SaintTex

they still have two more matches to foul up their confidence. We'll be resting.

I find it interesting that the two players who have played in all or nearly all minutes in league play for us are the ones that get the most criticism. You know there are reasons we currently stand in 3rd place. Those two have been on the pitch for all of it. Pelle is 17th in league in minutes played. Raheem Stirling, who famously needed a break from being overworked, is 43rd.

I got curious... so I looked it up Southampton scored 55 goals last season (2013-14) under Poch. Of those goals last season (2013-14), how many were by players that have played at least one match this season (2014-15)? 8 goals. a whopping 84% of our goals scored last year are by players now on other teams or are injured and have not played this year. That's incredible.

looking at the remaining matches..once we get past Liverpool, we have 12 matches left. top half teams to play: 4 bottom half teams to play: 8 be awesome to get at least 4 points from West Ham and Liverpool and still be sitting most likely in the Top 4 with that 12 match schedule left.

they were both playing so deep that our left back, who isn't a left back, was the one to deliver the pass that led to the winning shot. maybe it's partly by design, I don't know. It's hard to argue with our defensive success this season, a deep sitting midfield is definitely a component of that success. It must frustrate the hell out of Pelle though. At this point, his opportunities are going to mostly come on balls off the goalkeeper or the post and/or crosses deep from either side. (all around the 6 yard box). Anything in the middle beyond that, he is going to have to create all on his own. Plus, we all know a reliable second striker would be useful. Pelle has played A LOT of minutes. He has got to be knackered. I looked it up. Pelle is 10th amongst all players in minutes played in the League. In fact, of the Top 25 players with the most minutes, 23 are DBs or GKs. the other two non DBs or GKs in the Top 25? ... Pelle at 10th and Hazard at 12th. I don't think it should be much of a surprise that his goal scoring has dipped as his minutes have piled up. would a lineup like this be affective the Wednesday to give Pelle a rest? Or maybe for the second half? Bring Tadic on for Pelle. --------------Forster-------------- Clyne --Fonte-- Gardos-- Yoshida ----Schneiderlin-- Wanyama----- Tadic--------Davis------------ Elia --------------Mane----------------- Or is the 10 day rest after West Ham before Liverpool better served?

It doesn't matter tall he is.. the had the ball in his hands and the QPR player jumped into Forster's body and jarred it out. That is a foul every time. Forster would have dropped it had there been no contact? I don't think so.

we need a 88' goal, a la Tottenham.

Southampton had a ready-made team when Ronald Koeman took over, claims Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino: 'I had to start from zero at White Hart Lane' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2940440/Southampton-ready-team-Ronald-Koeman-took-claims-Tottenham-boss-Mauricio-Pochettino.html oh brother.

2nd place - six times 3rd place - six times 4th place - five times 5th place - four times 13th place - one time 14th place - one time

Q: how many match days this season have we not gone into the match in at least 5th position or higher in the table? A: 2 that's pretty incredible.

A 4-2-3-1? Interesting. Davis might be the odd many out ---------------Forster----------------- Clyne--Fonte--Alderweireld--Targett ----Schneiderlin-----Wanyama------- Tadic-----------Mane--------------Elia -----------------Pelle------------------

True. I meant to clarify this was a problem with our central midfielders - never any pressure up the middle.

This. It was as if we invited Swansea to set up their defense before attacking. Swansea was like: thanks, very helpful. It's amazing how little penetration via dribbling occurs with the team in the final third (the whole half really). We don't have players that can beat their opponent one on one, which then immediately puts pressure on the remaining defence or the goalkeeper at/near goal.

What big striker do you suggest? Why hasn't Kate Upton slept with me yet?!! Probably my lack of ambition.

I think it is important not to over react to this loss. We had our chances.... 6 shots on target to Swansea's 1, just didn't go our way. we were playing with arguably our best three players out and the thought of a Mane/Elia pairing going forward is pretty exciting. next three games... Forster Clyne - Fonte - Alderweireld - Targett Davis - Wanyama - Schneiderlin Elia - Pelle - Mane is pretty salty. I know everyone wants to bring more players in.. but we just have to get healthy.

welcome to the starting 11 Targett.

Sheeessh. The anniversary of his injury is not that far away.

ok. Tottenham - 22 matches | 2013/14 : 5th place - 43 points - 3 GD 22 matches | 2014/15 : 6th place - 37 points - 2 GD

that couldn't have gone any better, as far as I am concerned - an extra 30 minutes on legs that can't afford to get tired. L'pool's fixture schedule is so jammed packed (especially if they beat Bolton in the replay) before they get to St. Mary's. They are in the middle of a 13 match run where the rest is either 2 or 3 days between matches. Villa (A) - 0-2 Chelsea (H) - 1-1 Bolton (H) - 0-0 Chelsea (A) - 1-0 West Ham (H) - tough match - fighting for 7th place Bolton (A) - Everton (A) - Derby, so throw out the records Tottenham (H)- touch match - fighting for 6th place CP (A) - FA Cup - if they beat Bolton Besikas (H) - Europa Southampton (A) Besikas (A) - Europa Man City (H) - EPL Burnley (H) - EPL no rest. no training. every match is on either 2 or 3 days rest. lots of tough matches. fighting for Europe next year on several fronts. I am looking forward to the meltdown. We have only 3 matches between now and Liverpool. They likely have 6.

Liverpool should be exhausted, we should be well rested.. Southampton - 3 matches on the fixture schedule before playing Liverpool (Swansea, QPR, West Ham) Liverpool - 6 matches on the fixture schedule before playing Saints (Chelsea, West Ham, Bolton, Everton, Tottenham, Besikas )

Who starts in their place? Yoshida for Gardos.. ok Cork for Reed.. ok Tadic pretty much has to play. who do you replace him with? forster clyne fonte yoshida Bertrand reed davis JWP tadic elia pelle

ugh, with Long, Mane, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, and Alderweireld all unavailable that bench is not very inspiring. I feel like we are treading some water here until West Ham. If we can grind out, six points from Swansea and QPR that would incredible.

yeah, Forster could have done better, but that defence was atrocious. CP was cutting through our defenders like a hot knife through butter on each goal. (really missed Wanyama, Alderweireld and Schneiderlin today)

When it comes to the topic of potential player acquisitions, I take what Koeman says at a press conference with a huge grain of salt. And rightfully so. It would be like showing your cards while playing poker.

"We badly need a striker" Said by nearly every team in English football. Competition for quality strikers, as usual, will be fierce.