Lallana's Left Peg

Why are you so negative? No wonder you appear to be at odds with so many things Southampton FC related these days. Nothing is achieved with a negative attitude. No-one can deny that the sum of our team is greater than the parts - we're top of the league at the half-way stage and the Manager is a positive person who has created a positive environment. Can you imagine what we'd be like if he shared your opinion? I remember conversing with you after the Walsall game last season and you were all doom and gloom. You may be a negative person in general but I can assure you football is far more fun when you attempt to get some enjoyment from it. I don't think for one minute you want Saints to lose but at the same time I don't understand why you are so pessimistic. Look at all we've achieved this calendar year - how can you be in the frame of mind you are after that?

Plenty of clubs were interested at that price. Plenty were put off by the wages he commanded. If we're paying him anything like that he was rumoured to earn at Chelsea I can see why.

In which case I wouldn't believe that leak at all - it may just be political jostling from the club to position themselves for a lower fee etc. In my opinion, it doesn't make sense for the club to rule out targets as it narrows options down and any position of bargaining. You are correct - the club did say that. Sharp said he rejected us. I usually go with what the club says but in this case I believe Sharp more than the club. I guess we'll never know the truth but I just think the chances of Saints agreeing a fee and speaking to a player and then rejecting the move without saying why (e.g. medical concerns in the case of Fontaine) is peculiar. Adkins knows all about Sharp already and if it was an issue around wages then surely that would have been sounded out via the agent before Saints made a bid as bidding for players you can't afford is stupid.

It's some news that creates more questions than answers. Not fussed about Maynard, Sharp would be nice but he rejected us in the summer and we've moved on since then. More importantly, does that mean our reported interest in the other strikers is still valid? Or did the Solent just not mention their name? And who is their insider - I suspect only a few people in the club know genuine transfer targets.

We're going through a little phase but no-one can say it is a big issue. We didn't play great today, but we kept things tight and nearly got the second that would have secured the three points. Disappointing to only get a point, but where we are at the top of the league on merit and a couple of home games now to gather some momentum ahead of a tough January.

Hooiveld was brilliant all game. Dominant, assured, and great decision making.

Excellent - I'll be going to that game.

Saints U18s: Steve Mowthorpe; Luke Shaw, Jack Stephens, Jordan Turnbull, Matt Young ©; Sam McQueen, Corby Moore, James Ward-Prowse, Calum Chambers; Joe Curtis; Jake Sinclair. Subs: Chris Johns, Conor O'Sullivan, Harrison Reed, Fraser Colmer, Domininc Gape.

Any news on whether the official site is offering twitter commentary or anything on Saints Player? This should be a good game - Sheffield United were in last years final and looked ok although they have had to sell their promising striker (Jordan Slew) to Blackburn.

Seems to me we're going with a diamond formation to get hold of the ball.

Just watched the highlights and Dodd said that Cortese, Hunter, and the first team management team were all present. Seems like we have a lot of prospects but I'm genuinely intrigued to see how we try to integrate them into the first team over the next few years. It would be great to see some break through and remain at the club longer than a season.

What has happened to the £4.5m that was used to bid for Rodriguez only 3 months ago? I would suggest that there are funds available if the right player is about. We didn't hesitate in spending £1m+ on Hooiveld.

Blackpool will play an open game and it will suit us. They will also miss Shelvey who was the catalyst for their recent upsurge of form. They are dangerous but I feel confident as long as Lambert is back and we don't get anxious if things aren't going our way.

QPR won the Championship last season. Take a look at their form around this time of year: I am not for one minute excusing the performances against Bristol City and Doncaster which were underwhelming and disappointing in terms of what we have managed thus far this season, but if people think we are wobbling and it is the end of our promotion hopes then they should consider that we can wobble a lot more and still be in half decent shape for promotion. The world does not end with two defeats in three - look at the indifference of form from QPR there. 8pts from 21 available.

