del boy

Sure it won't be "J Lo" ?

Perfect - much better than facing winnable games against lesser teams....they'll be write offs anyway!

Is that Mark's son Sparks? thought they would prefer St Michaels (ample scope for jokes here, and if anyone can currently get him to play in a more direct style, its RK)

Agreed, although Liverpool might think twice after last Summer's smash and grab - would love to still finish above them....and Spuds

Mane's face due for prolonged contact with he Sunderland pitch

100% At the start of the season there is a great unity in the team, everyone is in it together taking on the big guys ...and everyone else. By the time we get to Christmas things start to unravel. A mixture of ambition, agents and media whip up thoughts of "bigger" clubs for some of our boys and then the team unity, everyone fighting together, is not so strong (I'll be gone anyway) despite the PC comments they make when they remember to...just think how this must have affected Lovren, Adam and even Morgan last year and then Morgan, Clyney, and Wanyama this season. Throw in a bit of physical / mental fatigue (Tadic/Pelle), injuries (JRod, Toby), and suspensions (Wanyama) its not surprising that we've fallen off the pace a bit. Its only being in the top 6-8 consistently that can build up revenues and a top finish ("team?") mentality. This can hopefully be secured by Koeman staying at the helm (now looks likely), substantial investment in building up squad quality and quantity (probable) and ongoing success, maybe including the odd cup win (who knows!). Also - everyone should remember how far we've come in the last 4 years when being disappointed at not finishing in a champions league place! COYS!

This is the Summer of our meltdown

Is one view, but if Stekelenburg played 191 times for Ajax, 48 times for AS Roma and has 54 Dutch caps (including playing in a World Cup final) then surely someone should point out that if anyone can get the best out of him....

Realistically, he came here for game time in the EPL. He's shown that he is probably the most talented defender/midfielder we have (I reckon) and so there will be a queue of "top clubs" offering him, and agent, all sorts of attractive offers. I will be very surprised, and delighted, if he is with us next season.

I hope the FA have been made aware of this breach of rules

His head wasn't really in Istanbul

Look at the difference in Morgan since the early days when he was a lightweight like JWP - looks a proper unit now

Saints 0 Liverhampton 3 (Lallana, Lovren, Lambert)

seems a good bloke, can't stand talk of "the product" or "the project" though, I think its because it turns something we are passionate about into something objective and matter of fact

Need to rise above it, doh, I mean... move on

I reckon that if anyone can get him firing Koeman can, even though he has a somewhat unimpressive scoring record since leaving Holland

From http://www.whoscored.com/Articles/h_wk9uyyb06vdqr_0rxttq/Show/Player-Focus-Tonny-Vilhena-Feyenoords-Latest-Young-Prodigy "At the moment Vilhena occupies an advanced central midfield role in a regular 4-3-3, where his influence continues to grow. However, when Koeman opted for a 4-2-3-1 against Willem II (February 2013) his preferred choice was to play the Maassluis native as the deep-lying forward or 'number 10'. His balance and understanding with Graziano Pellè, leading the line, was poetic"

On the other hand....if we'd defended properly today we'd have won 2-0

take every game as it comes, at the end of the day, to be fair

Plus.....we might keep our best players!

Saints the better team. If the freak goal hadn't happened we'd all be saying typical Saints, controlled the game, taking one of the few chances that came along. It feels like it could still go either way - I think I'd take a draw!

Just back from the game - Sam McQueen the stand out player for me, looked a level above the rest on both teams. Our boys were all very technically good and well organised but looked a bit lightweight compared to the opposition. Good game, could easily have been 3 or 4 goals for us.

Up against Aaron Martin for Cov

cue the Man Utd off day quotes....ha ha aaaamaaaaaaziiiing!!! Man Utd shots on target???

new centre back needed in January window then