c1982

I should add to that we've missed Besic, McCarthy and Bolassie throughout the season weakening and already weak squad further. It doesn't leave a lot at all.

1st half vs Spurs filled me with optimism but still then Koeman said we weren't fit enough. It's clear he didn't get his targets in to play this way in the summer. I think he's alluding to he's wanted Schneiderlin since the summer so why hasn't it been done yet? We should be doing better performance wise but I don't think he can be compared to Klopp as he inherited Coutinho, Lallana, Firminho, Sturridge, etc. in simple terms our squad isn't good enough - RS have spent hundreds of millions on that squad over a sustained period - how Moyes closed that gap was quite incredible really. On the Moyes comparison - the expectations were so low when he came and the Prem was very different to what it is now with sustained investment from the current top 6. Regarding Martinez - he had the solid foundations Moyes built and was able to add the missing piece in Lukaku (obviously Barry and McCarthy were top signings too). I think Koeman's comments yesterday were aimed at player recruitment - we didn't get it right in the summer and I think he's putting a message out that we'll continue like this without strengthening. I can completely see why people are frustrated/doubting Koeman but to all those people do you honestly think this squad is anywhere good enough? Personally I think we need to upgrade the following... Stek/Joel Jags/Mori/Oviedo Gibson/Cleverley/Geri/Lennon Kone/Niasse I'd sell all bar the keepers and would only keep Stek as back-up and loan Joel out. That's a very damning assessment on how weak our squad is - considering many of these are 1st teamers show how big a job Koeman has got.

Barkley was poor throughout the whole of 2016 bar a few bright performances. He was good up to December last season - games like the thrashing of Villa and Sunderland boosted his goals/assists stats - it was his most productive season in this aspect but I'd image most of it was done pre-December because this slump in form came long before Koeman took over.

He's been excellent for Bournemouth.

I thought our attacking play was very poor first half against a patched up defence with 2 rookie full backs, a supposedly unsettled Fonte and a bang average Yoshida. Forster is a top keeper though and Clasie and Romeu provide good protection.

I thought he did well today bar his final ball on a few occasions. Wingers is clearly an area to improve but I'd sell Lennon and Deulofeu before Mirallas.

Rom wanted the penalty and took the ball but gave it back to Baines (which got a cheer from the gwladys). He ran back, high fiving someone on the way past then gave Baines a clap and thumb as he got back into position. Think he did well in a frustrating game for the most part. He showed his frustration a few times today at others - I don't mind this as he was doing his job generally.

I think we were very lucky to get the clean sheet to be honest. Mori did well despite his poor distribution. He's not the long term answer for me but credit where it's due today.

He looked lively but must agree with he was okay rather than star of the show. He does give it away a fair bit and could be exposed - he gets a free pass because of his age off our crowd, when Barkley does it it's all moans and groans. I think it was the perfect game for Davies today against a very tired Southampton. He needs easing in but there's certainly a very bright future for this lad.

We actually had an excellent start to last season. I was feeling really optimistic - Barkley was on fire, Lukaku was scoring, even Kone was looking quality but around Bournemouth 3-3, a game we won but threw away twice, and the Leicester 2-3 at Goodison all that good work soon fizzled out and we've been in a slumber throughout 2016. We were arguably in a better position this time last year but we didn't kick on. I don't know what happened around December 2015 but Martinez never got us going with any consistency again and deservedly got sacked in my opinion. Koeman has inherited whatever this is/was and tried to apply a new approach to play, train, etc... progress isn't evident yet - it's up to personal opinion whether you think this new approach will be progressive or not. Our whole transfer/scouting/way of doing transfers has changed... I can accept people may expect better performances but realistically we are where we should be - 7th - best of the rest. Moyes got us above this with a settled, well drilled team, Martinez seemed like he added to that in his first season but sadly think he undid a lot of what made us successful there after. Koeman has got Southampton working above where you'd expect the past 2 seasons. With £££ and time I expect he can do more with us.

Who said football fans were fickle?

https://www.londonnewsonline.co.uk/14308/charlton-boss-karl-robinson-ademola-lookman-missing-todays-draw-southend/

Van Dijk and Redmond suspended for them which is a bonus.

Maybe next season - we may see a cameo or 2 this season but the rehabilitation on a cruciate injury can take months.

14 out of 15 points is impossible!

Yet Pulis still wants him to sign a new contract.

I still rate Mirallas but have big doubts over Gerry and Mori. I personally think Williams needs a better centre back partner - that may mean selling Mori, a player I think has some great qualities but also always has a mistake in him. I think Mori is fine in a 3 where he has extra cover though. Baines need better competition than Oviedo, with this I still think he's got a lot to offer. Barry is still an important squad member, it's a shame McCarthy and Besic have been out as he is playing more than he should and this will be addressed in January. Jags, unfortunately seems on his last legs and we'll hopefully replace him - once again though I don't think Mori is the replacement.

Been a great game so far. Dembele will be playing at a higher level before too long.

Barkley has been underperforming for 12 months now, under Martinez and Koeman. He looked incredible at the beginning of 15-16 season but like the rest of the team went missing from the 2-3 game vs Leicester at Goodison last December onwards.

Because he doesn't think Mirallas is that good? I agree with a lot of what he put in that post to be honest.

He's not in the squad for Charlton today implying this could be done in the next couple of days.

Yep ??

He's saying we didn't play as bad as some are harping on about. You'd think Koeman had turned Martinez's title challengers into a mediocre mid-table team the way some are harping on about on here.

Gueye looks an excellent signing. Bolasie has just been really bad luck as he looked like an attacking player who can press and do what Koeman's looking for - something I feel Geri can't do. Lennon can to a point but lacks the real quality and Mirallas seems to be getting better at. Williams is an upgrade on Jags but needs a centre back partner. I don't think Mori is good enough in a 2 and Holgate is a long term option. Valencia is bang average - it's clear we wanted more attacking players but didn't address this in the summer due to reasons unbeknown to me. But at least he looks energetic. Stekelenburg is a decent number 2 - I think Koeman's biggest mistake this summer wasn't signing Joe Hart - we need a solid number 1. Calvert Lewin looks a decent find - whether I can credit Koeman for this... he's certainly being given an opportunity to be in and around the first team like Davies and Holgate. He's done okay in the transfer market so far. I think come February there will be at least 3 more top quality signings which will improve others e.g Barkley, Lukaku.