gogo_saint

I agree with the OP. Despite being different from the team I suggested in my thread the other day! Right team for this match. (though if Rickie scores for England he gets the nod) We need Gaston to become the player we all hoped he'd be. Are there many other players like him in the league? Seems to be a trend of flair number 10's disappearing. Remember an article way back about Riquelme being the last one, as football has moved on. Or does Gaston offer more than this? Genuine question as I've not seen him in the flesh yet.

Yeah I would agree with all your points there, in 'my team' Lambert and Osvaldo would swap around and take turns battering the opposing CB's. Maybe Lambert could become a new 'False 10'.

I could be swayed by that too, really get the feeling there's a lot to come from Ramirez this year. Hope so anyway. Not sure how we could fit Osvaldo and lambert into the same team without sacrificing width/shape/pace. Could you imagine doing this back in League One and leaving out an England striker?

So now the window has closed and we know exactly who we have and haven't got for the next 4 months. What do you think should be our first choice 11, assuming all fit. I'm not interested in what you think MP will do, but rather what you would do. Here's my thoughts: Home: ---------------Boruc----------- Clyne---Yoshida-----Lovren----Shaw ------Schneiderlin---Wanyama---- J-Rod---------Lambert------Lallana -------------Osvaldo-------- Away: -------------Boruc------------- Clyne---Yoshida---Lovren----Shaw ---------------Cork------- -----Schneiderlin--Wanyama--- J-Rod----------------------Lallana -------------Osvaldo-------- I'm sad I can't get Ramirez into either team, and would never want the job of telling Lambert he's not getting picked! I feel we may have too many similar options up front.. Relying on FB's and J-Rod for pace on the flanks. And yes I grew up playing FM.

Marcus said you'd be coming

Yup.

I'm from Guildford and when I was 7 my dad wanted to take me to a Prem game for the first time. He told me (!) the local teams were West Ham, Wimbledon and Saints. MLT meant I chose saints and have followed them ever since. Lived in Cardiff for uni and got to quite a few games in the CC and L1, left for New Zealand right before we went up in L1 and only returned in the Spring this year, back to Cardiff. So my last games were home to Brizzle Rovers and Charlton. Had some very enjoyable 3am fixtures while down there! Can't wait to see us in a Premier League game again. While in NZ I caught my first sighting of the pinstripe kit on a fellow fan in Queenstown. Has a Saints shirt has ever been spotted further away from SMS that that? 11805 miles!

Every top club/country uses zonal marking nowadays. When it goes wrong it looks bloody stupid, but in my opinion it's the only way for us to do it. Man to Man we aren't good enough in the air, and using Zonal Marking does cover more bases when defending. Either way we look shaky defending set pieces, hopefully if Gazzaniga keeps his place he can dominate the box more being taller than super kelv and that may improve us.

be interesting to see if we had a poll on here if anyone was in favour for music after goals? Let the masses be heard!

steve howard

I can't remember where I read this but one famous manager said that wearing a tracksuit in the week then a suit on a match day has a psychological effect on the players. Something to do with making match days more important and little sub conscious tinkering in the players minds. Wenger, Ferguson, Guardiola, Mourinho all dress smart for matches... Wonder what the effect would be if the Northam came all in Tuxedo's one Saturday? Either that or maybe he just likes it.

I have a tenner on Connolly being top scorer from the start of the season at 175-1 so I'm hoping he sticks some more on and stays injury free. His disallowed goal was a slap in the face on saturday!

hmmm, I'm sure West Ham, Leeds, Forrest and Crewe would argue with you there. We're very good though. (thats what i meant)

hmmm, I'm sure West Ham, Leeds, Forrest and Crewe would argue with you there. We're very good though.

I might be wrong but wasn't jaidi awesome at the end of last season? when the pitches would have been good? Not saying I dont agree with the point, I definitely believe some players are better suited to different weather, and it should affect selection. Perhaps the boggy pitches affects how tired he gets? running in thick mud for 90 mins as opposed to a lawn style turf? just thinking...

not entirely sure if this is one of the chocolate boxes, but some great pics here of the dell, amongst others. http://www.homesoffootball.co.uk/collection/search/southampton/1/937/

Darren Ambrose - Palace

Birmingham away. 1-1

Forget the Poznan, we should nick Gremio's Avalanche celebration might get a lot of bruised knees... damn seats getting in the way.

1st of June

Darren Ambrose would be ideal

Well we've only got 1 game left against a top 10 team. In that context i'm confident we can't screw it up. We'll probably give it a good go though...

Remember that count also includes offsides

Can we get a poll? Which would you rather have outsid sms? Ted mark 1 or mj.

Thats incredible! It's been a long time since we were so solid. Whilst solid isn't always exciting those chaps on match of the day say the best teams need to be built on strong defences. Fantastic stuff Saints.