Dusic

Harry Reed will probably make a rare appearance on the bench (and might get on when Clasie cramps after an hour). Needs a loan move next year though, fear he won't quite make the grade.

He moved too soon in that he was and maybe still is an immature person mentally who happened to physically mature at an early stage and be a very talented footballer. He was not someone who would easily adapt to joining a massive club. His relationship with Pochettino was excellent and going from that to a cold style from Van Gaal and then Mourinho was not ideal for him. As a player he was worth the money at the time, his performances were excellent for us, hence the attention he received. For a player of that age his footballing maturity was very evident early on in terms of how he used his body defensively to lean into attackers and his decision making on the ball was sound. This recent episode IMO is Mourinho justifying why he has cold shouldered him despite relatively poor results. Mourinho tried to sign him for Chelsea so clearly his appauling knowledge of the game wasnt an issue then, nor was it when he bossed the left side for us, got called up to the WC squad etc. Shaw will come again, hopefully gets a good move this summer. To the OP: it shows why our club is good for young players in that it supports them in the first team setup rather than berate them. It also shows why Pochettino is the best Manager around IMO. The worst thing for Shaw is the subsequent Managers he has played for.

Just think how much money we have paid Long, Rodriguez and Austin since the season started. Obscene really given availability and performance!

Great result, well deserved. When we finish chances we are a good side. Redmond superb...again. Excellent signing. Cedric great in attack and JWP coming into his own with regular starts and the realisation he isn't physical enough to be a PL central midfielder. Only shame was Romeu getting banned as we have such a weird set of CM options there isnt really a proper replacement for him which is a concern against a physical WBA and excellent City. Its a weakness for him, he puts in so many stupid fouls with no chance of getting the ball (see Bmth and the cup final).

Ralph said on TalkSport a few weeks ago that it would be a quiet summer and that we have a different set of circukstances to previously where we sold lots of first team players each summer. No idea why people don't believe him.

To match last season we would have to win every one of our remaining games. Shows how far off that we are. I think Puel should be given a chance with another transfer window but I also think our best spell is probably behind us now and realistically we are going to be an 8th -14th team rather than pushing on from 8th position. That is where we are in terms of investment in the squad which is ultimately telling. This season I would have taken 10th, a drop of 4 league places. But much more than that is definitely poor. Few teams drop 4 places let alone 6, 7 or 8 in a season.

We have two games in hand (albeit tough ones) but definitely some poor sides now above us, which isnt too flattering about our season.

No sign of Topley during the MCCU game or either of the games at Hove so can rule him out for the Yorkshire game. Looks like Edwards has picked up an injury this morning too, had to be replaced mid over.

Majorly impressive since getting this run of games. Looks composed on the ball and a top propsect. Have been pleasantly suprised by his impact. Should only get better too.

We would need to win all of our last 10 games to be able to match last season's points tally. Shows how well we did last year especially given that horrible run in December.

Jay Rod was doing well, certainly wouldn't have taken him off for Long. We had control then Wilshere changed it for them when they added an extra midfielder and Davis and Romeu really struggled to contain them. Our defence struggled at times to clear the ball, but individually a lot of what Stephens and Yoshida did was good. They just don't have the presence of a VVD of course. Forster a mixed bag of telling saves and strange decision making but generally ok. Don't really get the Tadic abuse, of course not everything comes off and he isn't exactly combative but he does generally use the ball well and most of the best play in out bright start was through him. It just doesn't work having him and Boufal on the pitch. Most of his moans about being subbed have been due to him needing to come off for Boufal to come on - perhaps Puel should have stuck to those beliefs today. Its clear we are a flawed team, not especially decisive at either end of the pitch, and massively lacking legs in centre midfield. But its also not that far off a decent side, one that was largely excellent in a cup final just a couple of games ago.

Where would Tadic go? Wouldnt mess with his position just when he has found form. I would play the same team as Spurs with Jay for Gabbi. Caceres an option if Yoshida is tired.

Another factor people overlook is the reason we are able to sign the likes of Mane, VVD, Boufal etc is because they know we won't stand in the way of progressing their career. We have gained a reputation as an excellent stepping stone club because we provide a good platform, improve players and allow them to progress if they have the ability to play at a level that we cannot provide. Thenfrustration is having had so many good players over the last 4 seasons we always seem to have one or two significant weak areas in the team or squad that really stop us doing something really special. Whilst one player excels (VVD, Romeu) others are getting up to speed (Redmond, Boufal, Hojbjerg etc). Imagine if we had been able to have one season where a team could have grown together. Even last season for how well we did in the end, we had a centre midfield, striker, RB and backup GK situation for a decent chunk of the season.

Alex Crook in tomorrows Daily Star: Van Dijk to leave Saints after injury mismanagement bust up.

He played well in his 8 games as a CB for Bournemouth but they also shipped a lot of goals. The fact he scored 3 goals in those games got him additional attention I think. Not saying he is isn't a good player but, like Maguire, he was a flavour of the month for a short period, and its hard to judge his overall ability. RE VVD would be great if he stayed another season but we have always let players go and he is probably the best of the bunch so why would he stay when he can double his money and play for a team that will likley win things? Next season we will be similar to this I think and after his injury it shows you never know whats round the corner. Why 'waste' another season in mid table and not in Europe when he can play in the big games?

Roussow has opened before in his career - good to have options. Topley didnt bowl today and didnt seem to appear in any of the Barbados matches either so will be interesting to see if he does tomorrow at Hove. Either way he must be unlikely to play the first Championship game. I reckon he will be eased back in the 50 over comp as isnt reliable enough fitness wise over 4 days.

Hard to see VVD being available for more than one or two games in the last weeks of the season and if thats the case, why risk it?

As there is a midweek game do we think we will see the usual Martina, McQueen, Clasie etc changes for the Palace game? I'm pretty sure most players won't start all 3 of our next games so will be interesting to see how it affects what have been some nicely consistent performances.

At the Forum today they seemed to suggest Carbs would be fine to play. I don't think Topley has done a huge amount of bowling this preseason so think they will be careful with him initially. Wheal was in good form late last season and could get early chances.

And he has gone downhill since all of that!

Cedric is happy here but that doesn't mean he would equally be quite happy doubling his money and playing for a team that will win titles over the next 5 years. Same as interest in any other of our players. Realism is required: if there is genuine interest (always hard to tell) then it will always be attractive to the player.

If they have been in talks for over a year then Lander are onviously keen and KL clearly not wanting to rush into something unless it is right. That is a good sign. But there isn't much upon which to base any kind of assessment of Lander as potential owners, which is possibly a concern. All IMHO of course, Morph

When Tadic plays well, we usually always play well as a team. He has a point IMO. Clearly we need Boufal to get game time but it needs to be the right sub at the right time rather than just every game at a certain time. Against United and Spurs that sub lost us momentum.

Seeing as he was still on crutches last week its not going to be anytime soon.

JWP has played well lately but doesn't deserve an England call up yet IMO. An additional factor is that he has been playing well in a wide right position. Should he be called up he would be considered a central midfielder and in 5 years he hasnt been able to nail down a starting place for us in that position because he has too many weaknesses in that role. If he keeps doing well for us then it might come but he hasn't earned it at this stage.