foxy9143

The disappointing thing for me is that if the Mirror report is correct, and the club are not lying, then Virgil has been holding clandestine meetings with Klopp and perhaps other clubs during his rehab,and apparently during the time he was posing in next years kit for our publicity material. If this is what happened and it was done behind the clubs back, then as our Captain he is pretty screwed and it will take a hell of a PR job to rehabilitate him with his manager, the players and the fans. I do find it hard to believe that Virgil would personally fly to Blackpool to meet with Liverpool in a clandestine way. My lad plays in the Wessex league and he wouldn't even do that at his level because he would assume someone would blab about it. For Virgil, as one of the most recognisable people in English football, to meet Klopp and believe that his club won't somehow find out is quite astonishing if not unbelievable. I could understand his agent making the meets but not the player, unless...... Which leaves the other possibility...the club have sanctioned the contact and are blatantly lying if they have actually said they have had no contact from Liverpool. Either way, it leaves a nasty taste in the mouth but I guess we are used to this situation now,

I agree with this. I get quite fed up with people moaning because he uses the terms 'interesting' and 'possibilities'. Perhaps instead of interesting, if he said "I'm over the moon with the performance" or "I'm sick as a parrot" or 'triffic' everyone would start to like him more.

Both were at the match. At least Kat still loves us (well she did until Crouch somehow managed to outjump his marker Cedric) next view of her she was on the 'phone.

I didn't see any real sign of that today. It's very disappointing but we have had recent games with missed penalties, and today Puel's system gave us 4 or 5 clear cut chances yet we don't convert them. Two Balls fizzed across the goalmouth, the Manolo 'one on one', Boufal's unfortunate miss when Butland managed to get a flailing leg to the ball, Redmonds brilliant chip from 25 yards hitting the bar..etc. Short of running on and kicking the ball in the net there is a limit to what Puel can do. He will probably leave, either sacked or by his own request but he sure has been unlucky

Personally I think it's crazy to get rid of him. Even if it gives us the short term gain of keeping a couple of senior players we are back to square one again next season when a new manager is brought in to start another 'project'. However I think there is every chance Puel will leave because he chooses to, and I am sure he will be snapped up by a decent European club. I think Eric Black is a bit shady and I'd be be very happy id Puel stayed with a different assistant...Zidane perhaps?

I'm just waiting for someone will tell us that Virgil was watching the game from a Man Utd box!

If he goes it may well be because he has chosen not to stay ( and not some cosmetic stuff like wife couldn't settle). He may get a much better offer from France or elsewhere. I read somewhere the other day that Eden Hazard put him among the world's top managers. Most on here would probably not agree with that, and anyway what the hell does Hazard know about football. http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/chelsea/news/hazard-puel-among-worlds-top-managers_298164.html

I am clutching at any straw which points to Virgil staying but.....unless I see that he is in said kit in the published Under Armour brochure I don't think this is particularly strong evidence that he is staying. It's a fairly simple matter to discard the photos of Virgil and take a new set, with our newly appointed captain. However the news is certainly better than a first team squad player telling Mr AR 10 that Virgil had declined to do the photo-shoot because he had a 'medical appointment at the same time'.

Maybe give the other Sam a run out next to Gabbi...? Is he eligible to play for Saints again now?

Surely to know whether there is any evidence we actually have to see him on the pitch in a Premier League game. He is am experienced Uruguayan International who has, up to his injury a year ago, played about 60 games for Juventus. That is evidence that he is a good defender. The only way to see if he can hack it in the PL is to give him a game.

I'm sorry. I don't think he is 'working with the defence he's been given'. We have had a top class international centre back who, up to a year ago, played about 60 games for Juventus, sitting on the bench for weeks

