SNSUN

Occasionally when I'm on Facebook, I'll accidentally "like" bikini shots of female friends I barely know. Completely by accident of course you understand, due to the sensitivity of touch screens, an easily clicked mouse and the like. And so it seems with the poll above, that a lot of people have accidentally pushed the wrong options. I understand, it's easily done, and you're forgiven, but please be more careful when voting for something as important as the poll is above. Clearly the choice you all meant to make is "Saints", but those darn touch screens and sensitive mice seem to have thrown some of you...

Top 4 material this season is Saints don't ya know. A fit Tadic is going to totally rip up this league.

Decent enough as cover while Forster recovers. I still wonder whether we're looking at one more keeper. There could be a lot of games to play next season and we still only have Kelvin and Gazzaniga as back ups...

I see both Chelsea and Man City are interested in Alex Song. Quality player for £5 million but would he want first team football?

One of the perks of being able to sign players early, as we have done this summer, is that we can nip in and try to get players before other teams have finance in place. If Spurs need to raise funds by selling 10 players, then Saints get in there quick with Toby and try to get him signed up before they have a chance. I do think he'll make a mistake if he goes to Spurs, he already knows he's first choice here, but I do think there are alternatives lined up if it happens. He did get a fair few injuries last season too...

I can see the FC Kairat messageboards saying "I hope we don't draw Southampton FC, it's ****ing miles away!"

Which bit of "he wants Champions League" do they not understand?

I know he's more of a centre back, but wasn't McCarthy our right back cover for Clyne at one stage?

They are mistakes now, expensive mistakes, but that's not how they were perceived when we signed them. Osvaldo was a striker with a decent goal scoring record at Espanyol and Roma, and was an Italian International, and while he was always hot tempered, the powers that be at Saints (especially old boss Pochettino) must have thought it was worth the risk. Ramirez was a 21-year old with a bright future who had a good stint at Bologna. I can understand why we signed both. We didn't know they'd be failures when we signed them. Sadly Osvaldo's temperament seems to have effectively ruined his career, but I'm sure he's made enough cash that he doesn't care. Ramirez simply didn't blossom, although at 24 he still has time on his side. Perhaps a new change of scenery in another country will help, perhaps it's the English game that doesn't really suit him. Shame, because in his first season he was OK. Big money signings are tricky. Ask Liverpool! Ha! The simple fact is our best signings, Wanyama aside, cost us very little. Even Forster wasn't overpriced, for a good International keeper with years ahead of him. The only question marks in our current side are on the other big money signing of Long, one hopes he will be more hit than miss in the next couple of years. We're a team that improves players, I like reasonable money signings like Soares and Juanmi, knowing that if they are a hit, we can potentially sell for big money, while knowing if they fail, we haven't blown too much on them, like Osvaldo and Ramirez. That said, I do get excited when we spend big bucks on players. I did with both Osvaldo and Ramirez, and, oddly, Delap!

Would Toby handing a transfer request to Atletico speed a move along if he wanted to come here? Makes you wonder, player power and all that.

A 24 year old current Zambian international for a 28 year old player that hasn't played for France in nearly a year? We'd be getting screwed on that deal. :-) I hope we hear about the Toby situation soon one way or another, if we don't sign him it means we can crack on with finding a decent replacement.

Gets my vote!

It looks like they're wearing nappies. Perhaps due to a most unfortunate incontinence issue. Perfect for a spot of scat porn then...

Clyne almost had a Lovren-esque half a decent season last year, started well and then tailed off a bit. I wonder if that's because he didn't really have any decent competition at right back. Sure we had Toby (I so want to say "have" Toby), but he was better suited to his premier position at centre back. I think Clyne suffered from the lack of competition, knowing his spot in the team was virtually guaranteed. If he stays, new contract or not, I think Soares will improve him because it will keep him on his toes and playing well. However IMO if he doesn't sign the contract, get rid while the price is high. We proved last summer we can deal without the wantaways. If he wants to go to Liverpool, so be it, though as they have exactly what we have this coming season you can only think it's a money issue. They're playing a risky game signing our players though, after their recent history of ex-Saints! As for Morgan, I don't think any of us begrudge him the move after giving us one more season when we needed him most, as long as the price is right. I'm surprised PSG aren't interested in him, a French international, especially with the money they spend. The player I want us to keep most though is Toby, even if we have to pay a bit more than we agreed. From what I saw of him he's a class above. The 4 centre backs we had last season are the strongest group I can remember, and keeping a Toby would mean only 1 defensive position would have been affected this summer. (If we lose Clyne) We had such a good defensive record last season, and I feel if we can achieve something like that again, we can do even better next season with a stronger attack.

There is one thing, but I can't put my finger on it...

Has anyone else spotted that signing these players early will cost us a couple more months salary for each? :-p

Right back done. Sign up Clyne and it becomes our strongest position! (However unlikely). 2 in, no outs. I like that. There will be "outs" of course, but it cushions the blow when we sign people first. Keeper, striker, Clyne replacement, (I.e. A second right back) Toby replacement, Morgan replacement and we're done IMO.

Anyone heard of her? She's the Venezualan TV host that strips off live on telly when Venezuela win, amongst other things. She did it recently too. The video is easily found online, I won't link it lest I set off a few pacemakers amongst the forum seniors. :-) So I wondered, which TV stars would you like to see losing their clothes live on telly? I'm thinking Sue Barker keeps herself well maintained.

Ah good. Me can now chill out wit a fatty. (Weed not wife.)

So hearing it's us or Stoke? Surely the Fonte factor helps?

His name makes me think of Home Alone 2.

Decent fixture list. Might be able to make a few more games this year! Tricky run in though. If I thought we were relegation fodder I'd not look forward to a great escape!

...or panic re-sign Glen Johnson on a free...

You lie, I have you know Osvaldo nutted Fonte because of something derogatory Jose put about him on SWF. (The above may not be true.)

We have a lot of comedians on SWF! :-D Welcome to club Juanmi. I know nothing of your talent but look forward to finding out. One thing sticks out though - at just £5 odd million this is a very low risk transfer in today's market. (A la Mayuka. :-) )