deadpanmatt

Id anyone's wondering, he's actually 5 ft 7.

Ha!

I always feel like I need to stand up for players in these situations; if someone offered you a job doing what you do now but for a bigger company on double the money, would you stay where you are out of loyalty? Probably not, because the more money you make, the better your lifestyle. Add into the mix the fact that as a footballer you might only have a career that lasts 14 years or so and it makes total sense.

With my current 'average' income I agree- Hampshire all the way. If I were a rich footballer however I'd go for London every time. It is nice to think that Toby might pick us because 'he likes us', but money talks. He was never ours though so we can't really get too annoyed. Lovren, Alderweireld, who next? I'm sure we'll get a half decent replacement.

A romantic idea, but the reality is that they would pay him more, he gets to live in London and he has international teammates there. I don't think it's a humungous jump from playing for us but if none of the big four are interested he has to choose someone else.

A pedantic point, but a correct one. Fair enough; I will rephrase that. "Theoretically there should be less away fans in the home end as a result."

Forcing plastic fans of other clubs to put more money in to our transfer fund if they want to sit in the home end? Sounds good to me! Hopefully they're get ejected during the game too!

"It is expensive to go and watch Premier League football" shocker! Although it seems like £25 for nothing, I think the membership scheme is a good idea. Liverpool/Man Utd/Bournemouth fans etc. aren't going to pay that £25 so theoretically the home crowd should be mainly home supporters. The £25 is as much a deterrent for others than anything else. As for Bournemouth being a top category game, yes it seems silly but ticket prices in general haven't changed, so overall can't complain.

I definitely want to sign him, but does anyone else worry slightly about his injury proneness? He picked up a few last season and losing your best centre back for key games can be season-defining.

Hopefully this will reduce the number of away fans sitting in the home end for the big games (I remember having a few Liverpool fans near me at that game), as it means that actual Saints fans should snap up these tickets before the Liverpool/Man U etc. fans can get their hands on them when on general sale.

Are we talking about the same player who only learned how to pass the pass properly this season? It seems like the second any of our players rise to the dizzying levels of 'effective' and 'reliable' they are in demand as if they are world beaters.

Ah good to hear! Saw Forster limping along and Jay-Rod but couldn't see Morgan.

Did anyone see Schneiderlin there? Couldn't see him but would have thought he'd join in the lap of honour even if he's leaving.

If Veho aren't our sponsors next season they will have a contract for no new shirt to be released before a certain date (so that Veho gets promoted for a full year). If they are, they might be able to release them earlier.

Agreed- Pelle's in there because he scored; same reason why 5 others are in there. This is the extent of Garth Crooks' punditry abilities.

The fact that you rate Elia as being a better acquisition than Forster means that I can disregard all of your opinions as wrong. I know opinions can't be wrong, but you seem to have found the exception to the rule. That team is likely to finish in our highest ever ever Premier League position this season. So yeah, clearly they're terrible.

If another employer approached you in your line of work and offered you twice or three times the pay you're on now to do the same job, what would you say? To expect footballers to get paid less than they could elsewhere in what is a short career is naïve and overly romanticised if you ask me. I'd love Clyne to stay but I have confidence that someone will replace him and do a decent job. Just look at Bertrand.

The lack of runs is definitely the problem in my opinion. They started making runs in the second half and we looked much better; the attackers have been far too static of late and it's just too easy to defend against.

Easy to say when Kane's in good scoring form and Rodriguez is long term injured. Silly.

I remember him signing for £1 million when he was 18- never heard anything about a pre-contract.

This. You can't force people to sing. Some of the loudest fans are also the most obnoxious. Being a football fan is not an elitist exercise- if you buy a ticket, you can go to the game and do what you want. End of.

That seriously football vid says he signed for us aged 8. Seems to me as if anything passes for fact at the Star!

I think sorting the Osvaldo situation is a case of 'shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted'. The damage has been done; any harmonious dressing room wouldn't have him in it in my opinion.

I'm pretty sure it only applies to the next time he is sold, and we didn't get that for Bale when he went to Real Madrid because we sold the clause for about £3 million in 2008 when we needed the cash. Apparently it would have been worth about £20 million too!

Yep, season ticket seat already in basket when you log in.