OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint

Been reading about what a basket case Sheff Wed have turned in to. Only 4 out of the top 15 that played for them last year are still on their books, they're not allowed to sign anyone for three transfer windows, Danny has done a runner, and their main stand (ironically named after the owner) has been deemed unsafe. Two seasons ago their was one guy intent on showing us his belly every 5 minutes...where's he going to go? And when Chansiri sells Hillsborough to himself you know it's all gone tits up. Wonder if their 'customers' will migrate to Sheff Utd!

Unfortunately, I'm not so sure it is contingent on us signing someone else. I can see Baz between the sticks this season.

Agreed. He was part of our downfall.

That's so true. The best players, as they're receiving a pass, are looking up for opportunities. Not our Jack. First he has to focus on receiving the ball before it bounces off his shin and that takes time. By then, players are on him so he's either knocking it sideways hoping his other centre back with collect or hoofing it back to the goalie at varying speeds. Disappointed he's our captain again. Hopefully someone else in the team can prove to be worthy of taking on the armband which will make Jack's place in the team even less tenable.

Should have been sidelined last year after his sending offs and actually quite irritated that management think he has something to offer the club. Similarly, think SR believe they have delivered in providing a striker with Downes and he took his opportunity well which is promising. Robinson continues to impress, predicting Shea will be one of our best players this year. Fraser and BBD need to be consigned to the scrapheap.

I don't think we take pre-season seriously enough. If you go back over the years and analyse our first 10 league games, I'm sure more often than not we're slow out of the starting blocks and then playing catch-up. Get the lads match fit, make them challenge every ball.

Sorry, Trousers, I'm not one of the ITK people. It's just a strong hunch. He's a young lad who didn't have the best season in the premier league, but is solid in what he does and has something to prove - and gives off the vibe that he's passionate and gives a shit about the club so will want to stay.

It's enjoyable reading the sleuths at work: So and so is on the plane, a good sign. So and so is not on the plane. Is it a double bluff to enhance our negotiating hand or is he really injured? Frankly, with the transfer window not shut until September, it's highly likely that a few of the players that start against Wrexham will be gone a few weeks later. What is apparent is that we're not in any rush to buy new players. And THB will be wearing a Saints shirt this season and he will come good.

Sunderland have spent £120m on new players this year. Most of them are Africans. Do Sunderland know AFCON takes place later this year?

We often hear people say these pre-season friendlies don't count for much, but I think it's great to build up a pre-season winning mentality. Didn't watch the game and only reading the comments on this website but it sounds like BBD, Fraser, Smallbone, AA had predictable mares and if you can't make an impact against Eastleigh surely this shows these players have had enough chances and more opportunities should be given to the likes of Robinson.

This raises an interesting point. I can see Jack being our team captain this season because of his seniority in the side, he can bellow orders and he wears his colours on his sleeve - but that really is a retro step. So who can take over? I too want THB to step up this year but surely he's too young for captain.

Get the impression the club wants to be a selling club that does enough to stay in the premier league. Like you've shown, the deals on the youngsters are good, but how much are the TV rights worth to even the bottom clubs in the premier league (£80m?). And we've had two relegations.

Here's hoping they release more that the 972 allocation mentioned above. It is a Hampton Derby and the home crowd may want to come out to see us - but it is also a midweek game so hopeful they'll give us the 2,000 tickets some are mentioning.

This is a really good question. Last time, did we think Downes and THB were going to be the lynchpins in the premier league? I think the powers that be were definitely expecting more from them in the premier league. This time around, the signing and rumours are around relatively young players again. Maybe we are simply looking for players to get us in to the premier league and once in, we will buy the experience.

Plymouth's ground capacity is tiny so they only gave us about 1,000 tickets. And while it isn't physically close, it's that perception of being on the south coast so easily reachable.