macca155

Just leaving the game and I hate to say it but Cork looked like he was waving goodbye tonight. ..hope not he looked class tonight

Look we're going to be beat 4 - 1 probably as that's our nightmare score. I've got a ticket and frankly I don't care. I'm going to give Lovren dog's abuse, support the team and look forward to the future. Personally I'd play Stephens for Yoshida. Young hearts have a big capacity and the boy needs to show us what he can do. It would be a great show of defiance and he's old enough now to brush off a defeat. I suspect Koeman will send out a defensive format as he'll want to minimise the damage and watch players in game time. WBA is the start of the season in reality.

Plenty of links and crucially nothing to say it isn't, which means a whole bunch of jounos are desperately trying to tie down (or destroy) the story right now. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11700/9348423/premier-league-dutch-legend-ronald-koeman-is-set-to-become-the-new-head-coach-of-Southampton http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/next-southampton-manager-set-ronald-3690634 http://talksport.com/football/reports-southampton-set-name-koeman-new-manager-14061396233 Yay we've got Ron manager.... "Oh, those Brazilians, you know? Circa 1970? Broke the mould. Theory out the window. Free expression of football. Uncategorisable. Is that a word? It is now! You know? Far cry from small boys in the park, jumpers for goalposts. Rush goalie. Two at the back, three in the middle, four up front, one's gone home for his tea. Beans on toast? Possibly, don't quote me on that. Marvellous." I'm not sure I'll be able to live the with the disappointment of it not being Ron now Anybody else playing a video in their mind of us beating Spurs and Liverpool and singing "you've bought our old ****" .... no just me then

"...they are not considering what a character SRL was in the dressing room and how he motivated the youngsters to believe anything was possible" That's true but anybody who has played any sort of team sport also knows what a 'big' character can do the dressing room if they are unhappy. I would imagine an unhappy Lambert would be a nightmare in the dressing room. As you say no one begrudges him his move, on its own it isn't a big deal but in context of all the others the timing is not good. Lambert going isn't a particular shock, his demeanour has been pointing that way for a while. The money is ok (no more than that) and it possibly clears the way for Osvaldo if our new manager can forge some sort of rapprochement.

I particularly liked "Southampton, Everton, Newcastle, Tottenham…all these teams are in the same situation. They can all attempt to establish themselves at the top of the game, but they’ll never actually do it: without making a quantum leap in status or without becoming the apple of a billionaire’s eye" A few years ago we would never have been compared to those three, perhaps we've made progress regardless

Window your irony is not lost or unfounded but that isn't too far from a reasonable solution. Osvaldo is the Italy No 9 and a has the pedigree to be a top class striker, without the attitude we wouldn't have got near him. He is still ours and with no Lambert around he may just do the trick. If our new manager is Moyes then no doubt he'll be back in the fold. Mayuka and Sharp should either be played or shipped out, I have doubts whether either can make it in the Premier league but they are way better than Gallagher. But for a moment lets assume we get a Benteke or Lukuka in (probably not them but the equivalent) add that to Osvaldo and JRod... well we've had worse.

Moyes is defensive I grant you that. Knows how to win a game once in the lead, he grinds out results. Considering we have a strong midfield (still) and defence and no strikers (Jay Rod is broken and Gallagher is League 1/CCC at best at the moment), it strikes me we might need exactly this type of manager. None of your list inspire me - Moyes I sense will be hungry to re establish his reputation. Moyes would be an awesome appointment, I remember his name the last time we needed a manager and everybody just laughing at the ludicrous idea that he would even consider Saints. He is exactly what we need at the moment but I can't see it myself, he is probably a shoe in for Celtic anyway. McClaren is tainted goods I know but he is probably the sort of manager we need, experienced, calm and able to manage some big egos. One thing is for sure the board need to sort this asap. Rudderless ship at the moment and we are under attack.

Lambert going is the sort of dagger to the heart those of us who have been around too many years have experienced far too often. If you think this is bad try Channon going to Man City, that destroyed me at the time. This list is long Chivers, Channon, Wallace, Shearer, Walcott, Bale, Ox to name a few. We'll get over it and lets not be holier than though we were happy enough when Saints played the big man and nicked the main man from other teams. Lambert from Rovers an ironic case in point. The money doesn't bother me 32 year olds don't raise much money and his career at Liverpool will be brief but knowing Rickie there will be some moments to celebrate. He is cramming a 20 year career into just five years and who can blame him. I've always watched ex Saints players with indifference but I reckon Lambo will be different. What odds he misses his first penalty against Saints. We all know his form was going and his hogging of the number 9 shirt probably led to the whole Osvaldo fiasco. Lets face facts the Italian No9 didn't come to Saints to play second fiddle to Lambert. Maybe the new manager will be able to bring Dani in from the cold. Football fans are pretty shallow and one decent goal early doors and all will be forgiven. I can see the goal celebrations now with Fonte and Osvaldo head-butting each other. What annoys me is how this is being conducted, our board look like naïve fools and the press sense blood. The English press love to build people up and then knock them down again, it is just our turn. Sadly he isn't going to be the last either.

