Dan Johnson

1 place behind our best ever finish in the Premier League and the seasons a wash out? Lose 3-0 at home to a title challenger and the result is embarrassing? The reaction on this thread is the only embarrassing thing about our result on Saturday. I thought up until we conceded the second it was an extremely entertaining game of football. After the 2nd goal we lacked ideas but that’s understandable as the effort we put in up to that point can’t be criticized, the difference between Southampton & Liverpool was a striker worth in the region of £80 million pounds!! The individual criticism of some of our players is shocking, Lambert seems to be getting the brunt of it. Yet anyone who paid any attention to the game would know he was as the center of some of our best link up play. Yes, he’s playing too deep and he isn’t mobile or quick enough to fit into the system but he was not as bad as some make out! We are exactly where most of us wanted to be last season yet it seems everyone is moaning! They’re the first team in the top 4 this season to come away with more than a point… lets stop ****ting the bed & look forward to a winnable game at Palace at the weekend!

I'm not angry, just disapointed. I feel we have enough to win this competition. I can understand the frustration at the team selection but at the same time whats the point in having a squad if you don't use it. It's an insult to the players picked that we dont have faith in them, just the same as it's an insult to the fans when the best team isnt picked. I'm a saints supporter, i'll support the team whoever plays & i'll be just as disapointed as anyone if we lose. Angry... no, it's just a game, far more important things in life to worry about that an away defeat at Sunderland.

I'd be happy with Outs Osvaldo (£15m), Shaw (Chelsea £20m + Bertrand), Hooiveld, Guly, Fox, Bernard, Forte, Mayuka, Sharp, Isgrove, Gazza In Bertrand (Included in shaw deal), Thomas Vermaelen (think his contract is up at the end of the season at arsenal and has said he is leaving), Asmir Begović or Jack Butland, Christian Benteke, Demba Ba (nominal fee), Éver Banega or Erik Lemela

SSN reporting that Osvaldo taking a "Massive Paycut" to join Juventus

This, I was fond of Killer but Lovern is different level, possibly the best player at the club in my eyes

Spot on. If there aren't players who will add genuine quality then why both signing anyone... I'd rather we made 3 signings a year if they were of the quality of Lovern, while other teams **** millions up the wall gambling on journeymen dross. We have 2 serious injuries & a striker who may or may not play for us again (he may have class but hasn't contributed a great deal this season anyway) I see that as no reason to make signings a priority. I'd rather wait till the summer to sign another Lovern than sign a Forren now to give the fans a lift We have a great youth setup, we need to have faith in the players coming through that academy otherwise there's no point investing in it.

January is a notoriously hard time to buy players Clubs simply DO NOT want to sell unless they have replacements lined up, which then results in a chain of transfers, 1 transfer doesn't go through it scuppers numerous deals further down the chain. You then have agents\medicals\lawyers to deal with... I find it incredible that fans STILL complain when we haven't signed someone... "why haven't was signed a decent center back yet" These fans should become agents, they obviously know of 20-30 quality footballers sat around on their arse doing nothing at their clubs, their clubs sat by the phone awaiting bids, players bags packed while they're sat at home waiting to move to their new club...

Held off commenting yesterday as was hugely disappointed & annoyed. Initial reaction was that it would spark a downward spiral. It's obvious that Cortese had sold his future vision of the club to the majority of Staff & Players with him at the center of it. Without him at the helm it's clear to see why top players\management staff would question whether that vision still exists and whether they're all now here under false pretenses. If I was a top player who signed a contract based on Cortese's vision, today I would absolutely question whether that vision still exsists. I would need assurances from KL that it really is business as usual and this club fully intends to continue it's progression towards the champions league and ultimately forfill the promises laid out to me when I signed the contract. We had only snippets of information and we don't know why Cortese left, if indeed it's because KL wants to sell the club or there was arguments over selling assets (Luke Shaw) then it is obviously worst case scenario time, we're back to being a also run, and the days of signing Italian International forwards are over :-( However, if it comes out that Cortese wanted full control of the club without his actions being questioned or accountable to or by the owners and it was that "intrusive" relationship that resulted in him leaving then I wouldn't be as worried, the vision could still be in place with a more "owner friendly" CEO in charge & this change will be less disruptive than I or many first thought. For me MP is crucial, if he leaves then I can see allot of players leaving too, if he stays, we might be alright

There was once a dream that was Rome, you could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish. It was so fragile and I fear that it will not survive the winter.....

