Saint Keef

Kane looked to be back to his best against Man U last week, but it seems Gareth Southgate has now got a number of options up front in Sterling, Calvert-Lewin, our own Danny Ings, Grealish (he still falls over too much for my liking), Rashford and Greenwood. It's been mentioned above, but I thought JWP looked very assured when he came on - nice shot at the end too. Well played by the Saints lads, they did us proud. I think Coady looks a better option than Harry McGuire at the back at the moment. McGuire looks to be worth considerably less than the £80m United spent on him based on his season so far. And with Chilwell out, it would have been nice for Bertie to get a call up, but he doesn't seem to be on Southgate's radar at all. (Great pictue of Danny Ings above by the way - thanks for posting that.trousers). Only one other point - does anyone else think Ben Davies (Wales) is morphing into Tony Adams. He's the spitting image of a younger version.

......or St Mary's? Just a wild thought.

Sincerest best wishes to Stuart. Depending how serious his symptoms are, and I hope they are not too bad, Theo could be an extremely shrewd signing indeed..

Based upon the madness of results in the past 2 weeks.....Villa put 7 past Liverpool, Leeds draw with Citeh, Chelsea held 3-3 by West Brom, Man U beaten 6-1 at home, West Spam win 3-0 at Leicester......and any others you can think of...........compared to Saints, two wins, two clean sheets (home!!!! and away), plus added to the European commitments of some clubs and a bit of Covid spread around, I'd say we're nailed on to be CHAMPIONS......remember, you read it here first. 😉

If Theo can score even half the goals that our last "injury crippled emergency last day signing striker" (Danny Ings) has scored, when everyone whinged and moaned, I'll be very happy. If, in the next 9 months he can score 6 or 7 times as many goals that Boufal has managed in the past 3 years (and even a few assists) I will also be happy. If after those 9 months Ralph gives him a 1 year contract then that means he is doing well, I will also be happy. He doesn't get many mentions on here since he left, but I always felt Steven Davis was an important part of the Saints set-up - not the greatest player in the world, but always gave 100%, experienced, likable, apparently popular in the dressing room, a good level headed guy to have in the dressing room.....maybe that's a role Theo can adopt at the club as well and in my opinion that's no bad thing. I believe Ralph knows his stuff and if this is his idea and he is happy then I trust his judgment. Shoot me down if, after 9 months his bum is numb from sitting on the bench or the treatment table is permanently engaged. Some confusion over Hoedt going to Roma or Lazio. Unlike him to be in the wrong place............Oh. Mind you, in his head, he is so good, he could probably play for both at the same time.

I feel like I'm on some sort of weird LSD drugs trip (I'm told that's what its like). Villa put 7 past Liverpool. Spurs put 6 past United at Old Trafford. West Ham win 3-0 at Leicester. And most weirdly of all, Saints win at St Mary's. Highlights of course were listening to Carragher and Neville having to commentate on their respective team's abysmal performances and Evra wanting to cancel his Sky contract, live on TV because he doesn't want to be a pundit anymore on United games and that although he isn't prone to violence he would start "smacking" a few (of the United players I guess). Observations: As bright as PEH's star seems to be shining and to a degree Targett's , VvD's star is definitely on the wain. "Nutmegged" on one of Villa's goals, deflected another into the goal and generally seeming to have lost command of the back four. I said 2 or 3 weeks ago on here, he suddenly seems to be prone to making mistakes. Also a pretty nasty foul and booking today (but not as bad as Luke Shaw's - who should have been red-carded). I wish the Villa crowd had been in there singing "Sacked in the morning" to Klippity Klopp. Add to the waining stars, Messrs. Lallana and Lemina (both not playing for their new clubs this weekend). Liverpool are obviously desperate for a back-up keeper as Adrian clearly isn't up to it.......I hear Southampton have a couple of possibilities - How about Fraser Forster (£15m-£20m)....or even a loan with an OBLIGATION to buy next season similar to the Danny Ings deal. They might also be interested in a back four partner for VvD. Is it too late to mention Wesley Hoedt to them? Not sure there will be time on MoTD2 for the Saints game the way today has gone, but all of a sudden, with what is happening elsewhere, a relatively comfortable 2-0 win looks to be a damn fine result. Cheers!

