Lallana's Left Peg

The concern is: a) will we replace him? b) if we do, then do you trust the current regime to do so given this summers interesting spending c) if we don't, then that leaves us with ONE creative player in the entire squad. One. It's better the devil you know as far as I am concerned with Ramirez as b and c don't appeal...

Dat loss on the transfer fee

We weren't that nice under Pochettino. Lots of professional fouls, lots of hassling the Ref etc. Can't say I've noticed a difference.

I can only think of two - Schneiderlin and Wanyama. He's ahead of the others in the 'depth chart' in my opinion.

Just about gone apparently: http://www.southlondon-today.co.uk/Sport.cfm?id=6316

He is a giant. Millwall through a high ball into the box in the second half yesterday and he caught it like it was an inconvenience. Feel good with him between the sticks - he'll win us some points this season for sure.

I agree - we're at a stage where it is irreversible and the teams are bigger than any organisation. FFP was always about ensuring another Portsmouth didn't happen, but really what it has done is establish the status quo for a long time. What I would prefer is a set of rules that allow clubs to make losses as long as they are underwritten by the owners and wiped clean every year - that opens it up for sugar daddies and still takes away sporting 'merit' of course but it also means the old establishment can still be challenged in the way Chelsea and more recently Man City have. There is probably a big hole in my idea anyway

It hasn't been a level playing field for decades to be fair.

As in, learn a new position that he looks completely unsuitable for?

Very happy for him, as they were Cork.

Only saw the second half, should have scored loads more but general play was far better. Still to click in the final third - a bit disappointing to see it not happen against a very poor team but these things can take time. I never want to see Shane Long on the wing at all. He either plays up front or not at all please. Watching him out there makes my eyes bleed.

It's still not clear what went on at the club to make half the team want to leave in the first place.

Club has travelled up the night before a game for several years now - whether or not it is an evening kick off. I think the last time we travelled on the day was Leeds away in the promotion season and although we won it was a horrid performance and Adkins mentioned that was the last time we'd be doing that.

Holloway seems to be suggesting he will give many of his first team a rest this evening. Could be a good opportunity for Saints to find some final third rhythm?

When we played a slower pace under Adkins it was Ramirez who showed he was a cut above. But the moment the game is played at a tempo he doesn't like he struggles badly. The game on Saturday would have been a great platform for him to make a contribution - the opposition with a lot of men behind the ball and our struggles to break them down is made for him (or rather, is probably the single circumstance where he is of value to us).

Our friend Ricardo Fuller plays for them up front as does another ex-Saint Scott McDonald!

It's a fact - we are 5pts down from the same fixtures last season. You can make your own mind up whether or not any conclusions can be drawn from it. Personally I think we'll be at least 15pts worse off than last season and seeing as we are already 5pts down on corresponding fixtures that is just 10pts worse off from 36 remaining games.

Not to me, but if Morgan wants to half-arse performances then he has to go.

I agree its by no means a perfect guide as to where you are as a club - other teams change each season of course and league position is relative and the required points total to finish in a certain place will change each year as well but as a general guide it can be used to track progress as a club. Of course, we could beat Man City away this season and beat West Ham at home and there would be no net loss on pts etc. But generally speaking, we're 5pts down on where we were last season in the same fixtures.

Pelle and Lambert are playing two completely different roles. Whenever Lambert stayed up top for us and dealt with balls pumped forward he also struggled a lot. Pelle is not a downgrade in that respect. But Lambert had more in his locker to get involved in moving us up the field and making it stick when he got it to feet. I have not seen much of Pelle but I will say this - I am not quite sure what he is particularly good at yet. That may be because we are not playing to his strengths (which is an issue in itself) however my concern is what can he do for us? What is he going to do to impose himself on the game?

5pts down already on the same set of fixtures last year. There was always going to be growing pains with such a massive amount of change - hopefully this performance is a reality check for many as to where this team is and where we have settled to be as a club.

Regardless of the personnel changes I will miss the aggression and style of football we played under Pochettino. It got the best out of the players.

Regardless of how serious we are taking the cups it sounds like we need to play a first team so they can build up some familiarity. Though imagine losing with a first team

I passed on what I was told from someone and did say I had no idea whether or not the person who told me would be the informed type.

Unchanged from last week - Long on the bench etc.