Regardless of whether we buy any players or not the only thing that is for certain if we so sign someone is that we'd have a bigger squad Transfers do not = progress They could be the wrong type of player/personality/not offer good value This transfer market inflates the value of players beyond the realms of sense If there genuinely isn't anyone available, then I hope we don't sign anyone! The logic that you have to spend to progress is ridiculous

So should the club say, yeah we're looking to sign players just in case we sell Lallana\Shaw? Saying we're not looking to sign someone or we don't expect any movement is slightly different than saying we have identified replacements just in case? Our scouting network is bigger and better than most clubs, we are ALWAYS identifiying players that could do a job, doesn't mean we have to sign them.

That some reason would probably be winning the league\cup & European cup in 1 season with Porto, he had a 85% win record with them... incredible. He had a 47% win ratio with Chelsea and has a 55% win ratio with Spurs, he has the potential to be a top top coach.

When you look at home many points he's probably saved us this season with some world class saves, I'm not blaming him too much. It was a bad error, but I have full confidence in him, he has shown he is a world class keeper more often than not in the last 12 months...

I had first hand information from a source directly inside the dressing room the day before Punch moved, he stated that punch requested a move for Family reasons ONLY, he has recently had another baby (his 3rd) and his wife still lived in London It wasn't a footballing decision at all, on his part or the clubs, to let him leave. A replacement was never lined up

I think he's in with a shot if he continues this seasons form, he has to be consistent though, he struggled a little last year. Here are the recent Midfielders that have had a call up to England Recent MF Ashley Young - Struggling for Form MF Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain MF Jack Rodwell - Injury Prone MF Scott Parker - Age against him MF Leon Osman MF Aaron Lennon MF Tom Huddlestone - Now plays for unfashionable team MF Jonjo Shelvey Current MF Steven Gerrard - Age against him MF Frank Lampard - Age against him MF James Milner MF Michael Carrick MF Tom Cleverley - ?! MF Jack Wilshere MF Ross Barkley MF Andros Townsend

PS the stats were pulled from WIKI so maybe a little off\out of date

I think there's an arguement to be had there to be honest Lambert - Apperances - 197 Goals - 104 Marian Pahars - Apperances 137 Goals - 43 It's hard to compare the 2 as they're different types of player but i think they equally contributed to the club.

Lambert had allot to live up to when he was given the number 7 shirt, he has excelled all expectations so comprehensively that he’s more than secured his place in Southampton FC folklore. All Hail SRL Appreciate it, because I think his days are numbered, as exceptional as he's been for us, there's no room in football for centiment and I think once Osvaldo settles, the way Ricky Lambert plays wont fit in with our continental style of play

Gareth Bale‏@GarethBale1111m Thanks to both @SouthamptonFC and @SpursOfficial for helping me to reach this point in my career... two very special clubs Nice touch, does this move enhance the reputation of Saints FC?

Nothing to do with valuation & everything to do with wages. The likes of Hammond & Sharp are on realitively big money. In Sharps case upwards of 20k a week, thats over £1 million a year in wages. Players have to agree to deals, they're not all motivated by playing football on a regular basis, and they're not going to earn nearly as much elsewhere so it's not as easy as just selling them. Loan Agreements can still save us money as the club loaning the player will likely pay a percentage of that players wages, maybe 50%... that could save us (in sharps case) 400k a year (considering the length of the season) It's why you see players move for free when you'd assume they would have re-sell value. For example, if Sharp had 2 years left on his contract, letting him move for free would save £2million in the long run. Football transfers are often protracted, complex and difficult to negotiate due to the nature of business, with the fair play rules now in force it's even harder. With accountants having to spread budgets across different financial years to appease shareholders and the FA

This

Surprised at some of the write ups in national newspapers claiming he caused problems, thought Fonte & Lovern were outstanding all game and gave him nothing, he looked way out of his depth and for a guy his size was actually fairly light weight, on his arse allot. He doesn't look like scoring many at all on the basis of that game, either our center backs are exceptional or he's crap

Why yes I believe I do!! :-)

Whey I'm ITK, can confirm this is legit. He's off on loan

It's crazy!! I mean look at the Players Osvaldo was playing alongside before we signed him!! De Rossi Totti Lamela Pjanic It's crazy!!