Cabrone

Interesting, this is the one I've wanted the most and if we get him he'll be fantastic in the prem IMO. He'd also open up our game allowing Ramirez to start spraying balls down the channels. We can't really do this at the moment. If we signed him I'd love to see Ricky play in the hole, a Ramirez\JRod-Lambert-Osvaldo combination would be fantastic.

I think most neutrals would say Utd had an overall stronger midfield but central midfield is very close and may even turn out to be better this season. If they play to their potential we have a wrecking machine central midfield.

Overdue, he's the best English CF around at the moment IMO. England look seriously threadbare though. Some of those selections are real head scratchers.

Watching us score 6 in the 2nd half against Coventry in 1984 was good fun. Can't think of a game since that one where we've scored 8.

Aron Jóhannsson - young hungry goalscorer.

Leeds, Millwall and Everton. Never liked the fans of the first two and Everton seemed to put a spell on us just as I was starting to watch the Saints starting with that crushing defeat in 84. Funny how you remember things so vividly from years ago yet don't seem to for more recent fixtures.

If we don't sign another forward and Sharp is jettisoned I won't get it too. Everyone knows his limitations but the fact is we are currently threadbare up front, that he would be a direct backup for Ricky, that he has actually got a good scoring record with us albeit in the champ (17 games - 9 goals) and that he seems to be a decent bloke that would fit in just fine. If we buy a decent forward then let Billly go but if we don't then we should use him.

No, we just don't have enough goals in us. With a Osvaldo\Damiao I think NC would have been entertaining a shot at top 6 but we are very vulnerable up front. As things stand at this moment 8th-12th looks the best bet but NC may yet pull a rabbit out of the hat so we'll see.

Not sure how it works with registering the squad but if we don't end up getting another striker I'd bring Billy Sharp into the squad. He might not be quite prem standard but he does know where the goal is and would be well capable of doing a useful backup job for us. I'm sure he'd get a few goals too. Hopefully we'll get someone as it's looking as threadbare up front as it was in defence+goal this time last season.

If buying lots of players meant success then we'd never have gone down in 2005. Quality over quantity is the correct approach. We have almost a month left to get that forward to finish off our business and I'm still hopeful that we will. Don't forget that our best signing of last season, Boruc, was signed after the season started and he went on to make a huge contribution to the team.

Boruc Clyne Lovren Yoshida Shaw Cork Wanyama Schneiderlin Ramirez Lambert JRod

Not so sure. If Lovren turns out to be (as I hope) another Killer with Cork sitting directly infront plus Wanyama + Schneiderlin infront of him I think the layers of defence would be good. MP's view is defence begins from your strikers and we have a good overall defensive ability . My team would be: Boruc Clyne Lovren Yoshida Shaw Cork Wanyama Scneiderlin Ramirez Lambert (Damiao?) With a big responsibilty on the full backs to provide the width. That's a good team however it doesn't have huge strength in depth, esp at fullback.

Looks to have a fair bit of pace and power plus decent heading ability. He would open our game up a lot and allow Gaston to start playing through balls. I'd have loved Osvaldo but LD with RL in the hole and JRod out wide would be a fantastic attacking line. If we land him MP is going to want 25 goals and NC is going to want a shot at top 6 IMO......and with players of that calibre why not?

If we don't sign another striker I'd be tempted to keep Sharp, as has been said on here he could do a job as a backup to Lambert\JRod or as a last gasp impact sub. He's not a prem player but he does know how to find the back of the net and could still chip in with a few useful goals. Obviously the preferred choice is to sign a top CF and let Billy go to a club that will give him plenty of first team opportunities but if that doesn't materialise then it seems silly not to at least use him.

Thanks for the upload. I like Cortese's style - ambitious. Good to hear key players like Lovren talk about top 5 - we may not get it but the players aspire to it anyway. Going to be really interested to see how Lovren and Wanyama do, I'm hoping Lovren will be another Killer. Just need that striker, whilst JRod will pull his weight there is far too much on RL's shoulders at the moment. Bring it on.

I read Spurs were after Soldado but could face competition from Liverpool if they flog Jaws off to Arsenal. I'd still opt for Osvaldo because he is proven, Damiao would have to adapt to a very different climate and a different style of football but who am I kidding.........I'd be seriously excited if we signed either, both world class and either would make a huge difference to us.

Looking at that picture do you honestly think he'd ever bother to shop in Southampton? He'd be straight up to London to top up on his designer clobber and meet up with his Italian mates over a cappuchino or two. That said Saints do have some genuine lifestyle pulling power. He could live in a lovely leafy village somewhere between London and Southampton and still be within commutable distance of Saints, alternatively he could live in the beautiful New Forest with beaches nearby, London an hour away, mentored by his old coach who he played well under, an Italian speaking boss, a big pile of money in the bank and still lots of exposure to the Italian manager plus the adoration of the Saints fans. I'm not holding my breath though.

Would also allow Gaston to be able to pass the ball forwards down the channels. He's been a bit neutered by the lack of pace up front.

Striker by a long distance. As good as RL is we badly need pace up front to open up our game. Defence is OK, attack is a bit threadbare.

Thanks for the updates. Having read them I don't know if Roma is a football club or a theatrical production. My gut feeling is shifting to Osvaldo staying, Emperor Totti has given him the thumbs up and is trying to bring him back in from the cold with the baying Ultra mob. Ossie will put on a few grovelling apologies, score some spectacular goals and be clutched firmly back to the breast of the 'family'. In a year or two they will be making statues of him. I know Italian football has some big problems but supporting Roma sounds a right laugh. English football has become quite clinical in comparison.

If you want to get to where NC wants in a quick time frame you have to spend a lot of money but once there things should become a lot more sustainable. A lot of fans still see us as a small outfit but the truth is we are a decent sized club that with or without the Liebherr cash should aspire to top 10 in the prem and do have the ability to compete in that bracket once there. If we'd spent Man City levels of cash on older non saleable players I'd agree with you but I think we have spent well within reasonable levels of expenditure on players that can be sold on for at least what we bought them for. I'm optimistic for next season, it's been an interesting transfer window and I'm happy that the club are looking at less players of a better standard. The last thing we want is a bloated squad full of journeymen, that's one of the many reasons why we went down in 2005. Anywhere from 8th-12th for me at the moment. Midfield looks strong and defence looks OK but a lot of responsibility lies on Ricky's and JRod's shoulders to get the goals. We need a fired up Gaston to take on some of the burden too. If we could somehow get a Banega and an Osvaldo (looking less and less likely unfortunately) the expectation would be to have a serious shot at top 6.

Not a chance IMO. Even if we signed Damiao or Osvaldo Ricky would still make a brilliant 'Sherringham' type foil for them plus he would make a great back up main striker if the new boy was injured. RL still has plenty to give to this club so unless NC signs at least 2 quality forwards I really can't see it.

Sorry if already posted but this link talks about Athletico Madrid after Gaston but him stating that he wants to stay for the longer term at Saints. Link Make of that what you will.

If we could sign an Osvaldo ()or a Damiao then Gaston would be transformed. I hope the club keeps him but if we were to lose him then I'd double up efforts to get Banega. Gaston is another player that could have the knockers eating their own words but we really need a pacy attack to bring the best out of him. Yet another reason why a top class CF is No 1 priority now.

Would be a huge shame to let him go when he really hasn't got going yet. I think he'll be a big part of the team this season if he stays.