SaintRobbie

You answered your own question. Playing competitively versus bench warming if he's lucky is a given for any loan. My point is when selecting where he should go we need to spot someone who can improve his technical ability the most.

Has to be down on last year given the early and mid summer debacle. Unlike those of us with blind faith who renew with our hearts, there will have been many who'd have used their heads and watched carefully whether the whole set up was going to collapse! I suspect the optimism will start to increase now though, and with it sales. Still, sometimes good for the hearts, I've been rewarded with the early bird renewal rate after all!

I agree with the general sentiment. We SHOULD be ok. We COULD finish as high as 9th/10th with a couple more players. We WOULD be better placed to make a judgement on this in early September. We MUST reinforce by bringing in another PL quality CB, a right sided midfielder/winger and must look critically at our striking options, whilst encouraging them (it's early days after all for Pelle and Long*). [* I still think we are one capable striker short, offload Mayuka and take a punt on someone else - it's a gamble worth taking. At best you get a surprise package at worst you get another Mayuka. What's more, it would allow us to send Gallagher on loan to a Championship team with a coach who can work on his technical skills. I am not convinced we will see Jay Rod back to himself before late November, if we see him at all.]

Much more balanced article upon which to judge Rickie.

This is definitely winnable given our last performance. I'm going 1-0 Saints.

This is definitely winnable given our last performance. I'm going 1-0 Saints.

Its appears to be a statement to the Man U boardroom that van Gaal knows best when it comes to spending club money on transfers. I feel for Shaw, can't be doing his confidence any good. Guess we wouldn't want him back on loan.... wages too high? I think van Gaal won't last the season at this rate.

Its appears to be a statement to the Man U boardroom that van Gaal knows best when it comes to spending club money on transfers. I feel for Shaw, can't be doing his confidence any good. Guess we wouldn't want him back on loan.... wages too high? I think van Gaal won't last the season at this rate.

Lol. Ok. Can we afford to let Cork and Schneiderlin go? Should we wait until Schneiderlin's move to Spurs is 100% off before allowing Cork to leave?

Lol. Ok. Can we afford to let Cork and Schneiderlin go? Should we wait until Schneiderlin's move to Spurs is 100% off before allowing Cork to leave?

Lol. Ok. Can we afford to let Cork and Schneiderlin go? Should we therefore wait until Schneiderlin's move to Spurs is 100% off before allowing Cork to leave?

Lol. Ok. Can we afford to let Cork and Schneiderlin go? Should we therefore wait until Schneiderlin's move to Spurs is 100% off before allowing Cork to leave?

I think he was the weak link in the first half. The sense of nervousness and the lack of confidence he brings with him as well as his aimless hoofing clearances straight to the opposition need work. Second half? Didn't think he did much wrong, wonder what Koeman said to him at HT? I still think we need another CB, guaranteed PL quality. But I still think he's a player that we need for League Cups and cover.... certainly before Jos H, who I think we should sell on.

I think he was the weak link in the first half. The sense of nervousness and the lack of confidence he brings with him as well as his aimless hoofing clearances straight to the opposition need work. Second half? Didn't think he did much wrong, wonder what Koeman said to him at HT? I still think we need another CB, guaranteed PL quality. But I still think he's a player that we need for League Cups and cover.... certainly before Jos H, who I think we should sell on.

I am starting to believe this too Duncan. It's reassuring, very reassuring. If we continue to provide Koeman with the last pieces of the jigsaw he needs now, and we keep something in the bank to play with in January if a lucky opportunity comes along then I think my faith in our strategic leadership will return. The Boardroom made some appalling mistakes, but they might have learnt from them. They can only build upon this with stability at the top. We might, just might, be about to all push this club forward again after all.

I am starting to believe this too Duncan. It's reassuring, very reassuring. If we continue to provide Koeman with the last pieces of the jigsaw he needs now, and we keep something in the bank to play with in January if a lucky opportunity comes along then I think my faith in our strategic leadership will return. The Boardroom made some appalling mistakes, but they might have learnt from them. They can only build upon this with stability at the top. We might, just might, be about to all push this club forward again after all.

Would we let him go if Schneiderlin goes to Spurs for £10m and Townsen? I think we need to hold out on Cork and not let him go until Schneiderlins future is confirmed. I thought Koemans comments on Schneiderlin coming were less robust about him staying when interviewed yesterday. Might be reading too much in to what he said though.... Koeman may just be bored of answering questions on Morgan!

Would we let him go if Schneiderlin goes to Spurs for £10m and Townsen? I think we need to hold out on Cork and not let him go until Schneiderlins future is confirmed. I thought Koemans comments on Schneiderlin coming were less robust about him staying when interviewed yesterday. Might be reading too much in to what he said though.... Koeman may just be bored of answering questions on Morgan!

Great post Gemmel, thank you.

Great post Gemmel, thank you.

I think I believe Lambert. There seems little doubt that our Boardroom mishandled Pottichino and our players during that period. They failed to communicate ambition or keep players informed and well managed. The question is whether those players misread their poor signalling and whether the Club does maintain the ambition. And of course combine that with what then subsequently happened : Woy Hodgson's negative impact, Gerrards tapping up, and Brendan Rodgers ruthlessness and the sheer arrogance and greed of some players and lack of robustness of the Board to retain players before Koeman was firmly in place to make a decision. Brendan Rodgers in his prematch interview alluded to players wishing to leave as Southampton had decided not to demonstrate ambition to kick on and wished 'to take another path'. It appears Lambert and The others - as well as Pottichino - are all being consistent with this line. Question is were they right? Judgement Day is 1 Sep. but, Reed has brought in a good manager, we have risen to 6th highest spenders in the League and appear to be spending more to support the manager, our owner does not appear to be trying to sell the club and do a runner and we have made a statement on the pitch that with a little more reinforcement we can be back in the top half and progressing under Koeman for years to come. Yes our Boardroom failed badly. But, they might have learnt some lessons and might be making Potty Chino, Lambert, Lallana, Lovren, Shaw et al look like they misread their poor signals after all. Lamberts take is based on what he knew at the time... that our strategic leadership was poor, very poor. Has it recovered? Almost.

I think I believe Lambert. There seems little doubt that our Boardroom mishandled Pottichino and our players during that period. They failed to communicate ambition or keep players informed and well managed. The question is whether those players misread their poor signalling and whether the Club does maintain the ambition. And of course combine that with what then subsequently happened : Woy Hodgson's negative impact, Gerrards tapping up, and Brendan Rodgers ruthlessness and the sheer arrogance and greed of some players and lack of robustness of the Board to retain players before Koeman was firmly in place to make a decision. Brendan Rodgers in his prematch interview alluded to players wishing to leave as Southampton had decided not to demonstrate ambition to kick on and wished 'to take another path'. It appears Lambert and The others - as well as Pottichino - are all being consistent with this line. Question is were they right? Judgement Day is 1 Sep. but, Reed has brought in a good manager, we have risen to 6th highest spenders in the League and appear to be spending more to support the manager, our owner does not appear to be trying to sell the club and do a runner and we have made a statement on the pitch that with a little more reinforcement we can be back in the top half and progressing under Koeman for years to come. Yes our Boardroom failed badly. But, they might have learnt some lessons and might be making Potty Chino, Lambert, Lallana, Lovren, Shaw et al look like they misread their poor signals after all. Lamberts take is based on what he knew at the time... that our strategic leadership was poor, very poor. Has it recovered? Almost.

Can't see that Rickie Lambert would have appreciated that.

Can't see that Rickie Lambert would have appreciated that.

Very good performance today. Wish we'd just buy him now. It would allow us to take another loanee from Chelski!