DuncanRG

We've all fancied an improvement on Davis for years, but the reality is those players are really hard to find. A player who scores goals from midfield is rare enough, but add in his link-up play, defensive work and (now) leadership role? Players who can do all that to a higher level don't play for Saints. As has been said, there's a reason he's been in the first XI through five years and as many managers. We still miss him when he's out, which will become a more pressing issue the older he gets.

I think it is. He could have gone to Barcelona if he'd scored every week for four months. He always had dry patches when he played for us.

There was a moment yesterday when he picked it up about 15 yards into our half, looked out diagonally to Bertrand and thought about a raking pass before knocking it short. I'm sure he's capable but, like Schneiderlin, picks his moments. I liked that.

Have I blocked this 'Mane situation' from my memory? I really don't recall that.

Over the time Wanyama was here he was our best player. The fact he wasn't Andrea Pirlo didn't detract from the fact that we were really, really hard to break down. It's hard to replace a player of that quality but Romeu is a good fit and it looks like we're going back to a pair, ala Wanyama and Schneiderlin, with Lemina in there. That's very welcome.

Energy down the flank to test their back four and temper the threat of counterattacks. He managed to snuff a few things out and was a better through ball away from getting to the byline and giving someone a tap-in.

We improved a fair bit as Huddersfield took their foot off the gas and Pellegrino's substitutions were smart, but that wasn't an encouraging performance even in the brighter moments. Lemina looks a player though. So far we've been playing better whenever Ward-Prowse is on the pitch. He keeps us moving and pops up everywhere to link play or defend. He can't be a permanent solution in the front line but has to be in with a shout of starting when Redmond and Tadic are out of sorts.

I don't think that's how most of us recall it! Huddersfield are a fair team but we should be doing better than this. Ward-Prowse could be more effective at stopping their crosses than Redmond or Tadic. Cedric's been off the boil but he hasn't had much help from Tadic, who usually links up really well but's been off with the fairies so far today.

For us, yeah. Nowhere near what people have got at other clubs though

Haven't seen Huddersfield yet so won't pretend to know, but I think Stephens and Yoshida are perfectly fine. Not great in the air but serviceable enough to see us through the whole year so far and surely preferable to someone who may not be in sync yet. I can't imagine why we'd have Gabbianini anywhere other than on the shoulder. I'm sure I don't need to remind you which of our games so far involved a formation change!

Are they?!

We have been and still are a better team than Swansea at their peak. They had a good run in the Europa League run once but got there through the league cup; they flitted between top and bottom half and never got above eighth. High risk strategies tend not to end in four successive strong finishes like we've had. They didn't fall out of the sky, that lot, we signed and developed them. There's no luck about it even if it was a stronger side than we have now.

No guarantee we'll throw Hoedt in at this stage, not away and a few days after signing. Watford at home is a suitable fixture and gives him two weeks, although he'll be with Holland for a lot of it.

Me too

Absolutely. They're great to watch and I'd rather a young team grow together and win something than have another year of City or Chelsea. I don't hold any grudge against Spurs, who didn't do much wrong in their dealings with us as far as I recall.

That's not what I meant! I probably voted for Clasie myself, can't remember. Just interesting looking back.

Indeed. Commentators who go round all the grounds regularly make a point of our atmosphere, which shows that if it's on the decline we're not the only ones. I still enjoy the buzz and think the clappers help. Does anyone know why the family stand burst into song towards the end on Saturday/what they were singing? That took me aback.

I heard a bit of booing in Kingsland North, though they were in the minority.

Strange to think of the excitement when he signed, new Schneiderlin etc. Wasn't there a poll where 70-80% voted him our signing of the summer over Van Dijk, Romeu and Cedric? I'd be interested to see how he got on if he chose to stay in England and sign for a bottom half team.

I think Fonte's already got quite a lot to look back on.

Gardos will be off, and if we have to sell others to keep wages down I wouldn't be surprised if Clasie or Hojbjerg went.

Absolutely. It's exactly what we're trying to do but Pochettino has turned Spurs into title contenders so quickly that the top English clubs can only tempt their players with money, whereas our guys can go for money and more success. It would be a shame if the tide turned and that Spurs team was broken up, like too many in Europe are when they look like they can challenge. Let's not pretend it's the transfer fee which would prevent us from bringing Toby back.

Assume this is the end of Gardos. Shame, I thought he looked promising in his first season.

We've certainly made a lot of progress, but nobody flipped a switch which lifted the psychological burden on gay people. It takes time for people to process their fears and emotions, particularly in environments like football, where people keep quiet. Duckhunter, there's a place for celebrating difference in spheres of society which continue to stigmatise it. If your only choice is attacking gay people or saying nothing about it at all, what's going to change? I'd ask again what virtue signalling means in relation to our man Hugo.

I think you and others are misunderstanding the issue here. Being gay shouldn't be a big deal but it still is in some sections of society. Professional football is undeniably one of them, given there are vanishingly few who feel comfortable coming out yet. Celebrating those who put their heads above the parapet is a way of showing acceptance, which will help others do the same. In time, when gay footballers are open and comfortable about their identity, then it won't be treated as an issue. That seems quite right to me. Even if it's not in an area like football - Lord Duckhunter's workplace, for example - coming out can still feel like a big moment for someone who's bottled it up for a long time. It comes with all sorts of feelings. I can understand why others may not feel the need to bring out the party hats but it's not something us straight people can ever fully understand. This is an almost universal experience for gay people, so it's not done for nothing. What does that mean and how is Hugo doing it?