Baird of the land

for me make the changes in midfield and up front whilst keeping the defence reasonably settled. Hoping Reed and Juanmi get their chance at long last. Stek Cedric Fonte Van Dijk Targett Reed Romeu Davis Juanmi Jrod Long

After being treated awfully by Saints from the summer to January(no new contract, told to earn one whilst Fonte got one instantly, a mediocre loan midfielder brought in who was clearly meant to supercede him in the pecking order if not for fact that guy threw a mighty strop, I'm not surprised he was not convinced that the management or the board would give him a fair opportunities. So to me its very easy to see why his state of mind regarding a new contract could shift radically in 6 months. Then Swansea came in and sold him on their club.

Yeah made more appearances than Vic too in the 13/14 season. 30 vs 24.

Still annoys how we mismanaged the situation. Treating a high quality english midfielder like a trialist, telling him despite all his excellent performances for us that he had to spend six months proving he was worth a new contract. If we'd treated Fonte(who was out of contract at the same time) like that he would have walked too. He went somewhere he felt he would be more valued, where he still has to fight to guarantee himself a starting position but he feels the manager rates him enough to make it an even fight. Like you i'm hoping Clasie will add the nous we've lost in that position in losing jack and Morgan. Romeu/Vic provide brute force but we really need something more subtle alongside one or the other. Think Cork should be close to england squad, the only equivalent player in his role i see in the squad is Carrick.

Have to say i don't get the Gaston situation. I understand we might have preferred have got him off the wage bill. Surely the most sensible thing is to integrate him into the first team squad till at least christmas. If he gets injured again ok. If he doesn't do well enough to break into match squad fair enough. Surely both those options are better than a massive pay off or a tiny championship loan fee.

Yeah personally think they are too similar & its better to only play one or the other. I'd stick with replacing Jrod with Mane and possibly Targett with Bertrand(if he's fit enough to play)

Frustrating, seemed a lack of urgency to get the win and almost a feeling of settling for a point against a team that looked very mediocre. Suppose its a point.

Got to worry that Koeman thought there was anything positive to take from the performance. On another night we might have sneaked extra time by the strange handball by their player but equally they could have scored 3 rather than 1. Hope Koeman ditches the awful 5-3-2 formation he's used last 2 games. It removes all creativity and reduces us to hoof ball from our own half. Goal was once again suicidal play, this time by Jrod. Worried by our inability to pass forwards. Davis was least bad at this, at least attempting now and then to turn and try an incisive pass. jWp was awful, Romeu had his worst game for saints by a country mile. Badly missing the likes of cork/Morgan. Need Clasie fit to give the midfield some passing mojo. When tadic came on at least there were a couple of moments of creative spark where we tried to do something better. He needs to start against Norwich. Wonder what going out does for the likelihood of signings or sales. Assume nothing good.

Got to blame Koeman completely. Was desperately worried when I saw the lineup to be honest, zero creativity. Why did we spend the entire game hoofing it upfield from utterly appalling positions. I get putting crosses in from advanced positions but his plan for tonight was embarrassing. Worried me for a while that our midfield is scared stiff of turning with the ball, something that Morgan or cork could do in their sleep. Hence its a constant backwards step, Clasie better be very good in defensive mid as otherwise we will churn out the same dross. Desperately disappointed to go out of Europe, even more so as on basis of early season it's going to be a battle to stay clear of relegation rather than a top 10 season.

Wouldn't complain if we signed Townsend. Fits the mold of young, english, talented but needing games and rough edges sanded off. The negatives for me would be question marks over his defensive side especially when Cedric seems defensively fragile too. Also like last year if they are reputedly after one of our stars its likely to block any move even if we are interested.

Really hope Reed is given his chance to impress tomorrow. If we revert to pushing Davis out of position again it'll be very disappointing.

I understand why they are reticent. Without their first choice left back till Jan and with only one other centre back in Jagielka. Then suddenly having to panic and pay through the nose on the eve of the transfer deadline for new ones. Then integrate them in the starting xi immediately. Plus they've got stones on a contract till 2019. Can't see his value suddenly disappearing unless he gets a serious injury.

