SaintSeb

In my unreasonable anger I want to create a banner emblazoned with the words 'Virgil van Die' for the season opener; whether he stays or goes. Not productive and fairly awful, but give me a break, I'm furious.

I really do wish people would give it a rest with this 'career's short', 'could be over at any moment' tripe. I'd hazard a guess that he has already made more money by the age of 26 than 50% of people do in their entire lives (and that's being conservative in my estimations). If he invested wisely he'd never have to work properly again if he retired tomorrow. Even if his career was ended by injury it's not as if he would have nothing else to go to or be left destitute. He would just have to, God forbid, get a job until he's normal retirement age. The fact is most people would obviously want to earn more money, but the point still remains about behaving the right way relative to your position; and he is an incredibly fortunate young man behaving like an absolutely odious little c*nt. There is just no way you can objectively compare his wanting to earn more money with a 'normal' person wanting to earn more money. His 'more' is nowhere near as life changing as a 'normal' person's more; because the baseline is so much higher.

I chuckled

Public apology, knuckle down and play well, see where we stand next Summer is the best case scenario. At worst, knuckle down and play well until January then see where we stand; although selling mid season would be daft unless we pre-sign his replacement before September 1st. If either case plays out I'd expect him to be stripped of captaincy, and I personally will no longer take part in his chant or boo him either; his actions have left him as nothing more than a footballer who happens to be contracted to the club I support at this point.

Aren't you the bloke who threatened to fight someone on here? Where does that leave you in your logic...?

"I said last season I could help him achieve tat in his career" He's right about one thing...

He was working at the club at the time as second in command to Cortese, so I would presume he had some input in the appointment of the manager to be honest.

Christ, it's only a bit of fun for a kit launch!

I have to disagree partially with your view on what fans want from a manager. I couldn't care less if he's a boring bloke in the press or nobody's ever heard of him. In my view only plastic fans care about that sort of Sky Sports bull****. What I want from a manager is somewhat stated in your other points; someone who gets the players motivated and engaged tactically, has a good footballing philosophy (but is adaptable), and gives youth a chance. As for your opinions on Reed, you've made them very clear so I won't bother engaging with them. What I will say though is given the appointments he's been involved in so far, he deserves a bit less flack.

Shane Long's goal at Anfield is probably one of my highlights of the last decade for Saints, let alone the season. Would have given almost anything to have been there for that!

I think it'll be Wednesday, 5 wins on the bounce and unlucky not to go up last year.

I disagree about Pochettino's style with us, we quite often played tedious possession football, but what was exciting was the manner in which we pressed the opposition.

Christ, you are quite something. Honestly if I'd been wrong in my predictions as regularly and to such an extent as you have been, and thrown as many ridiculous paddies at the slightest sign of adversity, I wouldn't have the audacity to criticise other posters in the manner you do!

I think to be fair we played the same system against West Ham as we did in the victories. We might have played a bit differently against Swansea as we were the away team but I can't recall properly to be honest. I think the system we're playing now, whilst similar in shape to the old 4-2-3-1 is far more fluid and less direct than how we played it under Koeman, and without the super high line Poch favoured. Sort of a hybrid of the two approaches.

Not sure why I wrote second, I think I might have meant Ibra's second, because I had meant to write to United's third. In the close up replay he appears to close his eyes as the ball came at him. Admittedly it was at point blank range which means it's a bit harsh to say he could have done better, but I have seen keeper's save similar ones close to them like that. I just watched all the goals back again though (painful as it was) and if I'm being nitpicky his positioning for Lingard's goal was a bit odd in my view, he comes about six yards off his line to narrow the angle as if it's a one on one even though there are players in front of him to do that, which leaves him much less time to react to where the shot is going and get down to it. Any people who play in goal able to enlighten me as to whether this is a normal course of action?

