The Kraken

You're correct, Lallana is another who has under-performed. In fact I'd go further and say that Lallana has been found out at the top level as a wide player, he is a lot more effective playing through the middle. Unfortunately that leaves our two most creative players vying for one midfield spot, so Lallana hasn't really been given that chance too much (at least for any prolonged timeframe). I also credit us persisting with Lallana out wide as a primary reason why we became so predictable in the last few games of the season, we lacked someone with pace to run in behind defences, Lallana does his best work with the ball at his feet bringing others into it and as a consequence too often looks to play in front of defenders, making him easier to defend against for the better sides in the division. He had a few good games but largely against the weaker sides. Another with a lot to prove, though I'm not sure how much he'll do if we persist with playing him as a wide man.

There's also an element that we of course should look to do both, and make sure we get the balance of youth and experience just right. Although in Ramirez's case i wouldn't put it down to an experience/lack of experience thing at all, he's just flattered to deceive IMO and so far not lived up to the fanfare. Lots to prove.

I'd say Gaston's numbers are the best part of his season. 5 goals is ok for an attacking midfielder in a side that finished 14th, admittedly the number of assists is a bit on the low side though, especially as he's on corners and free kicks. Coutinho has had a better impact but he's a different type of player (one we could do with though, to be fair). Essruu's post has, for me, really brought home how much of a concern it is that Ramirez once again won't get a proper pre-season. That and "adjustment to the PL" have been pinned as the primary reasons he has under-delivered compared to expectation. As for Bazza Sancho, I have to say I'm disappointed. At first I quite enjoyed some of his posts, it was often a contrary view but I enjoy hearing all views. Sadly he's become a parody of himself and I'm genuinely not sure what he's trying to prove any more.

I don't quite understand this comparison. If anything it serves to prove the point; Kagawa arrived with big fanfare and has significantly under delivered. I wouldn't say for one minute that he has offered value for money on his transfer. 5/10 season for Gaston for me. Some flashes of decency but all too often some poor performances. Most frustratingly its not that he's tried audacious things that haven't come off, but that he hasn't got the simple things right. Also Essruu's post has kicked in to touch the premise of "give him a good pre-season and lets see where we are". He's got it all to do next season; this season can be put down to adjusting, but even still I'd have expected him to be a stand out first choice player at the end of the season, which he clearly wasn't (before he went and got suspended).

I've had a couple of 318s in the past, though petrol not diesel. Really great car, as Turkish says not too bad on insurance or servicing. My two were reliable as anything (one was about 5 years old when bought, one from new), I kept both for 3 or 4 years and never had any major bother. Thinking about another BMW now, as it happens.

Not sure what's quite so wrong about saying Lambert isn't the right choice for England and/or a side looking to break the PL top ten. It's got nothing to do with not rating him, just recognising his limits.

I'm definitely a member of the Jack Cork fan club, but I wouldn't have picked him on the basis of his finish to the season. He was excellent with Schneiderlin up to the last 6 or 7 games but faded pretty badly (perhaps the Olympics and his injury caught up with him). I can't even make a case for Clyne over Johnson and Walker right now. As for Lambert, great for us but wouldn't really be at home as the main striker in a top 8 Premier League side, let alone a top 8 international side playing against one of the best sides in the world.

Exactly that; point in case WBA who played 3 up front and played longer balls over the top and into the channels which constantly put us on the back foot. We were torn apart in that game, Steve Clarke got his tactics absolutely spot on and we simply had no answer to a rather one dimensional gameplan of our own.

And rightly so. Mayuka has seen very little game time but he has at least looked a little lively in his games towards the end of the season. Looked ok against Spurs too. Sharp's level is probably upper Championship, lower Premier League at very best. An Adam Le Fondre type, if you will.

I'll stick to my opinion that I had of last season (which was a minority opinion that I copped a bit of flak for). I'd still prefer that last season we had spent on a striker with Premier League/top league pedigree, and added JRod this summer. Towards the end of the season when Lambert was flagging and looking dead on his feet, that's exactly when we needed a striker to step into those boots and do the business. I didn't feel Rodriguez was up to that; he's got potential but he's also got so much to develop, including his shooting where he often snatches at a shot. So where do we go from here? Plenty seem to think we need a new winger, and plenty also think we need a new striker in the Lukaku mould (that's if we're to progress into a top 8 and upwards side). Can Rodriguez give us that? IMO, not as a starting player for us, no. And if he does become a sub, that's a big step backwards from this season where he has primarily been a first team player, if not playing in his preferred spot as out and out striker.

Yes, I remember that lad who doesn't post here any more, thedelldays, mentioning checkatrade a while back, the very last post on this thread. http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?37729-New-Sponsor&p=1361101&highlight=sponsor+checkatrade#post1361101

They could get bought out of it. Particularly if it wasn't for that great an amount in the first place (which is likely given we achieved 2 promotions in 2 years). Other football clubs have done it in the past, so its not exactly as unprecedented as you seem to think.

I'll send it you 100% Saint, but you'll need to pay your fiver to be a Full Member to be able to receive PMs.

It shouldn't have to be that way; the yellow kit doesn't have a huge label, its just red without any big background.

I didn't think we could come up with an uglier kit than this year's effort, but there it is.

Hopefully doing something that lets us turn defence into attack much quicker; in the last 6 or so games we were so frustratingly slow at getting forwards when we had opportunities. WBA showed us exactly how to play on the break and absolutely murdered us doing it; so a bit more pace in the side and new personnel to allow us to break forward behind the opposition's defensive line much quicker and get them properly on the back foot.

I can understand kids wanting the new strip. They have no idea of tradition or history, and care about it just about as little. And I kind of understand people who don't give a sh*t what we play in, though obviously disagree with that way of thinking. But we're talking about a decent proportion of fully grown adults who willingly pay money for clothing they don't like! The9 is forgiven as he's a bit of a kit obsessive, but I reckon there's bloody hundreds of others walking round in something they're not too keen on. 95% in the polls on here and in the Echo last year said they didn't like the current kit, it would be interesting to hear just how many of that 95% went out and bought it. I know of two lads I used to play 5 a side footy against who both bought this season's shirts (one had the home, the other the away), neither of whom were fans of teh shirt but thought they should buy nonetheless. I just can't quite get my head round that one.

Can't say I'm a big fan of it either, Diggory. Not that it matters in any case; I'm resigned to another sh*t all red outfit. Ah well, f*ck tradition.

This was the Southampton St. Mary's kit up to 1896.

Its really quite something to behold just how many people will spend £40 and upwards on a piece of clothing they don't actually like all that much.

You underestimate our fans. Have a word with the likes of Colinjb; he's already said he doesn't like the current kit but wouldn't be able to resist buying it if the new one was similar.

While this is undoubtedly true, you can also see from the polls on here and on the Echo that there's also a moderately significant group who genuinely couldn't care less what colours we turn out in and will buy the home shirt come what may.

Cardiff fans have put up with it as they recognised that, without investment, they more than likely would have tumbled into administration, they were absolutely f*cked financially. The new owner has taken on the debt and provided masses of investment into the club and the team. The colour of kit isn't the be all and end all; pretty much all football fans know that (so long as you don't employ your main rival's colours as your own, of course). They also know its really not that much of an important issue to escalate anywhere outside of their local area. But it is important enough to care about, and the Cardiff "protest" as such has been last season to predominantly buy the blue away shirt. having been to Cardiff a few times it was noticeable how many blue shorts there were compared to red. I'd be surprised if there's a blue option this year; and if the red "boycott" continues, that's when teh owner might sit up and take notice (though I very much doubt it).

Yes, I have one.

Launched around 1st July.