Maybe United haven't been busy in the transfer market because they have no faith in Ole. As he trudged off he looked like a dead-man walking. Poch has long been tipped for this job, but United's resurgence after lockdown made it difficult to replace Ole. I have a feeling today will have given them the excuse to get rid of him. Poch by the end of the week? Mind you, having seen the shambles today, would he want the job?

The reason for this is, I put Vardy in my Fantasy team this week. That's done the trick - stopped him scoring anyway.

Or he can't find the door....he's tried several times but keeps walking into the bathroom.

I'm not saying the end product is always there....his shooting can be wayward, which is why he frustrates, but he does run at defenders and take them on. Nobody did that last weekend which is why I say we are missing him. Some youtube clips attached.....hopefully

Man City are desperate for a striker. They pay silly money for just about every player they buy. Another £65m today for Ruben Dias, another defender, from Benfica. But they really really really do need a striker. So they can have Danny Ings for, say..... £200m......and for another £50m they can have Carrillo as back up.........and with that £250m they have actually just bought Southampton FC...... OK I know they can't own more than one PL club, but change their owner's name slightly and the PL will never see through it. I mean, they sanctioned Gao didn't they? Now, where did I leave that Jack Daniels?

I know a lot of people on here get frustrated with Redmond, but I think we are actually missing him......at least he takes on people and runs AT them. Having seen how Djenepo played on Sunday (or didn't - at times it looked like he'd never seen a football in his life) makes you wonder if Ralph might be less keen to get rid of Boufal. No, he's not been great, but I think I'm right in saying he played under Puel, The Clown and Mark Hughes, totally different styles to Ralph. Maybe, just maybe, a run of a few games (if Redmond is still out) would give him the boost he needs. I've seen Boufal play a few times and each time - the one thing I have been impressed with is his chasing back and closing down. Yes I know his decision making needs improving, but again....maybe decent coaching can improve that. Just a thought......

Apologies if this comment appears twice - submitted it a couple of hours ago, but it has "disappeared" unless it was deleted for some reason. Bambi on Ice! I hope Hoedt's medical doesn't include his footballing brain, or his basic ability to coordinate limb movements.......Oh, wait a minute......Hi Lazio, yeh you've got a great player there. We've also got this chap Carrillo, an absolute "goal machine"......oh, and how are you off for goalkeepers?

Bambi on Ice. I just hope the medical doesn't examine his footballing brain......or being able to coordinate limb movement.......oh......wait a minute......Hi Lazio, yeh, you've got yourself a great player there. We've also got this chap Carillo......interested? He's an absolute "goal machine".......oh and how are you off for goalkeepers?

Not at all. I actually don't think he's rubbish. As has been said later in these posts, the stats show he is an average PL keeper. Yes, there are some better than him (if you've got a spare £30m) but there are lots who are worse.......Forster and Gunn being two of them. Last week wasn't great, but if the defence is having a howler, lets not blame the keeper for all of it. If Forster was so good, why isn't he still at Celtic? Partly because of the wages situation I accept, but they've apparently just spent £4.5m on their new keeper. If they''d offered us £3m for Forster to offset those wages, I reckon we would have bitten their hands off. And Gunn's last significant effort.........0-9. Not all his fault, but hardly inspiring and a record conceded by a PL keeper in one match I believe. For what we have to spend on a keeper at the moment.......probably a loan at best, find me a keeper better than McCarthy and I'll rest my case.

Totally agree. My heart would miss a beat whenever the ball was anywhere near him. I have nothing against him personally, probably a nice bloke, but he was absolutely hopeless by the time he was dropped. The trouble is, I was less than impressed with Gunn as well. Which leaves McCarthy. Yes he has some faults, but he is still our best option. Look at England's number 1, Pickford, last night against Fleetwood.......terrible.....he's become an accident on legs.

Oh Good. Another hour and a half listening to the co-commentary of that footballing genius.....Andy Hinchcliffe. Is this really the best Sky can offer?

