The Kraken

While I still think we will sign another CM..... "Daniel Paul "Danny" Butterfield is an English footballer who joined Southampton on 16 July 2010, having previously played for Crystal Palace in the Championship. He was primarily utilised as a right back. However, Danny originally started out as a central midfielder for Palace and has been known to play on the right of midfield as well."

Not necessarily; I agree it's more likely than not that Reading plan on using Antonio, but they also could just be using pre-season to have a look at him before deciding if he fits in with their plans. They probably know that we will take him on if they decide against him so there's no harm from their point of view in having a look at him in action with their first team and making a decision from there. It's looking unlikely I'll admit, but perhaps not an entirely dead deal.

Not quite correct, despite your overuse of CAPITAL LETTERS. We lost two league games in three before New Year (to Leeds and Colchester) which derailed us a touch. In January and February we went unbeaten in all 7 league games played (3 wins, 4 draws), which is still comparable with a points total to get in the playoffs. Its so easy to look at individual results and decry losing the odd number of points here and there. But, despite what some people want to believe, all teams will lose games against the odds at various points throughout the season, and this season we will be no exception. There's no getting away from the fact that our promotion challenge was downed by only gaining 9 points from the first 10 games. Championship winning form for the next 36 games was not enough to get over such a poor start.

Really? Well that's disappointing. Doesn't rule it out though, maybe they just want to have another look at him before they decide what to do for the season ahead. They probably know that they can shift him to us if they don't want him, so there's no harm in giving him a chance with the first team. I only saw AOC once at the back end of the season but, at 16 or 17, he's going to need time and probably won't get an enormous amount of game time. I would think AP would look after his development and not play him in too many games too young. So I agree, if we don't get Antonio we need someone similar. I think we all know where the squad needs strengthening; but many people have differing views about how significant it is that we haven't made all of signings right now. Personally, if holding on for a while means that we get the very best signings for the summer, then I'm perfectly happy to do that. And absolutely no-one knows what moves AP and NC have been making behind the scenes so they are unworthy of criticism for seemingly "doing nothing".

Our team is perfectly good enough to start the season. I have always said that I expected us to sign 2 or 3 players before the start of the season, and I expect another 2 or 3 loanees or signings before the end of August. I still stick by that. I'm not at all worried by a lack of reserve keeper, given that there is clearly dispensation to bring in an emergency keeper at any time during the season. With Aaron Martin having played RB for a few minutes it may suggest that he can do a reserve job a la Wayne Thomas, if required. I think we're definitely missing another strong CM for the season (which I'm sure we'llo get), I still remain hopeful of signing Antonio, and think we might sign a Lambert backup but if not I still think Barnard and Connolly give us plenty of options. So I'm still not sure why Mr over-reaction thinks I should be worried.

Despite many opinions to the contrary on here, I actually think the number of STs will be up on last year, and maybe significantly so. We will have lost a few fans through the lack of installment plan etc but I think the prospects of our season plus non-option of the half-season ticket could well mean that we'll push on for 15K season ticket holders. I personally know of at least 5 people who have bought their first full ST this year, and still hope to do the same myself before the season kicks off. But I've also previously said that I don't think the club will actually publish the number sold, so perhaps we'll never know

Incorrect. In fact, during the more profitable years of Lowe's tenure we actually made overpayments on the mortagage to reduce the level of debt. The mortgage of the stadium was a well budgeted for and sustainable cost.

I don't disagree with any of that, and for the record would MUCH prefer NC and ML to stay. It's not even worth pointing out where we could have been had they come in when they did, so for that I'll be ever grateful. That said, we are in a much better position now than when they purchased the club. Make no mistake, ML's involvement with the club is through a desire to make money, although the non- tangible benefits of owning a football club are clearly evident too. If he decides to sell up then of course we are at potential risk to any incoming owner; however, that's not necessarily a bad thing, so it's unfair to suggest that we'll definitely be doomed if they do sell up. A debt-free club with a huge catchment area of customers is a very attractive proposition to any number of potential owners. Of course, as I stated, I hope it doesn't come to that.

What is there to "win"? In your black and white world are people not entitled to hold differing but perfectly valid viewpoints about anything? Or must they all tow the BarcelonaSaint party line at all times? It is perfectly possible to accept that, while the Liebherr period of ownership is a million miles removed from the Lowe era and much more benficial to the long term success of the club, that the roles of Cortese and Lowe are really not too far apart. Which, despite all the posturing and pointless analogies to the contrary, is what the original point made by St Richmond refers to.

The way that the stadium was funded was not on the never never at all; the club had a perfectly serviceable mortgage on the stadium. Some very reckless spending on transfers and chasing the promotion dream meant that we racked up huge debts which became the reason we went into administration. And while you rightly point to the fact that Liebherr PURCHASED the club, you're missing the point again in that Cortese himself is not providing the financial backing.

First of all, you do realise that SLH was separate from SFC, right? SLH secured the funding for a new stadium at St. Mary's. Whether or not that money was borrowed from the bank or otherwise is irrelevant; the "funding" came via SLH to the football club. In much the same way, Cortese has identified a source of revenue in Markus Liebherr and paid to buy the club using that source of revenue. Apart from the fact that Lowe was a complete pr!ck, I'm not too sure how you see there is such an enormous disparity between his and Cortese's roles.

You conveniently forget that Lowe WORKED FOR SOUTHAMPTON LEISURE HOLDINGS PLC who, unless I am dreaming, has INVESTED in SFC Big Time

He is right, the extension of the parachute payments will only lead to more desperation from lower-end Premier League clubs and, IMO, more clubs racking up huge debts in search of short term gain.

How much has Cortese personally invested?

First half was obviously not ideal being 3-0 down. But actually, our second half display, which was with a team much closer to our starting XI next year, won the half 2-1. So not all bad.

Full time. FC Thun 4-2 Saints. Mills blazed over in the last minute as Saints finished the second half the stronger side

FC Thun 4-2 Saints (82) Jose Fonte powers home a Jason Puncheon corner #saintsfc Saints fans are singing were gunna win 5-4!

Fc Thun 4-1 Saints. Dean Hammond converts from close range after an excellent cross from David Connolly . We're gonna win 5-4....

So no Jaidi, Seaborne, Lallana or Richardson. Odd...

Or maybe tell us what we already knew, that a central midfield of Wotton and McNish is probably not going to be our first choice.

FC Thun 2-0 Saints. Dickson's loose pass intercepted and Proschwitz curled in an effort into the top corner just inside the box

Another twitter update Still 1-0 down after 35 mins. Thun quite negative, playing ball about at the back for long periods

From twitter, still 1-0. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has looked bright so far, here he is taking on his man

Presumably with it being our first game AP will only want to give the players 45 minutes each. So the second half line up will be (maybe): FourPast; Richardson, Jaidi, Seaborne, Mills; ???, Hammond, Schneiderlin, Lallana; Lambert, Connolly. Aside from the fact that I can't think of a reserve right winger, on paper that's two decent teams we can put out.

Pardew out.