CWD

Laughable. Absolutely laughable.

Poor performance today. Thought AL and the two CBs looked good but other than that it was pretty rubbish. Taking Lallana off was a bizarre decision, he looked like the only one who was going to create something. We weren't as dreadful as people are making out, but I'm concerned about our lack of cutting edge. For a while now (and I include the end of last season in this) we just haven't been creating enough chances. Having all the possession is very nice but is ultimately a waste if we can't score any goals! Defensively we were pretty sound today though, Fonte and Lovren are starting to form a good partnership.

We could always just support the team.

We shouldn't be dropping Fonte, he's been brilliant do far this season. My full team would be: Boruc Clyne - Fonte - Lovren - Shaw Wanyama - Schneiderlin JWP - Lallana - Osvaldo Lambert Subs: Davis, Yoshida, Chambers, Cork, Davis, Ramirez, Rodriguez.

Forgot to mention this earlier but apparently JWP's loan deal to Bournemouth was agreed in principle over the summer, and it was James himself who turned it down. Turned out to be quite a good decision by the lad based on his performances so far! Source: JWP's Dad at Sociedad game

Osvaldo -- Lallana -- JWP -------Lambert ----------- That's how I think we'll start, but if I had the choice I'd put Ramirez in for Lallana.

I said weeks back at the start of the window that my ideal signing would be either Soldado or Osvaldo. Can't believe it actually happened. Can't believe what's happening to our club.

Certainly agree that people exaggerate how bad he is. As a back up LB he's more than adequate and his dead ball delivery is excellent.

Cheers Gok Wan Tbf he has travelled from South America, I think he looks remarkably dapper.

Yep, it's Jack Stephens

I think this could be the most exciting title race for a long time. United, City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham all have a realistic chance IMO. At the moment I'd go with: Chelsea United City With Saints finishing 8th and a bottom 3 of: Sunderland Cardiff Palace In 6 weeks time this could be a different story though, particularly if Spurs and Arsenal sign a top striker each.

I've been saying for a while that Soldado would be my dream signing. He is one of the few players out there who would give us everything that Lambert brings and more.

And they are much appreciated sir

I think your last point is key. It doesn't feel like MP is particularly keen on wide midfielders, I think he prefers having defenders in Wing Back roles whilst leaving the advanced midfielder roles for more creative players playing quite narrow, hence why he constantly preferred Lallana over Puncheon.

No need to end on the sarcastic comment mate, just trying to have a conversation. Wouldn't you agree that better strikers are more likely to punish small defensive errors? The general point is that better players make fewer mistakes, and are also able to punish opposition mistakes more harshly. They are also able to push the opposition into mistakes. For every goal scored you could either say, "good play by the striker" or "defender could have done better". Both can be true as these aren't mutually exclusive.

Don't bother responding and he'll get bored. Just ignore him.

That clearly isn't the point he is making. After a game, you must have heard a losing manager say "we should have defended better for the goals". Whereas the winning manager will say, "our movement/set piece/skill for the goal was outstanding". It's just a case of perspective. If a good striker nutmegs a centre back is that good skill from him or a **** up from the defender? Depends which way you look at it doesn't it? Nobody on this forum would ever say, "what great skill from that Chelsea player to put it through Danny Fox's legs", just as we would never say "that was poor by that United defender that got skinned by Lallana". We would say it was poor defending by fox and great skill by Lallana. Therefore, you could argue that every time a player beats another player it is because of poor play, just as much as you could say it was good play.

From the little I've seen of all three, I think I would have to say Damiao, although it's a toughie. Looks like a more mobile Lambert and we were crying out for better finishing at the end of last season. Also think CM is a position we're already pretty strong in whereas we lack depth up front.

It could be something like this with the the width coming from our full backs: --------CB------CB-------- FB---------DM----------FB -----CM----------CM------ -----------CM------------- -----------AM------------- ------------ST------------- That's just taking into account the players linked at the moment. That will allow Wanyama, Banega and Damiao to play alongside Cork and Morgan. I see Cork as the DM, dropping in as a 3rd centre back when the full backs push forward, with VW and MS in front of him, and Banega and Gaston in behind Damiao or Lambert. The two forward midfielders could easily push wide and change to a 4-2-3-1 as well. (Obviously this is purely hypothetical with regards to the players who haven't signed yet!)

Pahars for me. His goal against the skates will live long in the memory

This one seems quite likely to me. Seems to have gone slightly under the radar and wouldn't be surprised if it was already sorted or just a case of I dotting and t crossing.

It was unlikely that a signing was going to be announced with the kit as the video and photos must have been taken a few weeks ago before the Confeds. If someone is to be announced it will be later today, wearing the new kit I imagine.

So the designs, including the sponsor, must have been there for a number of weeks. The only way that Ramirez, Yoshida and JWP could have been in the photo shoot was if it was done before the Confederations Cup.

@gregvul: @OfficialRadja your interview with Goal was interesting.Did u really say southampton wud be your last choice or was it lost in translation? @OfficialRadja: @gregvul it was lost a little bit in translation hahaha (Nainggolan's twitter)

No mention of the ML cup in that article is a bit strange... Some good teams there, Should be a decent test