Well i'm pretty satisfied with notion of Clasie in that role, just a pity he got injured in build up to the season. Also see a lot of worth in young Reed there too.

Not convinced by him as a regular. As a cheap and cheerful 5m squad buy he's ok. Tendency for horrible challenges. Could easily have been sent off in every game he has played for us. Hope when Clasie is fit he'll drop down to the bench as cover for Wanyama, which would give us a much better balance in centre mid.

If its fantasy we are talking about then for me i t would be offer swansea a huge amount for Cork. Personally i'll be very happy if we avoid Austin too. Of QPR's players i'd much prefer Phillips.

Chambers moved far too early. Fourth choice centre back and possibly 3rd choice right back isn't a good thing for his development. Should still be at Saints, would have saved us wasting money on Cedric who looks worryingly poor.

Looks like we played for a point and got a point. Thought Fonte was excellent & clearly mom. Caulker played well in the 2nd half after looking dodgy in the first half. Romeu: Was looking ok till for third game in the row went nutty and easily could have been sent off for an utterly reckless tackle. Long worked hard based on awful service. Shame Mane had to go off as he was causing them problems early on. On the whole while the shift to 5-3-2, helped cedric & targett. Neither were terrible but neither offered enough quality in the opposition half. Can't say i've been particularly impressed by Cedric as a signing. On another day we would have possibly lost 1-0 nil as they have best chance of the game. I was disappointed we went so negative. Would have much preferred the likes of Tadic in the side who don't fit this formation. Bit worried about the amount of long balls we are playing over quick incisive passing. Don't think the balance of Romeu and Wanyama works as both have the same strengths and limitations. More solid than with Davis in there. Keeping my fingers crossed Clasie can fit in to that role of being a defensive shield but also much more all round ability on the ball.

I can see why we've changed formation. It does seem have helped Targett & Cedric who have had more protection behind them. Not sure caulker is at all at home in a back three though and its really affecting our ability to try and play any football. Right now we're a threat with Long on the break. I'd be tempted to try and bring on JWP quite soon. With Caulker in the side we seem dangerous from set pieces & we could do with his quality of delivery.

T No it wasn't it was the fact the midfield decided to congregate in the bottom corner for a town meeting and left their centre mid in acres of space when the clearance came out of the box. Don't see why comparing him to another similar defensive mid in cattermole ridiculous? Cork certainly didn't take time to settle, it was apparent immediately how good he was. My issue is that if we are going parachute in this type of player they should be better than the academy player they are blocking. I'm not seeing that yet, where it was completely obvious in Morgan/cork's case.

Well for me personally he's played one and a half games and probably should have been sent off twice. So his cattermole vibes aren't impressing me much. Didn't think he was particularly special on Thursday. Once again it was centre mids going walkabout that gave them a goal. Miles off Cork let alone Morgan imo based on admittedly small sample of games. Personally its not the issue that he's foreign, but just being better than Davis who isn't a defensive mid isn't a cause for wild celebration in my eyes.

stek martina fonte caulker targett reed vic davis mane pelle tadic gazza, yoshida, romeu, soares, jrod, long, jwp

Disappointing if true but its clear Koeman won't give him a proper chance, so its probably best he gets away. Hopefully Clasie gets fit soon as i'm no fan of the mediocre Romeu in that role.

In patches we were good, in patches we were horrifically bad. For the first goal the 2 defensive mids went completely missing. Caulker had a goal unluckily chalked off. We got a penalty, Jrod scored if not imressively. After that when you think we might have pushed on. We played horrifically badly. Really not impressed by Romeu. Once again could easily have been sent off. Gone backwards in centre mid over recent years. No one in the league of Morgan or Cork to partner Wanyama. Yoshida doesn't strike me as a right back. Why have 2 right backs on the bench & none on the pitch.

This should be treated in the same manner as Morgan bid last year, he simply isn't for sale no matter the price. We can't afford to sell anyone else and certainly not at this stage of the transfer window.

Be interesting to see what Koeman does. Big game at the weekend, so i'd suggest a fair amount of rotation midweek Stek Soares Fonte Caulker Targett Reed Romeu Juanmi JWP JRod Long