saint-crinny

A lot of full scale meltdowns on here and i was very disappointed after the game, but a few days on, i just feel we've moved away from what served us so well last year and it has cost us in the two league games so far - something that can be fixed and i certainly don't think it's because Maya or Cedric or Targett (who was grim watching at times) are especially poor. Last year, the front boys didnt do all that much protecting of the full backs, but together Morgan and Vic covered very well, shuffling across and snuffing out any issues. Due to people leaving we've started the two games a lot more attack focused and left Vic almost on his own to try and cover the middle and help the full backs, which isnt possible, even for him. With Romeu on board, and noting the instant impact he made on Saturday in terms of making us look more solid, i think (and hope!) we can return to the defensive platform that worked for us last season, and with the improved options in attack that we do have, hopefully we can get back on track quickly.

Can't tell if this is a serious post or not, but Fonte is definitely not someone we need to be replacing right now - he's the one remaining constant from last year's successful back five, a leader on the pitch and arguably our best performer at the back last season in a backline where everyone did pretty well. Judging by Ronald said in his press conf last week, he clearly feels the same, so any new signing - VVD or Koulibay - will be to play alongside him ahead of Yoshida. Once that happens, and Bertrand is fit again, plus Romeu sitting in alongside Vic, we'll look a lot more solid i think. We have picked two attacking sides for Newcastle and Everton, and ended up being exposed - we shouldn't forget our success last year was built from the back giving us a solid base to allow the creative players to operate, not on out-gunning teams,

making it even more unlikely that Fonte is in talks with Villa you would think

Sherwood did his news conf today - did he get asked about this one? Apologies if i have missed it?

would be genuinely amazed if this happened. Was only a week or so ago he was getting all emotional about captaining us in Europe, why he swap that and Koeman for Villa and Sherwood. Also, he was quoted on VVD and what a good player he is - if he knew that was his replacement as suggested above, i doubt he'd be giving it that chat. Would put this down as media looking at who needs what, who is linked with who, plus agents getting in the mix.

Feel sorry for him really - every time he gets fit for a period of time he picks up another knock. Don't agree that he is overated though - i don't think many are claiming he is world class but he is a very good player. England don't have too many like him - playing with his head up, retaining possession well - that is what gets exposed every tournament, so i totally understand why he gets back in the side as soon as he's fit. He's clearly not the sharpest tool in the shed though - i always think one of the impressive things about our academy grads is that (in general) they come across as intelligent and well educated too, which makes for a better player. The likes of Oxo, Theo and Bale are great examples, as well as JWP now.

Sure, although those stats on their Europa performance last year would suggest they are a lot better than what VVD would face in the SPL each week. Was more making the point that people were sounding the alarm after a supposed dodgy performance in the SPL - that doesn't make him useless, just as two clean sheets in the CL doesn't mean he's an absolute world beater either. If we have made him our top priority, i'd assume that was based on extensive research into the player and a decision based on that research in the belief that he is the right man for us, not one/two games that a few Saints fans have tuned into because of our reported interest.

Two clean sheets in the two legs of a Champions League tie, not too bad considering how "awful" he was in the league opener...

Clearly he has the technique to succeed at the top level. He also had a little run of games around Christmas time last season where he was as creative as we've seen him, which to me, showed what he could do for us. The main issue at the moment is that, on a consistent basis, he doesn't impact on games enough, only in flashes. This is where he needs to really focus on, and i believe he can then nail down a spot in the team, probably ahead of Davis if you expect him to play a little in advance of Clasie and Vic. Would also say that if he had taken maybe half of his clear cut chances last season, and ended up with say 5 goals, we might not be having this conversation. It's small margins, but as well as being more of a creator, it goes without saying that he needs to start taking his chances in front of goal

Bit of perspective required here. Highly unlikely that Spurs are after him, but if they were, given his situation at Liverpool, he'd be an idiot not to make the move and shouldn't be worrying about what we think (nor will he be). And there's no reason for us to take any offence at that either. it isn't like he pushed a move through to Spurs direct from us by refusing to play for us - he got a dream move to Liverpool and left us pretty much on a high, it didn't work out, and if he got the chance to go and play at Spurs at his age, with a manager who knows and rates him, he should take it. It certainly won't make me think anything less of him - he was superb for us, the right man to lift us just when we needed it, and also gave me one of my favourite England with that Scotland goal too. What a moment. WBA seems much more likely as a destination anyway doesnt it, hasnt Pulis been talking about him?

