Lighthouse

That was certainly my concern and nothing will be proven otherwise until we are well into the season. If he plays to February/March without picking up a serious injury, then my fears will be eased somewhat. If, on the other hand, he does he knee ligaments (for the 5th time) in October and misses the rest of the season it wont look like such a good deal. Having said all that, 2 goals already, which is pretty much Long's average for the whole season. 4 more and he'll probably win our golden boot, regardless.

Gunn will be worth £135m sitting on our bench? Quite the prediction but even if he displaces McC (which wont be happening in the immediate future) I can't see him being a big cash cow.

Get in!

I wish we were Brighton.

Here please.

Long starts again. Gabbi not in the squad again but there is room for 3 central midfielders on the bench.

Does beg the question of why we signed Gunn. I know he looks better than FF but from a financial point of view it seems like madness when we've already got Fraser as back up and we can't get rid of him. Yes, he is a weakness but he isn't hopeless. Given choise I'd have spent the Gunn money on a decent AM or a decent RB.

I'd have a front 3 of Ings, Gabbi and Redmond personally, with Armstrong in behind. Don't want to see either Austin or Long starting.

And? What’s not to like about that?

I’m not bothered personally and I agree it’s better for Saints. I just find the big club bias rather irritating for the sport in general. Players like Cleverley and Heskey getting more caps than Le Tiss or Kevin Phillips.

I remember the 'cool kids' doing that when I was in 6th form.

Yes but it's a good game for Man Utd and that's what counts. Who could forget Calum Chambers having 2 good games at Arsenal, which got him into the squad, or Walcott in 2006 who didn't even have to make an appearance.

Based on the stunt he pulled off last year, I reckon he should be knighted in the New Years honours list.

He may be our top scorer but 14 goals in 2.5 years is a pretty meagre return for a striker. I’m sure some helpful soul will be along with some stats comparing his goals per minute ratio to Aguero or something but his lack of game time is a glaring weakness, not en excuse. The fact is he isn’t fit enough to play more than he does and hasn’t been for many years. Thankfully, none of the ‘whinging’ on here has any bearing on the teams performance.

Well, he played 130 minutes without scoring in more important games, which we didn’t win, so yes it does matter. No complaints about last night in isolation but criticism of Austin is well founded in many areas.

They seem to have forgotten about the other 130 minutes he played before last night. In fairness, they were pretty easy to forget but he did play.

That was a reaction to the Brighton match, where he was very poor, lacked pace and was a disappointment. It’s not writing him off.

Quote one post writing him off.

Play him; yes but I would be starting him. There is an obvious advantage of coming on second half when you’re up against defenders who have been running around for an hour longer than you have. If he can have an impact against some tiring legs, then he should be considered for a starting spot. I don’t think anyone is written off before they can adjust. The likes of Gaston, Boufal and Mané all had plenty of opportunities to prove themselves.

He scored a hat trick in a cup final against Man Utd. What I find frustrating is that we know what he can do, in a decent team which gives him decent chances. His first goal against West Ham on his debut was exquisite as was the equaliser in the cup final. His movement and anticipation is among the best I’ve seen from a Saints striker but sadly we have a squad full of cloggers who aren’t on the same wavelength. It’s a shame we never got to see him play along side Mané and Pellè, along with an in form Tadic. Then we’d have seen what he’s capable of. If we do sell him, that’s a pretty dreadful collection of strikers we’re left with. Austin and Ings will be in the treatment room sooner rather than later, leaving Sunday League Shane to chase defenders around like a terrier after his favourite tennis ball.

I wasn’t at the Leicester game but from most accounts he was quite decent up until the dive. It was a silly thing to do but I’d much rather a decent performance ruined by a moment of stupidity, rather than just being crap from the get go. Having said all that, I think he is suspended.

Not seen anything of Moi yet to suggest he’s good enough to be starting. I’d have Gabbi in to switch around the front 3 with Redmond and Ings. Apart from tha, looks good to me.

I doubt Long reads this forum and if he does, he’s probably got you on ignore.

I remember that Wycombe game for 2 reasons. Firstly the kids having a penalty shootout at h/t and secondly the 50 tonnes of sand they’d spread across the pitch, killing the bounce stone dead.

#Itscominghome