Jez

It's about time Hitler got mentioned in this thread.

Are you Harrison Reed? if so, well done - you played well. Not that I was able to watch the match, I'm just going on your MOTM nomination for yourself

If only Inter weren't reportedly taking Osvaldo on loan, I am sure we could rely on his services to allow Pelle to have a rest now and then.

Not sure over what period you are counting "form" but over the last 5 games, we have the best form in the league, so we can afford a dip and still finish 4th (or even 3rd if the dip is mnior!). I am in the campt that would prefer a top 3 (or 4) finish over FA Cup glory though, so would prob rest a few players, with a view to beating Palace if possible of course. Don't wanna give it away!

I would choose 3rd place over an FA Cup win, as then we are guaranteed at least six games in the Champs League, will set a new standard for teams outside the establishment, would be able to retain our talent, obtain new talent who see we are a Champs League team, improve our sponsorship and commerical side of things massively (which so we've heard in the past is severely lacking compared to others), bring in more money generally, and then hopefully attempt to recreate qualifying for the Champs League each subsequent year, and of course the FA Cup. I would choose an FA Cup win over 4th place however, as we may lose to Standard Liege and not qualify for the leagues stages. And I really don't fancy a Europa League campaign! Plus I don't know why the original question is not "3rd or FA Cup win" rather than 4th, seeming as we are currently 3rd and just beat both the teams beneath us - inheritant pessimism ingrained into Saints fans DNA shocker?

Great news and another great prospect

...playing in Turkey.

We played Hesketh instead... and we lost. Hesketh got injured and he still didn't come on. Regardless of whether we needed him or not, could we have done any worse with him playing?

I reckon Clyne will start at least one game, will impress, his club form with us will continue, he'll be un-droppable (if thats a word) from the next England squad, and he'll continue to serve as our number one right back for England. Chambers will be more used as a centre back reserve rather than a starting right back for England. This weekend will be the start of Clyne's future England career.

They weren't a top 4 club anyway until Suarez temporarily rescued them, and even when he was with them they finished 7th or 8th. Now they are reverting back to what they have been for the past 4 or 5 years, a top half of the table side with aspirations to finish in the champions league spots. Rogers has a big job on his hands to turn it around, and I'm not sure he will succeed.

Hopefully, worst case scenario, we'll beat all the lesser teams, lose to the "big boys" then return to our previous form and continue to beat everyone else in the league. As all teams, bar Chelsea, are dropping points to the lower sides, then regardless of us losing to the top sides, we'll still finish the season in 2nd. What a treat.

Some statistical analsyis on key man (their words, not mine) Lallana's replacement Tadic in their weekly player focus http://www.whoscored.com/Articles/ycstlprlkeyyywf8wh2njq/Show/Player-Focus-Dusan-Tadic-The-Jewel-in-Koemans-Summer-Signings-Crown

That usually happens in my experience too, except it always involves Alpine_Saint instead of Turkish

There was a chance of that happening a while back, if Chelsea lost. They didn't, think we lost against Spurs (I think it was then) and a few games later, Chelsea are miles ahead. We'll never catch them, they just won't drop more points than us, so let them beat everyone else, along with City, and we'll keep optimistically thinking we can aim for 3rd at the season end. I want a dream!

Worth reading alone for his wife's quote. Good article anyway - let's hope we continue to see a lot of these in the future!

about half an apology there after his final sentence!

Early goal and job done - we'll continue on to get 3 or 4 I reckon. If we don't get an early goal, the fans will get jittery, too much expectation that the wheels are gonna come off at some point, and QPR will score first meaning we'll be in for a slog.

So if that is correct, then Clyne's shot was actually slower than the average ball speed after a ball is kicked by a professional footballer...

That can't be right. A quick look around using the power of the internet says the average speed of the ball after being kicked is at least 60mph, and the hardest shot recorded is over 130mph. It must have been quicker than 64.2mph or else it really was keeper error!

Don't forget, it was four England call ups - J-Rod too. Plus Clyne in the next squad

That is one special video!!

Morgan got 11% of the MOTM vote from Saints fans in the post match analysis thread. Cork got much higher, so surely Cork should have been there then...

blocked again. Curse you SPORTFIVE!

I'd rather have channel 5 than listen/read the nonsense point scoring above.

If Shaw is "only" on £50k per week at United, but yet his agent was setting out terms that Chelsea would not agree too - care to enlighten us as to what these terms were? Guaranteed starting role? Bonus' on winning games/caps/goals? Full access to his PS4 at any time he wanted it? Guaranteed monthly threesomes? I assume his agent wasn't demanding £51k at Chelsea but they said no so he went to Utd for £50k instead (before or after tax)