Saint-Armstrong

Hi folks, just back from the game and wanted to share my thoughts on this. I read through the entire match thread and agree with a lot of the points raised, but there was no match rating as such, so here's my view... Gazzaniga - 3 - Does not command his area. His positioning is off too. He just doesn't back himself, always nervous and lacks that natural 'arrogance' that good keepers have. Kicking was a lot better today, but he really is not good enough for us. Chambers - 7 - Thought Calum had a solid game. Won the ball back a few times, and caused Rose problems down their left flank. Won several headers and looked calm and comfortable throughout. Would never think he's an 18 year old lad. Lovren - 7 - Lost count of the amount of times he put in a last-ditch tackle or block and re-started an attacking move for Saints today. Was hindered by the defence he found around him, but still stood out compared to the other two. Hooiveld - 3 - Really poor. Won some aerial duels but Adebayor had him on toast all afternoon. Couldn't deal with the movement and does not inspire any confidence whatsoever. I like Jos. He appears to be a great bloke with all the time in the world for the fans, but he is not good enough. Fox - 4 - Poor again, but it was to be expected. Never felt confident seeing him named alongside Jos and Gazza, and you could've predicted the calamitous mistakes. Nice assist though, and he's had worse days. Also not good enough for us. Cork - 7 - Moved the ball very nicely. Manoeuvred himself out of tight spaces several times and dug his team-mates out of trouble. Had no huge impact on the attacking game, but that's not really Cork's bag. Respectable performance and contributed to the team effort throughout his time on pitch. Schneiderlin - 7 - Switched the ball well, set Saints going. As ever from Morgan, decent range of passing and several good tackles to end or stutter opposition breaks. Not his best game offensively, but tidy. S. Davis - 6 - Put himself about, played some nice passes. Decent range of passes, but failed to properly assert himself on the game, and was probably fair that he came off before the end. Lallana - 9 - The one real positive for me. He was sublime. Twisting and turning all over the place, splitting the defence, making the third man runs and his crossing was positive too. Took his goal very well and looks on form right now. Spurs fans I travelled to the game with were massively impressed by Adam and rightly so! Rodriguez - 5 - Didn't really get into the game either. Tried to break through with some runs, but Walker was wise to it for most of the game. Should have done better with his curled attempt, which could've put Saints 2-0 up shortly before Spurs scored. He's been great of late though, so can be excused. Lambert - 5 - Despite the goal, which was absolutely on a plate for him, he looks lost. Lots of aimless flicks and punts, and Dawson handled him reasonably well. Calm finish for the goal, but had little impact aside from that. Thought he had scored an equaliser late on, but it skipped up too early. This isn't the Rickie Lambert we are used to seeing. Starting to worry. SUBSTITUTES Ward-Prowse - 6 - Didn't really have a huge impact, but demonstrated his adaptability and commitment to the cause. Worked hard defensively and whipped in a couple of nice crosses. Ramirez - 6 - Better than he has been. A couple of nice defence-splitting balls, thought he'd put Lallana in to score but Lloris thwarted it. Didn't quite understand his chipped attempt, but he tried to make things happen. Gallagher - 6 - Never looked fazed. Chipped in with defensive work-rate too. A couple of nice flick ons for his team-mates and had a good strike at goal, which Lloris held on to. He looks very promising though and threw himself into the game. For me, that was an old-school Saints performance. We could easily have won that game, but continued to shoot ourselves right in our feet. Daft and really embarrassingly basic errors. Watching Fox, Hooiveld and Gazzaniga try to communicate and organise was painful. Adebayor was on his game and we just couldn't cope. He monstered us with pace and strength. He clearly has a point to prove to Sherwood and Levy, and he's doing just that. But we shouldn't have allowed him the attempts he had in the first instance. Adebayor aside, I thought Spurs looked far from blistering, and were there for the taking. But our defensive woes just subdued our attacking commitments and made the forward jobs harder. For me, today marks the day where I have finally come to accept that Gazzaniga, Fox and Hooiveld just do not, and will not, cut the mustard. A shame because they all seem like great lads, but they just lack the required ability to be dependable or a valid asset to a Premier League club, especially an ambitious one like ourselves. Top ten starting eleven when all fit, but with a few injuries we become a relegation battler once again. Needs to be addressed in these next two transfer windows. Onwards and upwards, we could really do with banking three points at Cardiff. DTLW

Not really sure what the fuss is. It's clearly listed in shop as £10, online as £10 and on the sticker as £10. Yes maybe it used to be £5, but it's not now. Saints should've removed the sticker.