Really cannot see how they can spin this. The funny thing is that halfway through the season when Sir Rickie was labouring I wouldn't have been surprised to have seen him sold. He rallied at the end of the season but JRod and Lallana had a lot to do with that. He is in extra time with his career and is in a hurry but why do this now. Rodgers is mad, you have Suarez, Sturridge, Stirling and probably a whole crop of youngsters coming through... and you buy a 32 year old striker from a team that finished below you. Hope Rickie enjoys cup games...

Now watch Lallana go to Liverpool for 20 million... bad smell about this

Echo reporting it as done deal now confirmed with player http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/11245417.Lambert_close_to_shock_Liverpool_move/ Can't begrudge him the move we owe him so much but it will hurt to see him playing for Liverpool. Daft money for a 32 year old to be honest, forget the emotion its a good deal for Saints but a bad deal for our hearts.

We need to be realistic here. Spurs couldn't keep Bale Utd couldn't keep Ronaldo Arsenal couldn't keep Van Persie As much as we like to think we are in that league nobody else does. Ok Shaw isn't the finished article but he is one hell of a player. No player is worth the sort of money being bandied around but they are if a moneybags club need him. If a bidding war starts it will be messy as none of the big three (with money) will want the other two to have him. Personally I would pre-empt the whole thing and start a conversation with Chelsea which starts with Lukuka, that will test their mettle. There are other left backs but precious few Lallana's I think we will have to learn to support a team without him

Gaston wasn't brilliant but he made a difference and crucially he started to make things happen. He needs a run in the team to scrape off the rust. Way more effective than Lambo today and that breaks my heart as I fear Rickie may have peaked in 2012. Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk

Saint86 I was just about to post almost exactly the same. What a great post and absolutely spot on. I'm loving every minute of this season, those 18 year olds will be 22 year old internationals before know it. As you say this is a time to enjoy not to criticise. Bright spots for me yesterday were Chambers who is going to make it tough for Clyne to claim his place back. The other positive for me was that Gaston for once came on and showed his class and along with JWP helped us stamp some authority on the game but all too late though. We all know Hos, Fox, and Gazza are not up to it, so does the manager and the players, but they've all we got at the moment so we need to make the best of it. You know what Saints are like, they'll probably beat Everton and Chelsea now. 27 points at Christmas that will do nicely. Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk

I really hope not but our end of season form didn't inspire confidence. If MP can buy some decent defenders then I think we could be looking at 'one of those seasons'. I am old enough to remember the last. That's a big if because every other club wants the same. Second season in the prem is notoriously difficult. Lets face facts last year everyone had Saints as certain to go down. I think next year won't be dissimilar.

My god we have a real element amongst our fan base now don't we. Anyway well said Kraken nothing wrong with Holloway he's a character and football needs more of them. He stands up for the teams he manages and I respect that. If you can't take it don't give it out, if he was our manager we would absolutely love him. Anyway three perfectly decent clubs joining the Premiership next year. They've all been on a similar journey to Saints so welcome and as Rut says if you think they are all going straight down then you are a mug who doesn't learn the lessons of history. They'll be amongst the relegation crew that's for certain but lets face facts so will Saints unless the club can genuinely step up. One thing that's guaranteed is that all three will fight like terriers to stay in the league and will be no pushovers. At least one of them will take points out of Saints... guaranteed. And we get to have a night out in Cardiff again... great memories.

Signed Utter disgrace what is happening to football clubs at the moment. Stand firm comrades you are not alone

Come on get a grip bookies put 100/1 for a reason. There would have to be a bizarre set of results for Saints to go down First Saints don't gain a single point when they've managed to get a point from 7 of the last 10 games Secondly Wigan win three of their last four games including their game in hand against Man City, I accept that is very possible Thirdly Sunderland, Newcastle, Villa, and Norwich must all win at least one of their last three games, bearing in mind three of them are playing each other and a number of games are against Champions league chasing teams. Yes it could happen but Saints have only really had one iffy game, there was nothing wrong with a point against West ham and Swansea as they are both pretty similar to Saints. They'll manage at least a point no worries. Villa's win will have pulled six teams straight back into the fight so expect to see results ground out next week. There will certainly be some worried managers amongst the teams below us. If we are worried imagine how the North East are feeling with both teams having conceded six in recent weeks... that's not good very bad karma. I'm still saying Norwich will take the third slot and my wedge is firmly on them at a healthy 20-1 (taken a few weeks ago)

