saint-crinny

I also enjoyed that he referenced resolving "the Payet situation" and the positive impact that has had on morale at West Ham, without seemingly recognizing the similarities in his own situation. FWIW, I still have huge respect for what he achieved here and think most fans probably do too. Just can't get my head round why he keeps feeling the need to do these type of interviews. First TalkSport now this - we're over it mate, so should you be.

Maybe not, but given the side they put we'd have had a far better chance of progressing. Don't know the answer on the draw number, but anyway, that's a draw we could have had. Not using this as a thread to bash Puel's rotation - I'm more in the camp that he has had to do it and its had mixed success - was more commenting that if we retain key players and add, rather than replace each summer, we'd have more depth which would serve us better when it comes to rotating in the cups.

And build out the squad with more quality in depth which would allow for the rotation we deem necessary in the cups. I'm not against rotating players for cups, but with a little more depth (rather than sell a good player and replace with a good player, we could keep the good player and add another good one on top) we'd be putting stronger sides out that should see us through early rounds. Difficult to do and keep people happy, but who knows, let's see if RK sticks to his word and we do exactly that this summer. I'm reserving judgment. Worth noting that had we taken the Arsenal FA Cup game seriously we should be heading back to Wembley this season, given they've drawn Sutton and then Lincoln in the quarters. And as we lost the subsequent game to Swansea, resting people proved pointless.

Important game. Players saying all the right things. Bouncing back from the disappointment of the final, taking the positives etc. But I have a nagging feeling its going to be a disappointing display. Really hope I'm wrong. One thing that does give me hope is that even if we don't play very well, it now seems like if we can create a chance with still nick something with Gabbi, a luxury we haven't had this season until he joined

Another manager who hasn't done a huge amount to justify the fact that he keeps getting jobs. Kind of pleased for Nigel that he hasn't got the job as I think that would have been pretty damaging for his rep when it all went wrong - his rep is dwindling anyway since the high he left us on - but would be nice to see him back in the game soon

Not that worrying, he scored a belter on his debut and we spent £17m on him - more worrying if we had spent that money on him and after one game we'd all decided he wasn't better than what we have!

Ever - MLT and also Schniederlin who I just thought oozed class every game Recent - Toby A - for the same reason as Morgan Now - VVD, genuinely the best in the division in his position. We don't have that very often

Is Hassen fit enough to start? Would be tempted but I guess he's probably not. And will Boufal be fit? Assuming he is: Forster Cedric Stephens Yoshida Bertrand Romeu Hojbjerg Redmond Boufal Tadic Gabbiadini

With everyone fit, my ideal would be to see Romeu and Hojbjerg in the holding midfield role to allow Boufal to crack on with creating in the centre ahead of them. Boufal freed up to create with Tadic and Redmond out wide and Gabbiadini up top would be the best we could put out from an attacking sense in my opinion. Although, in keeping with most of our important players, I imagine Boufal will now face a stretch on the sidelines

Booked mine this morning, block 128. If you're waiting in the queue, or if you've already booked and haven't seen this, you might find this useful as a rough idea of the view you'll have: http://www.wembleystadium.com/thestadium/viewfromyourseat.aspx

Let's hope that this season, that club is Leicester as they continue to slide down the table. That would be especially sweet given Vardy's role in this whole mess

Without wanting to go all bedwetter meltdown about this, I'm quietly sat at my desk having a meltdown about this

Sounds like Fonte interview doesn't clear anything up then does it - don't think we'll ever know what really went on as will always be Fonte saying one thing and Reed saying another. For some it will suit them to think Fonte agitated for a summer move to United, didn't get it, couldn't turn back, ended up at West Ham, and for others, they'll use it as an "example" of Les mistreating players and this is why we can't keep our best players etc I'm probably more in the first camp to be honest, given we gave him a long new deal a few months back and it doesn't make sense for us to then push him out unless he instigated it. Anyway, he's gone - closure for me will be when we turn over West Ham next week, hopefully with Maya scoring the winner

