UpweySaint

Seriously? Are you on the wind up? Can only hope so, the academy is our pride and joy. Even IF we lost a few of the better players (or grapes!) it wont be on the cheap and thats the kind of money that sustains the academy and allows us to be relatively "self sufficient" (long term). Besides it's simple math, lose some keep some, if there is enough quality the chances are we'l come out with a number of good first team players.

For me its certainly too soon to be contemplating accepting a loss.

Thats silly money! Even if we potentially have the next ronaldo on our hands i'd bite hands off for that and worry about whether he goes on to be a world beater later!

Perfectly fair point but i'd just highlight the words "so far". Big IF but should mayuka fulfill his apparent progress, jay rod continue the steady progress he's made since december and ramirez turn his flashes of flair and ingenuity into being a consistant and core part of our attacking play it might seem like we've got rather good value for money (as the going rate is!).

Your opinion is that he will get worse, thats certainly not a fact. In fact a new manager has been known to get more out of players ... that IS a fact. I didn't say im happy with his performances and think he should be doing better or will be replaced but do you seriously think playing a gk at lb is a better option...?

99% DONT agree they'd rather see a keeper at lb. Fox was decent last season, has had the odd good game this. It's not an embarassment to have him on the bench and thats utter nonsense. Is he good enough? Maybe not. If we were in the prem at the time would we have signed him? Again probably not. But he was a big part of the squad that took us up so calm yourself down and stop spouting such dross.

Till today Hoiveld had looked to have turned a corner. Players should be picked on form for the most part. Wouldn't be surprised to see him on the bench for qpr with fonte back in the first eleven ...

On current form, agreed. If he shows something else in the last few games he might deserve a look in, MP might be able to get more out of him? Im doubtful but would love to be proved wrong about fox, clearly a committed player.

We were unlucky, the ref wasn't great, they scored a wonder goal but still ... we didn't keep the ball well enough, didn't make the right changes and were undone by some poor defending again. Let's hope we learn from this going into the qpr game and take the positives from the three points against city!

A lot of sense here, good post. He's young and I think everyone agrees he has shown flashes of real class (just too inrefequently so far!) so he may well come good. If we go down questions will be asked about it being a big signing too soon but should we stay up I'd back him to look much better next season after a solid pre season.

I'd say the same about a few of our players BUT if he shows world beating form for the next few games he deserves pre season and a fair shot (if mp thinks he might be good enough). I think most players on the fringes or running down contracts are essentially playing for their futures next season.

As a rule of thumb most dont these days. There always will be a minority who aint really there for the football or cant handle their second pint but I imagine that happens at any event or in any town centre on a saturday afternoon. Why football fans are being treated, imho, harshly in this day and age is beyond me!

I'd stuck up for him a lot this season but today he was dross. Looked poor but then so did others. Newcastle played well, pressed hard and they seemed to get the rub of the green but too often we looked under pressure in posession (something we normally dont) and fox was a massive culprit for me. The one thing I will say about fox is that he always comes across as a determined player so I hope he the next time he gets a game he'l be at his best looking to show he can be a part of our side next season.

Puncheon on now? surely?!?

foul, offside ... wonder goal. what can you do? have we had ANY fifty fifty decisions go our way?!?

Where did that come from?!?! Jesus! Shaw maybe could've done better ...

Ok that's fair, I disagree but thats that. I hope, for our sake, he proves you wrong

Punch responds well to a challenge lately. If things dont look great brilliant player to throw on and say "show me what you can do" for me.

I'd disagree. Has made the odd poor decision and looked to feel the pressure but who in our back five didnt at the start of the season? Made a few decent saves, had a bit of presence around the box and distributes well. So yeah that kind of sums up potential. Has shown flashes of promise but needs to iron out the mistakes. As others have pointed out he's very young in gk terms and has only had a one full season of being a first team regular - keep him learning from borucs and kds experience, help him cut out the mistakes and learn to cope with the pressure and one day he could be cracking. Are you really THAT sure he'l never come good?

This comes along with the same ideas as the football specific trains. I understand the logic but it does seem to rather tar everyone with the same brush as violent pi**ed up sods. Personally i'm not based in portsmouth a ten minute walk from fratton park so coming to southampton by train to sit and wait for a coach seems nonsenical! (should we ever get the chance to play them again!)

Congrats and thanks, always a good read!

In fairness Gillett was Donnie's player of the season and O'Driscoll took him with him to Nottm Forrest where i'm told he's doing well. Reeves does not a good run in a first team but football has had plenty of late bloomers. Im sure he's not on "big" wages and is, if nothing else, showing enough to be a squad player. Up to him to show he can do more, loans may be a good chance for that!

*Udinese C team, Hull and Brighton.

A good read as ever, thanks. Would be interested to see what wham and norwich fans think of their own position. Do they feel safe? I cant help but wonder, if it were us in their shoes i'd be nervous at the least!

Hypathetically if we're "sustainable" and others are not the uefa equivalent might mean we get european football at other teams success, five year plan