Dan Johnson

Nope, I think it too. The problem being the "Benchmark" of a players ability seems to be his transfer fee. I can understand paying money for PROVEN players within the league. Teams like Liverpool, Man City tracking Bertrand and VVD makes sense to me as they've proven they're exceptional in the league. Foreign players, who have never played in the league are a risk regardless of the fee IMHO, there's no guarantee that a £30m CB will out perform a player from the academy. Look at Stephens, I thought he was excellent last season given his chance, before he played those games no one thought he was good enough and would have taken a foreign CB over him, i'd say he's almost good enough to start next to VVD every game next season...

Welcome Pellegrino

SImon Peach saying done deal, including quotes from Les Reed and Pellegrino in his tweets

There's reports this morning that Smalling would be available for 10m which I think is excellent value. Id be extremely happy with that bit of business

I rate Redmond, I call bull**** on that page though... He's above James Rodriguez Renato Sanchez Mesut Ozil Marek Hamsik Isco Thomas Muller Lacazette Mahrez

Absoultely this... NOTHING HAS HAPPENED!!! NOTHING, yet everyone is loosing their ****!

70.... SEVENTY million! https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/3698350/southampton-slap-huge-70m-price-tag-on-manchester-city-and-chelsea-target-virgil-van-dijk/

expecting departures after reading this, he's phrased it well but i'd say he's spoken with a with team mates who have perhaps expressed a desire to move on if the right club come looking. Unfortunately think we have to accept it, not sure what more the board can do. All the players have long contracts which protects us to a certain extent and ensures we get good value for the players. As long as we re-invest it all, then we can continue to improve the squad as a whole which hopefully means we will continue to be the "best of the rest"

Reporting we are after at least £50m. If day a bid that big would be hard to turn down. If expect him to leave if we had bids that big.

Jaap Stam would be my choice.

My player of the season

True, but Pied has two legs and can breathe, so he's half way to proving he's better than Cuco...

I think he struggled against Carroll but otherwise he has been superb. Completely agree with everything else you've said, i don't think there's much between Stones & Stephens other than game time! Coming into an era where decent english center backs are thin on the ground, I think we have a gem on our hands. A future england international.

Spot on!!! Ware-Prowse is making large strides in his progression, people forget he is just 22!!!! Younger than the "inexperienced" Jack Stephens. At 25-26 I think he'll be one of the best midfielders in the league.

Tottally agree! Think he has been excellent this season

Can't believe so many people would willing sell JWP!!! Think he's been one of our best players this year. Outs: Clasie Martina Gardos Jrod I'd then look at like for like replacements with the possibility of Gallagher filling JRODs spot as I'd feel comfortable with Austin (In the form before his injury), Gabbiadini (in current form) & Long (in current form) alongside Gallagher as our strikers. Big money should be spent on replacing Gardos & Clasie, if Caceres performs to his potential, then he could be an option to replace Gardos, possibly in addition to a new CB but I think Stephens has proved he is adequate as 4th choice at the very least. So top midfielder to replace Clasie would be my top priority.

I think that's selective, we don't actually know who is response or even involved (as i imagine it's a committee of people) signing players/allowing them to leave. Les is just the poster boy for that committee.. he's the Colonel Sanders to our KFC, his face is on the bucket but it doesn't mean he's cooking the chicken! I do agree with this, he's not unaccountable, we don't want to buy into the "Southampton way" to the point we're blinkered into making the wrong decision.

Hang on, under reed we also SIGNED Mopo, Koeman, Lovern, Clyne, Alderwireld, Mane, Pelle, Vic, VVD, Bertrand. If he's credited with letting them leave then lets also credit him with getting them into the club in the first place!

Laurant Blanc Frank De Boer Roberto Mancini Would look at managers in Jobs too Jaap Stam Rafa Benetiz Eddie Howe

Cup games aside, after we lost 3-0 to Everton I said we had 5 important league games coming up that were all winnable, if we got a good return out of those (at least 10-12 points) I'd have been happy with puel and would have put the early season inconsistency down to the amount of games. However having beaten only Leicester and lost to Swansea, West Brom and West Ham with Sunderland looking a difficult game after their result and our poor form, it's fallen well short of my expectations. I'd give him the next two games, two defeats and he has to go IMHO.

i'm pretty level headed, but that's a monumental **** up not replacing Fonte, they must have known the potential extent of his injury. I get that it's not as simple as saying "buy him, loan him" etc because it depends on players being available for transfer, players preferences etc but with Sakho going to palace on loan, we know there was at least 1 potential replacement! After Led Reeds words, that he wouldnt let Fonte go without a replacement in place, it's shocking by the bored. I'm a big fan of Les Reed too!!

Romeu Was utterly immense but I have my motm to Stephens. To come into a MASSIVE game like this and play like that after just 2 starts all season WOW!! Every player tonight was fantastic. First half we were the better team but some margin, to think, we were in crisis weren't we?!?

I think the team will be Forster Bertrand Yosh Stephens Cedric Clasie Davis Romeu Redmond Long/Jrod Tadic I cant decide whether long should play to hit them on the break and close down from the front or Jrod to try and hold up the ball/draw fouls to take the pressure of the defense in the first 45/60 in the hopes we don't concede then with Long coming on as the game gets more stretched as they push for a goal? Tadic is great at holding the ball up too so he's a good outlet if we're under pressure. Clasie/Davis/Romeu seems like the right combination n the middle for me, all 3 players have great work rate and Davis can join attacks if required. JWP\Hojbjerg to come on and slow play down later in the game if we haven't conceded

get him a place by the solent :-)