I lived through and suffered the Thatcher years. Her government's policies cost me thousands and I'm still paying. She sold off the country's assetts, wasted oil money on keeping employment high to break the unions and set people against one another. Just look at this bebate its dtill happening. Her rule changed this country no doubt about that. Yes industry needed modernising and unions controlling but not at the cost of the country's soul. Her policies of vengence and discord destroyed communities. She transformed this country from a focus on industry to service. Finance and banking ruled for the torys and that really turned out well didn't it. She was a strong leader and I respect that. Her profile was much stronger abroad as they bought into the caricature but i think history will judge her harshly. She died a frail old lady muffled and kept at an embarrassed distance by her own party. That says it all and she deserved better. Only Gordon Brown had the decency to put her back in the public eye. No death should be celebrated but her passing may help heal old wounds. I hated what she stood for on the eighties but I've mellowed a little when I compare her to the current crop of spineless opportunists. Alan

That's a brilliant result - a point we didn't expect - some self respect back where it really matters - a vital point above Newcastle with a better goal difference, they'll start to sweat now - 8 points above QPR, 6 above reading, and a vital 3 above Aston Villa Going to be a tough few weeks but we're slowly creeping up the table

More in his general demeanour not his play as I said he played some sublime passes but he was arguing a lot and there was handbags with a villa defender at one point. I wonder if he had an issue with JRod playing up front as he really doesn't have the fitness to keep tracking back the way he has to in the position he's been asked to play. Don't get me wrong first on the team sheet every time as far as I'm concerned just seemed to be an edge to him yesterday.

Just back... journey seemed to take ages. I wouldn't use words like fantastic, outstanding or excellent about today except for the result. We've had enough dodgy penalties against us over the years so I couldn't give a toss about todays. What did matter is that Lambert put it away with awesome power. It was a good performance from Saints solid at the back. I've liked Borac right from the start, he oozes experience and is starting to dominate his area. I doubt he'll be a top Premiership goalie but he'll certainly be enough for us. Jos did his job as best he could but it was obvious he isn't mobile enough for the prem. The pacier and more skilful forwards can turn him far too easily. Yoshida played very well and I liked his aggression. Shaw continues to improve but Clyne looked a bit exposed with JP not at a 100% today. I've always liked Villa I've been there a lot and I've never found their fans anything but friendly and appreciative of good football. We seem to beat them a lot which always improves my mood. They are in desperate straights at the moment and absolute certs to go down with that team so its no wonder their fans were quiet. Chatted to a few on the way back to the car and they were embarrassed by the booing of Shaw. When it happened my brother said to me that it was good timing as it stopped Villa's growing momentum in its tracks. Their fans realised this and I think what we heard was just pure frustration at their plight. They are genuinely worried about the future, they are skint and they know they'll slide down the leagues just like other teams. Back to the game I thought Lambo looked out of sorts today but he did play some absolute beauties to release other forwards into acres of space. Mainly JP and JRod and they wasted pretty much every opportunity. JRod needs to run at the goal not away from it. Overall I don't think Saints will have any easier games. In the first half they certainly weren't playing at a 100% and it was only when Villa threw everything at us that they looked in any way stressed. Dare we start to believe? No behave yourself Macca we won't be picking up many points in the next four games so things may look grim again in a few weeks.

Oh what absolute rubbish there is on this thread. Davis wasn't even good enough for the Championship but a strong defence and the odd brilliant game (Leeds) kept him in the team. Gazza simply isn’t ready to make the move from League 2 to the Premiership. Both made hideous mistakes and have cost us points. I’ve seen them all close up in ‘screamovision’ and I break out in a cold sweat every time I see either of them on the team sheet. Borac has genuine presence and bags of experience. He started badly but recovered and I thought he looked very solid in the second half. Considering the treatment he received from some of the idiots in the crowd I’m not surprised he was a bit nervous. He isn’t a machine and hasn’t had the benefit of a decent pre season and Adkins clearly told him to lose weight and get fit before he would be considered. He looked a lot sharper yesterday to when I saw him at West ham and I suspect he will improve rapidly. All players need match time goalies more than anybody. The defence clearly trust him and whilst his kicking needs work it isn’t that bad and Adkins prefers his keepers to throw the ball out anyway. Give the guy a chance