Leo_ARG

They are saying Mexico now. As a Boca and Southampton fan I can't say I didn't saw this coming. This season he has been like Charlie Austin or Gaston when he was here, barelly playing, with pain on a toe, etc. I had enough of this guy. Sunday league football is all he can expect to play with his level of commitment.

Agreed. Excellent game. The Mane-Tadic-Long trio is dynamite. But the Clasie thingie is becoming more and more evident. He really doesen't give much to the team. His defensive awareness and positioning are good but in every other aspect of the game Romeu is head and shoulders above him. Start him already, Ron!

I'm a huge fan of him. Not many players that have both the skill and the vision he has on the pitch to go with it. That's what I most like on a player. I usually get frustrated by those who have a lot of speed but don't think or don't have the composure to take advantage. In the modern game that is the norm. A lot of runners, great athletes who don't understand the game of football and who have no brain. People say he is lazy. He certainly earned that reputation but Koeman has to take credit because the last 3 or 4 games he has put a lot of effort too, he has been closing down players and winning the ball back. He got the message. I hope he keeps it up when things start to not go his way. Another aspect of his game he has developed since he came to the Premier is his strength. Don't remember if it was agains Everton or Villa but he sent a defender to the ground while protecting the ball. He is been great playing with the back to the goal, holding up the play. He doesen't have the speed and never will but he makes it up with intelligence and the work he has put on the gym. I actually like him more on this new role behind Long, playing more centrally as a false nine or a shadow striker rather than a winger. That allows him to feed his killer ball that is an absolute theat coupled with Shane's tireless and constant running behind the Centre-backs.

Finally. I hope he realizes he can actually use it because it would make him a much better player. Anyone else captained Long in FPL? Goal and assist so far

People never give credit to Tadic, even if he is the best player on the pitch like he was today. He toyed around with Oviedo and fed Long with a beautiful pass that no other player on the team is capable of doing. I didn't understand why Koeman took Pelle off, we lost the aerial threat after that. Was he hurt? Clasie is terrible, just terrible. I really don't get it. He doesen't win the ball back, bad first touch and his passes are ALWAYS off. He looked nervous with the ball. To keep him out is hurting the player and the team. Let him build slowly his confidence, it's just isn't coming together for him.

Good football! And Newcastle just dreadful. Nobody marking and they have nothing going forward either. Long is both lucky and good , you know you are in good form when a heavy touch ends up as an assist. Still, when Long shot it to row Z despite having support there was no mention but everyone gets on Pelle and Tadic too easily. They both have been good despite the bias against them. Mane hasen't done much. I think Cuco is two steps ahead of Cedric. And why is Clasie picked ahead of Romeu?

All of our players seem to be doing well enough to be back next year but haven't done good enough to be sold. I'll take it, I suppose. Huge relief for Sadio, he got more power on that left foot than what he usually gets in his right. He might have surprised himself. Sadly, I don't think a tie would be enough. There is a long way to go.

For all you wanting Mane in, do you realize he hasen't scored in four months? He is not the player he was last year. There is no saviour and no scapegoat. The whole team was poor. The biggest problem is that Romeu and Clasie both get forward at the same time it leaves a huuuuge gap in the midfield to counter-attack. To make things worse the defence is sitting too deep, allowing all the time and space to shoot from the outside. Sturridge goal was infuriating. It was so obvious he was going far post, yet they bite on the fake shot and he scores easily. It was a penalty early on. The ref is giving us nothing. He is a joke. They are closing down, not letting any crosses in. Great coaching by Klopp. And Liverpool has outclassed us in every department. We got outplayed. Credit to them. And Bertrand shouldn't been taking the set pieces. I rather see Tadic, Davis and even Virgil before him.

I'm happy with the team, this 4-4-2 has a good balance. The only doubt in my mind is starting Clasie ahead of Wanyama. He is too weak and slow and doesen't win the ball back enough. Romeu has earned his place, I would never take him off.

Can't find a weak spot, well maybe Clasie. But really well played, Saints. Stoke are so poor at the back, this should be game over already. Their holding midfielders hardly track back. They leave a lot of space. Imbula seems very strong and agile but he's decision making leaves a lo to be desired. Steven Davis always ahead of the game. Romeu won the back a few times. Pelle's first touch has been perfect. The second goal mabye the goalie should have done more but good link up play with Tadic. A combination of Stoke being horrible and the Saints being very good. Keep it up!

Yes. Finally people is starting to talk about the elefant in the room. I've been saying this for ages. The missing piece is a no 10 like Sigurosson, Mata, Ozil, Silva. That's the type of player we need. While Tadic is maybe a winger, he does have a lot of vision and good decision making. He has 5 goals and 4 assists in 1500 minutes while Mane has 3 goals and 6 assists in almost 1900 minutes. Tadic has done enough to play more minutes. The problem is that he doesen't have a good enough defensive work rate for Koeman's liking. That's the only explanation I can come up with because it's puzzling to see him benched after having one bad game while others get so many chances (Mane and Pelle, for example).

Cedric has been horrible. Why on earth is Tadic STILL on the bench?

I hope RK doesen't wait too long to put Tadic out there. Need someone like him to take advantage of Austin and Long. Mane was something like a no 10 but he is just not a good fit for that role, even more so when he is not in good form. He corrected one early mistake by putting Davis out there, now show you are not stubborn again and we'll be okay.

