Bobbyboy

No Sam McQueen?

To me January is about whether we can keep the central midfield intact. Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Cork. Davis also but he never seems to be linked to anyone so that's ok.

Unchanged

True, some things never seem to change... Kat in the director's box and lots of people saying "Pardew Out".

Depends on the wind I suppose.

I completely agree with the team but who is the third Davis filling the bench place?

Presume Chambers will be RB for them tomorrow?

Presence of McQueen but no Isgrove maybe gives us a hint that Lloyd might be on the bench tomorrow. Reed also.

Ward-Prowse for Davis. Hm...

Well, I guess the offence wasn't punishable by a free kick or penalty kick so it doesn't matter. Would be good to ask the FA for clarification of the incident since it appears there must now be a way that a keeper can punch and flatten an oncoming forward without it being a foul.

Gordon Simpson ‏@gordonsimpson · 2m saintsfc team (as per press TV screens): Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Alderweireld, Bertrand, Schneiderlin, Cork, Davis, Tadic, Long, Pelle. Gordon Simpson ‏@gordonsimpson · 2m Subs listed as: Davis, Yoshida, Gardos, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Mayuka, McQueen #saintsfc

This, this and more this. 'Soccer' following varies hugely on a regional basis in the US, but NBC's generally excellent coverage has raised the profile as well as making all games so much more available. Now it's not about trying to make money from the few die-hard immigrant fans, it's actually about making it available because they know it's a good product and WILL in time be able to sell advertising very well. That said, nobody here in Louisiana cares. All Saints fans here, but it's the wrong Saints. And the wrong football. Everything else is all ducks and beards and stuff.

I think realistically the club have to at least plan for life without J-Rod. He's not playing right now, he may not come back fully from injury to reach last season's heights, he may end up at another club in January. Much as I think we should try and keep him and get him back to last year's standards, the club are probably being prudent in their planning and treating any serious comeback from him as a bonus.

What about the kid from Torquay???

Seriously? No Cork OR Wanyama? He really does think that the Davis-JWP combo is something special, doesn't he? Mayuka on bench... erm...

So, back to this Calum Chambers fella then, any payment due us because of his England call-up then? Never heard rumours of sell-on clause either, but maybe I missed that.

Don't want him to go as he does seem to make stuff happen on the rare occasions he plays. http://www.myfootballfacts.com/Premier_League_Combined_2013-14.html says that he was our fifth-highest player in terms of goals and assists last year, behind the big three scorers and Davis. That despite hardly playing. For that stat alone I want to see him given a run in the team. But then again that won't happen because he'll be injured. Maybe we could pawn him or something.

Definitely concerned about Morgan's absence here.

Did look like a pre-season game where they didn't really know each other. Big Vic more advanced than often. Still don't know where the goals are coming from, Pelle may or may not come good sometime but he certainly doesn't get out wide like Lambert did. Tadic looks DC to the rest of them, Clyne seemed to enjoy when he went over to the right towards the end of each half. Really though, looks like several pieces of the puzzle may still be missing. Fonte/Yoshida at the back is not the answer, or if it is then it must be a weird question. I dunno.

A lot of Pompey-related items have been discussed using the phrase "surely they ... " We have found that the phrase almost never applies in their case, and nobody is quite sure why, but the phenomenon is there. Whether it applies to transfer embargoes, paying debts or just being toast in general, they somehow always manage to get past "surely they ..." On other matters, how do today's events fit in with your FFP view? I think I recall you saying that signing a CB would fit with this, so that part of the jigsaw is in place.

Any word on fitness etc? Still assuming Fonte-Yoshida for Sunday? How soon will he be actually available to play...? On the other point of whether we need another CB, we probably do but making Fonte captain is a statement that he's a regular starter so maybe a low-profile backup CB is what we're aiming for next? Someone for when the inevitable injury crisis comes along?

Where would our 1 come from? Own goal?

When are they going to leave to go to their Spiritual Homes again? Or is QPR where you go AFTER you leave Saints for your Spiritual Home?

So. 2 days on. When do we find out if his head is back again?

There had been rumours that Liverpool were watching him. Maybe this is part of his strategy to get to Anfield?