lickierambert

To be fair, we bought Fox off Burnley, Hooiveld did a great job in the championship which he was bought to do, and Wanyama gives the back 4 great cover IMO. Plus Van Dijk is very highly thought of by respected football people

Interesting piece about Welbeck wanting to leave Man Utd on the BBC. Might be a bit ambitious but I'd love him here. A few would want him, but at how many of the top 7 would he get a regular starting berth up front?

Stoke Away, Norwich Away, Villa Away, Everton Away...I must be missing a few others. Have we actually had one given this season?

hmm the second goal Saints u21 conceded today didn't exactly shower him in glory. A weak parry straight to their player.

What excites me most is he can get so, so much better. He still misses loads of sitters Don't think he'll go to the World Cup, though. Only 1 of Welbeck or him will go and we know which one Hodgson prefers...

Surely Davis will drop back into a more defensive role if MS, VW and JC are all out? Can't see JWP and Reed put into central mid away from home

The point is that all of the ones I quoted were committed under absolutely no pressure. We go into a period of absolute lethargy most games and it's so frustrating as it's cost us quite a few points this year.

That was fun! I make that at least 10 goals we have gifted the opposition though: Stoke A, Hull H, Arsenal A, Norwich H, Tottenham H etc etc

Come on Saints! I really fancy us this year (say this every year) Agree with the team in the OP Would take a draw, although something tells me we'll win, as Sunderland have two bigger fish to fry 1-2 away win

I'd take Forestieri from Watford. Looks clever, and with a goal threat, and would fit in our system behind a striker. Would only cost a few million as well. He's also Argentinian, 24 years old, has played in Italy and started his career at Newell's Old Boys (all sounds familiar) I think he fits the bill.

I make our likely starting 11 this Saturday costing approx £15 million, with around half of that on J Rod. It goes to show how well we've recruited certain players and brought youngsters through over the past 5 years.

Wishing Sam and his family my condolences at a very difficult time

Red Card. Simple. He knew exactly what he was doing, and the fact he looked immediately at Webb shows he knew he was in trouble. Chico's histrionics are by the by. It also means Carroll will have started a maximum of 16 Premier league games before the World Cup. Surely not even Roy could pick a unhinged, unfit, unprofessional player ahead of Lambert and Rodriguez, could he?

The top sides are able to beat those around them in the important games. We've won 1/11 against top half teams which tells it's own story. They don't also field the likes of K Davis, Gazzaniga, Hooiveld, Yoshida and Fox on a pretty regular basis. To turn that around you need cold hard cash. Keeping MP is vital also. There's only 5 managers in the English League that would be suitable replacements and none of them would come here

Some interesting stats on our possession. According to the BBC, today was the 13th consecutive game that Saints have had more possession than the opposition, with Chelsea (Away) the only game in the last 20 we've had less of the ball. Included in that run was Arsenal (twice), Man City and Chelsea at home. In total, only Swansea, Liverpool and Chelsea have had more possession than us in a game this season. Whilst Saints don't always create enough with it, it's certainly an indication of how well Schneiderlin/Cork/Wanyama are doing breaking stuff up in front of the defence, and how well the likes of Lallana are at keeping it further up the pitch. I wonder how many we can do in a row?

What amazes me is that he was 22 in League 1 and wasn't making too much of an impression. It's so important to stick with players with excellent technique, as you don't know when they'll mature

I love our team

£30 million, similar to the last two summers. Not all good players have to be £8 million +. Just look at Clyne and Davis. Where has Katharina said she was going to sell? Where do you think the money was coming from beforehand?

What we have now is a very refined and young squad. I'd still expect Hooiveld, Guly and a couple others to go in the summer, and 4 or 5 quality additions, as well as 1 or 2 more academy graduates making the grade.

Did Big Kat steal Little Nic's Konoplyanka's DVD?

Lovren has just tweeted that he'll "be back sooner than you think" perhaps the ankle is healing quicker than expected?

I love our team-young, likeable, largely British and playing good football. That's enough for me. If we could be more proficient in both boxes, though, we'd have one hell of a side. We HAVE to hold on to our talented youngsters-Chambers, Shaw, Gallagher, Lallana, Rodriguez, Clyne, Reed, JWP-the making of a great team.

First 5 minutes of second half absolutely huge-Arsenal will come out like a house on fire. We're too sloppy in general either side of the break

Decent Win. Is this the worst FA Cup 4th round of all time? No good ties, no upsets and only one game of note. Sheffield Wednesday at home next please.

Roy Hodgson at Bournemouth today. Quite a reasonable chance he'll take in our game afterwards