Baird of the land

Another midweek game for United then.

Keeping Cork should have been simple. Hoping the delay and messing him around doesn't cause us to lose such an excellent player. You'd think we'd be able to retain Bertrand. He's not as good potentially as Shaw but a good english youngish left back all the same. Can't see him going back to chelsea as first choice. Toby, would be an amazing coup, if he stays. Been convinced since start that he likely won't stay. Clyne, equally would be coup if he signs a new deal. Would show we can keep hold of english internationals. After last summer i'm rather doubtful. Champions League is the miracle at the end of the rainbow that might swing it our way. Jrod, if it weren't for the speculation, i'd be thinking he'd sign a new deal once fit. I certainly hope he gets back and shows a little loyalty.

Fonte had established himself alongside Lovren as a starter, from a position at the start of the previous season where i saw plenty seemed unsure of whether he should be starting. I'm glad he was made captain and offered a new contract. Imo Reed hasn't replaced Cork anymore than he's replaced Morgan or Wanyama. He's filled in but we looked so much better once Cork came on against Newcastle and so did Reed. I hope we don't have to see how hard and costly it will be to source a replacement of equal quality.

Koeman had the right to but he didn't exercise that right with Fonte who was in the same scenario. Personally think Cork will be hard to replace if he leaves as he's an excellent player imo.

Would be very disappointed if he leaves. Think he's an excellent player. No doubt we'll lose Morgan in the summer but losing Cork too would severely weaken the area of our team that has been our strength of late. Can't say i agree with Koeman's alleged ultimatum either(in echo) regarding signing the new contract, considering how long they left cork hanging in limbo.

Crazy thread, Davis is an excellent consistent performer. Jwp may be long term successor but not yet first choice in that role in front of midfield 2.

On the bright side the way city are playing without Toure may mean they get dragged back into the pack.

A draw ideally.

Well that's 3 points for West Ham.

Yeah don't see why we should make many changes, unless the odd player is carrying a niggling injury.

Maybe for you but Not to me. They are different but equally good. Likely moot as we'll most likely lose Morgan in the summer and I just hope cork/vic will be our starting pairing.

Goalie and defence pick themselves. Centre mid Morgan/vic or Morgan/cork offer different but equal qualities. Davis obviously in front of them Wide slots have me completely unsure. Probably tadic/Jrod but Elia/mane could take one of those slots if they consistently impress. Pelle obviously the target man

Cracking player, contributing massively even if he's not scoring. Goals will come just like they did for Lambert last season when he was going through a bit of a drought.

for me cork should come in for one of jwp/reed Long maybe in for tadic.

Agree completely about Chelsea. Really hope Jack Stephens can step up next season with Saints first team squad. Swindon fan i know rates him highly as a defender and defensive midfielder.

Very talented but still think he has to work on his range of passing. Thought he looked better today once he had more freedom with Cork acting as the shield. Personally if Cork signs his new contract and Reed keeps coming on as a player, that would make the expected departure of Morgan more palatable.

Glad for once we didn't get caught playing a team with a new manager. So happy to see Ashley dithering. To be fair to Carver, don't think his comment is that our of order. We were gutsy and defensively solid but if it was the other way round i'd be equally frustrated.

Amazing transfer business by Saints this season. Every signing seems to have worked out. Great to see us blooding youngsters successfully too to provide our additional depth.

Really gutsy performance. Perfect tactical change by Koeman in Cork and Long on, which had an instant impact. Elia was clearly MOM.

What a really fantastic gutsy victory.

Please get Cork on.

Personally i thought Reed has been poor. He was good midweek but today he's off the pace.

Two poor goals. Shame Fonte didn't bury the header at one nil. Wonder did forster not call or Gardos ignored the call for theirs. Thought Bertrand looks below par(maybe carrying injury, maybe just who he's up against.) Think Reed's looked a bit jaded today. I'd get Cork on immediately.

Personally think Kelvin is a perfectly reasonable(if not spectacular) backup in the short-term. The question for the summer is whether Cropper/Gazzaniga is considered good enough to be Forster's understudy in the long-term or whether the club need to go out and buy. What i've seen of Gazzaniga in the first team previously left me seriously doubting him technically.

Nice to see a professional if unspectacular win. Only downside was wanyama' injury.