Great move i think - they've got a good track record with young attacking players as well as playing nice football. People like Afobe really kicked on there. Be nice to see Reeves teeing up Gallagher for a few goals this season.

Yep, played the full 90

We are an attractive proposition to players who still need to prove themselves at the top level in the Prem. Players that have already shown real quality in a top league or CL are in the main, a little out of our reach, but there's a lot of top players in waiting who'd be keen to sign for us. Up to the transfer team then to pick out the potential stars from the "will never make its", which by and large, we've been good at. VVD definitely fits that category for me, and with the Dutch connections on top of that, i feel we'd certainly be a front-runner if we are interested.

excellent insight about the Valencia keeper and his bald head

Is this bloke actually the commentator? Maybe he's supposed to be programme selling and just walked in by accident. Reminds me of this... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5evS-ApSNQ

This guy is an absolute clown. Ah, he's suddenly realised the boos might be for Mane rather than because they lost. Who'd have thought it

Not sure Frank Lampard is the best comparison! A guy who made a career scoring goals from midfield, to a guy who, despite having some good qualities and being technically excellent, literally cannot stick the ball in the net no matter how easy it seems. Biggest area of his game to work on for me

this is true, doesn't explain Jones really though - a guy who consistently looks like a clumsy oaf for club and country. In general, agreed though - it's what kept Lambert in the squad for as long as it did.

As others have said, this will simply confirm to Clyne what he probably already thinks - join a big club and play for England. This is more than likely what Roy wants, as when he talked about how important it was for Lallana to play in the Champions League etc. It was a rank selection, Jones was like bumbling idiot at right back, and as much as Clyne hasn't played that well in recent months, he was clearly the best option. To be honest, talking about how Clyne hasn't played well in recent months is irrelevant - the likes of Townsend have barely played at all and they're starting. Can't really understand Roy's thinking - starting to care even less. As far as i can tell, Saints players getting in the England squad seems to lead to them leaving, as does them not getting picked at all. Give me club football all day long

not that strange, the season has just finished and he's still under contract, and no bid accepted.

Alternatively, any Saints fan who watched him throughout his time at Newcastle, smashing in screamers and demonstrating a great range of passing, would be delighted if he signed for us

First time round, calling Balotelli a flop at City is over the top for me - occasional liability, definitely, but not a flop. Scored some big goals in their first title-winning season. Not so many successes recently back a while back, plenty of good examples. Zola, Vialli, Di Matteo, Cudicini. Wasnt Vieira digned from Milan as well?

Vardy...? You don't have to do much to make the squad up top these days do you. As average as it gets, never an international player

disagree on Sissoko, powerful player, scores some crackers, has pace and power to quickly turn defence into attack. Looks good on occassions for Newcastle at the mo, but when he had some good players around him like Cabaye, was a really good player. We have good players - if Morgan goes, he'd be a good signing for me.

Seems like a cop-out if you say it out loud to a non-Saints fan, but i do wonder if the motivation, either consciously or sub-consciously, dropped once the Champions League shot drifted away. Whatever Koeman and the team say about finishing in Europe, we have surprisingly poor in recent games against average teams and lacked drive and motivation. The only recent game we went at it was Spurs, which clearly we were desperate to win and should have, which shows they can get up for it at this stage of the season and it isn't just poor form. That said, if someone said that to me and they supported a team like us, i'd tell that them they were talking b****cks and were just playing s**t. However you look at it: 1) 8th would be a great result considering where we started the season 2) It will also be a huge disappointment for us as supporters considering how the season has panned out (if not for the management perhaps) Let's face it, if we were doing what Swansea are now in terms of their run of form, and still ended in 8th, we'd be pretty happy with life.