Saint-Armstrong

The Telegraph... why would Jay even consider a move to Newcastle right now... odd.

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/8994201/praise-for-southampton

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/27/southampton-fulham-premier-league-match-report?CMP=twt_gu

Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez combine for both goals in a dominant display. Saints up to 3rd. Over to you...

FULHAM: Stekelenburg; Riether, Senderos, Amorebieta, Richardson; Ruiz, Sidwell, Parker, Kasami; Berbatov; Bent. BENCH: Stockdale, Kacaniklic, Karagounis, Duff, Hughes, Rodallega, Zverotic.

People getting the politicians and governments they deserve may just be one of the daftest comments I have ever heard. Do sub-Saharan African states like Zimbabwe deserve Robert Mugabe? Do they deserve to subjected to beatings and intimidation at election time, of if they use their right of protest? No. Do they deserve to have international aid supplies diverted via Mugabe's account - and the money then going missing? No. Do they deserve to be subjected to oppression and poverty because their elections are unfair? No. Do they deserve to have people who have already passed away listed on the register as having voted for Mugabe? No. That's just one country, it's ridiculous to suggest people get what they deserve in politics. I agree with Brand, I'm thinking about voting and all I am seeing is far-right, right and centre-right. I totally understand the apathy. Watching the political shows is just embarrassing and depressing, all bickering about who stands where whilst really not knowing where their parties are going to stand on anything come May 2015. British politics is a bore-fest, it's depresssing, their is nothing and no one to inspire faith or to encourage the people. It's not about as Paxman says, "vote for change", because frankly - there is no change. It's all largely the same in different formats, they will face the same issues, act similarly and have the same outcomes. I can't agree with the broad statement of we (the people) get what we deserve. Utterly absurd idea.

Played for Fiorentina and Cesena, I suppose anyone who follows their country's football closely may remember him or be aware of him.

The Fulham Academy is very impressive. There's a lot of great young players and they're increasingly attracting players from a wider catchment area, into Essex etc. I know a few who have left Southend/Colchester/Orient et al to sign for Fulham. However, they've not had their first breakthrough star yet. They've won the leagues and done well in the cups, however. I'm sure the graduates will soon come.

Sky Sports News' Mark McAdam on Twitter: Met Jose Fonte at #saintsfc today. "If Ronaldo wants to win the Champions league he should come here..." Feature on SSN tomorrow from 6pm.

Mauricio Pochettino's key comments: "The mood here is very calm. The players are very relaxed after a positive result at Old Trafford." "We have a footballing philosophy of defending high up the pitch and taking lots of risks to keep the ball far from our goal." “I’m very proud of the players’ performances. They are the protagonists in this team.” - (when asked about Gary Neville's comments on MP's coaching) "Fulham are a side with very talented players. Their position in the league is not reflective of how they are playing." "We know they will make things tough for us, so we’ll have to work hard to get a positive result from this game." "Statistics are just statistics. They're there at the end of the season as well but they really mean nothing." "One of the main reasons I signed for Southampton was because I realised how well they value their academy system." "I am glad both our ways of doing things have come together so well." "Steven Davis had a slight problem in training. We still need to evaluate how he is doing. We will make a decision tomorrow." "Dejan Lovren is a great defender. He is playing very well, and so is Jose. However, Maya and Jos are also good defenders." "We are glad to have four good central defenders, we will need them all." "I can't really speak about the scenario with Ian Holloway. I can only really express my sympathy." "No one likes to see a colleague get sacked. I send him my best wishes and hope that we meet again and can say hello again."

Born in Southend, raised in Southend, live in Southend. But my Dad lived in Southampton and took me to my first Saints game when I was old enough. Before then I quite liked Chelsea because of John Terry - evidently a bad judge of character.

From what I've seen... Holloway offered resignation on Monday night. Owner said they should sleep on it, further talks and IH still wanted to go. Mutually agreed.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/southamptons-dani-osvaldo-eyed-transfer-2477122

I am very happy, I wish to congratulate the players for their effort First of all, we believed We prepared very well for this match We put an amazing effort in and at all times we played as a team Playing as a team and being fitter at the end is one of the signs we are on the right path From the start we have put in an amazing effort We are having double training sessions We are now starting to reap the rewards of that Rickie Lambert is a very important player for Southampton I don't think that it's a gamble that one player does play and another does not But I repeat, he is important, there will be some games he starts and some that he doesn't Our mentality does not change whether we are playing at Old Trafford or St. Mary's We knew that if we pushed them into their own half we would have chances of a positive result That is how we planned it We haven't won, but we were very close My tie is an amazing gift from my chairman I want to thank Nicola for my tie! Today was a big test for me, wearing a new tie For the next couple of games, I will keep on wearing it! As long as we keep on winning it, I will wear the tie

Robin Van Persie gave United the lead just before the half-hour mark, before Dejan Lovren equalised in the 90th minute. Saints remain in 4th place. Fulham at home up next for Saints. Your thoughts?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2466013/Southampton-flying-high-Premier-League-manager-Mauricio-Pochettino-chairman-Nicola-Cortese.html Third and final article for the night. Apologies for flooding the forum, but found these three articles and thought it warranted posting. Some good Saints coverage this weekend.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/manchester-united-v-southampton-mauricio-pochettino-not-surprised-by-his-flying-start-8890473.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/southampton/10390068/Mauricio-Pochettino-way-ahead-of-expectations-as-he-builds-for-success-the-Southampton-way.html Interesting and well-written piece from Jim White in tomorrow's paper.

http://talksport.com/football/seasons-surprise-package-southampton-assessed-13101864614

17 year old defender. Joined us from Chelsea about a year or so ago. Left-back, I believe.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/england-boss-hodgson-caught-up-2460799 Seems that the red tops will now go to town on Hodgson. Basically, at HT at Wembley on Tuesday he gave a speech including an analogy based on a NASA space mission where they sent a man and an ape into space. The story goes that the man was having a fairly low-profile role, and asked what his job actually was. Ground command replied that it was his job purely to feed the monkey. Hodgson's point was that he needed his midfielders and defenders to look to keep feeding the ball to Andros Townsend to complete their mission. He needed people willing to take on the low-profile but essential work, in order to allow Townsend to do his thing and be at his most dangerous. Now, I don't think Hodgson is a racist at all. If this is a racist comment, it certainly doesn't appear to have been the purpose. All I can feel from this is that Hodgson is becoming a victim of red-top character assassination for what can be described as, at worst, a poorly judged analogy.

He won't make it. Carroll will regain fitness in the New Year and will get picked alongside Rooney, Sturridge, Welbeck and probably Defoe.