can still make a contribution for a team in the Premier League and it wouldn't surprise me if he does - he is clearly a very talented footballer. I know one thing though - we'd be nicer to watch in the final third if he was still about.

Great distribution, diligent tackler and got a got head for the game on him but the way the league is going that lack of pace is going to cost him long-term. Glad he is in our squad and happy that he is a squad player.

When your strongest team doesn't pick itself you have a bit of a problem each game. When you are more concerned with how the opposition play than how you can impose yourself as a team on them then you also have a problem. I think Saints have done ok this season (no better) but something that has definitely hamstrung us is the constant chopping and changing because it doesn't seem Koeman knows his best team or best formation. I don't blame Koeman for this either because I think it is clear that he would like to play 4-2-3-1 but our team isn't strong enough to do this any more. So we have to find other ways to play and win (which I think Koeman has done very well with). But ultimately it comes down to players. We replaced Schneiderlin with Clasie / Romeu and Clyne with Cedric / Martina. Downgrades in both positions and it has caused issues with our team to the point I think we've won more games not playing 4-2-3-1 this season than we have playing that formation.

Do we think Jay Rod makes the bench?

That's going to look horrendous on anyone without 6% body fat

Stephens, Targett and JWP all in the U21 squad too.

But on the other hand it's one of the few things on the board that unifies all posters.

10 pages, 3 bans, 1 death. But honestly, who cares about this stuff? It's twitter. It is not the club officially confirming which religions it likes and does not like. It was a light-hearted response to some news. I don't see how anyone could remotely be offended.

I find this approach puzzling because whilst a players transfer fee is determined by a number of things and not just his ability, the idea that you detach a players transfer fee when determining his value or worth to a club doesn't make sense. Using this approach we can't say that Osvaldo or Ramirez were bad buys because the fact they both cost £12m+ and just as much in wages doesn't matter. They go down as buys that didn't work out and have to be judged in the same manner as say a Juanmi at less than half the price (and likely wages). The money this spends on players is important for two reasons: 1. The cost of a player (including wages) has to be justified against their performances on the pitch, because 2. The money we invest in a player means we can't invest that money in an alternative player or another part of the club to try and improve. As for Shane Long, the one thing that puzzles me is that we purchased players for a very particular system (4-2-3-1) and he doesn't really fit that in any way so to spend £12m on a square peg for a round hole was confusing however when we play 4-4-1-1 or 3-5-2 we play to his strengths and he makes a far bigger contribution. His finishing still undermines a lot of his hard work but I suppose if he could finish to a higher level he wouldn't be a Saints player. I do like the over the top threat as much as I like his hustle and workrate. That said, I would be surprised if he is a starter next season if everyone is fit.

My only thinking is that he knows we're a momentum team and right now we have bad momentum so he's trying to do something different to stop the rot early before it extends into another few games.

Yoshida is on the bench - as is Cedric and Mane. It's all very confusing. I've no doubt there is a plan but I'd rather see Cedric and Mane on the pitch ahead of Martina and Tadic.

So it's either: 4-2-3-1 with Martina at right back and Bertrand at centre-half and Tadic and Long either side of Davis. or 3-5-2 with Martina and Bertrand at centre-half and Davis at wing-back and Tadic behind Pelle and Long. Either way it's a very confusing team when you look at the bench. Don't feel too optimistic here.

Fantastic news. Drastically cut down my away game days this season because of silly ticket prices - I can get back on it next season now.

Two years is a long time to be out it would be great to see him back for the last month of the season just to see if his body can stand up to it even if performances will be very rusty.

To echo the comments of others it appears he has a lot of technical ability as a footballer but unfortunately his physical attributes severely impact his ability to show them in English football. It's not just the physicality of it but also the speed at which the game is played. Add to that he doesn't appear to have a natural position where he fits in our team I imagine at £5m he was a value signing but it just hasn't worked out thus far. I'm increasingly weary of us signing small players who aren't physically robust. The way the game is evolving in this country it will be hard to find ways to play small players who aren't strong or robust.

Without stating names I think we need to strengthen in the following areas: 1. Right back. It's not good enough for me to have a first choice who is only suitable for 50% of the games and his backup to either be Martina or Yoshida. That needs to be sorted. Buy someone better than Soares. 2. Centre-half. It's not good enough for me to have Gardos and Yoshida as first choice backups. Fonte is getting old and I think we need to sign a really good prospect who can contribute straight away if he needs to. 3. Central midfield. A central midfielder who can carry the ball past a player and has physical power. He also needs presence off the ball. Like Romeu but much better. 4. Attacking midfield. Someone who operates centrally and is creative with an eye for goal. Then obviously replace anyone who leaves. But whatever we do buy better than we have got and do not buy backups for backups sake. Buy 3-4 very good players and not 6-7 decent players.

It's a very peculiar season in the Premier League so it is hard to appraise anything right now and know if things are a good result or not. But I don't like how Saints continue to be a momentum team and how when there is any element of expectation on us we tend to meekly fold. As for the game itself some players don't look interested enough and some look like they are playing with strangers. I thought Romeu looked good and at first I questioned his signing but I am happy to be proved wrong I think he plays very consistently and very well. Clasie I am not convinced by, I don't like the way games pass him by and how physically he can be overpowered by many players in this league. Anyone know why we didn't play Soares when this game was crying out for our full backs to push on? Thought Bertrand did well but Martina was rubbish on the ball and it cost us at times. A lot of work to be done in the summer to get the right balance on the pitch along with the right balance in the squad as whilst it is nice to have lots of options sometimes when Koeman tinkers its a bit of a car crash. I think we need to settle on a certain way of playing (or at least be able to identify the right way of playing in each game) as it can be really disjointed at times and the quality of football can be awful to watch.