Hodgey

I don't think he will go to Everton either - but you really can't rule it out. He's guaranteed a 1st team place there, they are a step up from us (no I don't want to accept that either) and they will pay silly money and wages. I actually think he will go to Chelsea as he seems settled in the area and he wouldn't even have to move - worry for me is Chelsea are much smarter on negotiating than Everton so we wouldn't win from that....

think we may have repeated the boric / Forster issue this season. For me Tadic is miles better than Boufal at the moment and his rant was right (and backed up by stats). Not sure where we go from here next season - id love to give Boufal more time but if that means Tadic leaves I'm not so sure..

Sorry Doddis + Cellone . Didn't notice that we were paying absolutely nothing for him (signing on fee, weekly wages etc) and this was all pre-planned by our outstanding strategy - I take it all back - Les is a genius. On a serious note hopefully we get a few games out of him, he stays injury free, and is committed to the club whilst he is here.

Panic buy - expensive lesson learned. At least we haven't committed and can redress the issue in the next window.

He can beat a man for fun - problem is he can't seem to release a pass or get away from the player after. So they get back and he has to beat them again until they muscle him off the ball. As someone already said - whilst his control and skill is up there with the Hazards and Sanchez - he doesn't have their strength, nor pace. If he is going to make it then he needs to get stronger and pass earlier. Promising though - I'd like to see more desire from him to change a game as he can do it, not sure mentally he is there (or will ever be). Worrying injury record as well.

I'm not too bothered about this. Players from the Italian league do not seem to suit the Prem. He seems to be more of an att mid when we need a striker, and he doesn't appear particularly match fit. At that price we should be walking away and looking elsewhere.

Regarding pens - really ?, are you confident when Tadic steps up to take one then ? - we had a very worrying period post Lambert when our pen taking was frankly poor, Austin has solved that so it's a definate bonus and counts. SFC think you have been quite kind with a few of those, and harsh on a few others - I'd go based on this season.. GKs Forster - lower prem McCarthy - championship Taylor - Div 1 (from recent career) Defenders Van Dijk - Top prem Fonte - Mid prem Gardos - champ Yoshida - lower prem Pied - unknown McQueen - lower prem Stephens - champ Bertrand - top prem Targett - championship Soares - mid prem Martina - championship Midfielders Clasie - lower prem Romeu - mid prem Ward-Prowse - champ Höjbjerg - champ Davis - mid prem Reed - champ Isgrove - div 1 Forwards Boufal - lower prem Sims - championship Tadic - lower prem Redmond - lower prem Rodríguez - champ Austin - mid prem Long - champ That said I think there is potential for the following to rise above their current rankings: Redmond, Hojberg, McQueen, Sims, Soares, McCarthy, J-Rod, Forster

This will be a very tough game - player for player we are very evenly matched so this will come down to tactics and home advantage. Both teams very strong defensively and both have players who on their day are match winners (rondon/chadli/Phillips jrod/Boufal/tadic). Ironically I think this may come down to set pieces with both sets of centre halves perhaps the biggest threat. Heart says 1-0 but head 1-1. Confident we will get something (and we need to as I can't see us getting anything at Everton).

In - and re-look at the end of the season. Football is about entertainment and winning, we are definitely going backwards for the first, and jury is out for the second. Then again - how many players has he signed ? - clearly Boufal is one of his and you could argue that the jury is out on him - but Redmond / Hojberg etc... Still don't understand why we have brought in a coach who is clearly a different style than what has brought us so much success since Atkins appointment. I also really hope he isn't being told to play youth products unless he really believes they are good enough (why else would you play JWP against those brutes today when you already have a midfield of Redmond/Boufal/Davis ?)

I'll say it if nobody else will - he's been incredibly lucky and is a very average footballer. Great that he has invested it wisely but if the premier league had any ounce of quality required rather that athleticism and average skill he may not live that lifestyle. I. bet MLG must curse not being born 10yrs later. And before you all start I like shlong - but he isn't exactly a brilliant footballer is he ?. Fair play fella and good you have your head screwed on.

Not sure due to yesterday's result we can suddenly say that a draw at home to Watford is a decent result - unless we think that finishing below Watford is fine. The more points the likes of Burnley, Hull, Watford, Bompey, WBA and Sunderland pick up the more chance we have of getting into trouble. That was 2 points lost, as was Sunderland - if we are not going to get shock results at the big 6, then we cannot afford to drop points in those home games. We are now under big pressure at home to Swansea who will be looking at this game as one of the more likely places to take points and will cause us problems. Biggest issue is complete lack of goals currently in this team - one goal we've scored from open play via a keeper howler from 4 games - and not exactly against the best defenses either. I'm not hugely bothered about our defence - although we do look more suseptable to conceding from set pieces, fact is half of the goals conceded are from erroneous or silly penalties.

