LaptopSaint

Oh well - my giants theory didn’t last long. Sorry Crouchie - back to Stoke reserves...

Mina and Vestergaard? Sparky’s cunning plan revealed - replace a team of midgets with a team of giants. Get Crouchie in and it’s job done.

Totally agree. But he wasn't great at Pride Park yesterday. Someone asked about Mason Mount - he certainly looked like he had loads of time on the ball (but that may be because he was playing Saints in early pre-season). Was really impressed with Lawrence too, and with Derby in general. They'll have a decent shout in the Championship.

1) It was only an early pre-season friendly, but Derby just looked more up for it than we did. 2) Apart from his obvious glaring error for the first goal, I thought Vestergaard looked pretty good at the back and up front. He was talking a lot too, which i like. 3) Redmond and Mo looked good in the first half - something to build on. Charlie ran around a lot. 4) Lemina was either unfit or simply couldn't be arsed. Has the potential to offer so much more. Midfield was a bit of a mystery the whole game. 5) Jack Stephens has (ahem) had better days. 6) I quite liked the brief look at Sam Gallagher when he came on - he's got something about him.

Valery, Stephens, Reed, JWP... more than enough.

Yup.

Sounds like he’s got his head screwed on right in his interview on the official site, although the experts on here will scoff at his suggestion that training with Dave Watson is a big draw. What does he know - he’s only a kid. COYR

It's probably what they said after Harry Kane spent five months on loan at Norwich a few years back and didn't score...

Jose Fonte human league song... Elyounoussi baby Elyounoussi oh oh oh oh He was working as a waiter In his Dad’s pizza shop... Now he’s a Saint... Elyounoussi baby Elyounoussi oh oh oh oh We hate Pompey (clap clap clap)

This bloke again (from the BBC Sport gossip column): Southampton willing to pay 20 million euros (£17.6m) for Barcelona striker Paco Alcacer, 24, but face competition from Fenerbahce. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish) Alcacer resistant to leaving Barcelona despite the club looking to sell him, delaying any potential move. (Sport)

Mad as cheese.

Absolutely this. We used to have the courage of our convictions. Top player in a league, and we think they can cut it in the Prem. Buy them. We were really good at that. Then we got seduced by the bullsh1t that if they play for a big club they must be brllliant and ready for the Prem. Ain't always the case. Still hoping PEH and Lemina are beasts next season, Guido feck knows. But the point still stands.

Very unlucky not to be on the plane, and comes across really well in the interview. Hopefully he knuckles down, uses it as motivation, stays at Saints and plays a blinder next season.

Agreed. A lot of people think he goes missing, and he gets some ridiculous stick on here. But I’ve always rated him, and when it really mattered he was one of those who wasn’t afraid to stand up and be counted.

Oh Gareth xxx

I think the general reaction on this thread - Hughes deserves a go but is unlikely to be tearing up trees - is mainly a reminder of how genuinely terrible the last two managerial appointments were. Looking forward to the new season.

3 year contract. And why not announce it after 10pm on a Friday. It’s the (new) Southampton Way.

Either Kane or Aguero then. I'm not fussed.

If we're playing three/five at the back next season then I hope we sign one CB/leader/guaranteed starter and then from the four we already have two start alongside him, one on the bench, one injured/rested/suspended/dropped... Then I hope we sign a 20 goal a season centre forward (don't we all). We can sign creative midfielders until the cows come home, but if we haven't got an upgrade-on-Austin number 9, with Gabbi playing just off, we ain't gonna score many goals. Simples.

It's just a really weak squad. Check out Belgium for a quick comparison.

Thank you for injecting a little bit of sense into the debate.

I'd take Mawson. Seems like a good lad too.

Proper football town - good for them.

Sparky and Co will be right into them once the celebrations are done. They deserve it tonight, but they'll be ready for Sunday. Get the fook in.

The right team and three CFs on the bench if we need to go kitchen sink. COYR!