ozzmeister

I think with the right coaching, and without the burdens of European food all our squad can easily battle again for tge7th/8th position. I'm also not to concerned with how the teams around us are recruiting.

Who was the right back which Strachen loved, super fit, average footballer, I don't think it was McCann but someone else?

Admittedly from the most unreliable source ever: http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/news/45920/ Is this complete ******, or does it have some foundation? Could the takeover/investment announcement be imminent?

So with the new manager coming in having just left Deportivo Alaves are their any of their players you think he will be sniffing around for? I don't know much about the Spanish league, but managers do typically have favorites, or individuals who they know have massive potential. Looking at their squad I have heard good things about Daniel Torres (midfielder). Anyone with a better knowledge than me know of any superstars/wonder-kids in the Alaves squad?

Agreed, but that was in the Cup, not the League where the stats are taken from.

This is an interesting stat that we are the highest crosses in the league. We are also high up with regard to through balls and corners. Clearly we do not have an issue with our midfield creativity, and certainly not the wingers or fullbacks https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/clubs/total_cross. As we know we have an issue scoring (14th in the stats). However we should delve into this a bot more. We have not scored any goals from a free kick, we have not scored any goals from a counter attack, we are 13th for goals in the box, 15th for goals out the box and most concerning 19th with goals from headers. So what does this mean, and how can it be addressed. We are smashing in crosses but we can't score them??? Is this because the quality of the cross is poor? Is this because we have no Target Man to receive the crosses, hold the balls, head them in (that was Pele's job) or do the forwards we have like to have the ball at their feet and play it into the net??? I really think this is the crux of our problem. My simple resolution would be a target man (which I don't think any of our strikers are). Do we have any options in this area, do who could we sign to be that player.

Be great to finish 8th and be 'the Best of the Rest'. Realistically 7th (based on the established order being the top 6) is the best we can hope to be going forward. That means catching up with Everton next season!

Who got young player?

Did this happen? I've not seen a thread and we normally have at least one lucky poster who goes. If it's not been when is it usually run?

Good shout trouser! Is he a full international yet?

With Fonte with us as a reigning European champion do we have anyone in the squad where we will likely see this feat again? The only options I can think of: - The England lot (but do we ever have any chance of getting near a semi-final, let along winning it) - Virgin (relies on Holland actually turning up for a tournament - Yoshida (what's the Asian equivalent of the Euros) - Romeu (needs to be called up by Spain I think the latter is the only viable option!

I remember the one where we got Hoddle sacked! Or was that at home?

On that basis I assume he will be reffing the cup final?????

Kevin Phillips - hadn't he recently won the European Golden Boot? Sad we couldn't really get the best out of him!

You might be right, I didnt even realised he was there!

My short term options: - Chambers in on loan - Move bertrand to centre back (he played for a period there for us previously) - Michael Keane (Burnley) - Pontus-Jannson (Leeds)

To many journeyman????? I dont think we have any journeymen, maybe our third choice goalie? A journeyman is someone who jumps from club to club on a regular basis and is at the wrong end of their career. If you mean Steven Davis then no - we signed him from Rangers at his peak, at a point when he was captaining the biggest Scottish team and his country. Fonte is also not a journey man as he has been with us for what 8 years? If you mean we have a few aging players - that is true, but we're certainly not an old squad.......

Didnt they sign some player called Gaston, meant to be a cracking play, the next big thing I heard. I hope Puel has taken note and puts at least two players on him!

JWP has to play - Palace are shocking at defending set pieces and that's his speciality!

Interesting that he still speaks to Koeman. I think 'if' Koeman gets his big move (Barco/Arsenal) it will be then that he follows his mentor. He wont go to Everton in my opinion (but I also thought that about Koeman).......

So for those who remember what was Le Tiss's debut like?

I thought Dalek was Hoddle love, and Alpine was relegation fears?

I think two things need to be looked at: 1) As someone stated we have the 3rd/5th least goals conceded record in the league. Whether that means our defending is top notch, we aggressively close down, or another reason, it likley means that either an exceptional shot OR set piece is required to score against us. 2) Base the fact when Steck was in goal with pretty much the same defense our goals scored against was much worse (I dont have the numbers to hand). Either way Forster is still an integral part of a strong defensive unit, who are dealing with more and more games, and also a changing back four. What I think is more concerning is our ability to convert. We have the fourth highest shots on target, but yet struggle to actually score them. Do we have issues with shot placement, do we just hit straight at the keeper. I think its this problem which needs addressing more than the defense.

I see him more as a Davis replacement with Hojbjerg replacing Classe?

I was reading the Morgan Schneiderlin thread and the majority (myself included) would take him back in a heartbeat. However I was racking my brain to come up with many examples where this has happened at Saints (or most other places in fact). The main one I can think of for Saints is Kevin Davies (and what a deal that was). Probably the best example in terms of football in general id Robbie Fowler goin back to Liverpool for a season or two. Anyone got other examples (Saints primary, Premiership in general secondary).