Lighthouse

I thought Gaston was one of our better attacking players yesterday too, Lallana and JRod were both well off the pace. They looked tired, lethargic and kept making mistakes. I thought Gaston's time here was over a month or so ago when he wasn't making the match day 18, with little word from the club as to why. However if he is back in our plans, I see no need to sell him just yet unless a big offer comes in, which it wont. I'd say give him until the end of the season and decide from there.

A Saints team consisting of Davis, Jos, Fox and Cork got promoted from the Championship so why have they suddenly got no chance against a current Championship team? Chambers looks every inch the Premier League player and most Champ teams would love players like Yoshi and Gaston in their team. That's 7 players who would easily give any Championship team a game. With them, a couple of first teamers maybe and a couple of kids how are we 'not taking this game seriously'? If we were going to play the under 18s I could understand people's frustration.

James Avery, better known as Uncle Phil in the Fresh Prince is apparently first out of the blocks. Loved that show when I was younger, R.I.P.

Unlikely as it may be, I still think we should try. 7 points over 18 games really isn't that much, even if we are chasing some very good sides. Without our injury problems we would probably have smashed Villa and maybe taken a few points from games like today, Everton and Spurs. With a couple of decent signings, you never know. I guess everyone has different ambitions. I'd like to see us challenging in the League and making a fist of getting into the Europa League that way. I think if we're up there with the likes of Spurs, Everton, Newcastle and Man Utd we will have the ability to attract better players in the summer and have a real go at the top 4 next season.

In - 22nd Out - Kid on loan, deadline day.

Firstly, our strongest side looked knackered. We can't just carry on playing the likes of Lallana, Morgan, Lambert, JRod, Davis, Shaw etc. until they drop dead in the middle of the pitch. Secondly, you're giving up on the league HALF WAY through the season? I could understand that attitude with 5 games left but on New Years Day?

Nobody will care. This isn't the Champions League, people don't buy players to compete in the FA Cup.

You're probably right but I'm struggling to think of better options. I thought since he was here we might as well give him a game and Gallagher in the second half. I know Barnard is a million miles away from the first team but I'm not aware that he has been banned from playing.

For me it should be something like: Davis Chambers - Yoshi - Hooiveld - Fox Cork - Reed JWP - Gaston - Lee Barnard JRod and Lambert look knackered and I'm guessing Ossie will still be mysteriously absent so we are kind of snookered up front. Maybe give Gallagher a go.

I'd accept the bid and leave it up to Rickie to decide, tell him we want him to stay but £8m is a fair offer. He would decide to stay here. £8m invested wisely is too much money to turn down for Lambert. We spent less than that on JRod, who is arguably a better player now and much younger. £8m spent on another JRod or Lovren would be much more beneficial to us than Lambert, who has looked well off the pace so far.

Watched Villa against Fulham and Man Utd on Sky recently, complete gash in both games. We could replay that fixture another 10 times with exactly the same team and win 9 of them. Just unlucky I guess. I can't see us improving by another 11 points in the remaining fixtures. We will need to get 7 points from the games against Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal just to match last season's results. On the other hand we have the chance to avenge some crap results from last year, like West Ham away and West Brom at home, where we got spanked last season.

Pretty much Ronseal with the thread title Fixture - Last Season - This Season - Difference West Brom a - Lost - Won - +3 Sunderland h - Lost - Drew - +1 Norwich a - Drew - Lost - -1 West Ham h - Drew - Drew - 0 Liverpool a - Lost - Won - +3 Palace/Reading h - Won - Won - 0 Swansea h - Drew - Won - +2 Man Utd a - Lost - Drew - +1 Fulham h - Drew - Won - +2 Stoke a - Drew - Drew - 0 Hull/QPR h - Lost - Won - +3 Arsenal a - Lost - Lost - 0 Chelsea a - Drew - Lost - -1 Villa h - Won - Lost - -3 Man City h - Won - Drew - -2 Newcastle a - Lost - Drew - +1 Spurs h - Lost - Lost - 0 Cardiff/Wigan a - Drew - Won - +2 Everton a - Lost - Lost - 0 Puts us 11 better off compared to the same fixture last season. Not really trying to make a point, thought it was mildly interesting.

