HarvSFC

Calvert-Lewin's a weird one. Looked good under Ancelotti, who seemingly knew how to get the best out of him, but prior to that and now he's barely looked Premier League standard.

Everton have had two shots on target in their last three league games.

Feel as though both Everton and Leeds got their appointments wrong. Both needed one of the old merry go round relegation fighters. A second spell for Allardyce. It’s looking more and more likely as though it’s between them and Burnley for the final spot, and you’d back Dyche to come out on top.

Nobody in yellow had a good first half, only Forster was keeping it at 1-0. They've just been better than us.

Great win, onto the quarters we go, I know they're the giant killers, but we'll take Middlesbrough in the next round, or Boreham Wood when they get their expected win tomorrow night, please. I have no concerns when I see Jack Stephens in the team these days. He's grown into a solid CB for this level. However, I never thought I'd see the day where Valery looks competent in a back two against Premier League opposition. I always thought his future would be further up the pitch, but he's proven me wrong. Strange how he can't defend at RB, but can at CB. Perraud's turning into a very good signing. Really putting up a fight to start at left-back in the league. Adam Armstrong, although didn't look like scoring tonight, put in a shift again. He's at least having an effect on matches. If his contract isn't extended, I would like that to be Caballero's last match for us. End on a high, a win and a good save. But, he was at fault for the goal and the good save came from another of his errors. Too risky playing him in the latter stages of the cup when Forster's in the form he is. I guess, Djenepo and Diallo from the squad players failed to impress tonight too. I always want Djenepo to come good after his start to his Saints career, but he's just not at this level, he doesn't know what he's doing himself. While, Diallo surprised me. He's looked capable previously, hopefully a one off, but he really showed the importance of having Romeu. Great times to be a Saints fan though, now we go onto Villa at the weekend with what should be a pretty fresh squad.

Broja’s made Dawson his bitch this season.

What a goal. He’s been threatening that in the league. I don’t think it’s a one off fluke, I think he has that up his locker. A good weapon.

Hopefully we stop being linked to Johnstone. Goals at 1:27 and 1:50:

And how right Clattenburg proved to be.

Obvious dislike for Liverpool, but Kepa missing after his refusal to sub off a few years ago makes up for it. Part of the penalty shootout is psychological and facing Alisson or Mendy would have played on the shooters minds a lot more than what we saw with two goalkeepers looking like they'd never save a penalty.

Because people wanted him here instead of Hasenhuttl. He wouldn’t have the budget he had at Bournemouth here, forgetting the one he has at Newcastle and I don’t think people would take too kindly to us getting knocked out of the FA Cup by Cambridge.

Oh when the Saints go Marsching in.

Semmens went to Birmingham to see some cheeky madams Instead, he bought a striker, his name was Che Adams He scores them with his left foot, he scores them with his right And when he scores more than Ings we'll sing this song all night

We took a mini-energy gels break when Norwich made a double substitution. Somebody should look into that, that double sub caused the game to stop and is bringing the game into disrepute. The only thing Romeu was missing from his game was goals. He has now completed football. Astounds me every game these days and seems to get better and better. How that clown at Tottenham kept him or JWP out of the team is incredible. Usually when we're 1-0 up, it's slightly nervy. But, tonight was as comfortable as you can get a 1-0. Broja's not been at the races in recent weeks, but it's testament to the rest of the squad that they're all chipping in and we're running out comfortable victories without him, when in previous years we had relied on Ings a bit too much. Echo the poster above that Adams needs a song. He's literally an unsung hero at the moment.

He had a great game against PSG last weekend. Nantes beat them in a surprise 3-1 win. Couldn't do anything for the goal, which took a deflection. He also saved a Neymar penalty. If we got him it would be one of those "insane" signings. But, sadly, I think he's a level above our market.

There's something rotten at Tottenham, and it started when Pochettino was there, players stopped playing for him, etc. Since then they've had Mourinho, Nuno and now Conte and have chucked a lot of money around, but they're still the same mid-table side expecting to push for the Champions League. Even Kane's stopped playing for them now after last summer, like Alli, etc. did in previous seasons. He turned it on against Manchester City for obvious reasons, but he's one of the best goal scorers in England, their penalty taker and at this moment in time he's the 18th top scorer, behind players like Gallagher, Zaha, Maupay, Bowen, Smith-Rowe and Dennis. He only has one more than JWP. It's a job that needs a mass overhaul of the squad, like we needed when Hasenhuttl first took over. Only, he won't be given the time to oversee it and players like Davies, Dier, Sessegnon, Hojbjerg, Emerson, Doherty, Sanchez, Winks and Bergwijn, who are their "unsellables" will outlive another manager.

Another one for the highlights against Norwich at home. We got relegated with them, they were the strongest team in League One, running away with the title, so it was the toughest fixture you could draw in the JPT back then. They're 2-1 up and with a matter of seconds left of the match Grant Holt has it up by the corner flag, only he then tries to pull one of his cons and goes down looking for the free-kick, doesn't get it and we get possession, boot it straight up the pitch with Papa Waigo, the JPT slayer, scoring with one of the last kicks of the game. Then you've got the drama of penalties, Bialkowski did well against Forster on those and Wayne Thomas bags the winning penalty. Great evening and we of course go on to Wembley and get a great day out that won't be forgotten.

Burnley are doing it again. Usually I'd want them to go down, but not this time. Hopefully it isn't the inoffensive Brentford that they drag in.

Van Dijk only got £5m because he also cost Liverpool £75m in transfer fees. Clubs are now paying millions to players in signing on fees once their contract has expired, replacing the transfer fees and that's why so many players are now seeing out their deals. Juventus paid £14m to Emre Can back in 2018.

If Wan-Bissaka was £50m for winning tackles and offering nothing more...

Alongside the previous two months where clubs were postponing matches with minimal COVID cases, but citing injuries and internationals to ensure those players were back for the rearranged fixture, which gives them a far bigger advantage than a 30 second break. While, we were what looked on the outside following strict COVID regulations to ensure there wasn't an outbreak at the club, which there wasn't. It's no surprise that COVID/injuries hasn't affected clubs after the postponement rules got stricter and football got out of the hectic Christmas schedule.

Looking at who's coming up, Fulham are. You never really know what to expect from them. They usually spend good money and go down. It's got to click at some point, you'd imagine? They aren't like the yo-yoing Norwich, unfortunately. It would be good if the south coast's number one club, Bournemouth failed to come up after gambling on promotion on deadline day, although they're four points clear with two games in hand. Can see them going straight back down under Parker. Then QPR, Blackburn and Huddersfield are all clubs who are having unexpected seasons given the resources available to the trio, they may not survive up here though and Sheffield United won't likely stay up with Heckingbottom having another shot.

I wonder if we would negotiate a release clause with Salisu to extend his deal, seeing as we negotiated a buy back clause for the first time to secure Livramento. I don't think we'd get Salisu's true value this summer and then the next he goes into his final year. Of course you'd also have to make the release clause enticing for the player, so he's not going to accept a release clause of say £60m-£75m. But, then of course, his agent could just be in his ear now telling him that he'd net at least £20m as a signing on fee if he sees out his contract here, which comes with its own risks (injuries, etc.) I guess we could work a gentlemen's agreement like we apparently did with Van Dijk without the circus of then rejecting a deal following, and Kane's situation last season also might dissuade players from that route. Arghhh, too many scenarios! I don't envy the decision makers, but will be delighted if that announcement of a new contract comes up. (It's like his signing all over again).

Some say they were calling for more flexibility and being harder to beat, while others were calling for John Terry to take charge. 🤣