CWD

We have to play the best team available. Get three points and we could still finish 10th, meaning something like an extra £4m in prize money from 17th. Boruc Clyne - Fonte - Hooiveld - Shaw Schneiderlin - Cork Puncheon - Davis - JRod Lambert

Well, that's a bit worrying...

I think Saint Charlie was referring to the viewpoint held at the time by a section of fans. Schneiderlin is not useless, and I would argue he is probably better than Howard now...

Yeah I remember that, but I assume we still had a look ourselves. Someone from the scouting department must have had a look at him, even if just confirm Prost's opinion.

Curtis Davies and Kasper Schmeichel - Jury still out for me. Always linked with a PL move, usually to newly promoted teams, but rarely anything concrete. Davies most recently linked with a move to Hull. As good as people say, or is Championship their level?

MS is better value than Lambert for me. Just taking into account age and potential. Not that Lambert wasn't a cracking piece of business though. Who actually scouted/ signed Schneiderlin?

We will look so small time if people run on to the pitch to celebrate finishing comfortably lower mid table. These things shouldn't be planned anyway, always better when it just happens out of pure, sudden euphoria.

Are you seriously writing off Forren? Please let this be a joke...

Phew.

Come on Swansea. Please.

Thanks for that, made me feel better somehow! Can you do one for the whole of next season?

We'll win both

Interesting stats, but that's all it is. I think most people would agree that we've been playing better football under MP. My only concern is how we play against the average sides. Reading aside, who are awful, we haven't beaten any teams around us since MP took charge. Lets hope this changes next Sunday...

This, and he didn't celebrate at St Mary's. this thread is a bit sour grapes.

Lallana played well today.

Once Guly went off we just seemed to lose a bit of control and our defensive press went out the window, giving them far more time on the ball. Not really sure Mayuka was the right choice at that point, Puncheon might have been the better option partly to keep things steady, and partly because I have a sneaky suspicion that Mayuka might be utter rubbish. We played well and defensively we were excellent I thought, the goal was their only shot on target. Slightly concerned about our lack of goals of late, in particular the fact that our big chances arent falling to our natural finishers. I can't remember Lambert or Rodriguez having an effort from open play today, which makes me wonder if they're playing a little too deep. We're not safe, but still confident we'll stay up.

I don't think he'd come to England to coach the Saints u18 team. Sounds like he wants to manage a proper team.

I have a feeling we could go and win all three.

Worth remembering also that next season the young players in the squad will have had an extra year of experience going into pre-season. Not necessarily saying there'll be a huge increase in their ability next season, but the likes of Jay Rod, Clyne, Shaw, Lallana, Yoshida, Cork etc will all be starting the season as established PL players and that can only improve their game. A CB, LB, CM, Winger and a Striker and I'd be happy.

Although I have no issue with Cork playing at RB as he was MOTM when he played there v Arsenal, I think having two players in a starting 11 playing out of their favoured position is a recipe for disaster in anyone's book, particularly when they're your two fullbacks and playing against the likes of Lennon and Bale. I say keep Clyne at RB and if Shaw isn't fit, then give Forren or even Matt Targett a chance: Boruc Clyne - Fonte - Yoshida - Forren Schneiderlin - Cork Davis - Lallana - Rodriguez Lambert Pretty confident we'll get something from this, 1-1.

Hahahahaha that is amazing. Get that girl a record deal.

Ok Fox has been a bit crap this season, but what has Guly done that is so bad it would make you not want to go to games? He's barely played! I'm now annoyed at myself that I felt the need to comment on this thread.

Such an overreaction. Gaston has played well in the majority of the games he's played in. The problem is that (similar to Guly) he is given the license to try things that are a bit more risky. Naturally, these don't always come off, but some fans only remember when they don't. Every time he misplaces a pass people seem to be on his back quicker than you can say 'scapegoat'. Why not just get behind the lad and support him? How many of you moved to a foreign country at the age of 22 when you couldn't speak the language, and had the pressure of being worth £12m to your new employers? He'll come good.

Just seen the highlights and Ramirez and Fox can have no complaints. Utterly atrocious and hope they both get heavy fines from the club. In the grand scheme of things it's not the end of the world after an unbeaten run of 6 games. We were always going to lose eventually. As long as we bounce back in the right frame of mind I'll be happy, no need for knee jerk reactions. There are only two slight concerns I have at the moment, the first being the now weekly goal mouth scramble we seem to find ourselves in, so far we've got away with it but today Fortune scored and we were one down. Our defending is still poor and today we were punished by not having a commanding defender to get rid of it first time around. My second concern is the nagging feeling that our tactics are not as effective against more mediocre teams as try are against the top teams. Tbh I'm far more confident of a win over Tottenham than I am about the Sunderland game. Hopefully Pochettino can work out a plan B. But still, not the end of the world, just a bad day at the office.

If offered now, would you take 12th place and an FA Cup final (no guarantee we'd win the cup)? I would, 40 points is still the primary aim next season. Once we get there, the we can see where we are.