Reuben is a lovely guy and back in his day was one of the top defenders in the country. It is difficult to compare the 80s with today's Premier League but it is useful to reflect that in the year we finished runners up to Liverpool in the top division in English football, Reuben was a regular starting defender. He usually played as a sweeper behind the centre backs like Mark Wright and his last days tech tackles were vital, and a joy to witness. I would compare his professional status with our left back Bertrand in today's world. The problem is he was never a millionaire like Bertrand presumably is, he never had an agent to make the deals for him, and he was probably too 'nice' to make his own deals in the cutthroat world of football. I believe he was exploited by McMenemy because he didn't make a big fuss. The so called night club incident was a lot of nothing but it was blown up by the Echo, and certainly finished his career at the Dell. He as a little bit ****ed but actually was defending a mate who had a little argument with some random guy. Reuben walked slightly into the road and was bumped by a car which led to him being admitted to the General. It was a storm in a teacup but the front page was a 'sensational' one and McMenemy got the hump, gave him a rollicking and basically Reuben was suddenly persona non grata. He had a good couple of years at Sunderland and was extremely popular with the fans (who are quite demanding of their footballers) After McMenemy arrived at Sunderland Reuben's career took a dive again and he went on loan to places like Port Vale and Swansea. He even played for Woking at one time late in his career. All in all though, he's a brilliant fellow who had the bad luck to be born about 10 years too early because, had he been around in the Premier League era, he would be very rIch indeed with the talent he had. Someone above mentioned International appearances, well he did play a few time for Nigeria where his Dad came from. At that time Nigerian football was a shambles so he was sometimes not paid or else the team had not kit to wear etc! He originally played as a kid in the Enfield league and came down as a youth player so he is 'one of our own' and I think he loves the Saints. Hope that helps the OP with a bit of material for the interview.

On the other hand....at the end of his first U23 game at St Mary's he came over to the crowd by the tunnel and spent ages posing for photos (many of them topless because he gave his shirt to a young saints fan). I'm not doubting how annoying your experience with your lad was but he certainly wasn't an arrogant git a few weeks ago.

Simo, that is what I have been saying. We (and Puel) simply don't know how good (or bad) he is in a high pressure environment. I 100% agree with your post #277 - and a new partnership I'd like Puel to try out is Maya and Caceres! The guy played 51 games for Juventus up to 2016, and had he not been injured then not in our wildest dreams would we have seen him at St Mary's. There is no room for sentiment in this league and although I love it when an academy player comes through (yes I know Stephens isn't truly 'home grown') I believe we need to find out whether Caceres can still do it or not.

Okay, well I would like to know. I agree that Puel sees him in training and can see his positioning, ball control etc but there is no crowd pressure and no intensity in that environment. Likewise, I have watched him in 2 U23 games and he looked composed, but until he is up against players like Aguero and Sane in front of a packed stadium we don't know (and Puel doesn't know) if he can perform in the Premier League. I am not knocking Stephens and I think he has been a breath of fresh air, but if Caceres is actually as good as Kompany or VVD I'd like to find out sooner rather than later.

I never criticise players and Stephens put in two vital blocks which would have led to goals and he generally didn't look out of place. However, the move which led to the corner for the first goal started because Stephens got caught in possession needlessly just outside his own box. It is arguable that he could have done better for the third. he seemed to glance behind him and must have seen Aguero there, but wasn't hassling him for the ball. The thing is we all want him to do well, and he has filled in brilliantly for Fonte, but surely we need to know what Caceres can do in the Premier League and I hope Puel gives Stephens a break to find that out.

Virgil features prominently in the matchday uncovered video from last night. In fact he tries to eat the camera in the corridor. Virgil seems happy and loving life at Saints (he says optimistically!)

Exactly what he did when he got taken off in the U23 game a couple of weeks ago. I though the Black Box included a personality disorder/childish tantrum warning device?

I actually think it was the fact that Romeo's shot 10 minutes from time wasn't 3 inches to the left.

I wonder if Ross Wilson is being lined up to replace Les Reed in the next couple of years? I imagine that Ralph must have given him some sort of assurances for him to turn Rangers down, or perhaps just more money? If he did replace Reed, he seems a bit young, so would he have the credibility to attract big name players/managers and 'manage' everything about the football side of the club? I guess Rangers thought he had the stature to do exactly that. On the plus side, if he did replace Les Reed we would presumably have continuity in our strategy and philosophy since he is already very much part of moulding that. I think Les is doing a great job, but he's in his mid 60's and I'm not sure how long he'll want to be doing what must be a 10 - 12 hour a day job.

Very petulant and unnecessary reaction. His booking was justified. He drew a little foul - no malice involved, and then got up and pushed the young Chelsea player quite hard in the upper chest area. He could have got a straight red for raising his hands at him. Really stupid but the Ref showed restraint and gave a yellow. He obviously had to come off because a red was likely with his attitude at that point. He blanked Martin Hunter and Jaidi as he walked down the tunnel. Hunter shook his head in despair and sent Kelvin D down after him, hopefully to tell him not to act like a child, but Boufal didn't re-appear. Obviously thought he is too important to see the game out with a bunch of kids. I thought the black box was designed to avoid players who behaved like prima-donnas.

No sorry, Keith Cassells I think

Try George Lawrence

If you're worried, watch Redmond's post-match video interview on the Saints OS. He talks about his on pitch relationship with Bertrand and he clearly has a lot of respect for him and enjoys their partnership down the left side.