Fitzhugh Fella

So having Olomolo on the bench is acceptable? He has barely played a game for the U21s. Not knocking the lad but its very much bare bones and you see nothing wrong?

Good points raised there. Clasie is a worry and Tadic needs to be more central for sure

Prior to the away fixture the prevalent view was Milan were not interested and we would win. Ok not everyone are saying the same now but have see. Quite a few "we should win" comments.

Feel a bit sorry for Martina, we paid a million for him as cover and he is expected to handle the likes of Hazard and Costa. Milan won't be the pushovers everyone are predicting.

In normal times if they are good enough I would be fine but I see a really good chance of progressing in Europe floundering because our squad is too thin. Yes we have been unlucky with injuries, but the fact we have so many international call ups has been another factor to be considered. I know I talk with the benefit of hindsight but we gambled on Jay Rod staying fit and now we have been exposed to the extent we have had a complete rookie on the bench at the San Siro and again yesterday. Take the point no one decent would have come to act as fifth cover but with Seagar a long term injury and Gallagher going on loan it would have been prudent to have got someone like Lambert in on a years contract is all I am saying. Sounds like I'm moaning and blaming Puel, I'm not, he has done a fine job but perhaps his lack of in depth knowledge of the personal at SMS has cost us.

This is going to be controversial but a club of our stature should not have to resort to having the likes of Olomola on the bench for a tie of such magnitude. Nothing against him, he is a young lad learning his trade, but we should have thought bigger during the window taking into consideration the two a week games and the fact there were lots of internationals this autumn. By January when the window opens our chance could have gone. Our bench today exposed our lack of ambition in the market last summer!

I agree, it was so frustrating watching Sam make runs and the ball never arriving. But life is good for him. He is thriving up there, he has a manager who believes in him (in contrast to one at SFC who never bothered to even speak to him) and he is developing nicely. I am biased but I think he is a real prospect, just hope Sam can be persuaded Saints are the right club for him should a new contact be offered.

Coyle rates him as a Premiership standard forward and was gushing in the post match interview.

I just wish our squad was a teeny bit bigger. We are doing very well but can't help feeling we are down to our bare bones now.

Gawd are we lightweight upfront? Our big mistake in the window was not getting in that extra forward

Many thanks, very helpful!

Yes enjoy the present by all means and 7000 inc me filled their boots in Milan. But not to cover all bases and leave things to ifs and maybes is not prudent management. I'd like to think Les Reed keeps one step ahead of the game. Either that or he is one lucky Director of Football.

Well I certainly hope Les Reed isn't sitting back enjoying life. The whole point of the thread is about forward planning to continue our fabulous recent progress. You stick your head in the sand if you want but I would like to think the more savvy supporters will welcome the club preparing for all eventualities.

Did you ever get around to investigating this further? A student from Solent Uni wants to interview me on the causes of the Skates v Scummers hatred and wondered if you had found the time to explore further?

In football these days some things are inevitable and truly great players get their moves. I'll give you odds of 2 to 1 he will not be a saint this time next year.

And just a second before Davis gave the ball away Martina had pushed up in support and so was suddenly caught out of position.

Don Roper came back from Arsenal and Ivan Golac resigned twice.

We should be looking for a van Dijk replacement too, he's is certain to depart in the summer I reckon

With the growing media praise for Virgil's qualities it looks like an inevitability he will not be here next season. To my mind he is the best centre-half I have seen in a Saints shirt and will be almost impossible to replace, so I hope Les Reed and co are already on the case. I'm sure they are and it might be an idea to get the person in come January before we sell (presumably in the summer).

Can I pompously agree with you? I am a big fan of Romeu and think he is an intelligent player both off and on the pitch. Indispensable already and to think Chelsea let him through their fingers! hope I don't sound too pompous, by adding, Puel is quietly impressing me. Still early days but he has made a really solid start.

Can I pompously agree with you? I am a big fan of Romeu and think he is an intelligent player both off and on the pitch. Indispensable already and to think Chelsea let him through their fingers! hope I don't sound too pompous, by adding, Puel is quietly impressing me. Still early days but he has made a really solid start.

Good point under all the circumstances. I thought Boufal looked promising. Still think we should have signed an out and out forward. Austin's lack of pace was particularly noticeable today and his one reasonable chance he hit straight at the keeper which is frustrating. Romeu immense even after being booked. Thought McQueen did well too Starting to get over the pain of the San Siro and the players did well to lift themselves. Puel deserves some credit also.

I would like to claim the record for a beer in Milan. 35 € in the Duomo. A round of 4 came to €140.

That's a bit presumptuous to state. We finished last night with three forwards all firing not on full cylinders and a young thrusting forward who has pace could have opened the door. All this goes to prove our squad is undercooked for the task that we face.

At Linate now, everything seems to be running normally