Fonte about to be on TalkSport to tell all about his transfer apparently. Can't listen in but if anyone is, would be interesting to hear his take on it all

Stephens was responsible for some of the goals but that doesn't make him a terrible player. Nor does his display against Liverpool make him a great one. Against Liverpool he was surrounded by good players, helped through by an outstanding performance from Yoshida and the protection from Romeu, two things sorely missed against Arsenal. Now the dust has settled, I feel much more relaxed about this, galling as it was to watch at the time. it was a pragmatic call from Puel which he no doubt factored in the number of games we've had and the lengthy injury list, and ended up prioritizing. It was a shame we ended up getting smashed, but I guess everyone knew there was a chance of that. Seem some suggestion that Puel was pointed out to Reed the need for reinforcements, but I don't really see that as his style.

Don't think it's realistic he'll go there given their current situation. If we want it done, we'll get it done - just trying to get the best deal possible i'd imagine. Would be nice to have him on board for the Swansea game, especially if Jay is also out of that

Has travelled with the team according to SSN - no idea in what capacity though. Would be such a boost if he could play, but not getting hopes up at all

Maybe switch to this if Stephens is struggling - feel like we're better starting off with Bertrand in his strongest position and hope that Jack can perform. Bertrand carries a good attacking threat as well, we don't want to take a totally negative approach and invite them on, will be asking for trouble

He's shown a really poor attitude this season from what I have heard...not a saints type of player at all

I wish you wouldn't be so specific - what exactly is a "broken foot"?

I know Les makes plenty of statements that come back to bite him but surely even he would have to stick to what he said just a couple of weeks ago about the Fonte/CB situation. He normally goes back on his word a couple of months later rather than two weeks, right? He said, we wouldn't let Fonte go on the cheap (OK, fee reported as £9m seems to be sticking to that). Also said we wouldn't let him go without a replacement ("and Jose knows that") - so surely we will only let him go if we have someone coming in.? Surely If we don't. an injury to VVD makes me shudder. Much as I like Stephens and the prospect of bringing young players through, it's best to do that from a position of strength, blooding them at the right time (this is what has helped many of our youngsters come in and do pretty well IMO) not because you have sold your captain and then potentially have injury issues that force you to throw them in. We'd be asking for trouble and would smack of almost outrageous arrogance from Les for me. Should say, I'm not normally all that critical of Les and think he gets plenty right, as shown by our progression over the last few years, but this whole thing is making me feel quite uncomfortable given our current ropey form.

Do you think Puel is just able to say who he wants and go and get him then? Ask any manager if he wants better than he has and they'll always say yes. Doesn't mean they get it. I'm sure Puel would have wanted another striker but Les and team didn't deliver, or weren't prepared too. Puel can rightly be held accountable for a number of things this season - the last month or so (Liverpool aside) has been pretty poor and uninspiring - but lack of a better striker than we have isn't one of them.

Sums him up pretty well to be honest. He isn't rubbish, but he hasn't delivered anywhere near enough this season. Does have potential, this stage of his career is when he needs to start moving from potential to quality on the pitch. If he delivered tonight, I'd almost immediately forget everything else he's missed or misplaced this season.

Bizarre almost ranting article that comes out like a piece by one of us writing about Pompey would do - pathetic rally. As this so-called losing approach has been going on for years I wonder why Sam didn't produce this say, at the end of last season when we had just finished sixth? There are plenty in the press that have been salivating at the thought of us having a bad season, given they predict it each year and then look like morons by the end of it.

Ridiculous comment - mine was an observation that there is a way of doing things from both club and player side that doesn't leave such bad feeling, of which Lambert was a good example. Also, are you seriously suggesting that when Lambert signed for Liverpool, he was influential in persuading Lallana and Lovren to "follow him" as you put it? They would have jumped at the chance regardless of Lambert going there, clearly.