Supersubpuckett

What about Tadic's contract whilst we're at it!

We desperately need decent CB back up - we seem very well covered in most other areas.

Who says we won't buy more players?? Puel has only just spent his first decent amount of time assessing the squad (esp which academy players he feels he could bring through this year), so now he returns to the UK with a clear idea on what he needs/wants - I'm sure we'll do a bit more over the next few weeks.

I think we already do have one of the best environments for a footballer. It is about money, everyone has a price - especially footballers who have short careers. Le Tiss is about the only exception I can think of for saints, but from a professional perspective he was naive not to move to a bigger club.

A french friend told me it's pronounced puu-ell (as in well)....apparently

From everything we've ever been told we have a strategy and structure that lays out exactly how we play, recruit, train, develop etc etc - players, managers and staff need to fit into this otherwise it won't work in the long run. It's an approach that means we don't need to rely on a specific player to be successful, i.e. sell a left back then get another with same attributes to take over. Same with managers. This is why we can handle change without too much fuss, including managers, and if the manager won't go along with this system then you can understand why it is an issue the club will need to confront. May also explain why players seem to struggle once they leave here and why seemingly average players look like world beaters when they play for saints. Some of the lazy media still don't seem to understand this and appear to have an issue with us not p1ssing money up the wall.

if that stuff about the club not liking RK and all his methods is true, then why did they offer him a contract extension?

Alan Brazil is a complete bell end

Saints fan in peace here.... It must feel good entering your new, exciting chapter where you may finally step out of the shadow of your neighbours and all their global fame. To get a manager of Ron's class is a major coup for a club at your level, perhaps as it was for us, and it is a major disappointment that he's gone. Granted you had a really good team about 30 years ago but I guess the financial temptation was clearly too great, it is a widely known fact that he wouldn't have gone otherwise. I must say I admire the way your new owner skillfully offered £7m for his services, there aren't many with that much guile so I can only imagine what else he will buy you. For a 'big' club you've been distinctly average and non-descript for so long this must feel completely exhilarating.

There would have been a few gaps against everton last season as it was the opening game, therefore in august so I can only assume some of us were on holiday.....having a job means we can afford to do this

How do you know he doesn't negotiate well - have you witnessed it take place? I am a professional negotiator and the best ones set their parameters so they know what they can go to and when to walk away. Truth is none of us know what is going on behind the scenes but one thing is certainly true - you can negotiate as brilliantly as you like but when another party simply walks in and throws stupid money at the situation then there is little you can do except maximise the situation for yourself.....which at £5m compensation seems like the club has done.

I hope not Howe. He might be a good emerging talent but we need a manager that knows his way around european football (for our long and impressive europa cup run) and one that lesser known, promising young players from the far reaches of the euro leagues will want to come and play for....Howe isn't that. Certainly not Moyes either, anyway his football is hardly the southampton way so i'd be surprised if he is on the real shortlist. On reflection feeling quite relaxed about RK going.....especially after the sh1t we had to watch up to last xmas.

The ex-player thing didn't stop alan ball fcking off to man city after 18 months. We will always be a stepping stone if we won't pay big money.

This... The money stakes have gone up significantly this year and we need to recognise this sooner or later. We're not going to be getting anyone decent in that cheaply as everyone knows how much money is swilling around so we will end up paying top dollar one way or the other. There is no way we will maintain 6th or go higher without buying in the necessary talent, so if the club isn't willing then Ron's decision is an easy one - Everton must have a plan that allows him to build a squad that can mount a sustained challenge which is what any ambitious and talented manager would want. Constant change isn't a good thing in any organisation and seems as though we're banking on a 3rd successive "surprise" season following a busy summer of ins/outs.

the clubs principled position on wages and transfer fees is almost becoming hubris - the bubble will burst sooner or later

I can see this summer being similar to two years ago, Ron goes then a load of the players - a bit of consistency and stability at the club would be nice at some point

Loads of rumour about Poch going to Man Utd and spurs sign him up within days and announce it....similar with Koeman to everton but this time it drags out for days with saints seemingly doing nothing.....i can see how this will end.....i said earlier that video from leslie is embarrassing.....just gets worse

Koeman hasn't signed up despite an offer being on the table for a while now and there's too much media noise about him going to Everton. I think we need to accept he is off and once again Les has made himself look like a right chump with that video. Wouldn't it be nice to get a manager and players who don't treat us like a two year shop window

you're the 'other team' from liverpool that nobody gives a fck about

I thought he was on £2.5m now, so hopefully a new deal would be worth more and will fend off this rumoured offer from the nobody scouse team. Only thing that concerns is that if he wants to stay, conversations are pleasant and the offer has been with him for a few days then why is it taking him so long to decide?

So you want a bigger stadium or not? We will be needing lots of those 'plastics' to stand a chance of getting the expansion and then keep it filled

I'd say 6/7 - took mine when he just turned 7 and that seemed about right as he stayed interested during the whole game. Used to do 2 or 3 games a season as we have a 200 mile round trip but last season we upgraded to season tickets. Brilliant seeing him grow up as a true saints fan when all his mates are basically supporting the big London clubs. It's been fun watching him play football with his mates in his saints kits - back in the L1 days people would say "who's Lallana?" etc.......which soon changed of course.

spurs fan on 606 moaning that poch doesn't have a plan b........sound familiar?

muppet sports reporter on radio2 this morning announced that koeman was favourite to take over at everton after resigning as boss of ajax last night......... i think the sky video says nothing will happen until he has spoken to the club after the palace game. I dare say if he doesn't like what he sees then that might open the door to everton but ffs, surely he can do better than that.

quicker exit times might also persuade some of the usual early leaves to stay until the end! The entire access to the stadium needs improving.....takes ages to get out and away, no railway station nearby, no decent parking nearby, driving into and out of the city on match days is a fookin nightmare