Yeah I do see your point, but I think the 5 goals in the Arsenal game (where although he was poor I feel as if the heavily rotated team was the main factor) skew that a tad. I'll admit though we have been conceding too many even disregarding that game, but I feel it's more that the players need to up their concentration levels collectively, rather than a need to drop Stephens. The only player I would drop, like you say, is Forster. I an generally very patient with players, but looking at both the stats and his play over the past couple of months (heck even three or four months if you're being harsh), he has been absolutely atrocious. I can pick out several goals from recent matches that in my opinion any other keeper in the league would have saved. United's first AND second in the final, West Ham's second and Swansea's winner You're right though, it's a shame we have nobody more proven to come in really.

I actually think Stephens won't be dropped. He struggled today against a couple of proper bruisers, and a team playing hoof ball. He held his own well in the Liverpool game against more technical opposition.

Been an entertaining game so far (much to my surprise!). Think we've edged it and deserve the lead. They're a very direct side and I think Stephens has struggled at times against the physicality of Okaka and Deeney, but both him and Yoshida have done okay so far.

Totally agree mate. We should call up Le Tiss and get him out of retirement, maybe Benali too? Although if we're going for putting people with no experience in maybe Usain Bolt for some pace up top? Mo Farah could give us some running in the middle? Not sure about Kelv for manager on second thought, he's too close to some of the current lads to become boss. Maybe Nigel Farage could get the boys fired up..? He's not too busy these days.

I feel like Davis doesn't get enough credit for his ability with the ball at his feet in terms of dribbling, as he is the best of our CM options at it. However, to say that Boufal's not on another level completely in this regard is doing him a disservice in my opinion.

In our current 4-3-3 system, based on past and present form for the club as well as potential, I'd go with: GK: Forster (Although his stock is slipping, haven't yet seen enough of any of our other keepers in a Saints shirt to lose his place. On thin ice though) RB: Cedric CB: Yoshida (Caceres is a more gifted player, but until we actually see him play for us Maya's done enough to be in the best 11 for now) CB: VVD LB: Bertrand CDM: Romeu CM: Hojbjerg CM: Ward-Prowse/Davis (Davis offers more in terms of all-round game, but JWP's effort and performances have been better recently and his dead ball delivery is better than Davis' (JWP's famous deliveries have become a bit of a source Saints-related commentator bull**** bingo now though, which does make me chuckle as they aren't that amazing really) IF: Boufal ST: Austin IF: Gabbiadini I know Gabbiadini doesn't look like a winger per se based on his debut, but I'd be intrigued to see him as an inside forward type of wide-player cutting in from the right onto his left foot. He does have decent pace too. Also, our wingers don't tend to do much crossing, that responsibility seems to fall to our full backs, so he could get in the box for their crosses to near/far post.

Austin is injury-prone yes, but also a natural goalscorer. I am obviously aware Long doesn't have the best of strike-rates, but as many, many others have said the thread is about favourite players not best players. Ability of course plays a part, but so does commitment and effort and I think Long has contributed enough in terms of both categories to deserve a place as a favourite player.

One's a natural goalscorer and the other is a constant trier, which fans always like. What's the surprise?

Ever - Le Tiss or Pahars (Started following Saints in 2000 when I was 6) Current - I have a soft spot for Shane Long, but it has to be Van Dijk really; just so cool, calm and collected.

This has been such a fortnight of mixed emotions. Thrilled by the results against Liverpool (both) and Leicester, gutted by the surrenders against Swansea and Arsenal. Happy to have a striker come in, confused by having a goalie come in (especially on loan?), flabbergasted to not have a centre back come in. The home game against West Ham on Saturday now feels quite crucial to our league season in terms of pushing for upper mid-table or sinking into lower-mid table. I still don't feel as if we are playing badly enough to get sucked into the relegation mix. The main positive now looking ahead is the cup final, which will be an amazing occasion. Also, hopefully now the mid week games are slowing down and as our players return from injury and to full fitness we can begin to claw back some of the points we've lost and finish in a respectable top 10 place. The negatives are of course our away form and our form in front of goal (although the goal tonight was a decent one). An extra striker is a welcome tonic for this. The lack of a central defensive signing does, however, set alarm bells ringing; even for an optimistic fan such as myself.