James

I'd like to know which of our signings Mitchell was actually responsible for. Of our summer signings: Tadic - clearly Ron influenced Pelle - definitely Ron influenced Mane - reportedly Ron wanted him after he tore apart Feyenoord playing for Red Bull Alderweireld - he's a Belgian international, hardly requires some genius scout to unearth him Forster - England international keeper, see above Long - possible that he had influence Bertrand - possible that he had influence Gardos - definitely possible, but yet to prove how good he actually is. Also worth remembering that for every good signing we have made this summer there is a Gazzaniga, Forren, Mayuka, Ramirez or Osvaldo. Not quite sure what Spurs think they are getting here...but happy to be corrected.

So have we established whether CEC is a member of the Lallana family? It certainly would explain his reluctance to responds to Guan's well presented argument.

The man himself says not too serious so hopefully he's fine for Villa. As others have said, I wouldn't be too disappointed if he sat out Villa and was guaranteed to be available v Man City (i.e. no injury or suspension). Could be good news for us in the long run that both Morgan and Davis have withdrawn from international duty with what look like minor injuries.

The eligibility criteria for this make absolutely no sense at all. In order for ST holders to buy another ticket for this you need to have bought another single ticket to a home game in the last 2 years (i.e. not a season ticket match). Why is this the case? Surely the whole point of a season ticket is that you have effectively pre-bought a ticket to every single home league match and therefore are obviously eligible? It's bizarre to draw a distinction between a season ticket match and another home game...

To be fair, its a hell of a lot better than 'Where's all our players gone?' which is: a) embarrassing and b) doesn't even make sense. It's about time we had some creative chants.

Why have we done that? Ridiculous move IMO.

How Hodgson kept his job after that travesty in Brazil I will never know. He will just revert to type now and pick big 4 players. Bit sad really.

This. I have a small thread of faith in Saints but if this happened we would almost certainly go down.

Exactly. As much as I respect RL, his comments just aren't credible in this context. There is no way on earth he was turning down Liverpool once they came calling and (despite what he might say in hindsight) would have been furious had we stood in his way.

Whilst that is technically accurate - the Liverpool away game was a one in a thousand win (on another day we would have been beaten comfortably, I was at the game). I see it more as 2 points down on where we would realistically expect to be which is a shame but we are only 2 games in so am still hopeful for now.

Surely you can't be serious.... He hasn't played a match yet! Koeman signed him for goodness sake.

Would also like to see Long start, the missed header aside I thought he looked pretty decent when he came on.

Would also like to see Long start, the missed header aside I thought he looked pretty decent when he came on.

Exactly. We will hardly be in real trouble if they don't score that many....typical stat that's just been plucked out of thin air by someone trying to be negative.

This should be pinned up in the dressing room - all the motivation we need to go out and smash these arrogant p*icks.

I didn't realise Harrison Reed spent so much time in Melbourne....

Probably my all time favourite Saint (I missed the best of Le Tiss).

Given the general tenor of this thread, I'd hardly say it was an overreaction..

I can't believe that we are about to sell one of our best remaining players for 3m and spend 12.5m on Shane Long - have Koeman and the board lost their minds? This season is going to be naff.

Nail on the head.

It's not exactly saying that though is it? Forster is not going to be first choice purely because he was bought by Koeman, it's because Koeman views Forster as better (which is obvious seeing as he decided to spend big money). Clubs strengthen all the time, it's up to the existing players to up their game. RK said Forster will be no.1 on arrival, it's now up to Boruc to convince him he is wrong.

I'm sorry but Forster is better than Boruc. I do agree with the sentiment on here though that Koeman shouldn't have said FF was No.1 and should have made him earn it. However, if FF is going to be No.1 then we might as well start him from the off as the only way the defence will get used to each other is through game time...

A lot of people seem to forget that we will hopefully have JRod back for half the season. He should be good for 5 or so...

I know, but they don't have to join us. I thought that Burnley had first option on Cork but then he signed for us...(I could have mis-remembered that).

That would be true if it was guaranteed that they would join if we wanted them...but its not. Truth is, if Bertrand, Schelotto or Taider play a blinder with us they will arouse interest from bigger fish and then go there.