edprice1984

I wouldn't say no to Barkley, but I would be looking for a season long loan with an option to buy. How many years left on his contract? Can't really see it happening, especially if we are already in for Lemina. Almeida is an excellent player and obviously we are looking at succession planning ahead of a departure next summer.

TalkSport only talk about the 'big teams' because they know that they can get the United/Liverpool/Arsenal supporters living in Carlisle, Leeds and Devon to call in. On the odd occasion that they do talk about Saints, or any other club with generally local support, those who call in are sensible and normal - this is very boring radio and therefore the producers prefer to talk about things like 'Chelsea in Crisis' or 'City will stuff United' etc etc. Hawksby and Jacobs are normally pretty good and they have a few interesting discussions about football in general - Tim Vickery is always good value for his South American coverage for example. Colin Murray, imho is probably the best sports broadcaster out there at the moment. Obviously a Liverpool supporter but not overly biased and very knowledgeable. He is criminally underused by the Beeb, although good to see he is running the show for the Football league highlights this season. It appears that VVD is staying now, unless we receive a significant bid from Chelsea in the next couple of days.

My first opportunity to see the team under Pellegrino. Hopefully a better performance than wednesday and maybe even a goal!? Also, taking my 5 year old daughter to her first game. Wish me luck

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40710224 Poll to rig!!!!! Lloydie was that one of the 'Play with a Legend' events? Waiting for the 2018 event at St Mary's as I really want to get involved in it - but would love to find out if it was any good from someone who has played in it.

I predict a similar league position - 8th most likely, but with an increased points tally. We will play more attractive football and score more goals (provided Gabbi and Charlie stay fit). Another cup run, preferably in the FA Cup, will follow and we will continue to be the number one club on the South Coast. Outside of Saints: City to win the league Chelsea (2nd); Man Utd (3rd); Arsenal (4th) Liverpool and Spurs to fight over 5th and 6th - Everton 7th Relegated: Huddersfield; Brighton and Bournemouth Pompey to just escape relegation from League 1

Monk is only passing on info. He has been right in the past and he has been wrong. Thanks for sharing what you have been told. However I think there is a lot of wishful thinking from the Liverpool side at the moment, particularly in the wake of the Coutinho rumours. As I said earlier, I am increasingly confident that VVD will stay - but IF he does leave, it won't be to Liverpool. The comments on this thread over the past hour or so show how untenable Les Reed's position would be if a sale to Liverpool took place. This forum doesn't necessarily represent the majority of Saints fans as a rule, but on this topic it is pretty close to the mark. I am going to the Sevilla game next Saturday and it wouldn't surprise me to see VVD in the squad.

I am increasingly confident that we will keep VVD and although this has been a quiet transfer window so far, if you look around at other teams and the signings they have made I am not sure we are that far behind the curve. Hudderfield, Watford, Newcastle, Swansea, Man City, Everton and Brighton have all made 5 or more signings. But with the exception of Man City and Everton, would any of the players signed by the others improve our squad? Everton are splashing the cash which has been boosted by the sale of Lukaku (and likely Ross Barkley). I do think there are areas that need improving, we need a creative midfielder and I would like another Striker - however buying players for the sake of it (see West Ham over the past few years) doesn't automatically bring success. Also, despite peoples protestations, there are a few names being banded about - Roberts (from City); Bitton and Armstrong (from Celtic) and Allan (from Napoli). What would people prefer a West Ham style 'everything done in the full glare of the media'; Saints current style which is largely played behind closed doors or a mix of the two?

Would you class a Monkey Chicken Petting Zoo has stadium or training ground redevelopment?

I understand why many share the feelings of the OP. However, with the exception of VVD, it appears we are not going to be offloading 3 of 4 of our best players this year (unless someone bids silly money). If you look at the contracts being signed by players, they are 4/5 or 6 years - we are doing our best to hold on to talent. In respect to signings, I think the new money is a double edge sword. It allows us to attract better players, certainly when you compare the wages and fees to what the more traditional 'big' clubs of Europe can offer. But the selling club knows that they can drive up the price too. The club know where the limitations in the squad are, but throwing money at the problem is never a good solution. West Ham, Sunderland, Palace all spent big over the previous seasons and they haven't improved. Gradually clubs and chairmen are operating in a similar way to how Saints have been. A long term strategy which super cedes individual managers and coaches. I hope we do sign a couple of extra players, a creative midfielder (Sigurddson would fit the bill); A defensive midfielder and depending on VVD, one more Centre Back, or if he stays another fullback.

Ah the Pompey approach.

Nonsense, if we win who the hell cares!

