Saint Albert

Me too. It's a good statement of intent but won't stop Liverpool's team of TV pundits and their supporters from arguing Hoedt's transfer means VVD is off to them. Welcome aboard Wesley Hoedt. He looks like an excellent signing to me.

TBF Hoedt was mentioned in the press as a potential Everton target earlier on in the summer when his name started coming up. A move there was unlikely because they are looking for more of a utility left sided defensive player, and also Hoedt wanted the move to Southampton to get first team football according to some of the Italian reports.

I do. Mitchell, whose inside knowledge may have allowed them to gazump us on Toby, tempting Poch away when he was still under contract with Saints, Wanyama, their attempts to unsettle Morgan before coming in with a lowball offer, Bale, then Bale's sell-on clause, Hoddle, and Richards. I hold a grudge for all of these things.

According to this, Chelsea are still interested in VVD but are waiting for the green light from Southampton before making a move. The article also mentions that they are interested in Cedric: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/08/21/chelsea-ready-wait-virgil-van-dijk-step-transfer-activity-window/

I feel your pain. My iPad has embarked on a weeks-long campaign to change Tadic to Radical.

He was certainly immense for us on Saturday.

I don't really support all the booing but I certainly don't feel sorry for him. He got the move he agitated for. Being booed is a predictable consequence.

Interesting to read their generally one-sided take on the ref's decisions today. IMHO: Tadic was lucky to escape with a yellow for his foul on Hernandez. Lemina's elbow on Arnautovic looked like arms raised to jump for a challenged high ball. He could have got a yellow but it did not look like a deliberate blow and did not warrant a red. Noble's tackle on Lemina was a nailed on red card. He's lucky the ref missed that. Arnautovic's challenge on Stephens was a straight after the ball assault. A no brainer for Mason. The first pen was a deliberate pull back by Fonte on Davis. Nailed on pen, and Jose was lucky to escape a booking. The Stephens handball was close range, some of it seemed to strike his chest and the referee's view was obscured by players. Last weekend a close range handball by one of the Swansea defenders was not given as a pen. The injury time pen, Zabaletta pushed Yoshi in the back as he was going for JWP's cross. Looked like a foul to me. Austin has apparently referred to it as a 50-50 decision in a post match interview.

I'm among the mountains in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia. Watched the game on LTE with my iPad mini. Couldn't make out a lot because of the small screen and poor eyesight, but I am worried about our ability in the air to handle crosses and long throws with Stephens and Yoshi at CB. If Carroll was fit, he could have caused major difficulties. Thank **** Austin was on the field to take the second penalty. I almost feel sorry for Fonte.

He set up Gabbiadini's goal with a beautiful through ball.

Full time: 3-2. Thank **** for that.

He knows how to take pens! What a relief

Antonio being subbed off. Best West Ham player by a mile.

Three words: thank you Jose! I'd love to know what the West Ham supporters are thinking of him right now. The red card incident was sickening the way Stephens' neck bent. That was an assault. Mason having a mare generally but at least got the pen right.

Being gay is not an abnormality. It is perfectly normal, and perfectly natural. Some members of the heterosexual majority continue to treat gays despicably, which is why gestures such as the one we're talking about are still both brave and important.

Bloody hell what a strike. Thanks for posting.

Good questions. It would certainly be a shame if Stephens ends up getting relegated to the bench this season.

Only Liverpool.

"The black box is buzzing"...OK Ralph. Hoedt is starting to sound like a good possibility, with the club attempting to get ahead of the curve on the VVD replacement speculation.

I hope that we can get Hoedt over the line. I also hope that this is an attempt to strengthen the squad at the CB position, rather than laying the track for VVD's departure if Chelsea or City come in with a big offer. Many, especially Liverpool supporters will see it as a clear sign that VVD is off, if we can get Hoedt.

We've come a long way in a short time when it comes to gay issues, but homophobia still exists. Good luck to him.

Adam Leitch wrote an opinion piece on the takeover yesterday in the Echo, which included this bit on Markus Liebherr's future intentions concerning the club: "When Markus bought the club it was put to me by those close to him at the time that he saw it as a ten year project. He would turn it around, have some fun, and then sell and make a profit. A hobby and a business venture combined. Job done."

I'm sure the Liverpool supporters will somehow interpret today's massive news as a sign that VVD is going to join them.

The club has done so well under the Liebherrs' stewardship. It makes me a little sad to see Kat become a minority partner under the new deal. Thanks for everything to the Liebherr family.

The Premier League's wage control rules along with FFP (assuming it's still being enforced by UEFA) would both seriously hinder a smaller club like Southampton with comparatively small commercial revenues from investing big money in its playing staff. It's almost as if that was the intention all along.