Killers Knee

Jack Cork must be on the shortlist to replace Gerard now he's retired from international football. Need to tie him down on a big contract before he goes to Liverpool!

Sounds like Lovrens agent trying to rinse Liverpool for a few more million and a bumper pay deal.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-tottenham-transfer-target-jay-3885483 Need to add JRod to that list of want aways....

Not like you to be down in the dumps Alps. We can accommodate the loss of MS without needing to go to the market, we have a strong midfield. As for our defense, its looking damn scary. If we bring in 3 new defenders, and a Goalkeeper then the season will not have inevitable feeling of a Titanic movie. We'll struggle to get goals until JRod is back but as long as we can grind out clean sheets during the first half of the season, we have a chance. Pre season seems to be going full steam ahead without 50% of the first team which is a bit of a worry, but hopefully RK has a plan for that.

1) New signing (CF) 2) Gaston 3) New signing (CB1) 4) New signing (LB) 5) Reed 6) New signing (CB2) on the optimistic assumption that we will sign these players.

I don't think we'll be buying any more attacking players. LB x1, CB x2, GK x1 all starters. At least that will shore up whats looking like a colander of a defense.

Agree with this. http://www.tsmplug.com/football/premier-league-player-salaries-club-by-club/ Of the teams that remained in the premiership in 2013/14, only West Brom have a smaller wage bill than SFC who paid £52m last season. That we finished 8th either reflects how well run we are or how inept our competitors are. Under FFP regulations we are limited to £4m a year wage increases plus income from commercial income. So basically, until we get someone on board who could sell snow to Eskimo's, this summers mass migration will be repeated every season we do well, Swansea have the same problem. As for the boards performance, they are running a business worth in its entirety is worth approx £130m, this summer we have recouped 58% of the business' value, that is terrific performance at the board room level if stay in the premiership. Pelle & Tadic look like replacements at the same level, I'm optimistic there. We have a good midfield and wouldn't need to replace an outbound Schneiderlin. I think RK will also get the best from Ramirez this season, which will be a much needed boost. We need another CF but I don't think we will buy one, preferring to rely on Mayuka/Gallagher when Pelle is unavailable. My only concern is at the back, last season we were 2 defenders and a GK short in our squad. If we are just consolidating then we need a CB to replace the outgoing Lovren and pray we don't get injuries. If we mean to compete this season we will need to fill 4 of the 5 positions at the back with little time for the unit to gel (CB x2, LB x1, GK x1). I expect SFC to spend 50% of what we receive in transfer fees, with no other monies being available, so £38m to date, of which we have spent £17m. Its going to be tight, but not impossible.

Chelsea Man City Arsenal Man Utd Saints 14th as we are. Need to add starting GK, LB, CB, CF then 8th. WBA Burnley Villa Wigan Norwich Fulham

They should be expecting a fine up to £47m for their breach of FFP regulations. I doubt they'll get forced to pay it though, a couple brown envelopes stuffed with used notes will make those charges get lost in the system.

http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/20/southampton-eye-liverpool-full-back-jose-enrique-as-saints-prepare-for-luke-shaw-exit/ We were linked with Enrique last year as a Shaw replacement, he's not in Scousehamptons squad tonight......

I would think its an employee perk to have his kid in the academy, a time limited membership under contractual obligation, not linked to the kids talent.

All I care about is if Scousehampton buy another one of our players the contract has that Liverpool must play in our kit, just with their badge on it.

Edit: Ensuring Gazza and Jos are not called on would save us 7 for a start.

My target would be to score 4 more goals than last season and ship 7 less. GF: 60 GA: 39 that should land us in the top 8. So I would prioritise the purchase of starting GK, CB, LB and CF.

After the transfer window has closed.

I would hazard a guess we want to keep them quiet so not to alert Liverpool, Man Utd, Spuds and Arsenal who may attempt to cut out their favoured supplier of talent (SFC) and buy direct at a discount. Guan 2.0???

Rub a bit of dirt on it and man up

The other thread is a moan about keeping up with the Jones', this thread is about Ralph's appointment, his level of success and FFP. I apologise to others reading this thread for having to explain the obvious.

The rules on club wage increases under FFP are a max increase of £4m a year plus any increased revenue from commercial deals. Man Utd get a £75m a year shot in the arm across the next decade, for allowing Adidas to make their football kit certainly allows them to pay the best salaries in the business. We have hired Ralph Krueger to increase Saints' commercial revenue, from what info I have found, commercial income has increased from £4.6 to £6.7m since our promotion, allowing a maximum wage increase of £6.1m. So the impact of Ralph should be measured on top of this. Anyone know the latest figures? Would be interesting to see how much work Ralph has done.

He'll come on now Pelle is in the camp. I think Pelle's experience will rub-off on Gallagher, plus they are a similar build with similar strengths so I'm sure they will be ultra competitive on the training pitch (young buck vs old fart) which always leads to good things.

Appears to be a private business providing private coaching sessions with the aim of getting the kids into professional academies. A sort of prep school for the working class, the director of football is an American student.

mmm, MoPo said he wouldn't raid Espanyol for players when with us as he thought it was disrespectful, its a quote in the press somewhere. So why does he think its OK now?

A run of games from the start of the season, if he remains injury free I think he could finally come good. Remember, Lallana wasn't all that until last season, so I remain optimistic with Ramirez.

what's your guess, defender or keeper?

Jasper Cillessen from Ajax?