VectisSaint

It was only the OP that called it the Premiership, term is not used by the Grauniad. The article also lists 20 players who play for Premier League teams "who could make an impact in pre-season" (very specific). In other words they are trying to see who might, if they do well, creep into the fringes of the teams, they don't seem to be claiming these players will break through into the PL teams this season. Indeed for Baily Cargill (former Saint now at Boscombe) they are actually suggesting a loan to a Championship side this season is the logical next step. Wouldn't surprise me actually if the outcome for Wood might be the same, i.e. loaning out to Champ/L1 side - maybe we can let Swindon have Wood this season to replace Turnbull or Stephens, one of whom will surely be involved in our first team squad this term (it looks more likely to be Stephens, although most Swindon supporters I know seemed to think Turnbull was the better of the two). Interested to see Cargill was ex-Saints (can't claim to have ever heard of him before), together with Tyrone Mings (who I do know) that seems to be two defenders on the verge of breaking through to the PL (and now both at Boscombe) that our famed Academy have let slip through our fingers.

Overall decent blog, it could have done without the crap paragraph about Cortese, making up stuff for comedy effect detracts from overall article.

Will Wood or MLG? Wood played in the u21 League Cup Final IIRC, seemed to go about his business without attracting the attention of his partner that day, which is often a good sign. He also was on the tour to Austria I think (MLG will put me right if I am wrong no doubt) but not in the training pics of the first team squad yesterday.

Well, if you have a nervous bladder, you should get it checked out, that would be my advice. Best of luck.

Is it because he's a bit like our own 'Arry Nero of Sandbanks, always on the fiddle?

Aha, but I'm not really called Mr Vectis, just like I assume you aren't called Ms Whistle (or Ms Sue) :-) Then again perhaps you are.

That would explain it. Should get mine around Christmas then :-) Usually alphabetical order benefits me.

God knows what people will do after November 1st.

How can this be? Morgan said Van Gaal is the best and thats why he joined Manure.

Cool. So you had no key people where you work. Lucky you. We are not replacing 3 out of 30, it is 2 from 10 (or 3 if you want to count Clyne). Who said anything about crumbling? Not me, but if you can't see that more than a band aid is needed when 2 key players (by far our best) are lost from the spine then really there is not much point in having a discussion. I guess I just need to pigeon hole you as a happy clapper, at least you don't show any symptons of incontinence.

Excellent analysis and write up, pretty much what I have been thinking (without the thought and care of why). The only area I think this does not cover is the keeper situation. The Club will obviously have a better idea that me of when FF will likely be back, but best bet seems to be end of the year (sounds remarkably similar to JRod last year). Stek looks decent (actually looks better than FF to me but thats a different matter), but keeping a clean sheet is very difficult when either FF or Stek are not available. Investing wisely in a CB and DM could all be undone if something happens that forces us to use Gazza, or even worse KD again for more than one or two games. I seriously think another keeper is a must, esepcially if we progress as hoped in the EL.

LOL. Of course replacing 3 key players (well I would consider Morgan and Toby as key, maybe not Clyne to the same extent) is a "touch up", a band-aid is it? Oh well, if you say so. Whether we knew about them leaving or not really doesn't make any difference to whether Ronald is "forced" to "rebuild" again. Fact is he is having to rebuild, that's why we have already brought in 4 new players and are looking for 1 or probably 2 more. Fact is there really wasn't much wrong with the 2 messages posted (ref Clasie and Krychowiak), and it certainly didn't warrant the infantile response about bed wetters again, which is my main bone of contention.

So you don't think Schneiderlin, Clyne (and Alderweireld, mentioned in the other linked post) were key men? OK. That's your opinion. Really think that there are some people on here who had issues in the damp bed department when they were little and now try to make up for that by asserting that anyone who actually shows any concern about what is happening has the same issues that they had when children.

Sue, haven't received mine yet either (the post just arrived). I received mail from the Club on Thursday that at least implied they had been sent, and some people have received theirs. I was expecting them yesterday, but I guess it may be another day or so.

Belgians play for Spuds.

Boruc

Oh good, I'm glad you cleared that up

I guess you don't watch football at all then, if you seriously think that. 5 goals last season as a DM (and 5 two years prior to that as well) pays testimony to the fact that actually he can shoot, and is one of the better midfields at that particular skill. Admittedly he wasn't too good at it in his early days, but if you are seriously trying to say that was one of his flaws then you should think again. Try watching the video on Twitter now, I know it only shows the good things but hey ho, it also demonstrates that he was actually very good at hitting the target when all around him were woeful. I look forward to the day when Ward-Prowse scores 5 in a season from open play, or Steven Davis or Dusan Tadic for that matter.

So the thread title can be amended now. Sad day, our best player over the last few years by far, but he's played an important part in what we have achieved, and we have played an important part in what he has achieved. I fully expect him to go on and be a great player, shame its for Manure, but at least its not with the Bindippers or the North London yobbos, but a proper top 4 team. Good luck Morgan. Now lets see the 25+m spent wisely on replacements (plural because he cannot be replaced in the singular). Sounds like Les possibly expects Clasie and Reed to take up the cudgels, at least in part.

Will be very surprised if Morgan becomes a bench warmer at United. Schweinsteiger is relatively short term and will not be available, week in week out. Morgan will more likely become the central pillar the midfield is built around. Comparing him with Shaw is just silly. As they say, you don't know what you've got till its gone.

Why are you looking to blame anyone, and for what? CL isn't such a long way away, after all we could win the EL this season and qualify (unlikely I know). When the original 5 year plan was put together that wasn't even a possibility.

Agreed, but as an individual it is very difficult to see how he can be replaced like for like. I never said he was irreplaceable, we will probably bring in Clasie and maybe someone else, alter our system a little to suit what we have. But I think it highly unlikely that we will find someone as good as Morgan at what Morgan did and not have it affect the team. Sometimes one has to realise that we have lost a player who is so good (and will show this in the coming years) that his loss will be felt. I don't think any of the players that went last season, or Clyne or even Toby for that matter come into this category of player.

Really? Did anyone serious actually say this. Rickie was already on his way out in January (was going to Wet Sham), he was never going to be the biggest loss last summer, in fact I would say he was the least of our losses, apart from being a talisman. If you think Morgan is easily replaceable then you are a little deluded (in my opinion). You don't easily replace players that will probably prove to be world class.

This, everyone else has been replaceable. Morgan is the key to our team, and is one of the best players in his role in Europe (maybe the world). We may buy players but we will not be able to replace him like for like.

So, that would have been £5m then.