so with the first game completed and 1 point gained 2 lost in some corners are we looking at a 38 point finish or about where we finished last year?
Even better is this the highest position that Arsenal will achieve (we can only hope)
Did the games on the opening weekend go the way you expected ?
I fully expected The Cherries to beat Villa not the otherway round.
Relegation form - Koeman out
Originally posted by @CB-Saint
Relegation form - Koeman out
Erwin who was in charge yesterday or Ronald who was on his sick bed or both ?
Originally posted by @CB-Saint
Relegation form - Koeman out
Which one?
… or did you mean: Koemans out? 
Phil, as we’ve said the same thing at the same time I think we are now supposed to entwine our little fingers and make a wish
I wish Wenger doesnt get a point in August.
you must have a hellish long little finger as well 
Depends on Europe. If we have a long run, then we could finish 10th-12th. If we fail in Europe top 6-8th.
Looking forward to an exciting new chapter in Southampton history.
just covering all bases
I think we’ve got a stronger league this year. There have been a few opinion pieces concerning how the English league is able to hoover up the best talent from overseas, to the extent where (shock, horror!) even the likes of Southampton and Crystal Palace are doing it (and they really shouldn’t be 
).
Thing is, that goes across the board, and it’s going to affect teams other than us.
Regarding Saints, I’d like to see that defence get settled, established and confident. Scheiderlin was always a very important function of that defence, and Clyne was very decent in his position. I’m pleased to have gotten Stekelenburg, who has made some good stops already. We’re missing Bertrand a bit too, nice as it is to see Targett make more Premier League appearances. Could arguably do with another player, which the club recognises - but it’s the sort of thing that should only get better as the season progresses. Better understanding will develop among the newbies and we’ll have a bit of competition for every place.
Yesterday needs to be put into context. We got a 2-2 draw at a difficult away ground that has had fresh infusions of playing and managerial talent, and we’re never usually that great on the first day of the season. We’ve already got a point more than at this point in the season last year! The pessimists may point out that we won the corresponding fixture last year, of course
We’ve a busy few weeks coming up. I’d expect the team to crank into gear, starting with a victory over Everton. They’ve just lost Baines to injury, haven’t played at all well in their last two visits to SMS.
We won the corresponding fixrure last year.
Also, I think you underplay the significance of losing Morgan. Over the years, the team has come to be built around his game, and his absence is going to hurt us until we adapt, presumably with Clasie coming in to manage the tempo. If that happens, great. But I’m not so sure it’s going to be an adaptation so easily done, at least over the next few games.
And we badly need that extra CB…
I referred to Morgan as a very important function of the defence, which I think covers it. He was excellent at both winning the ball and distributing it afterward. Team wise, I think we’re covered when Clasie gets back and while I’m sad to lose Morgan, there really is fuck all point in pining.
I’m not sure Clasie is going to generate the sort of stats that saw Morgan, on paper at least, as one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe. That said, he is a quality player that can perform both functions that Morgan used to excel at. I am particularly excited about the distribution part; some of his through balls for Feyenoord are just built for players like Mané and Rodriguez to run onto.
Blinkered happy clappery? Possibly. But Morgan’s gone, dude. What other choice do we got?
None, Pap, absolutely none, deal with it, move on, never go back…
Spot on Furball.
I posted a little while back on the LB thread that I get frustrated that fans focus on the personnel involved in the part of the pitch that determined the result:
Score lots of goals and the strikers won it. Concede lots of goals and the defenders lost it.
The fact is that the team attacks, defends and transitions between the two as a team. Certain players can be the foundation upon which an entire playing system, nee philosophy is based. Schneiderlin, or more accurately is partnerships (Wanyama/Davis), was that player for us. His ability to alter the transitions between defending and attacking and attacking and defending gave every other player licence to play how they wanted.
His loss changes a great deal, and we won’t know how much until we see what role Clasie can play.
I think we’ve got a good chance of replacing Morgan’s role, if not quite replacing the foundation that he was, and the main reason is Wanyama. I think he’s going to be immense for us this year.
What concerned me slightly yesterday was that we were clearly crying out for a ball winner in midfield, and we played a very tired Jay Rod away from home. We didn’t seem to press in the way we did last year for large portions of the latter part of the game, and yet we had Harrison Reed on the bench. Cedric was wonderful in his attacking play, but again because of the different DM unit behind him, he looked exposed defensively.
I would have started Reed with Wanyama and had Davis ahead of the two deeper lying midfielders with Jay Rod coming off the bench later in the game. Cedric would have been able to express himself properly which in turn would have given Tadic / Mané more space, etc. etc. etc.
Perhaps the other Koeman would have done the same? Perhaps it WAS his team that started?
Yep, and the other thing Morgan did - and rather came into his own doing it under Koeman - was to control the phases of the game. His movement and passing would be the fulcrum in shifting gear from possession or pressing to counter-attacking or vice versa.
If I were to list the players we’ve lost in order of importance, Morgan would be right at the top. Still, I’m excited to see how Clasie adapts - although for him to do so, he needs to be that fulcrum, even if he’s a different ‘sort’ of player to Morgan. He’ll probably be as popular as Morgan was if he manages that - and we’ve every reason to think he will, as a pivotal member of a very good World Cup team.
…and while we’re enumerating his many virtues, I was nearly sick in my mouth watching him stroke 60yrd cross-field balls for Utd on Saturday.
The first few games are always a little odd so I wouldnt read too much into this weekend’s results. I do think we will concede more and score more this season though so how that pans out depends on the ratio between the two. I am always nervous when I see Yoshi’s name in the starting X1 and whilst I am not blaming him for the 2 goals we clearly need a quality CH. A lot of teams will be vying for the best of the rest spot and I think it would have tougher for us this season even if we had kept those who left. Happy with a point after being 2-1 down and looking forward to getting all 3 against Everton.
I honestly think Davis is as important to us and Clasie I think will be quality, we need a centre back.
We get a point away at a Newcastle side that can’t be as bad as they were last year.
Bournemouth learn a hard lesson early doors.
Pochettino plods one step closer to the sack.