SaintTex

3 good responses. While I agree that it is alarming the amount of turnover we have had, it is not the board's fault, but the very nature of modern football. Every single player we lost these past 2 years (but would have loved to have retained) went to a traditional big club that will pay 2 to 3 times the wages - wages we cannot afford to pay. We have been a victim of our own success. The board has fostered this success as is there is obvious quality in the club from top to bottom. The ManU's and Liverpool's of the world are not plucking players from Newcastle, West Brom and Sunderland. If we were poor, no one would even take notice of us. We will always be in a constant state of recovery (if we maintain our general quality), but the only recovery that is going to occur is to maintain mid-table status. Last year we got to 7th, this year could be 12th, the next year we may inch up to 8th, the following year back down to 13th. The best players will be plucked from the team whenever we threaten the Top 6. The best players understandably will willingly go, and we will fall back. There is a ceiling in this league for clubs like ours (look at the final table for the last 2 decades) and it will be not be allowed to be broken. There is not much "the board" can do about it.

Nail meet head. When the strategy is that we need two very defensive DMs to help our back 4, we lose all opportunity in attack. You have essentially fielded 7 players who by design are not looking to score during the course of play. I keep thinking our best 11 includes Clasie, Wanyama and Romeu on the pitch, but I am starting to rethink that. If we can get our back 4 sorted (VvD), we probably need only Wanyama or Romeu on the pitch with Clasie, which would then free up a slot for some more creative options; ie: Tadic. (as frustrating as he is, he is our most creative player). Plus, between Wanyama and Romeu, they are going to be suspended a lot, so there will be some unavailability there at times. Also if we get into the group stage, there will be more games to share between them. So, I am thinking like more like: --------------Stek-------------- Soares--Fonte--VvD--Bertrand ------Wanyama----Clasie------ -Mane-----Tadic---Rodriquez-- ------------Pelle----------------- or --------------Stek-------------- Soares--Fonte--VvD--Bertrand -------Romeu----Clasie-------- -Mane-----Tadic---Rodriquez-- ------------Pelle-----------------

01) This game reminded me a lot of the 2nd game of last season against West Brom that ended 0-0 draw. toothless, dull, anemic. I remember having a sinking feeling after that game that we were in for a rough season (not to mention the dreadful first half against West Ham the following match.) We went on an incredible run after that.. wishful thinking I suppose. 02) interestingly, we didn't have a second draw of the season until the 12th match of the season. Doesn't mean much really, just interesting. 03) When I saw the lineup announced, 0-0 seems to be what the obvious result would be today. 04) that being said, I like the formation but not with the squad we have available at the moment. Would look a lot better with these players. ------------------Stek-------------------- Cedric--Fonte--VvD--Caulker--Bertrand --------Wanyama----Romeu------------- -----------------Clasie-------------------- ----Mane--------Pelle------------Tadic--- Tadic/Bertrand is a proven matchup. Mane is Mane. Pelle is Pelle. Cedric can provide good crosses. Hopefully, Clasie can distribute. I like Caulker's presence on set pieces in front of the opponent's goal. I think the Wanyama/Romeu pairing will work, but they are going to be suspended on yellows a lot! Need to coordinate their suspensions. my 2 cents.. as us Yanks say.

15 minutes of highlights.. didn't see the game, but it looks like we had our chances. No way Caulker's goal should have been disallowed.

this. Will be almost zero width with this line-up. JWP is going to need to step up big time as he is going to be the main distributor of the ball - Looks like most everything will be going through the middle.

Chips without mayonnaise is not chips.

more like... -------------------Boruc-------------------- --Clyne - Lovren - Alderweireld - Shaw-- --------Cork-------------Schneiderlin------ Lallana--Oxlaide-Chamberlain--Puncheon ----------------Lambert--------------------

--------------Stek---------------- Soares--Fonte--Caulker--Targett ------Wanyama-----Romeu------ ------------JWP/Davis----------- ----Juanmi-----Pelle---Mane--- 01) Be defensive first, pair Wanyama and Romeu 02) Get Caulker in for Yoshida 03) Let Cedric and Targett play, build their confidence back up 04) Put JWP or Davis in an offensive posture, distributing (the Clasie spot in the future) 05) play Mane on the right, can be creative and won't require the need for Targett going forward 06) hope that Mane and Cedric link up better together than Cedric did was Tadic 07) Give Juanmi a go on the left (can Juanmi play on the left?), if that is not working, take out Juanmi at half, move Mane to the left, bring in JRod on the right. I have to admit I am a bit flummoxed over what is our best front three at the moment and what players best link up with the MF and fullbacks we have available today. Two months from now I am imaging this as our strongest lineup, although if in form, it could be Tadic on the right for JRod. --------------Stek-------------- Soares--Fonte--VvD--Bertrand ------Wanyama-----Romeu---- --------------Clasie-------------- ----Mane-----Pelle-----JRod----

https://twitter.com/georgeyboy85/status/632514986208792580

Missing 5 of our back 7 from last year. Forster Clyne Alderweireld Bertrand Schneiderlin Pretty devastating. I am not wetting the bed yet. Let's get Clasie, Betrand, and Van Djck (assumed) on the field and see how we perform. Yet anyone with a brain in their head could take a look at out defensive line up and players before the game and see at least two goals were going to be allowed today.

