Diabolus Ex Machina

Yeah the Messi comparison isn't perfect but his record for Argentina has (had?) been held against him for a while and Maradona is an icon for them so if we're basing this entirely on what is done for the national team I think it works. Your last sentence is probably spot on though. If we were to win the Euro's (possibly even just make the final) and Rooney played a big part in that I think a lot of people would change their tune or at least give him greater consideration, mainly because all those goals would have actually led to something above the norm for an England team.

It's a great achievement for him and he's a very good player but greatest? Not for me, hasn't done it at tournaments where the pressure is on and the competition fiercer and has never shown that ability to grab a game by the scruff of the neck or raise the level of his teammates. Again deserves the recognition for the goals scored and I imagine his record will last for a long time by the time he's finished but we've had better overall players. I'll put it another way, Lionel Messi has scored 49 goals for the Argentine national team and is widely recognised as the best player of his generation (possibly ever) but in terms of greatest Argentine players ever would you put him above Maradona (34 international goals) considering their international achievements?

Certainly an interesting graphic. Would I be right in thinking that loans wouldn't have a value (Caulker and Stek) and that our academy products such as JWP, Reed and Targett wouldn't either. Think we got S.Davis in on a free as well (or at least just compensation). Would go to show just how much money we have pumped into the team.

I do like the look of the squad and think we have done some good business though still need to see how the likes of Van Dijk and Clasie adapt to the prem. In terms of the lack of English players I do wonder if we have our eye on anyone from the lower leagues that we could pick up in January perhaps? We did well in identifying the likes of JRod and Clyne in the past and though prices for players are getting higher and higher I wonder if there are any gems to be found.

In my defence I wasn't aware of previous opportunities he had to leave. Would they have been considered as big a step up at the time as a move from Saints to Pool while in the prem (i.e. significantly more money etc...)? As said though it was more the way the move came about and the lack of respect shown to the club that was disappointing more than anything.

You know I still think he is a very good, potentially great player and could improve our team. Would I have him back though? No. He was held up to be a shining example of what Saints were - an academy product we perservered with who rose to the top level and who looked able to become a club legend. He threw that right back in the clubs face when he wanted to jump ship at the first opportunity of something 'better' and the way he went about it disrespected the club and the fans. Honestly the club wouldn't want him back and I don't think his heart would be in it if he did come back. It's not just because of who he was but because of what he stood for and what he could have been and it's too late to get that back.

Well to answer your questions from my POV... 1) Not all alternatives have been cheap - Van Dijk and Clasie I wouldn't class as cheap for example. Also Cedric is the Clyne replacement not Cuco who was signed to add squad depth. I'd also add it's not like Clyne and Morgan cost a lot when we brought them either - it's about getting the right players regardless of the price. 2) Again we've added Juanmi to increase squad depth - it's a long season with potential for injuries and suspensions let alone fatigue and we were probably hoping to be in Europe for longer. He will get his chance though it probably doesn't help that the competetion for his place mainly seems to be our best player (Mane). 3) Davis and Ward Prowse are included as they provide other abilities than just goals - link up play and dead ball expertise for example. While goals would be welcome that is not their primary concern unlike with say Pelle, JRod or Mane. 4) The hoof ball seems to have occured mainly because we weren't confident of our wing play with no Clyne or Bertrand which is where much of our attacking prowess came from last season plus the new players not gelling yet. Yes it was a bad idea to go direct all the time and I agree Pelle could do with some help but he does a good job as a target man. My guess is we would see a change of tactics if he was out for any length of time. Likely with JRod and/or Long playing as the main striker(s) instead. 5) Ramirez may have the techincal skills to be the type of creative player you are looking for but quite frankly hasn't been able to actually produce the goods often enough when called upon. He may not have had many chances here to impress but he didn't look great at Hull either and I can't even remember him doing anything particularly special at international level either. If anything Tadic needs to be given more free reign to create rather than be stuck on the wing. His link up play with Pelle is especially good. 6) Agreed that i'd like to see Seager and a couple of the other youngsters get a run out in some games but Koeman looks set on playing the best team he can where possible to give us the best chance of winning. Considering how poorly some other teams/managers treat the cups you have to respect that mentality. Just my point of view but it always seems to me that there is a pretty simple explanation for most of these things.

Spurs may have improved their defence by getting in Toby, Trippier and Wimmer but apart from that they've only got Son and N'Jie in who I don't think are going to have enough goals in them. Meanwhile their squad depth has taken quite a hit - Paulinho, Holtby, Friedel, Capoue, Kaboul, Stambouli, Chiriches, Soldado and Yedlin while maybe not first teamers were always useful as options are now all gone and it wouldn't surprise me to see Lennon or Adebayor still move as well. Combine that with Kane's current goal drought and the fact they can't seem to keep a lead at the mo' and it doesn't look too rosy for them. You can't change the players now and I doubt Levy will accept the blame so you know who that leaves if results don't start picking up...

