Mowgli

I rarely buy a matchday programme but after reading this thread I will do tomorrow just to see what he says. This is a big season for us. We need to show a united.... .....oops, too late.

Surely the mistake is actually comparing Puncheon with Lallana and Chamberlain. They are quite different players with different skill sets. The question is not whether Puncheon is good enough but whether he wants to play the style of football NA asks of him. He does not. That's why they fell out.

...and for the sake of argument I think Martin and possibly Seaborne will develop into good premiership players with the right coaching. they are both quite young for centre backs. as for Hammond, I agree but with the right people around him he could lift his game and survive at Premiership level.

I'm usually down after a defeat but a beer soon puts me in an optimistic mood. Then i come on here and p*ss a few people off with annoyingly 'it'll be alright next week' comments. ;~)

To be honest you set yourself up here by suggesting a range of scenarios based purely on random thoughts. NA is clearly an up and coming manager and has tried to keep the nucleus of the team together with just one or two additions. On paper they are clearly good additions. Until the season starts no one really knows which players will step up and which will be completely out of their depth. It would be far more sensible to have this debate at the beginning of September. But in answer to the general question, no I'm not too worried. This is not a season where we must gain promotion. This is a squad that can hold its own in the championship and maybe surprise us with a push for the playoffs. The pre season preps have gone well. No injuries. We still have Oxo and Lallana. Can't ask for much more really. Roll on Saturday.

Oh FFS - whoever started this off by expressing the view that there would only 22,000 on Saturday - see what you started!!!! ;~) If I express the view that it will be a sell out will there be loads of people coming on and congratulating the club on good marketing and back slapping the fans for good support? Of course not, there would be the usual moany minnies complaining about how plastic fans stop propper fans getting tickets. People are moaning about a small admin charge that costs less than one tenth of what they throw down their neck on a Friday night. Why not wait until we know what the attendance was and then we can comment with some authority. Having said that - it was a good read lol...

It is standard practice to isolate the problem with a protective cast for 48 hours. They would not even have assessed the injury before Friday (having satisfied themselves it was not a break or tear)

I think Ipswich will be a lot higher. They will be the surprise team this year given some of their signings. Leicester should be top given their investment. WHU and Birmingham will be the seasons disappointments - mid table for both haha. Having said that, i think the Saints prediction is fair - but with a strong wind behind us we could just scrape the playoffs and who knows what would happen then!!

KD for me. Nice to know Bart is ready should the call come - he would walk straight in many Championship teams

Surprised by the poor support for Doble. Like Barney I thought he worked his sox off yesterday but actually had a better first touch than Barney. Obviously a way off a regular first team place but looks like he will develop into a good old fashioned CF in the Lambert mode. I wanted Forte to do well but in reality I think he was out of his depth. Some basic footballing skills seem to be lacking but when he gets free with the ball he is fast.

If Chambo thinks he can slot into the Arsenal line-up he presumably agrees with NC that he is worth £12m plus sale on percentages. If a bid came in for £12m plus add ons AND Chambo wanted to go I am sure no one would step in his way and he would wish him luck with the opportunity. But to me -and hopefully Chambo - offering £5m is as silly as offering £1.50 so the deal will not go ahead no matter how much Chambo wishes it would. So under those circumstances, given that he has enjoyed his time here, I suspect he will remain committed to the club and give his all. The ONLY person really stopping the deal going ahead is Wenger who wants to get him on the cheap. Aint gonna happen mate.

#stay at Southampton, you need to stay at southampton...#

Actually it is comforting to see how many people see this as a non story. I had no problem with Rupert taking renumeration and I don't have a problem with NC doing so. The judgment on whther you earn that money is whether you keep your job. NC has; RL didn't. End of story.

For goodness sake this is a forum not the OS. If you come on here you have to expect rumour and speculation. The advantage is that it is a few notches up on football-rumours.co.uk. Some more credible than others but always fun to read irrespective of whether they turn out to be true or not. I would rather be discussing the merits of a potential signing than whether 15 minutes is enough time to buy the new home shirt before being charged for parking.

I just cannot see NA / NC wanting to sign a player over 25 - unless they are truly exceptional. Even then only up to 27/28 and as a central defender.

You would think WHU and Leiciester would do well but.... One of the WHU players went on record the other day saying they needed a lot more signings to ensure they get back up. Menwhile, Leicester fans are collectively unimpressed by what they call bargain basement signings from lower league sides. At 5pm on Saturday 6th August I will be quietly confident of the Championship. By 9pm I will be praying we just avoid relegation. That's what supporting Saints is all about for me!

He seems to have the respect of NC and NA so sounds good to me.

Given that people were taking 6 or 7 games out of context last year to show how 'disappointing' our season has beeen and that we did not have a cats hell in getting promoted, I think Vershinin made his point well. Beside - it was about adkins record not the season.

And if we can hang on to Oxo it will be the better than any of the optimistic signing featured on the 'rumours / HCDAJFU' pages

Then I'm mental :~( Stupid I know but I would rather build for the future with young players who recognise the strength is in the team not the individual.

Surprised that Jack Stephens was not with the first team in Switzerland. I guess they are just trying to keep his feet on the ground.

Don't give up the day job...

Looks like he is now off to Leeds United

Possibly - but don't be surprised if this still comes off. Donny have just signed another 'prolific' striker in the form of Chris Brown from PNE (a brave signing given his reputation).

OK - I've obviously missed that bit of news somewhere