mitch01

Cork played well and he helps vary our play. He was always looking to knock the ball up to Lambert and we created several openings from that tactic in the same way we did last season. He's also decent with his feet and works hard. Some are going OTT though; according to some both Cork and Morgan are/will be some of the best CMs in the league.

What on earth are you on about. We were playing well, no need to change it. Words cannot describe the frustration of drawing that game, though.

I'm in Whistler, going to try to get up for 7am to catch the game online! Come on you Saints!

It is not a glib comment. I honestly believe it should be a self-evident truth to anybody who bothers to even casually follow football and SFC. Davis, while not brilliant so far, is a far superior player to either of these two. I watched game after game last season, and while Chaplow's energy was superb to have in the team at times (especially before his injury at Bristol City), he really lacks the fundamental skills that you really do need to have in this league now. Look at any team, ANY team's central midfield in the Premier League and you will find players who are far more technically accomplished. Chaplow's particular set of skills may suit L1 very well, and even the NPC at times, but he is so far off being a Premiership player. For what its worth, I don't think the central midfield are the big problem. Nobody on here can really decide what the problem is - one minute Schneiderlin is our best player, the next he is useless - and the simple truth is that we are just going to have to start defending better, as a team and as individuals. I have seen Fonte play well at times this season, but not consistently enough. In the main I've been impressed with Clyne, and trust Nigel to make him an even better defender. Fox and Yoshida have given me little cause for optimism, but we really don't have any better options. The answer to conceding a record number of goals in the opening 10 games is unlikely to be introducing a 17 year old. Or Dean Hammond, or Richard Chaplow.

Neither Hammond or Chaplow are the answer. They have nowhere near enough technical ability for this league.

I honestly think the Coventry comments were nothing more than Nigel being more than a little overcome by the emotion of the day, expressing how much the football club had come to mean to him and that it would be a sad day when he eventually left.

Fox is struggling badly but we don't have anything better. Going OTT and suggesting he's anything but better than Harding is laughable.

Still right behind Adkins, I want him at the club long-term. That was a poor display though. I am not convinced by Davis or Yoshida at all. Fox's lack of quality at this level has been evident since the opening day. But there are bright sparks in Lambert, Lallana, Ramirez, Morgan and Clyne, who all look like they can perform well at this level. We have what it takes to win games when we play as we can, but the confidence seems to be draining.

I've seen a fair few of our games this season and I really don't think our defensive problems are down to a change away from 4-4-2. 4-3-3 is meant to allow us to keep better possession, and the three central midfielders should be able to provide as good cover for the defence as a four man midfield, especially when you consider that it becomes a 4-5-1 when out of possession. I'm not convinced the change in tactics is to blame for our poor defensive displays. There have been far too many individual errors when put under any kind of pressure at all. That is down to mental toughness and resilience; the WHU game was a perfect example.

Danny Fox has struggled badly so far, no doubt about it. That doesn't mean he shouldn't be in our side until January, though. I don't think he's so bad that he is going to get found out every week, many players of his quality have performed fine in the PL; he might cost us the odd goal here and there but its an exaggeration to say that he will be definitely be torn apart at the Hawthorns. Time for our defence, and Fox, Jos and Fonte in particular to 'batten down the hatches' as Nigel has said. We had the 3rd best defensive record in the Championship last season - they are capable of doing far better than they have shown so far.

Exactly. We have had a disappointing couple of months, but I think Nigel and Nicola are trying to achieve something that is worth too much to be thrown away so quickly. I want Nigel to do a Moyes here, and really become a massive part of the club's history. Results are, of course, vital to success - but I'm not going to go calling for his head - its November of our first PL season in seven years!

I'm not even close to wanting Adkins gone.

What a very strange assessment. He looked extremely positive all the way through the press conference. Would absolutely love a win tomorrow - it could really change the complexion of our season!

The ramblings of a madman. He sounds like a west-country David Brent.

I want the man to be in charge of our club for quite some time to come. I also like what he said about 'riding out the storm'; we have had a good few seasons without too many lows, now things aren't going are way we need to be stoical and resilient. Hoping our Nige is here for the long-term, whether we go down or not this season.

That was a funny old match. We were pretty decent defensively in the first half and limited their chances while creating a few ourselves, but in the second we seemed more than a little pedestrian and allowed Fulham to take control pretty much without a fight. Gazzaniga - Good performance. He can kick well and made one excellent save. Yoshida - Very poor at RB with the ball at his feet, but he didn't get caught out too much positionally so essentially did his job OK. Fonte - Has looked better ever since that Man Utd game for me, even vs Arsenal he was our best defender. Two good goals, good committed display. Hooiveld - He is a much better defender than he is showing at the moment. There is no excuse for an own goal like that, his body position was poor and it really cost us. Fox - Better than he has been defensively, although he was caught out somewhat for their second. Delivery was excellent. Schneiderlin - Very good performance, although guilty of giving the ball away a few times in the first half and close to being sent off in the second after another mistimed tackle. He is standing up to be counted, though. Davis - One of his best games for us so far, though I'm still not 100% sure he is the midfielder we need him to be. He was busy and combative, but not much else. Lallana - Ran very hard for the first sixty or so minutes, but was positioned badly for their first goal - leaving a Fulham player completely free on the touchline. Perhaps his hard work caught up with him, but in the second half he struggled to make an impact. Puncheon - Great work defensively in the first half, and picked out Lambert for a chance, but failed to capitalise on good opportunities a few times in the second period. Once or twice he seemed reluctant to cross when Lambert hadn't quite made it into the box and eventually lost the ball. Lambert - We looked dangerous whenever he had the ball in front of their back four, but that was quite rare. He also struggled to make up the ground to get into the box as attacks built. One or two half chances sent off-target, but he is allowed one or two off days. Rodriguez - I thought he looked sharp and full of energy, often nipping in behind their back four. Struggled when he was isolated in the second half, but that had more to do with the rest of the team for me.

This shouldn't be a poll, it shouldn't even be a thread. I hope Nigel is here for the very long term, I am proud to have him in charge of our club. This season will be difficult, and I wish a few more of our defensive targets had been acquired, but this is an over-arching project that requires a little perspective, and a little faith.

Before the opening day I picked out eight potential relegation candidates, three of which Southampton must finish above to survive the drop. With the opening skirmishes of the Premier League season complete, what have we learned about the other relegation candidates? http://notplayedonpaper.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/three-from-eight.html

Somewhere on the internet there must be full highlights of that Norwich 4-3 match. It was unbelievable entertainment. Niemi was out of this world, and the roof nearly came off when we scored the winner. Ultimately meaningless, like Rasiak at Derby, but quite a moment all the same.

Utterly ridiculous. We have made some fantastic buys, a 3-1 defeat away to the best Everton side in years doesn't change that. Newcastle are showing what buying cleverly and prudently from abroad can get you. I have always been, and remain, concerned about LB in particular but it was still a great transfer window from us, especially with the addition of Boruc.

fantastic

Exactly. He is clearly a great character to have about the place and I would hope he has a place on the bench for the rest of the season. He stayed with us when he could have jumped ship and has been great for us for the last four seasons. In the ultra competitive premier league we've had to take the decision to replace him, about which I am pleased, but it doesn't diminish his contribution to this club. Fantastic professional, and I hope he stays around the club for a few years to come.

Got to say I thought Fonte was excellent. I also thought he was pretty decent vs Arsenal after a disappointing few games.

Absolutely delighted with this!

Jesus....