Matthew Le God

The money spent on the training ground is a clear indication of the level of finance. There is no need to do that unless you are planning to be a top half Premier League side relatively soon. Also none of us know how much Guly cost, how much Forte cost, we do know Richardson cost £450k, Dickson fee was set by tribunal and would have cost a lot more if it hadn't, we don't we know for certain the terms of the Chaplow deal or how much it cost to get Lallana to sign a long term deal.

But which squad was better after the final game of the 2009/10 season? After Saint's spending in January, I think Saints had a better squad than Leeds, Norwich and Millwall. Those three were then able to attract players for their Championship seasons because their squads needed improvement, Saints however were already good enough for a League One campaign. As for this coming season, it is 18th June and there are two and half months left of the window.

Not if he sees that Saints are planning to bring in more central midfielders to knock him even further down the pecking order. Hammond Chaplow Schneiderlin ...are all ahead of Gobern You could argue that... Chamberlain Lallana Guly ...would also do a better job if needed in central midfield. If the club really is looking at players like Jack Cork, Gobern would be a long way from getting game time (even from the subs bench) in the Championship.

It isn't me on a "wind up"... http://www.bold.dk/nyt/Friis-Hansen-skal-hjaelpe-Saints-i-PrL It is a member of staff at the club, showing that the club has a very different view to the one you think it does.

"The club has a clear objective to advance directly to the Premier League, so we're going to take 5 or 6 quality players over the summer. I'll probably find three players who in principle are good enough to play Premier League, but have the mentality to play the Championship in one or maximum two seasons, which is the deadline to move up. This might sound like a somewhat over-ambitious target, but the club has the means and facilities to pursue their dreams into reality. " Jakob Friis-Hansen

He was used at the top of a midfield diamond on a number of occasions last season.

I think it is quite public.

I doubt he left for salary reasons. He wants to be playing and would be down the pecking order at Saints next season.

Saints did offer him a contract, he has turned it down.

BBC Radio Leeds have been running the story.

- Bialkowski joined Saints as an 18 year old and thus never played for the academy. - Matt Mills plays for Reading.

Schneiderlin has played 30 Championship games.

Well every time I posted it, you have yet to answer any of the questions I raised. Such as how much Guly and Forte cost, why £450k is not a small amount to pay for a League One right back? Or most importantly why Saints needed much change after the summer of 2010 when the squad was already pretty much in place and the additions that were made helped obtain promotion? Sometimes I think your username really is quite apt!

...into a five year living nightmare.

Was strange to start the post with this... Then go back to post #452 and counter it.

Apart from a 16 year old Walcott

Hypochondriac has me on ignore, yet still comments on my post by guessing what I said.

If they aren't happy, why have they agreed to it again? They would know what they are getting when the friendly is arranged. Every season Saints play Eastleigh it is against the reserves/under 21 development side/under 18's (listed as a Southampton XI side). 2010 for example... Saints: Bialkowski, Saville, A. Martin, Tafazolli, Reeves (Foot 77), Chamberlain (Garrod 60), Robinson, Pulis, Isgrove, Doble, Hoskins. Subs (not used): Forecast, B. Martin. The 1st team, under 21 development squad and under 18's all need their own friendlies in the summer.

Elmander signed for Galatasary in May 2011 on huge wages and Upson was playing for England at the last World Cup and was on wages of £50k+ at West Ham.

- Is £450k a "low fee" for a League One right back? - How do you know how much Guly cost? It was undisclosed. - Dickson's fee went to a tribunal, and he cost less for that reason. Had Saints wanted to buy him any other time he would have cost a lot more than the tribunal fee. - Tying Lallana to a 4.5 year deal wouldn't be cheap with raised wages, signing on fee and agent fee. - Do you know how much Forte cost? It probably was cheap, but as it was undisclosed we don't know. - Although Chaplow was apparently only £50k, he'd be on good wages, signing on fee and agent fee. On top of all of that, in the summer of 2010 not a lot needed to be added in any case, as the nucleus of a very good League One team was already in place.

What have the Football League done to Plymouth that they should have done to Portsmouth? Salisbury have never been under the jurisdiction of the Football League.

What about a silhouette for Markus with the Saints scarf still in colour?

A white background may not be a good idea as it will get noticeably dirty, quickly. Also as mentioned above, a silhouette may be better as with folds and dirt over time the colour image of Markus won't look great.

He was playing a lot for a top half Premier League club, on an estimated £35k+ per week and wanted more from Villa which led to negotiations to breaking down. Since then he has been linked in the papers to a number of top flight European clubs. I don't think you can include him in your realistic list.

How big will it be Mike?