leeham_69

Agree. It's easy to forget the number of games Le Tiss trotted around WITHOUT influencing games with the benefit of hindsight. Not to suggest Tadic is anywhere near that standard or anything but you can't expect creative players to succeed in every single attempt. Imagine our build up play without him this season!

Reckon they'll be securing his replacement prior to giving him the sack a la Nigel - if he is going. Means the delay may not be the decision itself, but the replacement, which makes sense: sacking him is all good well and good IF you have a superior replacement! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice to know J-Rod has easy access around the ground too Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The commentator on the stream I was watching said that before that one he had 5/7 - now 5/8.

Right, I get all that ... but my point is this: If he isn't going to attract big name suitors... but he is deemed good enough to play for us if required (ahead of Gardos) ... but he's not good enough to be even considered longer term... then where does that leave him? There would have been no point signing him if he wasn't considered an upgrade on Gardos - and if he's an upgrade on Gardos, and nobody else wants him... then why not? That's what I mean - our targets must be of a higher calibre than him, and our confidence in landing them equally high.

I obviously agree that while we have not much else to play for Stephens should get game time for experience ... But what I -don't- get is, if we all agree we'll need a new CB and Caceres is so good, why aren't we making him our priority? 30 is not old for a CB - certainly it's 4 years younger than the man he's replacing, which is a very long time in football terms. AND if they ARE considering signing him permanently given the above, surely it makes sense to test him out in at least a game, or half a game, or something? I guess my point is, the club will want some pretty good CB targets and be very confident of getting them if we're willing to let Caceres go without a minute spent on the pitch. The conspiracy theorist in me says they're not playing him to reduce the chances of big-club suitors come the window....

Exactly what I came here to say - suggests he's aware of what needs improving, that he's working on it, and willing to put himself on the line and risk a bit of personal embarrassment in order to improve.

Japan in the Asian Cup, surely? They've won that comp more than anyone else (so sayeth wiki)

Well the first fellow is obviously keanu reeves

Those cod piece shorts are rippers, let's get some of those for next season. Do metal studs fall within the rules?

I'm sure i remember a stat from the time that Beattie had scored more goals that season than all the other forwards in the squad combined? Something along those lines.

and maybe that means he's after the Liverpool job!

Just a musing given the lack of activity since the final... what do you think Puel's plans for our formation and lineup are next year? He obviously abandoned the midfield diamond, but with Gab and Boufal in + a full pre season, it's not beyond the realms of reason that it will make a comeback. I personally prefer the 4-2-3-1 as do many others - evidenced by the goals we score when we shape up that way - but that is not without its flaws too. It uses only one of our 3/4 strikers (assuming fitness), and we don't really have an ideal partner for Romeu in the DM positions. Reverting to to the diamond doesn't solve this, but it does remove a position with no specialist (DM) and adds a specialist (FWD) elsewhere instead. Two good goalscorers up front together is a combination not seen for a fairly long time at Saints and they could form a fairly lethal combination. I am a big Austin fan and don't want to see him frozen out of the squad - and from one point of view using the formation that gets as many of your best players on the pitch makes a lot of sense. In the perfect world I'd rather see investment in a really dynamic central midfielder to improve the 5-man midfield but could go either way for me. thoughts?

i have enjoyed his runs off the ball as much as his work on it - one of the signs of a really good striker I reckon. when we move forward, even if he doesn't actually get the ball his movement opens gaps, takes defenders out of play and brings midfielders into the game. Agree with much of the above - he has so much of what the others lack. It's been a joy to watch us actually work the ball into the final third rather than get to the edge of the box and pass it sideways or lose it. exciting times ahead.

Official club statement about the sacking is pretty nicely worded actually. Something had to give. Like many others, would have liked to see a bit more faith in him but that is the way these days - so much money comes from just being in the premier league and it really is getting to the pointy end of the season. The board will not have wanted to wonder "what if" had they gone down.

she'll forget it in a few weeks. he never will.

that would be an interesting poll - should he start the final or not? i'm not sure either way ... on the one hand it's a bit pointless signing someone up for such a short deal to not play them, on the other if he's not match fit it would be madness to start him. On my strange third hand, it was none other than stephens and yoshida who kept liverpool out at anfield. decisions decisions! I think ... 3 at the back is a workable solution but is about as likely as me growing a fourth hand!

Jack Stephens MOTM and cements his place at CB for the next 15 years

he's nearly 28! i think the restrictions are only on people below 21.

interesting formation - you could also stick JWP on the right and ask him to send as many crosses in as possible as 1 attacking outlet, something that despite his much-discussed skill in delivery we haven't seen that much of from open play. you could also, for concerns over a lack of height in the back line (especially defending corners), use Gardos instead of Stephens who would be equally reassured by the formation.

Good possibilities etc etc Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Except that when the counter attack is on, more often than not we pass the ball backwards or sideways and allow the opposition time to set up defensively. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have wondered for a while if the club's longer term plan was to shift Bertrand to CB as he got older and slower because he is good defensively and positionally. I guess we'll find out sooner rather than later - obviously we lose an attacking threat from full-back if they do move him, but a good full back seems easier to find than a good CB. Part of me reckons it would be harsh to drop Stephens after the win against Liverpool - maybe Bertrand in for West Ham to see how he looks? Or would Stephens be better for a longer run? Such exciting (panic stricken) times!

not only are we unwilling to play the killer ball, we appear unwilling to pass the ball to anybody in the final third who is a) under any kind of pressure and b) facing away from goal. We would create so many more chances if we just tried a bit more and worked a bit harder tracking back when it doesn't come off. currently it's like there's a magic wall built on the edge of the opposition box - neither players nor the ball can seem to pass it without exactly the right set of clues & instructions.

not to mention the bizarre decision to use Forster's head as the face of anything ... one for radio i reckon.