Matthew Le God

So what? Plus Shelvey isn't particularly defensively minded either, at least in comparison with Cork anyway.

Of the players you list, only 1 is a deep lying central midfielder who would be competition for Cork.

They don't trust your cover story, when the RAF turn up you'll be like this...

Do you think Chelsea consider Burnley a "rival" and don't want to sell players to them? There is a line to be drawn somewhere over who is a rival for league positions and I think Swansea are below Southampton's line. Southampton's rivals for league position this season are Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs and possibly West Ham. Saints loaned Ramirez to Hull because they knew we would finish higher than Hull and Hull weren't a threat (cue posts saying Ramirez weakened Hull ).

They aren't really a "rival" this season, we are 12 points ahead with a 25 swing in goal difference between the two sides.

Koeman has given gametime, debuts and time training with the 1st team to a lot of Saints academy players this season. Who?

He has been linked with Swansea for a number of years in the press. It was hardly a radical suggestion that you made 2 days ago.

I doubt they want to block Harrison Reed's pathway. Plus we have some other very promising central midfielders in the academy. Les Reed has mentioned on numerous occasions that the club wants to leave a path into the first team for the top academy players and Cork remaining as a squad player would in some ways block this.

[video=youtube;2PuKM-oZxLk]

That building covered in corden steel looks a little like a banqueting suite and exhibition hall AFL architects designed for Edgbaston cricket ground. Saints for the Liverpool game have run out of hospitality areas and are using off site locations... http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20150128-grand-cafe-liverpool-hospitality-2232032.aspx

Players in Spain and Portugal have to have a release clause in their contract. In order to stop them being pinched easily these clauses are often for fees far more than the player is worth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNXLKzt2rT0

It doesn't total up the number of empty seats, you'll have to do that yourself by looking at each block.

You don't need to buy a ticket to be able to click on any block and see a seating plan with how many tickets are left. You don't even need to register or log in to do that.

He doesn't need to go direct from Equatorial Guinea to Southampton.

No more fans outside training grounds with blow-up dolls, dildos, fireworks or anti-Sky chants on Jim White day... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/11372338/Transfer-deadline-day-Fans-banned-from-appearing-on-Sky-Sports-News-after-sex-aid-controversy.html

It was Sven van Beek... http://talksport.com/football/southampton-set-move-best-player-dutch-league-150127134069

You don't need to be logged in to view how sales are going. The Swansea game is now very close to being the 9th home sellout in a row. http://tickets.saintsfc.co.uk/PagesPublic/ProductBrowse/VisualSeatSelection.aspx?stadium=SM&product=H14SWA&campaign=&type=H&productsubtype=&productIsHomeAsAway=N

Gape & McCarthy Reed played last season, so what do you mean by "newbie"?

Have you not noticed Koeman has given a lot of match time and involvement in the 1st team match day squad and training to a large number of Saints academy players?

Its 7 matches if they beat Bolton in the replay and then face Crystal Palace in the 5th round between the Tottenham and Besikas game.

The press are suggesting if Cork doesn't sign a new deal then he might be sold this window, with Vilhena as his replacement. That way Saints get a fee for Cork and a replacement at the same time.

I'm not a Victorian prude

The article this is based on states if he signs he'd be replacing Cork if he doesn't sign a new deal and is sold soon.

Anyone can go on the Saints ticket website and see how many are left.