angelman

What's changed since last summer. i) Saints have appointed a good manager and are up there with Spurs, who seem just as far from CL as they ever have. ii) Arsenal have now "discovered" Coquelin, so might not be willing to spend a huge amount if they have him iii) supposedly other clubs like Chelsea have entered things. Of course, this could well be agent speculation to try and get things moving. iv) MS has said he doesn't want to watch CL on TV. What hasn't changed is Spuds ability to pay higher wages than us. The thing that I am always interested in, is this Morgan (and other) loves Poch bit. OK, Koeman has been around for half a season less, so I just wonder what all this love for Poch is that isn't reported being the same for Koeman.

Yes, but he said what needed to be said without caring about his reputation and career.

In two minds about Murphy. On the one hand he went there to troll. But he went there because he obviously took exception to NP's bullying of a (very) junior colleague and felt that someone needed to tell him a few home truths. The thing is, that NP gets away with it, because if a journo stands up to him, then he isn't "invited" back to the press conferences and his/her career gets hammered.

DO we really need another thread on this?

So what is happening...... Spurs are 1 point ahead of us and are releasing these rumours that involve 3 players, and no doubt this will be somewhat unsettling for the players involved. 1 is a regular. 2 aren't. So not only is indirect tapping up going on (not that it hasn't for a year or so) it is unsettling the team.

http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/topic/100439-pearson-interview/ Interesting reactions. Some think it a big joke, others an embarrassment and bullying. A lot think he's been on the sauce.

I'm sure there is if the respective clubs actually wanted the players. While we looked at Townsend, and still might be, we have a fair few wingers at the moment. He's been involved in 16 league games playing a total of 743 minutes (not curtailed by any injuries). And Stambouli FFS. They signed him this summer, has partaken in 10 league games for a total of 409 minutes (no injuries). Why on earth would we consider taking bit part squad players for what many consider to be our best player. If we were bottom of the league or in the Championship, it might make sense. As it is, we are challenging Spurs and Liverpool for 5th place so the idea of their cast offs is ridiculous.

I'm sorry but this was uncalled for. Sure he faces silly questions - all managers do. But this time it was a perfectly valid question, and not all managers act so boorishly as he does most of the time. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3061619/Nigel-Pearson-bizarre-rant-calls-journalist-OSTRICH-Leicester-s-defeat-Chelsea.html Have Leicester been heavily criticised? Not that I pay huge attention, but I thought that the general reporting was that they play better than the results suggest.

I imagine that kits get leaked and then the manufacturers go to the fans forums to gauge opinion. If so, home shirt has red & white stripes so looks fine, and the away looks good. Away shirts should be where you monkey around and have a bit of fun. Still think the best was the 1980-1985 one (Rank Xerox & Air Florida one)

Would that be pre or post? A week or so of each....

http://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/sport/football/573731/Jay-Rodriguez-return-fitness-Southampton Yaaaaawwwwwn.

See stories about Spuds offereing Townsend or Stambouli in PX. LOL

This "love" for Poch - is it something that the papers have made up? Does he "love" Koeman? Or love him less so that MP?

I'm not convinced Brenda will be in charge at the beginning of next season.

I'm in 2 minds about Liverpool and the Europa. They will want to sign players who want to play CL not EL They whinge like hell that EL ruins their chances to win PL 7th will mean 3rd qualification round played on 30th July and 6th August. They are planning a pre-season tour in Australia, and possibly Macau/China and Malaysia/Indonesia and this is likely to bugger that up. Of course if they did finish 7th and Villa win, there is of course the irony as mentioned above.

What's the deal with Oyston and Blackpool? Seems a strange way to run a club as it was pretty obvious that they were going to need one hell of a lot of luck not to be relegated. Relegation is bad for business. Alienating fans is bad for business. Businesses fail. This is quite interesting though http://companycheck.co.uk/company/00048409/BLACKPOOL-FOOTBALL-CLUBLIMITEDTHE (somewhat better on paper than us) Presume the value is mostly in the ground, if it was to be sold and redeveloped.

Shouldn't rise to is Coxford if I was you.

Now some like to criticise Pellè, but this might be interesting for perspective.

I thought he could, or rather, I hoped he could. Benefit of the doubt and all that, and a hope that he would come good. But no. Not suited to PL.

God those ex-Saints players were bad - Gaston being the worst.

Lovren can't handle Aluko.

1-0 HUll. Liverpool are ****

Different situation. To attract players to little old Southampton, we have to take more risks that Liverpool who can shell out big money both in fees and wages. Osvaldo - strikers are always expensive and over priced. Who signed him? Are they still at the club? I know the same could be said about Liverpool, but on paper and with the goal vs City, he had the skill. Going elsewhere afterwards shows the same. He jsut didn't want to be with us. Ramirez - he was an important signing. It showed ambition and the willingness to spend. A bit like Osvaldo as well. However, I will grant you that it hasn't been successful. Still he played in the WC for Uruguay and we all know he has potential. Guess that that is what Liverpool might say about all their signings that haven't worked out. Mayuka - it was a risk. As mentioned, we were in a position where risks have to be taken. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. Player of the tournament at the ACN and his time at Young Boys suggested he could do something. He couldn't. Lee - a free transfer. I wonder how much of this was a commercial decision to break into Japan? Forren - bit strange. I can understand why he was signed, as it was insurance in case the defence got stymied by injury/suspension. Strange that he signed the day we announced Pochettino. Who signed him? De Ridder - ?? £750k. 44 games. 4 goals, 4 assists. Sold after 2 years for £450k. Why is he on the list? Gardos - I like what I have seen of him so far. Surprised though that he hasn't made more of things, but guess that he was back up to Fonte/Toby but Yoshi has done better than might be expected so has fallen further back. I see him as insurance/cover. At the time of signing, I seem to recall being a little relieved that we had someone in.

Really? There are various way of looking at things. Transfers..looking at promotion season and the 2 seasons leading up to it (ie this season for B'mouth, a few back for us) AFCB (in millions) Buy 3.81 Sell 3.26 Buy 3.57 Sell 0 Buy 1.38 Sell 0.827 So net spend was 4.673m Saints (in millions) Buy 4.94 Sell 12.62 Buy 2.63 Sell 0 Buy 2.49 Sell 4.47 So net spend of -7.03m (having spent just £1m more than AFCB) Wages are always hard to know what's what, but it was on the wireless this morning that they pay pretty decently. In the period of those 3 seasons, they have had 11 loans in and 12 players in on frees. We had 9 loans and 10 frees. However, I am more than delighted that they have been promoted. Just want Brentford to be able to do it but I can't see Derby losing to Reading, although I guess Ipswich might lose to Blackburn.

ANd how much do you think the likes of Boruc are on at Bournemouth?