A draw would have been fair. There were some flaws but VVD, Fonte and Bertrand were great again. Forster didn't have a lot to do. The defensive shape was great. And the idea of forcing them to shoot from the outside was the right one. One goal was a mental mistake, not playing until the whistle and the other one was a set piece. But there were some waknesses. When you play 5 3 2 the key is to have the WBs to attack constantly and get decent crosses in. Cedric managed to do the the former, and Targett failed to do both, and to make things worse he was also in poor position. He was getting too narrow, allowing too many crosses. Also gave away the ball far too cheaply. The other key is to have pace up front if one of those 3 at the middle isn't a natural playmaker, so you can play the long ball from the back often. So I wonder why does Koeman keep going back with Pelle. It clearly doesen't work. He doesen't win enough headers and everybody knows he is too slow. Mane should have replaced Long. The next two games are against lesser teams, will Koeman keep trying to win every game 1-nil or maybe show a little more ambition? I want to see Tadic and Mane back in the lineup.

Swansea's strongest weakness are the fullbacks yet we are not attacking them. That's what happens when you field 5 central midfielders. Tadic or Mane would eat them alive, even if they are not in good form. Koeman showed too much respect IMHO. Targett isn't attacking enough, and Davis isn't a RWB. I wouldn't be surprised if Koeman one day decides to play him as a goalie.

Koeman sometimes too smart for his own good.

Absolutely. The only one not really suited for this formation is Tadic.

Steven Davis. Clasie the runner-up. Long still has some work to do on his finishing.

I'm worried with Mane's poor form. I say give him one more start and if he doesen't improve, drop him.

The kind of signing that makes the whole offense better. I can't wait to see him with the likes of Mane, Tadic and Long. Pelle is a good striker but the lack of mobility has become an issue, especially when he is out of form and not linking up the play. I hope we can keep both but wouldn't shed a tear if Graziano leaves either. This is how you start a weekend, now we let's beat WBA and we are set

As a South american I feel this a little bit offensive. What South American players in general bring is a burning desire to win. They have passion- I look at many Southampton players and it looks like they don't really care if they win or lose. They treat it as a regular day time job. They sing just to go to bigger club, like if the club we love was a stepping stone. Heck, even African players like Mane and Wanyama don't seem to care enough. It's just a case of bad scouting to sing an unprofessional player like Osvaldo. I really don't know about Gaston, but if he feels he has been treated unfairly I would understand.

Martina saved two goals. Cedric would have never in the world tracked their striker as he did. Also had some wonderfull key passes too. You have to wonder why he was ignored so much. And what would happen if players like Juanmi would have been given a start or two, to build their confidence. Fonte and Virgil owe Cuco a dinner. Also JWP really not needed for this game, we are lacking one wide midfielder. JWP, Davis, Wanyama, Clasie...all central midfielders, too many.

Agreed. I couldn't find a weak spot on the team. What a difference does a win make. Everbody looking confident. Even Martina is beating people off the dribble!

My MOM was Clasie. He had more than 10 interceptions, I'm sure. Always well positioned and pressed at the time it was needed. Victor was excellent too. Long really worked hard out there, but could have scored even more, had heavy touches and was too anxiuos a few times. The first one he scores on an empy net and the second one was a softie by Cech. Still, the goals will give him a confidence boost, he has a lot more to give to the team based on what he did last year. I don't think Koeman was the guilty part for the losing streak. He didn't see the light like some are saying.This is not the first time Koeman uses this counter-attack tactic with Mane and Long playing as poachers, he did the same against Palace. It's just that this time the players executed, plus Mertesacker was an absolute mess at the back. The players didn't have the right attitude, this time they wanted it more than Arsenal. The whole Arsenal team was dreadful but still, you have to credit to the Saints as they took advantage of that.

Koeman had a great gameplan. This one is absolutely not on him. He puts Davis as an attacking right midfielder to protect Cedric. But it wasen't enough. Cedric defended like a ten year old. He has good tackes sparingly but just no defending IQ. Let's face it, he is not mentally prepared for this, just doesen't have a clue, he switches off and players make runs behind him all the time. He couldn't track Alli all game, come on! He should play as a winger, he is no RB. He has the technique and the crossing ability, maybe not enough pace but he is not a defender. Get someone who can actually do it. Great idea to play Mane as a shadow striker behind Pelle. Tadic once again doing all the playmaking, he sets up Mane but Sadio did everything right today but the finish. Mane was the MOM, he proved a point. Great effort. The high press was working too, and that kind of game suits Clasie who had also had a good game. Cedric was horrible but what about Pelle? Was he unfit? That was one of the worse games since he came to the team. The plan of him being the feeding through balls just isn't working. Get in behind, make runs, make the life difficult to the oposing FB. They will take looking him passing the ball 30 yards away from the goal all day. VVD just too frustrated out there, not thinking properly. This is the third stright poor game he is had. Bertrand and Fonte, just average. Only if Long did ANYTHING to deserve a start it would be something different. But what does Koeman have to do? Where is his fault on this one? His plan was working, the high pressure, Mane making runs, Tadic feeding him. Just lacked the finish and in the other end they just defend soo poorly that it's embarrasing. Koeman has made a lot of mistakes but this one he is off the hook, the players lose this match. Especially the second goal when they just switch off, they go "here we go again", no determination. They feel sorry for themselves and start looking how Tottenham score without even breaking a sweat. It's time to bring in a quality Striker and a proper RB. Time to splash the chash.