Tartarus112

Good to see one of our top performers this season commit, although a part of me is concerned we could see a return to the Puncheon of the past now his future is secure. Should help boost his transfer value in any case. Good signing even if he does fade from the great run of form he is on right now.

Zaha will most likely be called up in replacement along with maybe Sterling but Lambert or Le Fondre have an equal chance.

Just by way of comparison Hugo Lloris would probably cost less than the £18m Brum are asking for. Probably out of our reach with Spurs having already made a bid but shows what you can get for that sort of money. We'd be mad to bid more than £8-10m

Davis Clyne Fonte Jos Fox Davis MS Lallana Guly Lambo J-Rod Slightly more forward role for Lallana to exploit the space in front of the Wigan back 3. Our ability to pin back their Wing backs and adapting to their front 3 will be decisive. Fonte will hopefully be able to walk out with the ball more to exploit the extra man.

Clyne has a chance with a good run of form and I'm sure one day he'll get a few caps. Lallana only needs to score a couple of goals and get some assists at this level to get into the England setup. Look at the players who have played in his position for England in the last couple of years Downing, Jarvis etc.

Not necessarily as they have Villa to back now. The only reason Tello got a chance last season was Villa's leg break. Wouldn't be surprised to see Tello leave now Villa is back. Whether Saints have a chance it's hard to say. Style of football is right but bigger clubs would be sniffing around. Also with Rodriguez, Lambert, Guly, Sharp and Lee in the squad already how much time would he get on the pitch?

The 2-0 loss up at Rochdale in our L1 promotion season was pretty gutting. Just the inability of our players to break down a poor opposition after going that distance. Also the Birmingham game this year was pretty grim. Horrible weather, no protection from the wind, Fox sent off for no reason and it was on tele so could have sat at home with a beer instead. Also the trip back took far too long for the distance.

My face exactly. I guess it was between him and Morgan. Still. That has to be up there with missing out on Drogba and Adebayor.

Disappointed as this was a very winnable game. Sounded like we lacked any sort of passing in the first half with Hammond and Chaplow in the centre. However the performances of Cork and Morgan against Brum were excellent in terrible conditions so not too much of a concern. Team sounds like it needs a confidence boost. Maybe an international break to rebuild team spirit etc. Those expecting Sharp to come in and dramatically change our team should lessen their expectations as this is not down to one player i.e. Guly/Connelly as some have been blaming. Connely was by far the better player against Brum (I was there and Sharp looked very slack but was a bad game to make debut) Fans need to rally around and support the team in this troubled patch like we would if we were at the other end of the league. Automatic promotion and title still easily within reach with a poor West Ham side scraping the wins about the same as us. I for one have full confidence in Nigal Adkins and expect him to be holding the Championship trophy come May.

I hope he is just to see what Cortese does.

Seems odd that people consider our away form 'relegation form' Drawing away is all you really need. And we ARE picking up wins. Coventry was only on the 5th of November. Too much panic over not beating teams in close matches. If we had won all these games with 'promotion form' (the opposite of relegation form) How ridiculously far ahead would we be? Not long ago we had a better start than Newcastle and QPR. No need to worry just trust Adkins to change the little things and change those 1-0 losses into victories. I also think we'll beat Pompey and Brighton on the basis that it means so much more to them and we always raise our game for high octane games such as the last pompey match at home where we stepped up massively despite the scoreline.

Think you're right about the tighter midfield. Having Chaplow, Cork and Hammond is tough for most teams to beat. However this has led to less creativity going forward. Jos and Fonte's improving partnership the main reason imo though. Still could improve at RB perhaps. Very picky to say all this though. Playing fabulously atm but it's about improving the small flaws in our team that'll get us over the line to the prem.

Funny seeing Gobern making his debut all that time ago against Preston Seemed to have a good game as well. Couple of hoof ball's from us though. McGoldrick's goal was pretty nice too. Ah the good old days.

