kitch

I just saw a bit of it, but thought it looked pretty good. It's simple enough (i.e. not all about football) that my missus might watch it with me tonight!

Pointing the finger at RH is ridiculous, and frankly makes me embarrassed to be in the same 'fan' base. He knows more than us. He has far, far more information at hand with which to make his calls and judgements, and he's more experienced than all of us, too. Last year, he was the messiah, and showed the difference between a clueless coach, and an excellent coach. Just because I don't understand why Vestegaard played the other week instead of Valery switching for Cedric, doesn't mean he was wrong. It just means I don't know why he did it. It doesn't mean professional managers are never wrong, but we've hardly had a sustained period of cockups! He's done far more right than wrong, and has earned enough to time see what he can do with this squad, which, if we're being honest, are largely the problem, and that's down to the board and the recruitment more than the manager.

I really like him. Very strong, and sure-footed on the ball. Seems to have good agility and balance, too. Will bully some of the weaker defenders in ways that none of our other options do, though VVD was keeping him at bay with ease yesterday. Give it some time and I think he'll flourish. Really pleased we got him, personally. I like what he brings. Just needs to be a bit more clinical, but he needs time. If he was ready to hit the ground running, he would have been a £40m striker.

He's that good, you know!

For those who remember, Sharp never actually left the club until Koeman arrived. He was loaned out a few times, but I feel it's sad he never got the chance with us in the PL.

Agreed. Won't be right without him.

When Blackmore lost it as Mane scored the winner having been 2-0 against L'pool a few years back. Class

Crouch is odd, for me. Comes across as likeable, witty, intelligent, grounded and charismatic. He tells a good story, and I want to read his book. And yet, I still don't like him for an ankle stamp he did on Steven Davis about 3-4 seasons ago. Weird. Or maybe I am...!

No apology needed! I was very skeptical about it, and it didn't really make sense to me. I only mentioned it as this contact is about 90% accurate. Theo could easily be in the 10%.

So, just to stir the pot a bit.... FIL is an Everton fan, and while he wouldn't be classed as 'ITK', he has a contact at Finch Farm who is apparently very much 'ITK'. The latest rumour? Walcott is on his way back to Saints in the summer. Wages are being discussed, but he's willing to take a pay cut. I scoffed when he told me, to which he said that he agreed it sounded strange, but that this chap at FF is very rarely wrong. Has nothing to prove, either. So there we go. Make of it what you will!

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/17560871.southampton-defender-maya-yoshida-turned-down-a-summer-move/?fbclid=IwAR3rgluT-viS09W3VGovcQjzts-_hdi537dtwPEezLipMNyLE5UeAFTY78s The Saudi rumour was true, it seems.

Listened to some of the earlier ones yesterday in the car. Kept me awake on the A34 slog back down here!

This. Gallagher was totally starved of service, and I think grew frustrated as time went on. Early doors, he was winning most aerial battles and holding up the ball quite well, but as the match progressed he looked a little bit despondent. It's his first game back in god knows how long, so let's not write him off yet.

Funny how we all see things differently! I was there, and I thought he did well all things considered. Didn't need bailing out too often, won some headers etc. OK so he's not going to be a starter for years to come, but I think the foundations are there. Didn't make many runs down the wing, but then we seemed to be playing through the middle anyway. For me it was Tyreke Johnson who looked out of his depth, and I'm guessing Ralph thought so too, hence why he was hauled off.

Just got back from the game. I have one question: What is he for?

Thought he deserved a thread of his own after tonight. Decent performance. Twice he's been asked to cover two different positions, and twice he's done well. No worse than Valery IMO. One for the future, for sure.

Exactly what my 9yr old said to me. There was no difference. If Valery dived, then it was the best dive I've ever seen.

I thought he lived in Otterbourne/Hursley area?

The version I saw on FB was: Kruger went to Europe, To buy an apple strudel, Instead he got a gaffer, His name is Hasenhuttl

You know, I had no idea of this, and I've seen that Facebook page. I hate hunting personally (unless they're going to eat what they've shot, but they aren't). So yeah, I hope the club drop UA. Genuinely. No point boycotting the products as such, but informing the club that many fans don't sit well with it might not be a bad idea. Sorry, I know I'm supposed to chip in with some casual sarcasm and keyboard-warrior etiquette...

Yeah, I did. I can either say he's slow, immobile and normally in poor positions, or I can say all that but at least know that he gives a ****. One is better than the other, and given the apparent lack of ****s seeming to be being given by the majority of the team at the moment, I'd class it as a positive. You have to dig deep to find positives these days, you see.

Can't pin that one on the ref too much. Yes, if the goal had been allowed we'd likely have won, but the fact we're fighting over such fine margins shows what a mess we are at the moment. Watford were on the receiving end of some shocking decisions too. Positives: Gabbi - Industrious. Looked game for it and put in a shift. Austin - Looked REALLY bothered at the end. Shows he cares. Hoedt - Cruyf turn went down well with my kids! Yoshi - Good to see him back, though a couple of rickets. Lemina looked fired up again. Didn't get beat. Negatives: Cedric's defending. Redmond back to being ineffective and moaning again. Ings' injury. Hojbjerg's play-acting and sloppy performance. Conceding from a 1 goal lead AGAIN. A draw won't be enough to move Hughes on, and that bugs me because long term he is absolutely not the man for this job. They won't sack him off the back of that, though. They'll blame the officials, but Watford should have had a pen (and would have scored it) and could have gone on to win the game. They also had a lot of poor decisions and generally we were the ones 'cheating' most of the time. Success looks decent. Could use someone like him!

He's gone!

Agreed.

Singling out Cedric does seem a bit odd. He's by no means the worst offender out there. I'd say only Ings, Yoshi, Bednarek, McCarthy and sometimes PEH look fussed. None of the others seem to care too much, at least not on the surface.