Tom28

It's a 7 point gap. If we beat them, then it's a 4 point gap. In their remaining fixtures, they go to Liverpool next, they have a Manchester derby at home, they have to go to Chelsea and they have Arsenal at home in their penultimate fixture, when Arsenal may have to win to secure the title or stay in the title race. Plenty of opportunities for them to drop points but it would take an unbelievable run on our part. I'd say possible, but improbable.

Forster VVD Fonte Bertrand Cedric Targett Romeu Clasie Davis Long Mane Subs: Stek, Yoshida, JWP, Tadic, Juanmi, Pelle, Austin

Debuchy on loan? I personally think he'd be a better first choice than Soares and RB is definitely a weak area in the squad.

Tadic for Targett the only change for me, which is very harsh on Targett but if we change shape as I expect we will do, then it's a change that needs to be made. If Pelle and Wanyama come in at the expense of Romeu/Clasie and Long, I think it could kill the mood in the stadium before kick off.

Harrison Reed has to get a run in the first team. Or go out on loan. Staying at this level where he's head and shoulders above everyone is just a waste of his time

Reed disappointing? You watched a different game to the one I watched.

What a fantastic goal by Seager! That had a touch of a young Michael Owen about it. 1-0.

What?! You'd drop Long? I really do try to understand other peoples' points of view, but idiots make it really difficult for me.

Koeman said he made 4 changes this time last season and would make more this time. The late injuries to Cedric and Pelle may change that but I'm expecting Romeu, Tadic, and Yoshida all to start.

Someone close this ****ing thread.

Jack Stephens is back. In line for a start tonight or at West Ham?

Just ignore Saint Charlie. He/she is a bellend.

For me, it would be; Stek Cedric Fonte VVD Bertrand Romeu Wanyama Davis Mane Tadic Long Mane at 10. Davis wide right offering more defensive cover for Cedric against Bolasie. If only keep Wanyama in because two changes in there would be too radical; he doesn't deserve his spot to be honest.

Honestly, Pelle. Two reasons. Firstly, and primarily, when we are on song, and Pelle is on song, he's one of the top strikers in the league, but when we are not playing well, when have you seen Pelle grab the game by the scruff of the neck and turn the tide? If we are playing poorly, you can bet Pelle is too. He goes missing when things aren't going our way. Secondly, his record shows he's far more effective at home than away from home.

The way things have been lately, he'd be the first name on the team sheet for me. Offers pace, work rate, tenacity, and one of our best finishers. He lifts the players around him by chasing down lost causes. Our lot need all the lifts they can get. Was madness to a) not start him against Villa and b) leave it until the 80th minute to bring him on.

The squad is no doubt deeper and stronger. Only right back is an area I'd look at and say we don't have strength in depth (Forster is there; just injured, so I don't include GK in that). Ultimately, it's that squad depth, rather than the strength of our first team, that will determine where we finish I believe. I think we'll finish much stronger than in previous seasons and finish either 5th or 6th.

I think to expect a Luke Shaw or a JWP on a regular basis is naive. They don't come along very often. Kevin Phillips was mentioned in that article; his development took a lot longer and I think that is more typical than a Luke Shaw, JWP or Rooney who were ready to be thrown in to the best league in the world as teenagers and cut it. What I like about Saints now is that we aren't just discarding players once they hit 19 or 20. Lloyd Isgrove is a great example. They obviously see something in him and have been willing to let him take longer to develop. Sam Gallagher is 20, Harry Reed is 20. Neither you would say are in danger of becoming first team regulars any time soon but we'll hold onto them because they see the longer term potential. To wind back to your point; in the short term, you are probably right that we'll see few academy players in the first team. But in the medium to longer term I'd expect that to change as the current crop start hitting 22-24 years of age.

What a goal from Matt Richie. Worth a punt when Bournemouth go down?

Similar things were said about Wanyama. The Prem was going to be too quick for Wanyama. VVD will be awesome.

Bbc suggesting its four at the back with Yoshida playing right back, and Soares playing as one of the three behind Pelle...

If the topic of this thread had been started down the pub in, you know, an actual social setting with like-minded people, then it would have stirred quite a decent conversation I think. However, started on the internet with a bunch of condescending morons, you get a quite tedious reaction from the usual suspects (whom I suspect very rarely make it down the pub with actual friends). Back to the topic, I think Spurs will end up paying £20m...West Brom will probably want £25m but starting with a low-ball £15m will re-set WB's expectations and they'll end up in the middle. Standard market stall bartering. The annoying thing more than anything for most of us Saints fans (the majority of whom hate Spurs) is that Levy is probably better at it than most!

If we sign Ron Vlaar - big if - then my hunch would be that the club rate either Stephens or Turnbull, or both, enough to think they aren't far away from becoming regular starters. If that was the case, you could understand a decision to sign Vlaar on a free for the short term, and not VVD for £8-12m for the longer term.

With the news that BS is about to sign for Utd, I have a horrible sinking feeling that Spurs will come in for MS. If they do, he'll be off.

Will Wood can play left back.