West end Saints

Prompted me to look at top scorers for our last spell in prem for each season ; JWP 9 JWP 10 Ings 12 Ings 22 Ings/ JWP 7 Austin 7 Redmond 7 Pelle / Mane 11 Pelle 12 JayRod 15 Lambert 15 Surprisingly the most common top scorers total is 7!

Jesus wept , no-one is celebrating and thinking we are safe! Post says "first impressions ..not totally out of their depth" But whether against 10 or 11 did you think we would dominate possession away to Newcastle. I thought we would struggle, and thought a big defeat possible so can see some positives - maybe clutching at straws. If we lose Saturday, and start settling at the bottom, pressure will start simmering for the season. So don't think anyone picking up those keys yet

Weren't people saying that we could not expect to dominate possession in the premier league like last season and needed to accept it and change approach? Newcastle had less possession at home to us than they did for any game, home or away last season. Disappointed not to get some points but first impression is that RM and this squad not totally out of their depth and about to get thrashed every game as some expected.

Whilst they are not new signings, and not enough on their own, but I wonder how much the improvements and increased maturity of our talented younger players impacts on our transfer activity. I know Larios is seen as a player who will play in the premier league when he is ready. Dibling could easily be a regularly starter by the end of the season. Sam AA is likely to be getting a lot of game time. Smallbone - last month of the season / play offs probably our best players and only 24. Clearly I want us to add quality and think we need to, but in the comparisons to last season I would be very surprised and disappointed if those three can't add more than Stu, Brooks and Rothwell.

Clubs and agents are in constant conversation, and clearly know miles more than forums or journalists. If player or club thought that through putting feelings out, they could get a better deal, or a club the player prefers, they wouldn't just accept Saints without looking at any other options. And when have a club, when they are criticised over a poor start or a poor transfer window ever referred to previous rumours linking them with players? It's nonsense to suggest saints leak their interest.

This seems to be how a lot of racist views develop and has led to the recent far right criminality.

I liked our balance when we had KWP on the left and Livramento on right, not impossible to see similar with Sugawara

I know I can sound like I'm against Stu, but I just can't see how he is seen as a high threshold for an attacking midfielder. Seemed a good guy, some good direct runs and a few good goals but often lazy, light weight and made poor decisions. How often in prem did he give the ball away in our half, then just watch as we had to defend? Last few seasons in prem 2 goals, 1 assist 2 goals, 0 assists 4 goals, 5 assists 5 goals, 3 assists 3 goals, 2 assists Last season in championship he did a bit better with 5 goals, but Smallbone managed 6. I am optimistic that if we went with Smallbone in that role he could manage a couple of goals and assists. If we spend on a new AM it will be because they are confident he is a significant upgrade on Stu.

Central midfield yes. I will be very surprised and disappointed if our attacking midfielders are not significant improvement on Ely and Stu. Even without new signings Smallbone / Aribo are likely to better Ely / Stu combined total of 3 goals and two assists! Smallbone (particularly in second half of season ) and Aribo both more mobile and actually sometimes track / tackle which is an improvement. Also Maitland Niles and Djenpo played significant minutes. Lavia also, as would be expected for his age, wasn't always consistent. I think we will be stronger in midfield this year.

I was curious how our team looks compared with our last two prem seasons and don't think we look any worse (important as we finished 20th in last one!). These are based on 442 of most common starters, and our squad as of today although clearly will change. 21/22 Finished 15th Forster Livramento Salisu Bednarek Walker Peter JWP Romeu Elynousi Redmond Adams Broja 22/23 20th Bazunu KWP ABK Salisu Perraud JWP Elynousi Lavia Stu Che Adam A This season Alex M Sugawara Bednarek THB KWP Downes Smallbone Aribo Edozie Adam A BDD I think the only area we look weaker is losing JWP/ Romeu or JWP / Lavia. We have better players than elynousi, Stu and possibly Redmond before any additional signings . Another forward and some quality like O'Riley, and we will definitely be stronger. If you look at goals / assists over those last two seasons from AM, it would not be hard for Dibling to do better.