What has win % got to do with anything? MoPo had a poorer win % than Adkins. But I would argue most on here would say MoPo was a better manager. Adkins (who I thought was great for us by the way) benefited from having a relatively expensive squad in a lower league - we were going to win more game than not. Alaves were expected to be relegated last year, they ended up in the Copa del Rey final and comfortably mid-table. The issues relating to the style of football with Puel could have been solved if we had been a little more 'gung-ho' towards the end of the season, but he wasn't willing to change - that is why he had to go. Once we were safe, we should have seen a more attacking style.

Obviously taken a look at rugby and decided to copy a few elements. Rugby games often finish around the same time as football games now on a Saturday, when its a 3pm kickoff. The only way you can realistically do this is to take the time keeping out of the refs hands.

I thought Schmidt had joined a chinese club? GvB would be a good fit imho. Used to bringing through young players, they play an attractive brand of football and young and upcoming manager.

I heard two things that made me nearly crash the car on the way to work this morning: 1 - The French ambassador speaking on Today, alongside her German counterpart stating "France and Germany have always been friends" 2 - John McDonnell stating that it was important for those earning £80,000 a year to pay their 'fare share'. Apparently paying £30,434 a year in Income tax and NI contributions isn't enough!

I have a number of mates in the armed forces and they all told me the same thing. He should have never faced a murder charge. He did do something illegal, it should have been manslaughter with an understanding that he was under severe emotional and psychological pressure at the time. I understand the arguments against any prosecution, but we have distinct and carefully thought out rules of engagement that are designed to protect our servicemen and women as well as enemy combatants and civilians. War is messy, but when someone breaks those rules they do need to face the consequences.

I never begrudge a player a move away to a bigger club. I only get annoyed if a player goes about in a dishonest and disrespectful way - see Lovren or Kenwyne Jones. IMHO, Virgil is probably the best player we have seen at Saints since MLT. He stands way above any one else in the squad and could play for Real, Barca or Bayern and still be a stand out player. I am hopeful we can keep him for one more year, but if Citeh do come calling with say £60m or £70m, the club has to accept it. This may help in keeping other key players like Bertrand and Romeu as we can offer better contracts as well as giving us the cash to find a suitable replacement.

I wouldn't say he would be 'crawling back'. He left when he was very young (17?) and when we were in League One. He has seen his chances limited by injury and Wenger's inability to figure out where to play him. Wages will no doubt be an issue - but if he was to leave Arsenal we would be in a good position to sign him. Although as someone else said - Everton and West Ham would be probably favourites.

Holding on to players is going to be the key. I get the feeling that VVD wants to stay one more year - but obviously if a big offer comes in (£60m+...and yes I think he is really worth that much) we are going to have to let him go. Romeu is a strange one, clearly one our most consistent performers but that one strikes me as lazy journalism. Cedric is probably more likely. Signing another Romeu type player would be high on my list though. I haven't read the reports from the u23 game last night re Caceres but if we can retain him for next season and sign Maguire then I think we will have a good base to work with (with Yoshi and Stephens deputizing as required). I think we will need to look around for another forward as I do see JRod leaving in the summer if a offer comes in. I would certainly give Sam Gallagher a run as he seems to be doing very well at Blackburn in an otherwise poor team. Other than that I don't feel we are lacking too much.

The red one above looks like the Wales Rugby shirt from a few years ago! I quite like our current home kit, not too fussed on the Black number - but I tend to alternate on Home and Away kits year on year so like you would like the white or would be nice to see a return to Yellow and Blue. Never been particularly enamored with the Keegan era shirt (but then its not my era of watching Saints), personally I would love to see us move to a sash permanently as it would distinguish us from the likes of Stoke, Sunderland et al.

They were bloody awful! It didn't help that the lad throwing the ball on to the bouncer couldn't hit a cows backside with a banjo

With a red sash...

Myself and my Dad will be stopping off in Beaconsfield for lunch and a few drinks before getting the train direct into Wembley Central. As I have two days in Bristol on a Work training course starting on Monday I may need to be a little more sensible than I would like to be. Needless to say, I doubt I will have any voice left.

I see Take over Thread favourites Riquelme and Ronaldinho are offering to come out of retirement and play for Chapecoense...

Long's all round play is still good. He links well, chases lost causes and is a general pain in the a*se. The goals will come, as he keeps getting in the positions to score. JRod, unfortunately I am not too sure about. He does look short a yard and I do wonder whether the injury is in the back of his mind. However I also think that the way the team is set up doesn't necessarily play to his strengths. Against Inter he was making intelligent runs behind but we weren't picking him out. Maybe a loan where he is playing week in, week out would be beneficial. Gallagher should stay where he is for the rest of the season and try and bring him into the fold next year. In terms of the season, if you had offered me Semi final of the League Cup with the chance to qualify into the last 32 of the Europa at the start of the season I would have been very happy. Factor in that we are sitting mid-table with a number of winnable games to come, we should be confident going into the next stage of the season. The Hull City game was, in my opinion, one of those games. I think Puel is learning and probably would like to bring in another striker in the transfer window but normally there isn't a great deal of value.