Verbal Kint views echo mine - this squad in theory is strong - but it does require a manager bringing out the best in them given many are young and inexperienced. I would be supremely confident if RK was still in charge and excited about what we are about to see. With CP it's more fingers crossed - for me we still don't have the players to play his system.

I may be wrong but I don't think there are too many people that upset with our transfers - we've lost players to much bigger clubs (aside from Pelle who we clearly wanted to sell) and replaced them with good, potentially great youngsters (which we have a track record of doing). The original poster talked of patience - and it is patience of the manager /system that is splitting the fan base more. From a manager / coach PoV there are big questions - RK went to Everton - not a clearly bigger club - could we have kept him ?. We've brought a manager into the club who clearly has a different system to the 'Southampton way' which the u23s still seem to be playing. We've merged him with DW - one of the old guard (can see conflict there) and Erik Black - a most unpopular figure for Villa fans who was part of an embarrassing season for a team arguably bigger than us and had some uncomfortably similar situations (brought in a highly regarded French manager, sold there 3 best players and spent the money on potential etc. So whilst I would agree on patience, I'm certainly not In the 'I'm not worried camp'. What I want to see is for us to at least try the old formation - strikes me that with our personnel we could field a strong and exciting team, less so with a diamond. I've also seen some worryingly arrogant chat that we are too good to go down. That should be true given our squad but it is amazingly easy for a club to fall apart - especially if players no longer believe in what they as doing.

It's clear that Puel doesn't know his best midfield or attackers yet - or indeed how to get the best out of them. We also still need to find out if we have fullbacks that fit this formation. Due to injuries and euro to be fair he hasn't really had a chance to find out, and has taken a bit of a gamble in starting with a new system which theoretically should see us improve when we get used to it. All that said serious questions should be asked how a winger supposedly bought in to replace Juanmi has become our number 1 striker. There is simply no excuse for that and smacks a little of arrogance given his performances in this role. I have a suspicion that Puel isn't happy with the squad despite what he is saying, and the players need a win or great performance post the break to nullify clear concerns they have as them losing faith would be hugely problematic (then it becomes a choice of system or manager change). I suspect Romeu and Davis will continue to struggle in this system and it's pretty clear that Puel isn't a fan of JWP or Claise so ironically our midfield still looks thin in this new set up. Arsenal will be interesting - I expect a pretty dull one goal defeat as that back 5 do not look capable of clean sheets presently (despite a stat I read somewhere that we have had the 3rd least ****s on target against). I'm hoping that we actually create some decent chances (not stat based - actually realistic chances) given Arsenal theoretically are exactly the kind of side this formation should work against (congest midfield, quick balls through to pacy Fwds against an average def.

I'd be surprised if anyone thinks this new system has worked better than the old in the first few games. We are definately playing a high stakes game here - due to previous success without relatively quick success fans and more importantly players will turn. I also can't help but think that Puel isn't the sort to back down so something will have to give. Hopefully he'll be proved right - but you'd also hope he has the balls to demand some players in the window other than a free transfer right back to make the formation work. Frankly I'm worried that Reed, Black, Watson and Puel are not on the same page here (nor are the players).

I've got a differing view. Both were excellent last season and should be this - but I don't know if the malaise is due to getting up to speed post the euros or this new formation. Both played looked pretty ****ed off to me and I don't know which it is but fear the latter. Also - whilst I like long as a trier and on his day a great striker - it worries me that we are going into a season with him as clear no 1, he should be back up or desperately working to stay in the team

I think realistically on a like for like basis you could argue we have lost 6 - Stek, Davis, Juanmi, Mane, Wanyama and Pelle (ie those in the 1st team squad last year) - Gaston didn't figure and Juanmi was supposed to replace him. So far we have brought in 2 so we are 4 down. Counter argument is that Austin was Pelle's replacement - so to have a similar 1st team squad as last year we would need 3 more (2 Gks and an Att Mid). The club have basically said they are after these two positions, with maybe a striker and/or RB as well (depending what you read) rather than 2 keepers (you could use Davis as an emergency 3rd) The bigger question for me is not numbers but quality and gaps for this season. I think we are two AttMid short and a right back especially if we are going for the formation Puel has been trying (ie full backs almost as wingers, a creative ball player, and two attmid who can run from deep). I'm also very nervous that we do everything we can to keep Fonte - I think he'll be the biggest miss if he is to leave - we have too much recent form struggling through a season without enough CB cover - and if the cash is no object likes of Everton and Man Utd are sniffing around Fonte, we're going to need something special from our scouts to spot something they haven't.

