SonicBoom

Reading the thread all the debate seems to be around our offensive play. It would seem that as we haven't lost a friendly (although we never really played anyone who wanted to win), the defensive side of the system is a bit of an unknown. My concern would be that we could be overrun as quite a few team play three in the middle.

I can't remember the last real goal threat we had from midfield. I don't think even Lallana got as many goals as he should have.

Difficult to get it right. The club wants as much money as it can get and the paying customers want the best for their guests. Those guests are often hard to handle as they are on a jolly and want to take full advantage of the free booze. There are several stories of, let's call it excess, where those guests have tried to drink the entire place dry and have been very demanding bordering on deeply unpleasant. Forty three grand a year seems massively overpriced and judging by the number sold I'm not the only one that thinks so. Saints need to look at this unless they are confident they can sell boxes on an individual match basis. I also hope that rather than boxes just remaining empty the club could donate on to charity for the game, invite some kids in or something.

I was thinking the same about Puel. Obviously results are the most important thing so we'll wait and see, but I hope he is more inspiring in the dressing room than he is in interviews. When he talks about the games he drones on in his monotone for several minutes and I have to admit I've drifted off by the time he's finished. I know he is speaking a second language but your character can still come across.

You never know who you might see in these games. Didn't we play Ajax one year against a certain Luis Suarez - and I certainly remember playing Real Sociedad a few seasons back and seeing Antoine Griezman. He ran the show and now would be a 50-60 million pound player.

Id like to see us do more than replace who we lose. Of course we need to do that but to progress it means bringing in one or two additional players that are potential starters. I do think that we cannot judge transfer business until the window shuts. Clubs often produce a rabbit from the hat on the final day. I can't be arsed to research it but didn't we do that with Mane ?

Berahino would be good for us. People say he's a tool but WBA offered him 65 and Stoke supposedly 75 so if you were him, wouldn't you wait another a few weeks to see if someone offers 85 (and isn't Stoke). Just by doing that you could earn another 40K a month or roughly half a million a year. I'd think he was a tool is he DIDN'T do that! i also think we have bought well. i think Redmond looks very promising, good feet, bit of a pace and loves to shoot. Pierre Emile thingy also seems like great business. Not seen him play but from what I read he has all the qualities to be a great signing.

Absolutely terrible. What else is there you can say. Can anyone explain why this is happening in France? The "terrorists" seem to be concentrating their efforts there (if that is indeed what this is). Lastly I cant understand why so many outlets will put up the terrible videos and pictures. Have a little respect FFS.

I think Koeman would be aware that if they get 50 million for Stones and then he comes to us for VvD then the price will be very similar. Stones is young with potential but Virgil is mid twenties and approaching his prime. He's also just signed a new long term contract so Saints would be able to play VERY hard ball. In todays stupid market, if Stones is worth 50 mill then so is Virgil.

I think on most message boards you're wasting your breath. i have no idea how many seasons we would have to show improvement before some people have any faith at all. 15? Who knows. It's been 7 now and still people say "Les doesn't know what he's doing" or "Kat is lining her pockets" like she needs to do that from Saints!! We have literally no idea how well we've done this summer until the window shuts. We've got rid of the few that were going early. We got a new manager in who is taking a look at the squad to see what he needs. All seems perfectly sensible. I am sure we will be bringing in both squad players and first teamers in in the next few weeks. But people seem to want everything NOW. Immediately. Wait and see what we've done when the season starts and the window shuts. Then you can have a moan all you want. But FFS give the club a chance to go about their business.

Who knows what West Ham are doing? With the new stadium, they, even more than us, are going to be linked to every player in Europe. Maybe it's all BS and they have a clear plan and targets. We really could spend a lot if we chose to. We already have 34 from Mane and 11 from Wanyama and 4 from Juanmi. So that's 49 million. We have the additional 100 million from the TV money so a total of 150 million before we even dig into our pockets from previous years. Of course I'm not advocating we spend that money - particularly not on "stellar" signings. We have seen from Wales and Leicester that building a team is the key. Plus just because a player is less expensive that means nothing if you know what you are doing. Look at Kante, Mahrez and Payet. Could have bought all three for about 15 million.

I'm sure the club are painfully aware that without Mane and to a much lesser extent Wanyama, we have lost around 15 league goals from the squad. That makes a huge difference so with our analytical approach they will be trying to find a way to replace them.

Seriously ? United away on a Friday night ?

Well Mane was great for us. His strength was his pace to get beyond people to give himself room for a shot. On his fairly frequent off days he would fail to get by the first tackle or if he did then he would either then scuff his shot or not make the sensible decision to pass to someone else in a better position. Again though I agree when he was on his game he was excellent. From what I have seen of Redmond he is quick enough, but doesn't rely purely on his speed. He has a trick or two and likes to keep the ball closer to him than Mane. He is also decent from the edge of the box but also plays with his head up looking for a killer pass. He has the potential but Liverpool wanted to pay for Mane as he is lower "risk" I guess but Redmond could well develop into a fine player over the next two years. He has the tools.

I think Redmond might surprise us. I can see him making quite an impact. He may not have quite the pace of Mane, but he seems a more intelligent footballer. He also appears to have better control of the ball and likes to shoot. Certainly has the potential to be a really good replacement, although he will have to earn his place in the starting line up first...

Matt Richie close to a move to Newcastle apparently.

Cant see him at Chelsea. They must have had their fill of over the hill strikers by now, none of which have delivered. Conte picks him because he has limited choice. At Chelsea he will have his choice of the best strikers in the world. At best Pelle would be 3rd of 4th choice.

I find it hard to wish players luck when it's Liverpool. I'll miss his talent, but not his fcking miserable demeanour! You're right. For a bloke playing footy for a living he rarely ever looks happy. Bit like Vardy.

Another positive is that when we are trying to attract either a manager or a decent young player we can point to where our alumni are. Rather than be ashamed of it, we should promote the stepping stone effect. If you sign for us there is a good chance that in a few years you could end here.... Look at MP, Koeman, Bale, Shaw etc etc We would surely be the first choice over other clubs. where have Stoke's signings ended up for example?

So he's been building something at Nice onlimited funds and promoting youth. He's overachieved and earned widespread plaudits. Now he could be on the verge of walking away to a "bigger" club for more money. Sounds very familiar doesn't it! Joking aside, whilst he isn't the big name, he has certainly achieved some great success. Who knows, in 12 months time he could be be the next big name.

Oh I am the absolute opposite of an ITK. I know absolutely nothing. It's just my opinion on the contract situation.

I'm pretty sure that he doesn't have to wait til July to announce anything. City have very publicly let him go. They are hardly going to make a fuss if he announces he is going to another club. Granted he is still technically employed until June 30th but so what? What are they going to do ? Sack him? Any payments he is due will be documented in the contract so I'm sure that he would be well within his rights to sign a contract for us now with a start date of July 1st.

I'm pretty sure anyone being interviewed would not be marched right through the reception of the Grand Harbour where news would leak out in seconds.

Strange isnt it. We used to be the club that sold young British talent for around ten mill - Chambers, Ox, Bale, Walcott etc - now we are buying young English players for around ten million.

Someone asked Guillem Ballague about Valverde on twitter today and he said "no chance he's staying at Athletic".