Colinjb

4th Place, on the basis that the extra profile and strength it brings to the club would make it more likely for us to win the cup in the future. A cup win would still mean far more personally, but the chance at 4th and what it could mean for Saints is too much to pass up on. A different take on my opinion last year.

Looks like it, and why not, he's good at it.

Excellent lads. Highlights how well we are working on getting lads into the first team in there being four (not including Cork) players there with first team league experience.

May be worth noting that this figure is from our first year up. Will be interesting to see how we now compare.

We will field a strong team, it's our philosophy. Whether that's wise is another conversation.

Fantastic news. Fully deserved.

All the best achievements begin as those.

Terrible, that's no age. Always a tragedy when someone so young goes.

Rafael Scheidt

Nothing if not consistent. They are laughably, pathetically and insanely consistent.

Can't see an agent encouraging that sort of behaviour somehow.

That is disgusting. There's no irony to be found here, it's just bad taste.

Well, out last trip to Portman Road went ok. Fingers crossed for a repeat of that.

Replay it is then.

His goal v Liverpool always sticks in the mind. Wonderful deft finish.

Bugger.

One of the most pleasing things about that is how Ralph Krueger came across. Compared to a year ago and in the summer his language and manner was far more direct, far more efficient with his wording and more assertive. I've been very critical of him in the past and had an uneasy feeling about the guy but he is certainly appearing at least to either be adjusting to meet the demands of his role or to have learnt from previous media appearances and tweaked his public persona to create a better impression.

If only he had completed a successful pass at the end, would have been absolute perfection.

The best bit of today was the two contrasting train journeys. The first 16 minutes from Winchester into Southampton while sharing a train with some very over-confident Arsenal fans beautifully complimented by the silent stunned sods occupying the train on the way back. Most satisfying. We are where we are on merit, it's time to respect that.

The mantra of not blocking the path to the first team for the youth players was mentioned again in the NBC documentary tonight. Considering that central midfield is one of our more populous positions I cannot help but feel that it may be a case of Cork being surplus to requirements which is a shame because he was for me a key factor in our improved form at the start of the 12/13 season when we dragged ourselves out of relegation danger and has always been very useful. Hopefully something can be sorted out to see him stay beyond this year.

Excellent documentary. Really hope someone has been able to record it. Great quote from Koeman. "The club is growing up, that will take time."

F**k him.

A fair point. Would be interesting to see statistics on which clubs are more likely to provoke a sacking. Where's MLG when you need him....?

Does seem to be an odd stigma where losing to Saints is the last straw. Warnock was an odd appointment anyway, will be interesting to see who they get in instead. The one man they would want in there surely wouldn't go back, would he?

Nice to see we are strengthening good and early. Fingers crossed that this unpolished diamond can come up to a deep shine.