I may be swimming against the tide of opinion here, but let's see where we are after 10 games before we panic, wet the bed and slit our wrists. Forget the Brentford game. So far in the premiership we lost by an odd goal away to Crystal Palace. That could have been a draw but for their MoM - the goalkeeper. And remember, in their second game this weekend they pretty much demolished Man U at Old Trafford 1-3. Whether we like it or not, Palace are a well organised decent team. Against a team like that, we win some we lose some. In our second game, we play Tottenham, a team who are (I don't know the figures) probably 10 times richer than us, Champions League finalists 2 years ago, who can afford £42m for two full backs (Doherty & Regulon), £42m in midfield (Le Celso and, don't ask me why... Hojbjerg) who can afford to bring in Gareth Bale, and have two of the most potent strikers in Europe (Kane & Son) and love him or hate him managed by one of the most successful managers in the modern era. By comparison we are struggling to raise something like £4m for Boufal and looking to offload the likes of Carrillo and Hoedt. Whether we like it or not, we bought "duds". We can't change that now. In short, Spurs are in a different league to us financially. We beat Spurs last year, but that isn't going to happen very often. So enjoy it when it happens but don't get too hung up about it when we get beaten by them. We'll never be in their financial ball park unless some incredible take over occurs. We have to accept that. Yes, Ralph may need to look at the tactics but seeing someone calling for Big Sam on here......please.....after 2 games.....really? So let's see where we are when we've played the teams nearer to us in terms of finances, ambition, size of club, etc etc. Let's see where we are when we've played the likes of Sheffield Utd, West Brom, Burnley, Fulham, West Ham, Newcastle, Brighton.....etc. We'll win some, draw some and lose some, that's where we are. Some of those teams have started brightly but as always, some will fade. I think Everton and Palace may have moved up a gear. I think once we've settled we'll nick the odd points from other teams as well. No doubt I'll get shot down in flames on here, but just saying.....no need to panic yet. If we're in the bottom three after playing that lot....shoot me then!

OK Mr Gao. Time to get the car out of the garage and go shopping.......oh, and don't forget to bring your credit card.

Looks like Bale is definitely signing for Spurs. He could very well turn their season around. Looks like it won't be done in time for Sunday so on a positive note we may have dodged a bullet there. I know we don't seem to sign former players but I think if I had a choice to bring one back (from fairly recent times) it would either be Bale or Mane. Some would say VvD, but he seems prone to some mistakes lately.....and the manner in which he left. Arrogant ******. Anyway I have well and truly strayed off topic. Apologies. A draw for me on Sunday or a nice little 2-1 would do wonders for confidence.

Yes indeed. Good article Lord Duckhunter. Obviously most folks on here have a bias towards "our very own Le Tiss" but totally agree with the Micah Richards comment too. He was a fairly new fresh face on the scene. He seemed knowledgeable, made sensible comments, but had a good sense of humour and an infectious laugh and he was a pleasure to watch unlike some of the other dross being served up. Some of them can't even string a properly structured sentence together.......I honestly can't listen to Clinton Morrison. As for Alex Scott. Question of Sport presenter (I wasn't aware she was taking over) and captain of both teams......and on the picture board.....12 pictures of her.....all shot from different angles. She must have a bloody good agent. What's the betting Clinton Morrison will be one of the captains? I suppose in the case of SKY and BBC, at the end of the day they will be judged by their viewing figures. I for one won't be watching.....so that's one fewer already. Haha I'll show them!!!

He actually went down "injured" after 44 seconds, but carried on until about 44 minutes. We could have a mini competition of who plays fewest minutes between Lallana at Brighton and Lemina at Fulham.........Lallana currently on 44 minutes, Lemina on zero. Could maybe add Hojbjerg into the competition if he has many more games like his Spurs debut.

£3m if they have Carrillo as well.....£2m if they also take Hoedt. Job done!

I don't normally agree with much of what Danny Murphy spouts, but he's about right there. In saying that, I thought Doherty (Spelling?) looked about their liveliest player.

BBC Sports page reporting Tottenham's interest in Ings this morning. What a surprise! Unsettle the very player who sank them last time with a "wonder goal", just a week before we play them again. Is that the best they can do? To be honest though, Kane is looking a shadow of the player he was, including those recent England performances. I wonder if he's carrying an injury and Spurs know it........hoping one of the big clubs from Europe come in for him, thereby eyeing up Ings as a replacement. All conjecture of course, me thinking aloud and just throwing it out there....