OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint

And on reflection, when you consider true Saints legends - MLT who single handedly kept us in the premier league for years, RL who got us promoted and promoted - perhaps you can;t stay at Southampton forever do need to move on to clear your head! Still think W.Ham were ripe for the taking but we don't know the details of the deal. Don't think the money up front is such a big thing but in some way the move could be linked with Downes/loan fees.

That's the point. There's no loyalty in football - both ways. And as for those thinking West Ham are some 'big' club, they were always a yo-yo club. They've wangled some deal for a soulless stadium but they're no Man City/Man Utd/Newcastle. He could have led/guided us back in to the premiership; instead he's run off to some bang average premiership team. Perhaps I've been watching too much Ted Lasso, but I think he's made the wrong decision.

So the "James Ward-Prouse, my Lord, one more year" song didn't work. What's sad is that Saints legends are truly special, and for someone like JWP, he could have inched his way in to legend status. Instead, he goes to some mediocre club paying a few more bob and offering premiership football. How much is the agent persuading him to move and our club pushing him out isn't known to us, but players like JWP are already set up financially for life so I don't get why these players value a few quid over recognition. Loyalty eh? A thing of the past.

Totally agree. Aside from the football, there's a lot to be said for having a positive winning mentality. Martin missed a trick here by not building on last Friday's win. Ultimately, then we scraped a winner in 87th minute, but we all felt good. Thumping a League 2 team into oblivion would have felt good too. You don't have to put all these good time charlies/wage stealers/journeymen in the same team to realise they're crap. Don't play them, just offload them asap.

Hope our new set piece coach doesn't put in their resignation after this performance!

He's done a Pochettino on us. Never agree with this idea of picking a team that will just about beat the opposition/seeing the B team in action. That's what training is for.

Good point but comparing our negotiating stance with say Leicester suggests we have no compelling reasons to sell any more of our players. I want JWP to stay. He was excellent against Wednesday and we need to value him with the view how much is he worth to us in our push for promotion. Certainly more than Livramento. So that makes him £35m+ and W.Ham won't be able to sit on their pot forever - and the longer they sit, the more clubs will ask for their players.

I was specifically watching him on Friday. He was either slow to get back or standing in an offside position so the midfield couldn't pass directly to him and his runs were blind alleys that would have been cut out. As Saint86 said, if we're going to be crossing as much as we did against Wednesday, Tall Paul would be a better option. The luxury is AA who surely has been given enough chances. That's twice I've seen him play against Wednesday within 12 months and twice he's been the worst player on the pitch.

I thought it was Djenepo and Aribo who are brothers. When Djenepo sporting his new haircut started warming up, the section around me singing the Ha...ri....bo song 😀

When he was on at the Reading game, it was very much him telling players where they needed to be. Reckon on him too though JWP may be around for a while yet.

He's got a pretty impressive fail compilation on twitter. Also there's the time he celebrates a goal in front of the Swansea fans and is taken away by Russell Martin...."Ah, we meet again, Mr Lumley". Think Baz might be safe.

You can't play 'possession ball' and have McCarthy in goal. He struggles to pass to his man five feet away. That leaves Baz. I genuinely think his distribution is very very good and his control of the ball is solid. If someone can train him to stop shots (is this intuitive or can it be trained?), we'd have a top goalie. Until that time, we need someone else.

I'd like that but what we'd give for a proper striker. Just hope it's not too much 'possession football' passing sideways at the back and Baz holding on to the ball for 30 seconds. There's got to be that forward intent. I can see a lot of teams holding back on the press and effectively say 'you're meant to be the better side, you come to us'.

Hopefully Martin has realised he's not even good enough to be our No2 goalie. Still don't understand how someone, whose only job is to block shots and pass it out, can be so bad at distribution. He's a total liability. To be fair to Baz, he's comfortable on the ball and his distribution is pretty good.

Snap....so got tickets for Wednesday instead. Grateful that Saints released additional seats for the game but judging by the amount of green on the Saints website, it could be a bit lonely in the section.

Ha, our kid when he was 9/10 insisted on an away shirt for a Christmas present with the name Classie on the back. Ever since, Saints shirts for Christmas presents have been nameless!

Didn't see the game and only reading the threads but this is the common theme that needs to be addressed. AA & Che are and always will be crap, so like last year, we need a striker.

Like this bidding war. Do I hear £55m from Liverpool, do I hear £60m from Chelsea? Ah, we have a new bidder Al Hilal.....

Did see Russell Martin (not Selles) come over at the start of the game. Nice touch. Heard he used to do it at Swansea. Be interesting to see if he still does it if/when we go on a losing streak. You'd think it's a no-brainer as a manager to get the fans on side....just need a good song for our new guy.

Fair point. I think Edozoe's speed and potential will come good this season. Changing the subject, wasn't Charles brought in as a defensive midfielder to replace Lavia? He played centre back today. Does that mean Lavia could be staying? Only Liverpool have so far shown a real interest and if they don't meet our asking price, perhaps he will play in the Championship.

I'd like to keep both of them too and wouldn't want Tella gone for the sake of selling him. But if you had the choice of keeping Tella or Edozie, would you keep Tella?

Or maybe he won't. I'd bite Fulham's hand off for £15m. Just back from the Reading game and across the back Manning, Charles, Bednerek +1 (probably Bree given KWP will probably be off) would do me. I'd argue ABK is probably the best of our central defenders but don't trust his commitment. Still think we need a striker. And on today's performance, comparing Edozie & Tella, Edozie looks far better, so if Burnley offer the reputed £20m for him, take it before they have second thoughts.

So we've rejected two bids from Monaco for Salisu. Can't believe he's part of our long term plans so anything near what we paid for him (£11m) and he should be out the door.

Did we get anything for him? Even the Qataris with all their money probably realise he's not worth much. Yep, three down (plus Ely) - things are picking up.

I see Burnley have just signed Nathan....oh, wait a minute, different Nathan! I hope this one stays. Is looking a bit of a spark in the pre-seasons.