Saint_clark

You're obviously thinking of Lukaku who did tear us a new one. But Suarez was easily kept quiet by Yoshida and Hooiveld.

Thought he played in the North-east friendlies and V Eastleigh?

Harding left last summer.

If Pochettino didn't rate him, he'd be at home like the rest who are up for sale. Mayuka is going to have a great season.

So Phillips and Wise are the only two so far then, and that's going back quite a way (and Phillips played at RB for us then iirc, so we can't really be blamed - similar to Shearer playing in goal for Newcastle before he came to us).

You're having a sh*t day at work, aren't you?

The ads are personalised based on your internet history/searches...something you want to tell us?

Yep, same every season...once the big transfers have gone through the flood gates will open and money will start changing hands everywhere.

Way too early to list Moyes as a world class manager!

Especially given how well he did when given the chance in the first team by Newcastle, everyone was raving about him.

Are you bi-polar?

Indeed, he was a decent Championship level player. If he'd stayed after relegation to league one he'd probably only have fallen out of the first team squad at the start of last season - and certainly would have had more of an impact than De Ridder in our promotion campaign.

Genius

That damn symbol in the badge...

Absolutely. Once again people are far too precious.

He really wasn't as bad as people make out.

Actually apply? The whole "outstanding talent" thing is such a loose term, it's very rare a work permit gets turned down on appeal for Premier League clubs.

Although no-one has ever said that.

Bullsh*t, exactly the opposite was true. When we won 8-0 we were told that it was meaningless, but now we've lost all of a sudden it's a cause for concern. Reality is that results matter not one jot in pre-season. I remember hearing someone say something about youth games that is similarly true for pre-season friendlies - it doesn't matter about winning or losing, it is more important that the players learn and improve.

Indeed, didn't Fulham go for £200million?

I actually quite like that combo.

I was unsure about him as captain as well, but by all accounts he is seen as the heart of the team by a lot of the players - one of them referred to him as "Mr Southampton" at one point last season - and as such I am more than happy for him to continue.

Reverse the result and I guess it's just meaningless again.

Meaningless friendly, just like the 8-0 win - remember?

Interesting that Cardiff actually had a red dragon on their badge before a bluebird. Not such a deviation from tradition after all.