Back to an excellent previous comment - if the clubs aim is to have 2 quality players in every position - then for my money we are a right, left and centre attacking midfielder short ! (And arguably a Gk, CB and LB). I think the clubs own viewpoint is surely to have at least one quality player and either a decent back up or a flawed kid who they believe will become quality. i guess people's fear is with c 48 games if we don't get in a fair few players we need those back ups and flawed kids to produce when asked or we will have a disappointing season (which for me would be early cup exit and bottom .

I think some of the sarcastic comments are over the top. Great news given our striker situation but let's not pretend he is anything other than an honest hard working but limited striker (who has never scored as many in a prem season as the much fun down Pelle). We're not going to finish in a Euro place if he is our main striker. Great to get him committed but we need much more if we are not to go backwards.

We need to keep Pelle - with the money available to all Prem clubs next year losing anyone proven at this level for less than £15m is pointless - 23 league goals in 2 seasons with a load of assists mean he is proven. We will really struggle to find a replacement without taking a huge risk or spending £25m. Same with Wanyama - rather do a deal with him to stay at the club one more year then get his payday as a free transfer. Of course you can only do this if the players are happy here - and in Pelle's case he is far from guaranteed 1st team. Agree with Austin/j-Rod comment as well - clearly injury prone so we cannot rely on them - got to look at their contribution next season as a bonus not a guarantee.

Really impressive considering we lost our 3 best players - I had us pegged for 12th so been proven wrong. Some great recruitment (Romeu, VVD), some decent (Claise, Martina, Stek), some bad (Juanmi, Cedric) overall good. The most pleasing for me was Koeman showing his tactical accumen when we were in a rut (still playing well - just not scoring) by building up from the back again - a lot has been made of no clean sheets in last 12 but frankly that is because we are playing a more attacking style (and winning !). On that point - was looking at 'top goalscorers' and very pleased we have 3 strikers hitting double figures, but of those 3 some of our seasons story is clear looking at shots on target - Pelle 38%, Long 41% (Mane is 52%) - for context the likes of Deeney, Carrol, Ighalo and Ayew are all in their 50s. Of course hard to say if this is because Koeman is asking players for more speculative shots or they need to work on accuracy (from what I've seen it's a bit of both).

I think someone else mentioned this on another thread, but my biggest concern is that RK seems to be having a crisis of confidence in his own tactics/team. He came out and said that he would change tactics / team / training and then we thumped Arsenal, but since then looks like we have reverted to type. Even with his 4231 system I'm unconvinced he knows his best 11 - right back constantly changes, one def mid constantly changes, he's unconvinced with Tadic on the right, moves Mane all over the shop, is uncomfortable playing Long upfront, doesn't know where to play JWP etc etc. This is now undoubtedly his team so he should absolutely know his best team - or change the system to accommodate the players he has. Still think he is a fantastic manager who is making the mistake of putting round shapes in square holes.

Merry Christmas all from the big smoke - let's hope Gooners return here with nothing !

Thanks DuncanRG - don't disagree we have more but others would so I tried to point out the ones where I feel there is no debate (ie those guys would get into multiple Prem teams as opposed to the bottom 3)

Positive actions: 1) Wanyama. Give clear instructions to sit in front of back 4 and give them protection, and pass it simple, rather than get frustrated and rampage fwd and give the ball away. Tell him if he does this well more teams will want him for the price we want and he'll get his transfer wish in the summer - if not we'll keep him here for another year. 2) Extra training on crossing on the run. The amount of times one of our wingers / full backs hoofs it all the way to the other touchline is unbelievable, this must be affecting Pelle's attitude of bothering to make runs in the box when 9 times out of 10 the ball is miles over his head 3) Get a decent sports psychologist in to stop them giving up when they conceed - if they have been outplaying a team previously and creating chances, logic suggests if they keep doing it then it will work. 4) Get Mane playing just off Pelle 5) Get Townsend in on loan so we actually have a right winger at the club rather than pushing Mane or Tadic out there - they are miles better central / left. 6) Find a midfielder (internal or external) who can help control our pace. This has been the biggest loss of Spiderman - someone who understands when to buy a foul, make a foul, slow down play with a square ball or try moving it forwards quicker etc. None of our midfielders currently seem to have the first clue here - hence the lack of game management and flitting from excellent to terrible in the space of 5 minutes. 7) Never play 3 at the back again, and contemplate 4-4-2 instead. We should be OK this season. It's not like when we went down where aside from Phillips and Crouch Prem teams were not bothered about our players. Wanyama, Tadic, Pelle, Ward-Prowse, Forster, Bertrand, VVD, Mane would have a decent pick of Prem clubs straight away - so if we have 8 Prem players then we should be comfortably mid-table.