Fitzhugh Fella

I think there will be an official announcement any day Pancakes

It's going to be present Saints v promotion Saints so the return of Sir Rickie et al

It was v Blackpool Nov 1977 and he scored after 58 seconds of his debut and the MoTD cameras were there!

Marvellous day

You took those two words right out of my mouth

I think I will refrain from commenting on this thread

One swallow doth not make a summer (or words to that effect)

Really pleased for Targett, gets way too much unwarranted stick on here.

or he has changed his tune

Beg to differ mate, Caulker is a good player (England cap etc) who is just having a poor run, he is young and will have dips in his form but I repeat Klopp is no fool. As for Tadic I am also questioning his mental strength so vital to succeed in the Premiership. If you are right on the other hand - and I don't think you are - then Liverpool are in big trouble because this would then be a monumental mistake.

The voice of reason. Caulker is not a bad player and Klop is not a mug. Football is all about opinions and fans will differ over their opinions of players but I contend at 12m Tadic remains a big disappointment. He hardly ever completes 90 mins, his goalscoring record is poor, he goes missing, doesn't track back and shows a lack of spirit when things aren't going well. Yes he has skill, probably more than anyone else in the squad but he is a luxury we can't afford. I find it amazing that many more on this forum give Targett stick when at least the kid gives his all.

Tbh I think the criticism of Caulker a bit OTT considering what Tadic gets away with (his effort to block Puncheon's shot prior to Palace's 2nd was heroic).

It gives me concern because I believe it to be true from what I have heard too. Also a lot of it, is not his opinion he is actually posting it as fact if you read it again.

I am not saying they should be given game time - yes you are probably right they are not good enough, but that does not excuse RK's treatment of them by ignoring them etc etc at Staplewood. They should be given encouragement to improve so at the very least they could be sold to lower-league teams for decent fees. Koeman has turned his back on them by all accounts and that does no one any good.

I can accept that the current crop of u21s may not be good enough whether that includes Gallagher, McQueen whoever but reports that Koeman basically gives no encouragement to them, does not let them train with the first teamers and is not prepared to give them any game time in the Prem or the Cups is a real worry. Koeman is an intelligent man so his approach to the clubs academy players is bizarre- these guys need encouragement not the cold shoulder no matter how low the manager may think of them. Perhaps unhappiness and discord at Staplewood is one reason we seem to have gone into free fall recently?

This post has this afternoon on the match thread from a new poster gives me great concern I disagree with your conclusion. I have been at most U21 games this season including the away games v Chelsea, Man City and Spurs. Yes last weeks game was a poor performance but in those other three the U21s were very good. Won 3-1 at Stamford bridge with sharp excellent goals from McQueen and Heskey. Won 2-0 v Spurs with goals from Targett and Sims out-battling a team that included Townsend (one trick pony). And deserved more from the 3-1 defeat at Man City. The first team have poor performances yet Koeman refuses to allow many U21s to even train with the first team to get serious experience or get them playing for a few minutes off the bench in cup games and it is a fact Koeman does not even talk to them never mind try and encourage them. He is aloof and arrogant. How are they supposed to develop? Koeman does not develop players his training methods are not a patch on Pochettino nor keep the players as fit as he did. Pochetino thought players like McQueen had potential and gave him his debut. He played reasonably in Feb 2014 not looking out of place. So somehow he's now not good enough. That's because the U21s are stagnating under Koemans reign. They will be going out on loan to get experience cos there is none available at their home club where many of them have spent 12 years. It's rubbish and Koeman bears some responsibility.

Koeman has qualities and up to now I have been hoping he would sign an extension but his attitude of arrogance or ambivalence towards the U21s is unacceptable. If Allsorts is giving us factual info, and I believe he is, then imo Koeman should be replaced sooner rather than later.

I can vouch that Allsorts is reporting back very accurately

Yes I was forgetting Ward-Prowse has a habit knocking in free-kicks to salvage games Wade? I am not slagging JWP, just trying to get my head around Koeman's use of substitutes which starting from Midgetland away has been quite bizarre

Surely when you are 2-1 down and chasing the game you brink on an attacker (Seagar) not a defensive midfielder who is clueless in front of goal?

Never a good idea to believe your own PR

Am still trying to work out the sense of bringing on Ward-Prowse at 2-1 down and leave Seager on the bench.

Do you ever have a view on the football or are you just on this forum to pass judgement on those that post? Why not get off the fence a bit and be brave to post a view rather than knock those that do?

Been thinking about Koeman's comments and they are harsh alright and a bit uncharacteristic which suggests to me they are not specifically aimed at the fans and the U21 players. I think he is sending a message to Reed and Co and telling them that perhaps they are now guilty of over relying on the Academy and it is not forever going to be a bottomless pit. I watched a lot of U21 games in the last year and the U18s in the FA Youth Cup and some of the organisation from the touchline looked a bit substandard. Koeman is not a mug, he knows his comments will cause a stir and I am thinking that's why he made them.

I came home with a black eye after that match - my wife now my ex-wife was not amused. A contretemps in the bench seats with a plastic Arsenal fan from Bournemouth