UpweySaint

There is constructive criticism face to face then there is hanging out to dry in public because you're under performing and looking to pass the buck.

Okay fair point but he is still 21 and has already came back from an injury that can easily end a career. I would suggest Jose is not treating him in much the same way as others. Has Pogba been up to much this season? No. Jose praises him to the hilt. Has Rooney? God no! Still gets treated with respect. Rashford has not scored since September and is still golden boy... If he really thinks Shaw is lazy, inept etc and would benefit from being called out then show some class and do so behind closed doors. A bit of decency is not too much to hope for. No matter what Shaw is earning, which club he is at or how good Jose may or may not be there is no need to be a complete c*ckwomble.

Not meeting standards maybe, plenty in a Utd shirt aren't. He is a young man being used publicly as a punching bag, rather pathetic from Jose (no matter how much success he has had).

Yeah because we have spent most of our history gloriously winning title after title up till this season when Puel ruined it all ... Honestly, maybe we are not hitting the heights we had under Poch or Koeman but we are hardly sinking like a stone. Cup final (which we probably should have won!), a hit and miss european campaign and a good chance at a top half finish. If this is mediocrity I would take it. Just ask the blue few down the road!

Pretty much this though I think a little harsh on Rodriguez and Long. Like many I haven't warmed to Puel and have not been thrilled with his tactics at times but he has had limits to what he could do. I think he deserves another full season (unless we are looking like relegation fodder come next Jan) and a chance to do things his own way. With a full pre-season, more reasonable schedule and a chance to shape his own squad then it is a case of living and dying by the sword.

I sh*t you not, tried to select two seats together and that is what I was offered .. to be honest I had no idea we had restricted view too but apparently it is so. £50 a pop if you fancy trying them out for a bit of consumer feedback.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39425301 Here,for anybody curious.

Had a look at seats, £50 for restricted view, I know it is considered by some (at least in the media team) as a derby but seems rather pricey! Worth noting Bournemouth have won their last two, hopefully the international break will negate any momentum they might be carrying. As you said hard to see goals but then I would argue Long or Jay are just as capable as King as getting goals - again only real difference is a patch of form.

Just because you use the word 'factually' does not make it any more than the opinion of a man who 'factually' has an inordinate number of posts dedicated to slating JWP. We get it, you don't rate it. Some on here do and others do not. Either way a lot of those with experience of the game at a top level rate him and his dead ball delivery. More than welcome to disagree but maybe keep from conflating your opinion with established and verifiable fact. Personally I think he had started to show the potential we all hoped he might fulfil as this season has progressed and believe he might develop into an international class player (hopefully while still playing for us!).

Most likely. I had him down as a Glasgow alter-ego personally.

Well you would. Nobody is surprised. Have you ever posted anything remotely positive about the club you allegedly support? Try and cheer up, we are currently in one of the better periods for saints in recent history. It's been a hell of a ride. We lost a league cup final in a closely fought contest and, in no small part, down to one dodgy decisions and a crossbars width. Is it really oh so bad on the good ship Southampton?

Good point but you could argue we had good returns on those you mention and were able to replace fairly adequately. Should VVD go (though I hope/believe we might get one more out of him) I can only imagine it would be for a serious amount of money!

If we had a game every two weeks throughout the season then yes, you are right, it would tell you 'all you need to know'. As we played an absurd amount of games over a short timespan with a considerable number of injuries then you're comparison sort of falls down. If Puel still rotates this much next season I will gladly rescind my words but you are talking out of your backside here.

Hate to be a total sucker for such things but the club does rather good PR videos. Gutted not to be going to this one but will have it on at work in a bookmakers in Portsmouth and my word will I be shouting about it should we beat the odds again and get a result in this one!

Le Tiss (had the pleasure of meeting him at a charity game as a nipper) Niemi, Beattie going back a little. Current lot either Tadic or VVD (though Boufal is an exciting watch!). Plenty of likeability amongst the squad mind. Honourable mention for Billy Sharp. Class act all around, scored against Pompey and played a big part in our final promotion push. Genuinely smile every time he flashes up on soccer saturday as having smashed in another.

