Matthew Le God

He played for two years in Southampton's academy sides, so I'd say that makes him a product of Saints academy. Of course Plymouth get credit as well.

If true, it further highlights this...

Well it won't be quite the same, but the Southampton - London train in 1st class is still a pretty pleasant trip.

Here Taïder, gone tomorrow.

Why does that confirm it? Most non Saints fans couldn't name all our incomings, let alone critique their footballing ability.

Does the Long deal really stand out compared to other recent English club to English club transfers in a post 2013 TV deal marketplace? We could have got better value abroad, but we live in a time of Championship strikers being sold for £10m+. Shane Long for £12m doesn't stand out as much as it once would.

Because trains don't get caught in London rush hour traffic, are quicker and you have a good idea when exactly you'll arrive. The coach can drive up in the morning without the squad and meet them at the London train station to take them to the hotel and then to the game.

Have you seen Burnley's, Palace's, Leicester's etc etc transfers this summer? That is "shopping at Lidl", not spending circa £50m like Saints have.

Saints are the 6th largest spenders in British football so far this summer. They've spent nearly £50m, and will probably go past that by the time the window closes. That is one expensive Lidl store!

Of course they haven't sold the coach! When Saints fly or take the train to games, they still use the club's coach at the other end to get from airport/railway station to the hotel, and then the hotel to stadium and stadium back to hotel/airport/railway station.

No they didn't, it was in the Portuguese press first, Goal.com just rehashed it.

The mistake at the Emirates was a big one, the Stoke one was in part due to the wind. Apart from those two what were the "howlers" last season? He has earned Saints a lot more points than he lost them in the last two seasons.

Artur Boruc was in training today.

Ronald Koeman in the last few minutes during his pre-match press conference said Jack Cork won't be sold.

Koeman has just denied he will leave in his press conference.

Koeman has just denied he will leave in his press conference.

Oh **** it. Turkish is off ignore for the first time in 15 months. I've read his last post. Those two posts he quoted of mine do NOT contradict each other. I think we stayed up in 2012/13 despite Hooiveld playing, rather than because he did. He was the weaklink whenever he played in the Premier League and was someone opponents would look to exploit, even in games we won and/or kept clean sheets.

At no point did I say he didn't play a significant number of games, what I said is that he was out of his depth in the Premier League. I think we stayed up in 2012/13 despite him playing, rather than because he did. He was the weaklink whenever he played in the Premier League and was someone opponents would look to exploit, even in games we won and/or kept clean sheets. At Championship level his defienciencies can be glossed over and he showed himself to be effective in our promotion campaign. The Premier League is a different matter and he is a signicant weakling that makes extra work for his team-mates to cover his lack of pace, positional awareness and distribution errors.

So what? That doesn't mean he had a good game. He was found out in a lot of games at Premier League level - pretty much every game (even those in which we kept clean sheets). Are you suggesting he is a competent Premier League level defender then? Would you be happy to see him play a lot for us again? Do you not think he is slow, lacks positional sense at a high level, weak in the air, a poor passer and is uncomfortable on the ball at Premier League level?

I'll refer you to the second half of post #23.

Has Turkish still not realised I've had him on ignore for roughly the last 15 months? Is he really that slow to cotton on? Its only you quoting him that allows me to see it. As you think the same thing, I'll say it to you, he was found out in a lot of games at Premier League level - pretty much every game (even those in which we kept clean sheets). Are you suggesting he is a competent Premier League level defender then? Would you be happy to see him play a lot for us again? Do you not think he is slow, lacks positional sense at a high level, weak in the air, a poor passer and is uncomfortable on the ball at Premier League level?

It was with Fonte and Yoshida we stayed up in that season, Hooiveld was out of his depth. He has never risen above Championship level. He's a great character and important part of the promotion season, but Saints progressed beyond Hooiveld.

If he goes it suggests another centre back coming in, or Koeman thinks Stephens is ready to be 4th choice. Burnley really have shown a lack of ambition with their incomings, Hooiveld would be another signing seemingly preparing for life in the Championship next season.