Matthew Le God

Any other clubs outside those 8 are already behind Saints in terms of player quality (we've already overtaken clubs the size of Newcastle, West Ham, Aston Villa etc in terms of player quality). Plus left back plays quite a pivotal role in a Pochettino team and its important we get a high quality replacement if Shaw really does leave this summer. It is teams like Newcastle and Everton that Saints will be looking to both overtake and/or stay above in years to come if it is to progress from its current 8th position.

New player contracts with bigger wages? Plus a new deal for Pochettino would indicate he is happy with the direction of the club.

tbf our three fullbacks have similar qualities to wingers and are often found in very advanced positions with midfielders covering them for large parts of the game. Plus Chambers and Shaw both have histories of playing as wingers in their youth careers, I think Clyne may have as well.

I doubt any club looks to stand still, even if Rupert Lowe is in charge. Getting above 8th is extremely difficult but I doubt Saints won't be trying to achieve that.

Why not? If Shaw isn't sold we'd still need to sign a striker and possibly a centre back and keeper in the summer. If Shaw is sold for £30m we'd need a high quality left back. Hard to find someone even at the level slightly below Shaw for under £5m. What is your definition of the top 4?

Of course they are, and it is how Shaw is replaced if he leaves which will play an important part in how strong the squad/team is. If Shaw is replaced with he best young(ish) left back the Championship has to offer i.e. Cresswell then the team will be a lot weaker. If it looks abroad for example in the £8m to £12m range they should be able to find an international left back in his early 20's of a good quality. A left back version of Lovren, who at £8.5m was a bargain.

Aaron Cresswell at Ipswich Town is the best young(ish) left back in the Championship. He is probably good enough for a bottom half Premier League team, but I think we'd be better off looking abroad. Saints are no longer looking to merely stay up, they are looking to improve on 8th. Not saying there won't be the odd player that might be useful from the Championship, but the club is better off looking for players that have already proven themselves to a high level and combine that with academy products.

I think as they've now seen him in the Premier League they'd realise he isn't what we need. Buttner has looked poor when given the chance at United this season.

He is walking again (sort of)...

Fox and Hooiveld are out of their depth in the Premier League but both were signed when Saints were in the Championship and both were first choice players in a promotion season. Both were very useful that season. Correct, his passing isn't great. But if he keeps things simple like for example he did against Villa on Saturday and makes short passes to the more technically gifted players then Wanyama is a very useful asset in front of the centre backs. I've given you another bite, have fun with it.

- Fox was signed from Burnley - Fox and Hooiveld played key roles in getting Saints promoted to the Premier League - Wanyama is limited technically, but a very effective defensive barrier in front of the centre backs

"Fox has also agreed a three-year contract at The City Ground, which will take effect after the conclusion of his loan agreement." http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/fox-trots-in-1326533.aspx

11th June 2001... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/1361451.stm

I'd go further... This is completely irrelevant. Plus in any case ART's graphic shows Saints are only 3 places and 1 point below their current league position of 8th and only 3 points behind 5th. So I'm really not sure what point ART is using this table to justify...?

It closed for the day 4 minutes ago.

Right back competition with both Clyne and Chambers is fine as well. But only having central midfield and right back with depth in the squad has been our problem this season.

Schmeichel is out of contract in the summer.

Well that is rubbish and shows just how little the journalist has looked into this! Slattery has made 2 sub appearances for Southampton under 18's this season.

Looking solely at win % is an odd way of looking at things. Two managers, ten games... Manager A - wins 3 - draws 4 - loses 3 - win % = 30% - 13 points Manager B - wins 4 - draws 0 - loses 6 - win % = 40% - 12 points Which record is better Glasgow_Saint? Manager A or manager B? You should base it on points and league position with respective resources available, not solely win %.

Because football is more than XI vs XI over a season. Our first choice XI has some very talented players capable of playing for some of the clubs above us, but we lack squad depth. If our first XI changes due to injury/suspension we are significantly weakened as only have depth at right back and central midfield.