Very good post. It may sound awful but, EFL cup aside, I am wishing this season away. I have fears but believe there are at least three sides worse than us but expect a bottom half finish (even if we have some kinder fixtures coming up). As others have suggested this season has felt like an unfortunate waste and, while we can't expect continued improvement, the season has promised much but failed to deliver. Not sure if I am alone but already thinking about the summer and how things could look next season. The optimist in me says only VVD leaves, we replace well with two good CBs,find a driving centre mid (think Davis with power and goals) and Puel has more time to develop his ideas with the squad. I don't know if I believe Puel can do better but I really do hope he can. We might also see Stephens, Sims, McQueen, Prowse and more as established, and effective, players in the first team.

Agreed on Clasie. Shows flashes with his ability to pick out the occasional top class ball but so rarely does he dictate play or the tempo of a match. Hate to say it but was enviously looking at Leroy Fer last night when he took the ball and drove forward with purpose from CM. I don't think Bertrand is the best solution, largely for the reasons you say, but I would not be against us using him at CB should it be required. I hope Gardos and Stephens can fill the void but have little faith in Gardos and feel that Stephens is going to be under a heavy burden for such a young lad. Targett does lack the pace of a Shaw, Bertrand or even McQueen and is unlikely to play the same sort of role of quickly overlapping and directly running at oppo full backs but the lad can cross, reads the game fairly well and can tackle. Understand you say right now he is not the answer (his injury obviously means as much either way!) but we may well find ourselves looking at the 'least worst' options should we have another injury at the back etc.

Wing backs don't necessarily mean defensive but agree it could be perceived that way though was picturing Bertrand as a makeshift CB in a back four. Respect your opinion on Targett. Though I think he is still developing I think he is decent enough now (especially when you consider it as a back up plan) and both he and McQueen could develop into good players for the first team. We did seem to accomodate Bertrand and McQueen in the same side last night when we switched to something akin to a 4-2-3-1 with McQueen as a wide player in the 3.

Equally gutted about the lack of CB but I suppose we could always see Bertrand cover and McQueen or Targett (when is he due back?) in at left back where we at least have decent options. Or, as somebody mentioned elsewhere, let's hope Jones is ready if called upon. He is young and inexperienced for a CB but often the best do start young. Whatever happens Reed has ballsed up. My other half suggested that maybe LR is a fan of these 'alternative facts' when it comes to replacing Fonte.

How about the kitman? Tea lady? Nope, sod it. Everyone out of good ship Southampton!

The high lofted kind that our big centre forward will challenge for all day ...

I'm not quite ready to join the Puel out crowd yet. We have played an absurd amount of games which no doubt has had an impact, we are having a mini injury crisis and the recruitment has been below par of late but jesus wept we are frustrating to watch at times this season! The Tadic/Cedric link up down the right looks decent but we lack anybody to hit in the box from our crosses while nobody in the midfield three drives beyond, or at least gets up with, Long. Playing keep ball is fine in itself but without direct movement to take advantage of the gaps when they are found it is rather sodding redundant. Oh well, cup final, new Italian, Boufal back and a second half that cannot be much worse!

We as a club produce good players, don't see any reason not to be proud of that. God knows how each of the players feel, imagine some are proud, McQueen comes to mind ... either way it's not really relevant. Some people are determined to be negative about everything and anything on here!

Probably in a minority. Our club doesn't have a cabinet full of trophies to be proud of but a lot of us are dead proud of our academy and those that come out of it both as players and people.

Pure bullsh*t thing to say by Reed, we all knew it, but it's an opinion I suppose ... Back to topic, none of us actually know what is going in with Fonte and/or Les. The only facts appear to be a transfer request has been submitted and Jose may leave in the window after serving the club well. Like it or not or strength has, largely, came from being able to replace and recruit well (some may point to examples where replacements have not been to scratch but, speaking generally we tend to do better than most at this). Thank you Jose. Who is next?