Ivan Katalinic's 'tache

For me, Rickie is the player who best symbolises our ascension from League 1 back to the Premier League. Sure, there were other major contributors like Lallana, Schneiderlin, Fonte and Kelvin but Rickie was the standout. His own personal progression was in parallel to the team; each time we successfully took that next step up, so did he. When we reached the top flight of the domestic game, he got his chance to show he could succeed at that level, too, and got a richly deserved England call up (and that turned out pretty well, too). Even though in my head it was obvious he would never be coming back, as age caught up with him in the past couple of years, I always held that slight hope that he'd be back, even if just on some form of pay as you play deal, for one last hurrah. Best of luck to him in whatever he does now, though. He'll always be revered as a genuine Saints legend. And, if he wants to take on a role as a finishing coach somewhere, I know one place he'd be extremely useful currently...

A bit of light heartedness after today's latest defeat. Nathan Redmond, Neil McCann & Stuart Ripley are 3 Saints wingers who have attracted a reasonable amount of derision from our fans during more recent times. You have to pick one to be in our current Saints line up, based on their Saints form alone. Who do you pick...

Hopefully, though, he'll be another like Bertrand & Romeu who has been in that big club situation already & now wants some proper game time to show what he can do. Yes, he'll probably go back up the ladder at some point but maybe not for a couple of years at least, I think.

I wonder when we'll find out if the re-integration process has begun? I think I read he was expected at training today but I wonder if that will be a continuation of his solo training or he's accepted he'll be here until January at least and he's back with the remaining first team (who aren't away on international duty). Surely he'll need at least a couple of u23 games before he can be considered for first team action, having not played since January, if his mindset is to get his head down and get on with it.

Looking at that, I don't think he's unhappy at Saints, I just think it's his general demeanour. Ryan Bertrand just don't like life!

Ah. Let's hope he uses his last post of the day wisely then...

I wonder if Tom28 ever did get his email through to St Chalet??

Then Walcott to us?

Can we carry some of these goals forward to the Watford game??

Can't really class him as a 'defector' but Harlee Dean is leaving Brentford for Birmingham for £2m.

I think all managers have their own way of dealing with potential incomings. Koeman would quite openly talk about them, Adkins would not comment at all and Pellegrino seems to be coy or plays dumb. Just something we'll have to get used to and try to interpret, I guess.

On today's showing, you can see why he'd prefer a move to Liverpool over Arsenal! Still hope we hold our nerve in these final few days of the window.

Good. Dedicated pro & well deserving of a new deal. Unlike others, will probably see it out too, without a fuss...

Tadic's effectiveness dropped markedly when Pelle and Mane left IMO. When he had the ball, with Pelle, he had a strong and technical focal point who could retain possession better than we do currently, whilst Mane's speed often meant he could turn an average through ball into a decent one. Now we have Austin, who only really comes alive in the box, and whilst Manolo does look to get into behind a defence, he doesn't have the same speed to turn the threaded passes Tadic likes to play into decent ones. Whereas Tadic was able to move the ball on quite quickly before, he's now holding onto it longer, slowing down our play because he probably realises this too. I feel for Boufal. He was built up to be a world beater before he arrived but he's never achieved the consistent game time we need him to have, to see if he can be an effective weapon for us. Like someone said above, he's now almost overplaying to try to demonstrate his worth, in an attempt to convince the manager he's worth keeping on the pitch. Last season, he was undone by injuries, this season I feel we need to have a bit of faith in him and hope the outcome is a consistent output of goals and chances created.

Don't mess with my Hoedt Hoedt... (as per the Denise LaSalle classic)

I did see him play for Lazio against Brighton in a pre-season friendly last summer. Looked composed & rarely troubled by Brighton's powderpuff attack on the day, alongside De Vrij. Fingers crossed he'll go on to be the defender we hope he'll be.

Never, sir, never. Now, if you'd like to spill regarding any further expected transfer business before the end of the window, that would be much appreciated...

If this is true, I am clearly IKT...

By the sounds of the Echo article, it sounds like things are close but got delayed due to Lazio mucking about a bit at the weekend. He's probably only travelled yesterday, so maybe medical and contract done today before an announcement tonight or tomorrow? Hopefully...

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/15486559.amp/ The Echo says it should be sorted soon.

Last we heard he was still travelling. Needs a better satnav...

Great stuff. F5 day tomorrow then...

Translated from Tuttomercatoweb by Google: Igli Tare, Lazio's sports director, spoke to Premium Sport's microphones: "Keita a Formello? I do not think so, but these experience things will be solved with patience, and from here in the end will be a lot of patience." Hoedt-Southampton? He wanted to be given away because he wanted to be the absolute protagonist, and there was no guarantee for that, he would soon be transferred to Southampton, and he was a positive experience for him here in Lazio. " Sounds like Lazio are expecting him to join us which must be promising still?

Or maybe Bertrand wasn't fully recovered after his knock against Swansea? Fit enough to play just not at 100%?

Did Pellegrino have any updates on him after the game?