Someone from abroad again, I would imagine. Someone with a strong coaching reputation and has the same philosophy as the club. Maybe an Italian?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25457024 Just before we play them! Think this could be his biggest mistake yet, the guy is an absolute nut-job. Makes Cortese look like a pussycat. I actually feel quite sorry for Cardiff fans now, even more so than before. Odds on a crazy appointment? Also, if I was West Brom I'd be waiting for Mackay to go if it's imminent.

http://www.thefa.com/news/governance/2013/dec/osvaldo-and-woodman-charged Uh oh. Thought it was Tony Jimenez who was involved? Osvaldo charged with violent conduct. He has until Monday to respond to these charges.

http://www.squawka.com/news/2013/12/18/outscoring-lambert-osvaldo-saints-star-emerges-as-credible-england-option/2013121844953

Went to Turgutreis near Bodrum in 2011. Fantastic. I've been to Spain, Greece and Turkey (I'm still only a student), and Turkey was my favourite. The people are really friendly from experience, and you definitely have to do a boat trip. We went out all day with "John" the Turk, a West Ham fan. Lol. He was great though. Entertaining, provided a meal below deck and had loads of drinks for everyone. Great experience, visiting Turkey.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25420261?

Yoann Gouffran capitalised on a mistake by Jos Hooiveld, before Jay Rodriguez scored his 7th of the season to level it up. Referee got put on his back and was bleeding, before a massive ruck in the dugouts with what looked like a scrap between Pardew and Perez. Sam Gallagher got his Premier League debut in injury time. Saints remain in 8th. Tottenham at home next weekend. MOTM? For me, Steven Davis.

Rickie's last shot on target was Hull at home... from a penalty...

Who is wearing the #7 and what has he done with Rickie Lambert? Really poor in recent weeks. Slow, ponderous and wasteful. Sub him please...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2522884/Mauricio-Poschettino-using-interpreter-despite-excellent-grasp-English-bids-prevent-media-misunderstandings.html Nothing new for Saints fans particularly, but may end some of the endless questions and insults that seem to get hurled at Mauricio for not speaking English in interviews. Also, I get the feeling Simon Peach is fed up of explaining the scenario, this article is the first to really go on record to say what it does, I believe. Anyone on here still irked by Spanish answers? How often do you end up explaining the scenario? Countless times I've had people go "your manager doesn't even speak English!", I take a deep breath, and take out my script... definitely the worst part of him not speaking it. Having to explain it to idiots who cannot use logic to work out that the Saints squad and staff have not all learned Spanish especially for Pochettino. I have to say I don't mind what language the manager speaks, I find him infinitely more interesting than the old Adkins interviews. Seems to answer the questions pretty straight up too. It's clearly not an issue with club staff, so I don't see why it should bother me. (P.S. Mods - I keep being infracted for breaking 3 post rule with threads - this thread is my #3 post of the last 24hrs - thanks)

I'm being daft. Picture is very small and I can't get it to enlarge on the ImageShack site. What am I not doing?

Has retired from international football aged 37. Would've liked to see him at a World Cup again, but wasn't to be. That pesky Ronaldo. He holds the record for most appearances for Sweden, with 148 - beating Ravelli's 143. He played at 2 World Cups and 2 European Championships. Best Anders memories?

For now, Osvaldo. Before the Villa game I was banging the drum for him to get a few starts. He obviously came on as a sub, and scored. Then he scored that goal at the weekend and had a couple more chances than usual. I'd like to keep him in the side for 2-3 more games and see how how progression continues. The guy is class and has the pedigree, lets give him time.

Average of Starting XI = 23.36

Pompey defender Sonny Bradley has wound the Skates up by posting photos of himself with Adam Lallana in a bar last night on Twitter and Instagram. :lol:

Aston Villa Cardiff City Crystal Palace Fulham Hull City Newcastle United Norwich City Stoke City Sunderland Swansea City West Bromwich Albion West Ham United Possibly... Everton and Tottenham

Hotch-potch Saints claim a valuable home point against Pellegrini's Manchester City. Sergio Aguero scored in the 9th minute for City, before Dani Osvaldo equalised with a stunner for Saints. Osvaldo came off to a standing ovation and the fans chanting his name, he applauded the fans as Lambert came on for the last fifteen. Gaston also made an appearance, whilst Pochettino brought on Harrison Reed with five minutes left for a Premier League debut. Southampton remain 8th in the Premier League table. Dani's goal...

OsWALDO Lol!!!

Feature interview in tomorrow's matchday magazine. Also a full feature video interview on SaintsPlayer. Teaser...

****. This is the worst injury crisis I can remember in years. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2519008/Southampton-injury-problems-deepen-Victor-Wanyama-ruled-weeks.html

RIP Mr Mandela. Someone worth aspiring to be like. Stood up for his people and his thoughts. Walked the walk, didn't just talk the talk. Respect.