OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint

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.

Enjoyed watching him as a Saint player and felt he was one of the few who could pick up the tempo in pretty lethargic sides. Judging by the way he was always having a chat with the opposition after every game, he probably knows where the opportunities are this coming season. Guessing it'll be a London or south coast club.

Membership is fine for all home games (a couple you may want to get in early) and that is what you buy membership for. It isn't so good for away games. I recall it wasn't just Brum, Leeds two years ago. Plymouth (understandably), Bristol City, Cardiff, Swansea and the London clubs (eg Watford, QPR) also didn't go on sale to membership.

I am off the pace. No wonder I had forgotten all about him! I just saw the word Southampton and didn't read the 'former' word before it!

Talking of which, I see BBC gossip says Sunderland are interested in Caleta-Car. Forgotten all about him. That's another off the payroll

CB, you're right. I'm writing nonsense. You know how sometimes you think something and in your head it becomes reality without it really happening? It's one of those. And Saints win the Championship next year...there I go again!!

And Lampard to Leicester is interesting. Didn't really rate him while managing Premier League clubs but it looks like he learned a lot and he did a good job at Coventry. Think he'll do well at Leicester too.

And next week the fixture list comes out (Thursday 26th June). Always a good day to examine those first few games and start thinking about which places to visit.

Sounds like a SR propaganda signing!

Our family always does the membership ticket. It used too be good for getting away tickets, but this year I found it more useful for booking home tickets. If you buy tickets when the window opens, there's always a choice for most areas of the ground.

As far as I'm concerned, if you're played centrally, then you're the target man.

In the words of Billy Connolly, "there is a difference between a little person and a dwarf ... one of them is a fucking dwarf ... and they both know which one it fucking is". AA is a dwarf! Only Saints could play him as a No9 target man. Apparently, he fancies himself in the centre forward role, but please no. That ship has sailed.

In an ideal world, we want a manager who gets us promoted and then stays with us and helps us build a competitive premier league team. These types of managers are rare, though I just get the feeling that Still is more of a longer term prospect than Rohl. The target has to be automatic promotion. Given just one of our £20m players costs more than some of the championship club's entire squads, we should be right in the mix. I like Still's talk. He seems to favour an aggressive, adaptive style and I am looking forward to the forthcoming season. Two years ago, it was different. Yes, the ride was entertaining but mainly because there was the Wembley experience and the West Brom games. Martin got lucky and his style was particularly dire. I remember going to Blackburn & Huddersfield and seeing such negative tactics and thinking what's going on, we should be beating these teams 4/5-0?

So talking about Ramsdale....wouldn't it be something if we could retain his services? He not only kept the score respectable on many occasions, didn't pull off a couple of great saves against Everton - a game we wouldn't have won without him. With add-ons, his purchase was apparently nearer £25m so any sale below that would represent a loss. And are we desperate to sell? He could be one of the spine to get the club promoted and next time keep us in the premier league. And that would solve the Baz problem - because let's face it, he is a problem!