Could be including the loan players we didn't keep - Elia, Djuricic, Alderweireld. Really though the only players we 'Lost' were Clyne and Schneiderlein. After last season though we have clearly been labelled as 'the selling club' and it's easier to twist things to suit that ready made storyline - that's why things like the Fonte to Villa stuff emerges and so much attention is given to the like of Mane and Vic even when we turn down the offers and say no-one else is leaving.

The Austin situation is a bit strange, would think someone would be willing to take him for £15m. Hell Spurs have apparently had a bid of that amount turned down for Kouyate. On that note I would find it hilarious if Spurs weren't able to get any of their targets today. Berahino is looking less likely, Kouyate bid has been turned down and all signs point to us not letting them have Vic.

Assists for the first 2 goals and helped in making the third. To be fair either of them deserved it.

That's the Saints I know and love, said we were better than we had been showing recently. The sending off obviously helped us a great deal but we were the better team before then anyway. Tadic great, Mane great and Romeu looks better and better the more I see of him. 3 points, 3 goals, clean sheet, a good performance and looking like the team that did so well last year. Just what was needed before the break. There will be tougher tests to come but I think we are allowed to enjoy this one

That should do it!

Building some good momentum here

Oh and as it stands we are in the top half of the table.

That's the best we've played in a while. Tadic looking great and good to see the full backs roaming forward again. Goal came at the perfect time for us. Need to keep concentration in the second half and see this out.

Just what was needed. Could see just how much that meant to the team.

More than anything I just want to see a good positive performance from us today. Play without fear and show some spirit.

If it was me... Stekelenburg Cedric - Fonte - Yoshida - Targett Romeu - Reed Mane - Tadic - Long Pelle I would expect Koeman to play Davis in place of Reed and would assume JWP plays if Mane isn't ready. For me Tadic has to play as he's the only one that seems to be able to link up with Pelle without just lumping the ball up to him. Think we had quite a bit of success with those front 4 together last year as well. Edit: also assumes Vic isn't available.

Can I also ask our main striker and top scorer from last season to try shooting at goal again. The knock down and flicks are nice and all and I know he's getting little service but FFS have a pop yourself now and again! Don't think I can recall a single shot from Pelle in the last few games.

Formation was wrong, team selection was wrong, tactics were wrong, players seem unsure of what they are doing, everyones confidence seems to be shot to hell and we have a number of injuries to key personnel still. Some of those can't be helped and reality is we have most of the squad we're gonna have for the season. Koeman and the rest of the coaching staff need to sort this out ASAP and for me an awful lot of the blame goes on them. Find your best 11, choose a formation and stick to it, the chopping and changing is not letting anyone get settled - the old players used to 4-2-3-1 are playing in formations they are unfamiliar with and the new guys don't seem to have got to grips with it either. I know we are better than we are showing which is the most frustrating part of it gutting to go out on such a limp display.

Don't think Koeman has learnt from any of the previous games. We have options on the bench to help turn this around but I just don't know if he's willing to give it a go.

Basically you have to offer them something they can't get elsewhere. Boruc, Puncheon and Cork left because we couldn't offer them first team football whereas at their new clubs they are getting that. Shaw, Toby, Lovren, Lallana, Clyne and Morgan are all still starting most games but have a lot more money and in some cases Champs League football. For Chambers again it's money and Europe (probably living in London and the size of the club had an affect as well). For Lambert it was his childhood team. Truth is there really isn't anything specific to us that will keep players here. Our most recognizable trait is our academy but that doesn't help with new players brought in and for the players who come through it the only thing that might keep them around if head-hunted is loyalty which is few and far between in the game these days. It could be the only reason we have a squad as good as we do currently is because players know it is a good stop gap before going to a top team.

Also it does make me wonder with a possible break off league - assuming these big teams did all break off I wonder what would happen to their individual levels of support? Even with the big teams there are varying levels of funding available meaning some will rise to the top over others (thinking Man U, Barca, Madrid etc...). What happens when an Arsenal ends up bottom of the league 5 years straight, do all the (non-diehard) fans move to supporting Barcelona or whoever? Would Arsenal be happy getting paid more but without a chance of winning anything?

Well we could just deliberately tank this season, get relegated and try winning the Championship next season, would mean the same thing in principle if you're only concerned with having a certain level of competition and being able to win.