Nice job. 01) You called for the signing of another CM; said we should look at Romeu (We got Romeu) 02) You said we need Van Dijk and as well as a second CB (4 days later after this post we signed Caulker) 03) Van Dijk, Van Dijk, Van Dijk. I really want you to be 3 for 3!

Salivating. Clasie running the show, distributing Romeu and Wanyma ruling the MF Fonte and VvD strong last line of defense Cedric and Bertrand bombing down the wings Mane, Pelle and JRod/Tadic doing what they do bench 2 - offensive super sub options galore (choose from : Long, Juanmi, Tadic/Jrod) 1 - backup GK (choose from : Gazza, Forster) 2 - DF (choose from: Caulker, Yoshida, Targett, Martina) 2 - MF ( choose from: Davis, JWProwse, Reed)

if true... in Romeu £4.0 mil Juanmi £4.0 mil Cedric £4.7 mil Martina £1.0 mil Clasie £8.0 mil Stek LOAN Caulker LOAN TOTAL £22.7 mil out Clyne £12.5 mil Schneiderlin £25.0 mil Alderweireld TOTAL £37.5 mil ---- REMAINING KITTY : £14.8 mil Seems like a good amount left for Van Dijk. Then, Les Reed can go on a well deserved Holiday with by all accounts a stronger squad (IMO) and no money spent to get it.

it's all a bit sad really.. PL stats 2012-2013 : 15 goals | 04 assists | 3133 minutes | 35 starts | 09th in the league for goals total 2013-2014 : 13 goals | 10 assists | 2820 minutes | 31 starts | tied for 13th in the league for goals total -- 2014-2015 : 02 goals | 02 assists | 0825 minutes | 07 starts | tied for 109th in the league for goals total 2015-2016 : ?????? even sadder, he made his own bed. Liverpool's top scorer in 2014-2015 : Gerrard with 9 goals - and Sterling was 2nd with 7 goals.

On the other hand, it is not nice and Belgiany enough for some.

This.. 9 out of 10 times that goes in. Tip your hat to Krul. even after the Krul got his pinky toe on it, it was tantilzingly close to skirting under the cross bar. oh, and I was looking at Mane's two chances at the end. He made Coloccini look silly on both plays On the first play, Colback miraculously blocked Mane's strike after nearly breaking Coloccini's ankles. Krul wasn't going to make that stop, it was going in. On the second play, Krul was positioned better. I think if Mane's shot had been on target in the left corner, it is possible Krul could have gotten a glove on it.

i am very worried Everton is going to swoop in and we get left in the cold. At this point, we better be prepared to pay the price and then some. I am sure there is a plan B, but no clue. today should have crystalized that we need a CB, if it wasn't already abundantly clear.

Our best defensive players are playing for Spurs, Liverpool and ManU. Pretty much sums it up.

Agreed. Been very happy with the transfers we have gotten in this summer so far. However, I think with a top CB and another CM, we will have a stronger squad overall than we did last year. Especially up front.. we have the likes of Juanmi and Rodriguez at our disposal now, where as last year it was Djuricic and Elia (for only half a year) Shek is looking like a really good pick-up, although I think we really will know more after about 10 games into the PL season. He hasn't been challenged all that much so far. It will be interesting if he starts the first half of the season really well and what happens when/if Forster comes back. Cedric, by all accounts, is not going to be a drop off from Clyne. At least this is the general train of thought so far. Clasie worries me a bit, as he is going to be compared to Morgan all season, which is really not fair. They are different types of midfielders. I think it is going to take time with him, but I do think he is a class player. In Caulker we have built quality depth at CB to cover for Gardos injury. I think most feel Caulker is an upgrade to Gardos. If he can redevelop his early career form that would be awesome. So, really just needing the Toby replacement and a bit more physical presence in the MF. I know a lot of people think we need a proper winger to add width, but I think once we have Soares and Bertrand on the pitch at the same time that will take care of itself. Unfortunately, other than those two, we don't have any other fullback that can effectively bomb down the wings, so injuries/suspensions there will hurt us offensively down the line there.

I don't know if this exactly legitimizes the rumour, but it has officially hit the English papers. Southampton target Schalke ace to replace Schneiderlin after Manchester United move http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/595876/Southampton-Transfer-News-Leon-Goretzka-replace-Morgan-Schneiderlin

you know how they say geniuses act up in school because they are bored and can't be bothered with the simple, easy lessons being taught. maybe this is the case with Van Dijk There is such a thing as playing down to the level of your competition. Maybe he plays up so much because it is easier for him to recover back in Scottish League competition. If he is truly talented, with some simple coaching and maybe one or two painful lessons, he will pick up on the PL pace and skill level in the long run.

I thought we checked that box when we acquired Caulker on loan. I don't see any other PremLeague experienced CBs out there for the taking to be our starting CB.

why is this game even being played?

really nice long write up on NBCsports.com. They have always been very pro-Saints, particularly Joe Prince-Wright, the last few years and seem to always highlight "our story". After 12-year absence, Southampton wholeheartedly embrace European return http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/31/after-12-year-absence-southampton-wholeheartedly-embrace-european-return/#comments