This is why aliens wont talk to us.

Trampolining is probably right up there in terms of serious injuries too.

This isn't the first Hill he has crashed into. Sorry. Seriously though, hope he gets well soon. More likely because skiing off piste is far more challenging and pushes a human being to the edge of their abilities. It's part of the mind-set that made Schumacher a 7 time world Champion. Similarities with the crash that killed Ayrton Senna in a way. He was a true great but being right on the limit of what is humanly possible ultimately proved his downfall.

I think I'd go with Boruc Clyne - Fonte - Lovren - Shaw Cork - Morgan Davis - Gaston - Lallana Rodriguez.

David Luis booked. Misses our game.

Down - Sunderland, Palace, Fulham Up - Saggy chops, Leicester, Leeds

Where?

Technically Pulis at Stoke, although that was more down to a whole season of stagnation.

1. How have you found the league so far now that we're approaching the half way mark? About what I'd have expected personally. I'd have said between 6th and 9th was probably a fair position for Saints. Everton and Newcastle have surprised me being so high up, I think without the injuries we would be 4 or 5 points better off. 2. Which position if any will you be wanting to strengthen in the next transfer window? We could do with another 'keeper and a LB. Shaw is brilliant for his age but can't play every game. There are other areas but I would only expect maybe 1 or 2 signings in January. 3. You must be delighted with the International recognition of some of your players. Are there any others that you feel are worthy of a call up? Clyne is definitely good enough to play for England, I'd rate him easily as high as Johnson or Walker. Shaw will probably make his debut after the WC. JWP is good enough one day too but I think the 2 fullbacks are closer at the moment. 4. What are your thoughts on Mauricio Pochettino and is he really that different to Nigel Adkins in terms of coaching? As much as we all liked Adkins, Poch is a definite step up. I've seen pundits on Soccer Saturday saying teams, "can't play the same high tempo pressing game as Bayern, Dortmund and Southampton." I think that says it all about MP's football philosophy. It's great to watch. 5. What are you views of Everton as a club, our fans, and our style of football, and if you've been to Goodison before our stadium? Never been to Goodison but it's definitely on my to do list. Can't make this weekend's game unfortunately. Not got a particular opinion of Everton fans as I don't really know any. 6. Can you name a best eleven plus a subs bench using players from both sides? Howard Clyne - Distin - Lovren - Baines (Only LB better than Shaw in the Prem IMO) Schneiderin - Barry Mirallas - Barkley - Lallana Lukaku Not sure on the bench. 7. Where do you think both teams will finish in the table? Saints - 9th (we're already in a big space between 8th and 10th) Everton - 7th Above Newcastle 8. Any predictions for the game? We have a rotten record against Everton, so I will say another 3-1 defeat. Lukaku to score 2, Lambert from a set piece for Saints

I'm being facetious but I don't really get why losing a semi final to a team who've never particularly been our rivals is so bad. We must have beaten Everton about 10 times since then. If none of those wins avenged our defeat in '84 I doubt a win on Sunday will either.

Apparently not. I'd have thought 30 years of trauma was more appropriate to an average rape, not losing a cup semi final. Why do people hate Heath so much too? According to his wiki, he is neither from nor has every played for Pompey.

Maybe I just don't get it because I wasn't there but we must have played Everton about 40 times since then. Surely it's time to move on from a game 30 years ago? We do have a sh*t recent record against Everton though. 1-0 from a Pahars penalty in 2002 was our last win I think. I'd go for the same team but with Lovren back in if fit, other than that I don't think there's really much to change. I'm guessing Ossie is out for disciplinary issues as I haven't heard anything regarding injuries with from the club.

One thing I did notice was that when the ball is played backwards he turns completely sideways, like he's about to let it run out for a corner. It's kind of awkward and means he can only really play the ball in one direction. I'm not sure if it's something that he's been coached into but he has a weird style.