pap

Linking up with the Japan squad ahead of the international break.

We'll get the measure of Fonte tomorrow. He knows he is fighting for his place now. I want him to rise to the occasion. I don't think he is a bad player. He just hasn't had any competition for a year, and some basic errors have crept in via complacency.

As do I, Saint Charlie. This is one of those rare occasions where Puncheon's attitude really suits us. I can't see him being intimidated by United.

I watched it live on iplayer. Probs what was meant.

Spotted that myself. Happy to be proved wrong on the North/South thing. Probably just a case of where he is likely to get the most games.

Nice one GWC. I like your stuff a lot, sir.

Lawro has apologised to Southampton fans on Football Focus. Love the way it was squirmed out of him!

This may be the heady rush of optimistic victory talking, but I honestly think some of our fans have a bit of an inferiority complex. I'm not going to call anyone out on here, but I have got mates who send increasingly wound up texts to me when we're not playing particularly well, or think that we'll never sign player x. I'm not having a pop either. I remember our last stint in the Prem all too well. Struggling Southampton. Plucky Southampton. Hear something enough times and you'll start to believe it. It was not always so. I'm a little too young to remember this with any sort of objective clarity, and maybe someone with a few more years can tell me whether I'm talking tosh, but I remember a tremendous buzz about the team and the city when we came close to winning the league in the mid 80s. No fear then, as far as I can recall. I've said this before, but genuinely think Ramirez is the signing that'll convince other players to sign. Hopefully, his capture will have changed a few minds on what Southampton FC are capable of too.

Fear not, John Boy Saint - I am a harsh but fair overlord.

That takeover period was bloody mental. Goodness knows how many man hours I lost to it. I've always been an optimist, and historically, a deluded one. Hats off to Markus, Nicola and everyone involved in bringing reality a lot closer to my delusions. Best thing that ever happened to us.

Looking over all the correspondence, Billy seems happy enough with the move. Nottingham is very close to his old stomping grounds. Even without the personal tragedy that Billy and family went through, moving from the North to the South can be a hell of a culture shock. Really hope he does well at Forest.

Chaps, found these old PDFs kicking around my machine. Screen dumps of the Echo article just after the Liebherr takeover. Thought it might be a nice reminder of what was said at the time, and how far we've come in three years. Cortese interview Oldknow interview Enjoy.

Something was seriously fishy about the Buttner deal. I read on here that Buttner scuppered the transfer, which would suggest your lay low theory may have some legs.

Three years ago, if anyone had told us Saints fans we'd be a front-loaded team newly promoted to the Premier League, most would have taken it. Exciting times.

Clint Dempsey just gone to Spurs. Going to check the #lfc hashtag. Should be amusing.

The girls on SSN are generally ace. When they're not talking, they're very good with the come to bed eyes. It's a sexy disgrace.

Nope. Can sign after tonight. The wags on talkSPORT were claiming that puts him in a strong position following LFC's "sh!t - we've got no strikers" epiphany.

I have been listening to talkSPORT for comedy value. Loads of Liverpool fans moaning about lack of signings. All of them have southern accents.

The biggest promotions and pay-rises often come when you change jobs, not when you're internally promoted. So, while I'm happy to concede that people wouldn't turn an internal promotion down because of a higher rate of tax, people who move companies often re-consider their tax arrangements. There is an entire industry built around it.

Neither did I. Season 5 is interesting. I kinda sussed season 6 early on and it was ruined for me thereafter. Great ending though. Stick with it.

Any news of a loan fee?

First off, let the gloating begin for Happy Clappers United! As discussed, everyone who voted yes now "owns" 1.42 no voters.

Talk to the hand. He was.

Did you enjoy your evening of feeling superior?