SaintTex

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.

I think mining the big clubs rosters of players who can't get a crack with the first team, a la Bertrand, is a pretty good strategy. There are some pretty good players languishing on the bench or on loan somewhere with these big teams. That's why I think landing Guidetti from Citeh for £2m would be good business. You are looking for talented players, who want to PLAY in the top league every week. Plus, they come at a price Southampton can afford. Insert them into the system, and with a little luck and some good coaching, they flourish. In addition, with these type of players, they feel grateful to be given the chance and then that builds loyalty to the club. I think Bertrand signs. He wants to be here and has already stated as such.

Pelle Forster K. Davis Gazzaniga

ha, I noticed that Norwich was sitting pretty at 12th there. another tidbit.. Liverpool had 43 points after 22 matches last season. Saints have 42 points after 22 matches now. I would love a "2013/14 Liverpool style season finish" for the Saints this year and finish with 84 points. (Liverpool incredibly got 41 out of 48 points in their final 16 matches last season!)

Not sure I understand this. 16 matches left, correct? 9 of which are bottom half sides.

thanks all. I was a little anxious about putting myself out there. And I get it, Griffo, I really do.