Davis James - hated on here but I think that warmed me to him and I've never particularly liked any of our other RB's. For keeping going even when everyone got on his back. Fonte - Best I've ever seen play for saints Davies - close second on that count Bridge - Over Bale because he never reached his potential with us and for generally hating John Terry. Something that puts him in any of my teams Lallana - best player i've ever seen play for saints. has the ability to change games. Viafara - For the writing on the shirt in the play off semi final away. Also quality player and sorely missed still Schneiderlin - More talent and class than any other proper CM who i've seen play for saints. Danced around Blackpool and to a certain extent united too this season. Walcott - Quality down to earth lad. Hard not to like Guly - for his quick feet and general incompotence at staying upright Paterson - Fellow scot and never seemed to get his chance despite hints of talent. Gutted when he was sold as part of Barnard deal. Jan poortvielt - Just liked his style of football. In the end we were always doomed due to financial difficulties but at least I liked watching us play under his guidance

For me we should be playing our full beautiful football side. Walsall is a chance for Adkins to show off how he wants to play football after Poyet's remarks. Also a few youngsters given a run out. In my mind... Bart Butterfield Fonte Martin Reeves Stephens Schneiderlin Gobern Lallana Connelly Lambert Bench Davis Seabourne McNish Racine. Is he still around? Holmes Oxo Hoskins

Rahdi Jaidi - Yes I think it depends if we can find someone better for cheap but certainly nothing against him staying on a low salary Dan Harding - Yes Has been our best LB this year and they are hard to come by. Unless we find some ridiculously good replacement from Brazil or something, keep. Danny Butterfield - No He's been okay this season but the step up will be too much for him. Find a new RB as with every new season. Oscar Gobern - No Has not impressed enough to stay. We can find better young players to make the grade. Aaron Martin - Yes but only a one year deal. Has shown glimpses of quality so deserves a chance David Connelly - Yes. He's just that special something we may need in the championship and you won't find a better striker outside the premiership in terms of quality and movement. Anthony Pulis - Why is he still here so far?!? N'Guessan - No too erratic and we can find better wingers a level up Dale Stephens - No I feel we can find better midfielders and if he can't seem to oust some of the rubbish we have atm then doesn't deserve the chance. I haven't seen enough glimpses of quality to be convinced.

Mine based on players I have actually seen play (seeing as im only 18 this could be quite depressing) GK: Niemi RB: Ostland LB: Bale CB: Svennson CB: Fonte CM: Viafara CM: Schniederlin AMR: Walcott AMC: Le Tissier AML: Lallana ST: Lambert

Quite different players in reality. Harding is very impressive defensively but there is less call for that this season. Perhaps this is why some say he was better last year? Dickson is probably better going forward but hard to tell having not started that many games. IMO neither of them are good enough for the premier league which is where we're aiming for, but that doesn't mean they won't both hack it in the Championship next year. Harding does lack a yard of pace but he makes up for it with hard work. Mr Reliable of the team and even though I'm not his greatest fan there are a few players I would replace/drop before him.

I think a part of it is other teams awareness of our talent. I mean if you were the opposition manager and you watched the tapes of our players, would you let them have the time and space to shoot from outside the box? Hence why teams always play a holding midfielder against us.

Lloyd James a current player?

Could be, however Adkins seems to favour Butterfield and Richardson wasn't outstanding against Charlton. Also Richardson's more attacking so less likely to play away from home.

Will be interesting to see if Adkins throws Chaplow on in place of stephens are some dire recent performances and the crowd turning on him against Charlton. Could this be Gobern's time to step up? or will we Guly played more centrally? I'd plum for Davis Butterfield Fonte Martin Harding Hammond Dickson Guly Lambert Lallana Barnard Looking at prior rest patterns for Jaidi, this would seem the most likely game for him to be dropped so he's fit for Rochdale on tuesday.

GK - Anitti Niemi - Legend status really RB - Martin Cranie - Although he turned sides, i was gutted when he left. Looked a great youngster LB - Wayne Bridge - Obvious really CB - Alex Pearce - Only on loan but still has gone on to great things at Reading CB - Matthew Mills - Pearce's partner at Reading in I believe CM - Simon Gillett - Let go by Pardew in one of the daftest free transfers in a long time. Clearly alot better than our current CM's Cm - Jhon Viafara - Imo one of, if not the best, Cm since we left the prem AMR - Theo Walcott AML - Gareth Bale AMC - David McGoldrick - Great potential especially in the withdrawn striker role St - Leon Best - Just the sort of strong lad we needed up front the season after he left.

Bart was our number one before he got injured for a long time. He's also out longest serving player. Deserves a chance. Can hardly say those 6 managers have been the most competent having led us from top 6 championship to league 1.

Surman not in there? Surely take him over Quashie? Or Hammill? or Mills?