I think they are open to upgrading him, but he was our best player for the last month of the season and a key factor throughout the successful play off campaign so is likely, and rightly, a contender to start. (Edit - replied before seeing the widespread support for Will - glad most could see what he did for the team appreciated his pivotal role in our promotion, all about opinions...

That's not the view from within the club. There are high expectations for Larios, which was why he was so involved with the celebrations at Wembley despite no game time

He is a decent sub in prem, and was probably offered short term contract on that basis I hope it works out well for him as seems a decent bloke but we need to be aiming for better performing and more consistency for a prem midfield. As an attacking midfielder he was a key player in our relegation season, with 2 goals and 1 assist, and personally I felt responsible for several goals against with taking risks in dangerous positions and not tracking or tackling. Two year older and recovering from injury, would he be more than a sub coming on to input some drive (which he does very well).

One of the podcasts named Smallbone as player of the playoffs over the five games. I thought he was very good over the second half of the season and still young

The Brexit argument will not support any changes, as many politicians could see that it just did not make sense but a simplistic argument won a vote and caused endless problems in parliament, legally, with law enforcement and immigration. I also think Farage will be less significant next election after a few years frustrated on the back benches, realising how infrequently he gets to speak in parliament and running a constituency.

I'm a hypocrite on this topic. Often thought it would be a better, more democratic system, but seeing the reform vote I don't want us to go anywhere near it. If there was some way to control rubbish that reform spout, that they don't really mean and have no thought through plans to implement just to get some gullible people fall for, then it maybe worth considering but at the moment it would elect racists and bigots, who no one has vetted and would not help the country at all.

Secret service shouted "Donald, duck!"

Is there a problem?

The pricing with WHU is tricky. If they were at the same stage of their contracts KWP would be worth significantly more than Downes. Downes is 25 and unproven at the top level (63 of his appearances at league 1 and 2 level). KWP is 27 with over 100 prem appearances, performed well enough to be picked for England. Also reliable fitness. He would easily be worth double but clearly the last year of his contract makes a difference. I wonder if there is better value elsewhere than Downes, as much as he would be a good fit with us and RM. The discussion about starting CB - if Stephens and Bednarek are still here and fit at least one will be first choice. No way will Martin want to start in premier league with CBs who are both young and not played at that level

Signed by Martin before I believe

I gather Larios is seen as part of first team squad, and a lot is expected of Meghoma - they won't be relied upon as first choice but fit in well with signing a 30 year old LB (Taylor). I wonder how far Shea Charles, edozie will develop this year. Are Dibling, Bragg and Ballard going to be more involved? These will impact on requirements for balancing the squad

Expected by you? Because you had confidence in him? Most relegated clubs do not go straight back up. Usually one does. Any team who finished bottom, and as far a drift as us is not likely to go straight back up. Teams can improve their chances by investing due to a takeover etc, we had the opposite, we lost a lot of talented players. Just because you knew he would completely turn the team spirit and attitude around, build strong unit and improve players and therefore did as you expected, it doesn't diminish his achievement . He did very well and is understandably and rightly being rewarded.

This is why I'm not stressed at all about the finances. We haven't got a clue. We are pretty sure we are not paying £60m on a player, but my gut feeling is that we are not as tight as some are saying after the amount we had coming in. I'm sure KWP knows he can get a decent offer here and first team football, but also decent offers elsewhere

Can you imagine if we were signing a 25 year old defensive midfielder with about 100 championship appearances, 60 league 1, 10 league 2 and 20 prem, who has spent last year in championship side who finished 4th, wasn't player of the season and we were paying £20m...people would go nuts on here! I would love us to keep him but he isn't worth anywhere near £20m surely?

Difference is we are not a yo-yo club. Those teams have all had half the time we have had in the premier league. 25 out of 33 seasons, and even more established pre premier league days. Of course good players make a big difference, and quality costs, but we have shown numerous times that our best players are not the expensive ones. The key this season will be mixing strong character and good experience (Lallana, Fraser ) with talented young players (THB, Smallbone, Charles etc).