We moved the ball well enough into the final third. We lacked proper invention or cutting edge once up there. Not all of our possession was messing about in defence. We threaded it nicely through the team but everything broke down in the final third, for me down to over-engineering things. De Ridder trying to do things at 100mph, Guly a bit unsure of his role, while Schneiderlin and Lallana are guilty of trying to overcomplicate things at times. It wasn't a good mix today and we wasted opportunities. Even Barnard's hustle and bustle looked a little misplaced. We just weren't controlled in the final third - whether it was down to anxiousness due to the lack of Lambert, or a lack of understanding of what everyone expected each other to do without him in the team I don't know. But on another day had Schneiderlin not blasted his shot straight at the keeper, or a calm ball squared for a tap in a few times we wouldn't be talking about a lucky 3pts, it would have been a professional performance away from home. No need to worry on the back of just that game in my opinion. There are more concerning traits that have occurred over a period of several games - like looking really susceptible on the counter-attack, a lack of movement at times (it is creeping in), and some players far too up and down with their performances (Hammond, Cork, Guly, Fox for starters). But bigger picture, it has been an outstanding season thus far.

The overreactions in here are silly. It hurts to lose that game as we had the lions share of possession, did decent work with the ball but lacked a cutting edge and a real goal threat. Guly operates on his own wavelength but the criticism he gets is unfair - as long as he tries there should be no complaints, and he always tries. De Ridder is used to playing with the ball into space and not to feet and it will continue to take time for him to bed in with how we play. Barnard is coming back from injury and deserves a chance. We missed Lambert today who has been outstanding this season and the focal point of our attack. Had we been played off the park, lacked ideas or purpose then we can be unhappy. But today was one of those days. We're still top of the league, have some clear things to work on (away form being one of them in addition to being hit on the counter), but don't lose sight of the bigger picture. The Manager has acknowledged things, isn't pretending the problems don't exist, and will continue to get the most out of what we have got. Does my head in when the crowd groan when moves break down like we should be tearing teams apart all the time. It is approaching arrogance from some fans who are forgetting how far we've come in such a short time. This is a hard league and there will be ups and downs. But to see people lose perspective because we've had an outstanding 4 months is pathetic.

Disappointed but not despondent after today. We played ok, but definitely need a buy a striker in January. Just lacked a little cutting edge in the final third, and maybe some direction with Lambert severely missed. Doncaster weren't great, it is a weird squad dynamic they have. The only decent loan player on show for them was Beye, who was outstanding as a central defender. If we would have taken our chances it was a comfortable victory, but we didn't and paid the price so no complaints - it happens. Lets hope Lambert is back fit for next weekend.

Was the Lambert sub tactical or because of injury? Received a text suggesting injury, but no idea if that is true or not.

Fantastic win this evening, always been worried about how we react to defeats when momentum has played such a big factor to our season. After three defeats this season, we've come back and won the next league game. Sounded like we fully deserved it tonight too. 8pts clear of third, absolutely delighted and hope we can keep it up.

Crystal Palace vs. Millwall is the main game on the Football League Show therefore you are unlikely to find a stream for our game.

Celtic have just signed a new defender: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15844449.stm Mikael Lustig (also linked with Saints) will be joining them in January and has been described as someone who can also play in central defence. So maybe this massages the exit of Hooiveld from the club?

Fair point, I just wonder where he fits in long-term. £3m is a lot to commit! That said, lets worry about Jutkiewicz and the Premier League if we do sign him and if we do get there

If he does sign, he does so as a backup which is a sign of confidence for our current strikers and also gives us some further depth. The fee, if ever disclosed, will be interesting to learn. What I am concerned about is the approach to transfers that said we wanted players who could step up to the Premier League but had the mentality to be productive in the Championship. I'm not sure Jutkiewicz has Premier League quality in that respect.

Bit uninspiring, but I suppose if he is a fan he won't mind sitting on the bench. He went to great lengths to shakes hands with every Saints player and Adkins at the end of the game a few weeks ago. He is a real handful in the air, so I suppose he can be insurance for a Lambert injury.

Adkins: - credit to Brighton for controlling the ball as good as any team at St Marys this season - we changed shape to go narrow and it worked well so credit to the players - we wanted width to get crosses in and that worked in the second half - we controlled game in second half and kept discipline - we took too many touches in the first half and passing wasn't quick or crisp - Lambert keeps getting better - he works hard and the coaching staff allows players to get better if they apply themselves - Connolly has a knock on his groin and should be available in a few weeks - Harding has tweaked his knee - We have a good squad who work hard