Patrick Bateman

It's bloody obvious, you don't. We can through as much money as we like at the problem, but we aren't Man Utd, Liverpool. Barca, Real Madrid etc etc. These clubs have worldwide pedigree. Not only can they pay the wages, but people still want to play for them. In the last two years, name a player we could have kept by throwing more cash at them. Lovren - Wanted to play for Liverpool (worldwide stature) Lallana - Wanted to play for Liverpool (worldwide stature) Lambert - Wanted to play for Liverpool (worldwide stature & hometown club) Shaw - Wanted to play for the biggest club in the world and we got f**k loads of cash for him Morgan - Wanted to play for the biggest club in the world and play Champions League football and we couldn't deny him Chambers - F**k knows, but we did well out of that deal to be honest Clyne - Wanted to play for Liverpool (worldwide stature) Toby - The club messed that transfer up and Spurs took advantage, so not appropriate Until we start winning trophies, European trophies and have a worldwide appeal, we'll always be little old Southampton - it's how I grew up knowing my club, it's actually what I still like about our club. I don't want a team full of money-driven mercenaries. I want more young players breaking through along with the odd Jimmy Case or Alan Ball to help them. We may keep the odd loyal one, but if making them and selling them keeps me my football club in good health, enabling me, my children and grandkids to watch for generations, then fair enough. All I ask of the club is the odd trophy occasionally with some European adventures.

How do you know? You seem to know what a few of the players think, are you close?

I still don't think that would have made much difference to some. The pull of playing for Man Utd is just too great, whether that's down to wages or club stature (or actually both) is up for debate, but unless you were a Southampton fan, why wouldn't you join one of the best clubs in the world? It's like being very good at your job for a medium sized company in Southampton. They pay okay, the CV is looking alright and career path not too bad. You're happy in the area but then Google's HR team come along and ask if you want to join them, on an international stage, on more money. It's a no brainer unless you don't have ambition. I think all our players have ambition else they wouldn't be here, pretty much all of them have joined for the "project" except the only first teamer who is left from the league 1 days, Fonte.

100% for. I just can't see an argument against it.

No worries, I was just whinging generally about Twitter being rubbish

Plenty, check the Metro every morning. i.e. this absolute drivel; http://metro.co.uk/2015/08/20/ed-miliband-has-grown-a-beard-5352438/

Because Twitter is full of simpletons with low intellect and children. Obviously that can form the same grouping or overlap, but no one on Twitter generally speaks sense, it's just ridiculous, I don't understand why people attach such value and status to it? It annoys me in the printed media that they can spin a whole story by what some simpleton/13 year old has said on Twitter. Utterly ridiculous. Oh and no comment required about them spouting rubbish on Twitter and not even attending the match in person.

If he's sold, he's sold. He's a c**t, the board will be c**ts. The black box will find the next attacking midfielder that everyone will say is headless and sh*t, then in two years time, said headless sh*tfest will be a c**t for moving to Chelsea for 3x what the c**ting board paid for him and we'll be back to square one. I'm certain most people on this forum are utterly deluded with our place in the football pyramid.

Right.

Why is it 'embarrassing'? There are bigger things to be embarrassed about!

?

Looks like someone has their thumb over the bottom right hand corner

And we'd have pictures of our illustrious Chairman on the match day programme instead of overpaid players and managers that come and go.

Europa League, absolutely no question. (wouldn't complain about the FA Cup or even League Cup though ... just a f**king cup would be nice)

Agree with that. Personally I think football has moved on from having a set first 11, unless you are a dinosaur manager. It's about picking the best STARTING 11 to hit the ground running and do the jobs identified to win tactically. It's definitely more of a squad game than ever before - if they could use 5, unless the game was going amazingly well, I bet an awful lot of teams would use all 5 now. You pick a squad for the day. I don't think this is rocket science, but I do think a few dinosaurs are stuck on the concept of a set/consistent first 11 still. It simply depends on the match.

I'm undecided. Maybe they've decided that if they pick clubs that play good football, then the players will learn better whilst playing competitive football rather than the U21 stuff. After all, I do think that Lallana and Morgan (to name just two) wouldn't be the same quality of player had they not learned their trade in the lower league with us. Imagine if Arsenal had indeed bought Morgan when we did, he would have either been loaned back out anyway, or just left to plod along in their reserves, sorry, U21s.

Kids are growing up faster now ... they're all Guardian readers at the age of 8.

Agree with that. He's definitely got potential, but unfortunately I think us f**king about with 3 different goalies first season back in the prem, with a shocking defence didn't help him. He should ideally have gone straight back on loan to Gillingham then.

Who is Miles? We're talking about Maarten Stekelenburg and Fraser Forster?

I did notice a bit of the Jim Magilton and Matt Oakley about the sideways passing The "git it ffooorrwwaaaarrd" brigade will love him ...

I rate Forster, he's a very good goalie, but Stekelenburg has been brilliant so far - he does everything right. When Forster is back (if it's this season), could be a close call on who starts, although I suspect we won't see FF start this season given the nature of the injury?

Ah fair enough, sorry.

Nicely written, but the only comment I'd make is that I wasn't sure about the focus just on Saints. You could have used other teams in our category like for instance Celtic, who seem to buy young, up and coming players (which they then sell to us!?). Would be interesting to compare strategies for a group of teams like that vs the Stoke/Palace/etc. strategy of spending on older players. Don't forget in the past Saints would have bought much older players and integrated them into the side, giving us some very enjoyable years. Ref; Alan Ball & Jimmy case etc. Another angle, what happens if all clubs employed the same strategy of looking for hungry younger players with a view to improving them? Who then becomes the buyer for these players in years to come? Does the bottom fall out of the market for players over 28, for example? Many angles to look at. I'm almost looking at Redslo to make some blog on this ... But yes, nice writing.

Followed by storms and pestilence and the world ending

He's probably about 15 years old.