DuncanRG

It's all very short-sighted, this. Go on a good run and we're careering into Europe, lose with Gazzaniga in goal and it's all because of him, lose with terrible injuries and it means squad depth will cost us all season long. Everyone predicts the future based on a narrow view of the present. Newcastle have only recently careered up the table and will go through a bad patch - so will one or two of the other top teams. We'll lose with the first XI fit and win with injuries. For what it's worth I think we have a moderately strong squad, with decent cover in plenty of areas. If we're looking at Europe though, it's a work in progress because there's a huge step-up in squad depth required. We've had a terrible bit of luck with all our injuries coming at the same time, but teams with European ambitions need to be equipped to deal with it. We'll have learnt and we know which areas need attention, but believe it or not only a small handful of very rich teams have the luxury of buying comprehensive top class cover. We have to try and build it through a combination of spending and development, which is what Arsenal and United have done to great success over the years. I'm not convinced Newcastle's squad is much deeper than ours (playing in Europe ravaged their Premier League campaign last year) and Everton are in the process of having theirs tested.

Agreed. Those quotes are rather regrettable though...

EDIT: sorry, shouldn't really be speculating

Interesting stat I've got from MOTD - Chelsea have conceded the highest proportion of set piece goals in the league. They've conceded 19 in total, which is third best, but that might suggest a weakness. When Lovren and Fonte are fit we're very strong from those situations but I think Ward-Prowse needs a rest. Worth keeping him in to exploit that?

The year before we came up - Norwich, Swansea, QPR I think QPR and Leicester will clinch automatic promotion, but playoffs are hard to predict. I expect Fulham and Sunderland to go down, with the third spot to go to Norwich or Cardiff if the new manager's honeymoon doesn't last long.

I couldn't believe that either, probably the worst foul of the game after Oviedo's.

Defenders have long since learnt how to deal with Lambert at the back stick. It's not all that difficult for most Premier League centre halves.

There was something about a player or players going through personal issues. Maybe this is it.

Agreed. Have Shaw, Ward-Prowse and Chambers ever won a game in a southampton shirt? Not good enough from them. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I would have liked him available to come off the bench today and against Spurs, but that's mostly because Osvaldo's absence leaves us short of options. Would much rather sign an attacking mid than have him back long term! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Chelsea are unpredictable but we've got what it takes to beat them. Unsure who I'd start up front but I don't think St Mary's is the place to play Rodriguez on his own. Maybe Osvaldo if fit, Gaston in for Ward-Prowse. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's been 'can be' not 'will be' ever since Pochettino arrived, not sure why. His work rate's always good on the pitch but maybe he's not 100% at it in some other way. He was decent today and I'm pleased he got some time. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He's just a kid and his form's dropped a little. Nothing to worry about but I do wish we could afford to give him a rest. Ward-Prowse is in need of one as well Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

'You are very boring', it was. Not much lyricism about today. Just seen the gif of the handball posted above...wow. That's gutting, clear as day. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm pleased to have competed so well with a seriously impressive team. We were much improved but Everton got the rub of the green for chances. Fonte MOTM, also impressed by Cork, Chambers and Kelvin. Couldn't see the handball shouts. Their fans awful and ours not much better. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

1. How have you found the league so far now that we're approaching the half way mark? It's been one of the best seasons I can remember, from a Saints perspective and more generally in terms of the competition. The top is wide open and the teams up there display all kinds of different qualities. I think the bottom half is poorer than it has been in previous years...but maybe I say that because Southampton aren't in it anymore! 2. Which position if any will you be wanting to strengthen in the next transfer window? We need to strengthen our goalkeeping options. After that, I'd be happy to wait for the summer but wouldn't turn up my nose at a new centre half, left back or creative attacking midfielder. 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? Morgan Schneiderlin has tough competition to get into the France team but I believe he's been more than worthy to get a place in the last few squads. If he is willing and able to play for England he should walk into the first XI. After that, it's a waiting game for Luke Shaw and Nathaniel Clyne who will probably be straight into the England squad after the World Cup. Lallana should go to Brazil but I'm not sure Rodriguez is one of our better options. 4. What are your thoughts on Mauricio Pochettino and is he really that different to Nigel Adkins in terms of coaching? What he's brought is control. Under Adkins we had talented players who were allowed to express themselves, but we were naive to think we could take Premier League teams by the scruff of the neck like we could most of the Championship. Pochettino implemented a solid system of discipline and movement very quickly, without restricting our attacking instincts too much. The 'pressing game' is partly a media buzzword, since Adkins did it as well, but Pochettino has got it nailed down and effective in almost every game. He also seems to be a terrific man-manager, and his team selections/substitutions are almost always proved right. 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? I have great respect for your history, your status in English football and the way your players feel about the club. It's always a good sign when players who go on to loads of clubs say none compare to Everton. I was really pleased to see Roberto Martinez take the helm as he's one of my favourite managers. He's proven not only his own coaching ability but the talents of your players, who have adapted to a totally different system and style of play very quickly. In Barkley, Lukaku and McCarthy you're even raising genuine star players, something you've lacked in recent years. I went to Goodison last season and enjoyed it, though the atmosphere was quite subdued for a 3-1 win I thought. I always love visiting Liverpool, a proper football city. 6. Can you name a best eleven plus a subs bench using players from both sides? Interesting question! Tough choices as well, let's see... Boruc Coleman Jagielka Lovren Baines Wanyama Schneiderlin Lallana Barkley Pienaar Lukaku Howard, Distin, Shaw, Barry, Mirallas, Deulofeu, Lambert Gone for Wanyama/Schneiderlin on the strength of the partnership, but I think Barry's been just as good as either this season. 7. Where do you think both teams will finish in the table? Everton 5th, Saints 7th 8. Any predictions for the game? I think Martinez knows how to shut us down, but our game has evolved since we played Wigan last season. If we can be as clinical on the break as we were at Cardiff then we'll have a chance to get something but it won't be easy - your back line is far more disciplined than theirs, for a start. We're a match for any team this season, though. I'm wary of predicting a score because quite a lot depends on injuries.

Communist agenda, clear as day

Yaya Toure's running away with it...which is fair enough, really.

Why are people under the impression that he was doing a bad job at Cardiff? Their slide down the table started at almost exactly the same time as the off-field drama.

I dunno, besides Newcastle every team above us has a far deeper squad. Imagining some of the teams City, Arsenal etc could field in our situation is terrifying.

I missed that, what happened?

Target of top 8 and maybe higher remains within reach. We've got there with some great performances and even when the results have been poor we've generally given a good account of ourselves. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He made a couple of quite decent ones. At least one was from a deflection which might have affected the stats Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good today besides one suicidal attempt at a first-time clearance.

'Come one, come all - I've got a broken finger!'