VectisSaint

How on earth can you come to such a daft conclusion. Last season we had a 10 point deduction, a dispirited demoralised team, curtailed preseason and need to bring in lots of new players, added to the fact that by most measures we were in the strongest Division 3 for many years, maybe ever, with 7 or 8 outstanding teams (and 16 mediocre/poor ones). The League is considerably weaker this season, we already have 10 points more than we did last season, we have the same 1st team as were the best team in the last part of last season, we have a settled management team and we have 5 weeks to go before the transfer season closes, we also have 3 good players added to last season (admittedly we have lost 2) plus we have a fit DC. Yet somehow you think we have a lesser chance than last season. Sometimes you talk a lot of sense. Other times you remind me of the press officer for Ferrari.

Always lots of little, niggling injuries at this stage of the season. The only ones I would be concerned about at the moment are Richardson and Lallana. We have adequate cover for Richardson (Butters), Adam is a bit harder to replace. Running round on rock-hard pitches after 6-8 weeks off plays havoc on any footballers. Think it as David Moyes yesterday dismiising concerns about pre-season injuries, in general don't worry.

Exactly. I see Man City have also said Bridge is for sale. Now I'm not stupid enough to suggest that Bridger would come back, but here is good example to illustrate the position. We pitched in early and bought Dickson, now Bridge is available. Is Dickson still the best out there, no, but we have more than enough LBs so we won't bid for Bridge now. AP is being very sensible. He knows he can buy quality, but wants the chance of buying the best quality, rather than make-dos. Some other posters here would rather get in now and buy adequate rather than top class. Plain stupid when we don't need to show our hand and also have a perfectly good 1st XI with which to start the season. It is 5 weeks until the transfer window closes.

August

There are players currently available and some of them would be OK, and we could get them here, but as pre-season progresses and clubs assess their squads and who they want to keep other, possibly better players may become available. If we have already pitched in and bought from the current pool we would then be kicking ourselves because we would not then be in a position to get the better player. Simples. Makes perfect sense, we have perfectly good team to start the season with, we need some strengthening and we will do that when the full extent of availability of players is known in a couple of weeks or so, we aren't going to go out and buy now just for the sake of it and because the "fans" expect us to.

Peru copied Saints

1-1 Lambert Free Kick

Mad thread, next we'll be hearing that we've signed the current European Footballer of the Year, you couldn't make it up.

Unfortunately its now been hijacked by a fish-fiddler, doesn't even know how to use a spell checker. "Benjamin Mwaruwari (born 13 August 1978), known as Benjani, is a Zimbabwean footballer, who currently is negotiating a move to Southampton as he's heard about this so-called "League One" and wants to know what it's like to play for a mediocre side in that division. He also has a rare condition which means he's addicted to losing 4-1 to teams playing in blue that are based only 17 miles away from the club he plays for and felt this would be the perfect opportunity to continue to feed that addiction. He also said he can't wait to get to grips with the local Stalions as he always wanted one back in Zimbabwe"

Did he always applaud the fans after the match? I think you maybe getting mixed up with David Prutton.

No, you are absolutely right, few of us have seen him play, and all the managers that he has "worked" under, not just AP, clearly are keeping his abilities under wraps until the time is exactly right when he can be unveiled as the new Maradonna and sold to Barcelona for 50m. There is a reason why we haven't seen him play, and that is because all the professional managers who actually determine these things have all come to the same conclusion, that the lad is not good enough. Even his old man failed to play him, its only his Mum that still believes he can make it, oh and Rupert lowe.

Not sure we want Beckham, but suppose he could be a slightly useful addition to the squad, backup for Pulis perhaps. I think we could do better.

You married a season ticket...

The article on the OS specifically states he will improve the service and opportunities for our corporate clients. I don't think he will be too involved with the sales of STs or any related instalment schemes. This could be a very good appointment for SFC with the potential to attract some major corporate sponsorship in years to come, making us more self sufficient and less reliant on the goodwill and deep pockets of Markus.

That will be Michael Poke's first goal then I presume.

Connolly may qualify and play for Republic of Ireland but he is as English as my daughter, born in Willesden, London (my daughter qualifies to represent N Ireland as my wife was born there).

I think you mis-spelled the last word there... I don't recall you predicting that Richardson would be injured

My daughter's middle name is Shannon, some of us have stronger wills than others :-) I did have to concede and not spell it with a "C" however.

Tosh, the truth is that we have adequate cover for Richardson, firstly in Butterfield (maybe why he was signed, don't know) and with Harding as further cover, as shown by his coming on for Butterfield yesterday). We have 3 LBs (Harding, Dickson and Mills, and Seaborne is also able to play LB) so there really is no need to go out and get more cover. We have the cover, we don't need cover for the cover. Dislocated shoulder is not good, but it doesn't have to hurt fitness levels too much, 3 months seems a tad conservative to me but we'll see. Where we do need more cover is CM and for Rickie, Connolly and Barnard are not cover for RL, they complement him. Not sure whether we need cover for GK, the situaton with Bart seems unclear.

Would be a bit silly, we've had plenty of players called Michael...

FATY? Has George Burley been coaching them pre-season?

Thanks Will, and to think they used to call you "Can't Cope", regards to Southampton Hard Man Jimmy Case.

For defenders, 30 can be very much prime year(s), thats why Wenger played Campbell at the back towards end of last season at age 36, Silvestre 33, Gallas 33, even Sagna is 27. Exception would be Vermaelen at 25. Different to a large extent for MF, especially wide players, but for defenders 30 is not too old.

I'm not meaning to read anything into this, merely an observation, but this transfer is not mentioned anywhere as far as I can see, other than on the OS, not on the Beeb, Sky or other places I've looked. I know for sure some people will now post links proving me wrong, but given some of the low league transfer news that is online or on the box, just seems a bit odd to me.

Connolly for Barnard, doubt that Butters would play so soon after joining, Richardson probably better anyway. Just realised you left out Lallana as well.