VectisSaint

Transfer windows are set by FIFA and do vary but generally most major European Leagues have the same or very similar window to England. The issue is not the date of the window, but the start of the leagues. Spain, for instance, generally starts 2 weeks later than England. So setting a transfer window to close 31 July (which I agree makes sense) means Spanish clubs would have to have their squads set up more than 3 weeks before their season starts. The transfer windows need to be co-ordinated nowadays because of the internationalisation of the top professional leagues. It would be difficult to have England close its window end July and Spain 3 weeks later, how would transfers be managed between the two countries? My view is that at least the window if it is perceived to be necessary should at least close one week before the start of the latest major league, so this season that would probably have meant 15 August, still not ideal, but better than the current stupid date of 31 August/1 September which this season even corresponds to the international break.

33 seconds: http://wall.saintsfc.co.uk/Article/1383772-60-SECOND-HIGHLIGHTS-Watford-0-0-Southampton Maybe it was going off target, but Gomes felt the need to make a spectacular save.

Ah now I understand, not decent chances "in your book". The "Book of What is a Decent Chance" by No **** Shurlock. Top of the Fiction charts? So you missed the save by Gomes from Pelle, the corner from Davis headed over the bar from Long, the run through the middle by Mane that resulted in him being injured, even the shot from Cedric (probably the least of what could be called a chance because it was a long way out, but we've seen equally good chances in the last year from Clyne and Vic). There were some decent chances, but we have a misfiring strike "force" at the moment who need a great deal more chances because of their poor conversion ratio.

Actually we did, we had several decent chances. Pelle could have scored from Davis' through ball, and then from the resulting corner (from Davis). Long could also have scored. Also Mane had a great chance before he went off when he passed across the box for Pelle, although it would have been a better chance if he had pulled it back for Davis who was storming in to the pen in acres of space (of course Davis may well have skyed it). We had 5 shots on target, whereas Watford had a big fat zero.

If there was an issue why have him on the bench? Would have made more sense to have had Gaston there is there was no way Tadic was actually going to play. Hope Tadic is OK by the way.

That's what happens when you don't go to games, you miss his motivational speech pre Everton. I'm sure its on YouTube or something somewhere.

No. Highlights were ridiculous, Mane was already off before they showed anything of Saints. They were really just interested in Watford were doing, really don't know why anyone watches this stuff any more. Romeu was good again. I'm also not sure the yellow was warranted again (for the third time), replays showed clearly that he played and won the ball, was it dangerous? Not convinced, looked like the Watford player made it look worse. Think Romeu has a reputation that precedes him, think he should grow his hair so that he doesn't look like a thug and refs might stop picking on him :-)

Funny how you missed the other excellent signings such as Ramirez, Osvaldo, etc etc. Selective memory.

Then we would have been docked 3 points for playing an ineligible player.

Everyone keeps saying this, even the commentators on today's game (FoxSports), but there is little or no evidence to support the case. I really want the guy to do well, but he really is adding less than nothing at the moment - give him his due he did have his best game for a while against Midgetland and did win us the pen. Still, not going to blame him for today.

Hardly reality to include VVD given we haven't signed him yet, and not sure that Clasie or Bertrand will be back even by then (though that's the aim). Unless of course you know something.

Neither was playing the top teams. I guess ideally we should avoid playing anyone for the first few games of the season until we have our team sorted out, wonder if we could organise this with the PL next season. Its not who we are playing against that is the issue.

LOL, usual suspect, no attention to the game, just showing your usual personal issues. Why am I not surprised?

I was pleasantly surprised as well that he gave free kicks for the annoying nudges in the back that our referees never seem to give. He was particularly good but did let himself down a bit with the time wasting, should have cracked down on it earlier, and also he booked the wrong player at the end when he finally did do something, he should have booked their No 2, the knob with the bob, who had been doing his best to waste time all game, and caused the incident when the booking was made. But i would gladly have him as a ref every week. So much better than anything we see in the PL. Who was he by the way?

There was little or no optimism this time last season, though it turned out well soon afterwards. When was our last PL win, well it was 16 May 2015, matchday 37, when we won 6-1. There have only been 3 PL games since.

Come on Whitey, expect better of you. I never said that.

Meanwhile in Never Never Land...

The bit about us signing VVD or the bit about replacing Mane with 'dros Townsend? How can anyone believe the first part when the second part also goes against everything we are lead to believe from the club about players not leaving. Cake and eating it?

This. He was definitely ok on Thursday. Think some people see something one game and imagine it in others. He did bottle a challenge or two against Everton but only after he was booked, it was to do with ensuring he did not get sent off. Actually he was better attacking as well, some decent balls into the box. He gets compared to Shaw who never managed a goal or assist as far as I recall.

No, staying at Saints, seems you get more time off here if you are old and decrepid like me, Jose and Graziano

Maybe, I don't have an issue, and its not a warm-up session its a recover session the the day after the game. Its just funny when people scrabble around to try to justify something that really isn't very important and come up with new excuses. I have never ever seen Saints rest their "old" players from a recovery training session. All I did was point out that these 2 players were not training, s-clarke then implied that I was lying in even suggesting the team had trained (despite evidence that showed they did), then tried to change his argument that only the 2 of them were not training, then No9 chimes in with it being because they are so old and knackered that they probably got excused from the recovery session. My own view is that Pelle was probably at the hairdressers getting another layer of gel applied and Fonte was house hunting in Birmingham or looking for a care home vacancy because he is so old If its the latter I can probably help him, there is a room next to mine that is vacant.

LOL. You don't give up do you. I'm sure both will play tomorrow but its quite funny when people find any excuse to avoid seeing that there might (just might) be a problem. It maybe that Pelle just had a previous appointment with the hairdresser to apply more gel.

Could be. Possible excuses why Fonte and Pelle might have missed training. Hasn't Vic played every minute as well? Yesterday's session was all about recovery.

Everybody is a Manchester United target. I got a call yesterday, it was probably from them, though in the end I put the phone down before anyone their end spoke, but I'm almost certain it was Woodward.

So why did everyone else train? No-one has said they are injured or unavailable, just merely pointing out that 2 players apparently missed training yesterday. Why specifically would Fonte and Pelle not train, if anyone I would have not been suprised at Yoshida, he was knackered with all the running he did on Thursday playing at RB instead of CB.