ErwinK1961

100% this.

Best thing he can do is stay at Blackburn, keep getting games and experience, then come back next season ready to compete for a place. No point in him being here now, he wouldn't get the game time he needs.

If true, you would expect a replacement has been sorted.

They're due a bad result, right? Please?

Gets down slowly to shots, doesn't command his box and is slow off his line. He's not a bad keeper, but wouldn't say he's one of the best around either. This lacks of saves argument has come up before with Gazza and Stek - we must have one of the highest shots to goals conceded ratio's over the last 2-3 seasons.

Only other thing I can think of is Yoshi has been promised the EL matches, or they are easing VVD into a captaincy role, with a view to him taking over next season?

Absolutely loved he had the mineral's to confront the dirty, cheating, penalty spot scuffing b*stard's last night. Lad.

Wouldn't mind seeing a few 'tactical' withdrawals from international squads with 'injuries' - lets act like a big club!

Disagree - thought he was a pathetically weak referee. It's Europe, so I guess you have to expect players falling over and getting free-kicks at the slightest of touches (Redmond won us a couple of very useful ones like this to run the clock down!) but I thought he gave them quite a lot of cheap free kicks - one in particular in the first half where it looked like J-Rod (?) seemed to get fouled, yet he gave it the other way?! I also didn't enjoy him giving us 'advantage' for approximately 2 seconds then never actually going back to the original incident when we lost the ball. But then again, I do have my saints tinted specs on

Forster Martina VVD Fonte Bertrand Romeu Clasie Davis Tadic Austin Boufal

Maybe something to do with distribution? Plenty of opportunity to get forward down the right, but no-one seemed confident enough to play the ball, so maybe VVD moved that side to help with that? Plus you're right, probably to cover Martina! I thought it was interesting that Inter targeted Martina over an academy graduate whose been converted into a full back - guess that's a big compliment to McQueen!

Disagree with this - thought it was noticeable that Austin gave us an out-ball option, held it up and linked up well with the midfield, giving us the opportunity to get forward more as a unit. J-rod just looks completely devoid of any confidence, wants to take an extra touch, decision making off and seems to want to shoot on site wherever he is on the pitch. Sad really, but the days of him taking on and driving at a defender seem to be finished.

If the structure, set up and personnel remained the same, just with a bit of extra cash to spend on wages and transfers, then don't see an issue. However, it's never that simple is it. As Doddsy says, has there been a good Chinese owner yet?

True, though will the new person have much time to change anything in such a short period? I guess we'll see Thursday just how much their players have been t*ssing it off so far this season.

Not sure if FDB getting sacked is a good thing or not?!

If we can't get Lambert back, might be worth seeing what Jon Parkin's up to nowadays.

Only change I'd have made in the summer was getting a more reliable forward in place of J-Rod. Other than that, I think the squad's the best depth we've had in a long time. Overall quality probably could be better.

Will be interesting to see the starting line up. Injuries up top may force Claude into picking a 'first choice' front 3. Imagine it will be Austin, Boufal and Redmond?

GET HIM SIGNED UP LES!

With you on this one - happens regularly - considering how big he is, he doesn't dominate his area like he could.

Fantastic point. To come away with anything from their with 2nd / 3rd choice full backs is a great effort. Give VVD and Romeu a well earned rest this week, they have been monumental. Looking forward to seeing Boufal hopefully start on Wednesday.

Christ, what a complete weapon.

Appreciate he was always a big (tall) lad, but looks like he's filled out a bit as well - looks a unit in the highlights!

Yet we get a 10 day gap between Bournemouth and Spurs.. ridiculous. Plus, Everton get an extra days rest on us ahead of our game there on 2nd. Must be this media bias against Saints