Cabrone

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.

I'd agree with that and in order of priority I'd go for 1. Pacy Striker - this is where we should be prepared to spend big if needed to get a quality player. 2. Pacy Winger 3. Solid back up GK - if Boruc gets crocked then the thought of Gazzaniga getting a run doesn't fill me with confidence. 4. Quality CH - if we could pick one up at a reasonable price otherwise we do have reasonable cover. I don't share the concern about FBs - I think we have enough cover if needed.

All those saying 'leave well alone' should remember the abuse Boruc got at first ('crazy', 'disruptive', 'loose cannon' etc) and now look at the comments. Osvaldo would also make quite a few on here eat their words IF we could somehow get him. I also think he'd have a ball at SFC and in the prem, banging them in from all angles.

LOL reading this thread you'd think he was some kind of a footballing god. He's a very decent player and certainly tore us a new one at SMS but don't forget we were seriously poor that afternoon. That doesn't mean I wouldn't take him in a flash if he was available but he's not quite the superstar yet and he's not as good as Osvaldo IMO.

Osvaldo would be a dream, his pace, power, good footballing brain, heading ability and world class finishing would make us a serious proposition in the prem. Ossie up front with Rickie in the Sherringham hole would be mouthwatering. Come here Ossie, I guarantee you the fans would be eating out of your hands.

LOL, what a dipstick to put it up on the interweb. Anyway Pomps whilst SFC contemplate signing Osvaldo\Damiao\Banega for an assault on the prem you just enjoy the first of your many seasons in league 2 you plonkers.

It's got to be Osvaldo for me. Being as MP has previously managed him I presume he thinks he could get his head together and if he did he'd be awesome in the PL. Way better than the overrated Ballotelli IMO. Easily a 20 goal striker and more than likely a lot more. Just can't see it though.

Ronaldo?

Whilst I get what Hartson's saying he doesn't seem to get the bigger picture. Wanyama will probably sign up for 4 years and if he's any good in the prem be moved on in 1 or 2. Celtic get a pile of cash, we get an exciting player, the player gets experience against some of the world's best players + SFC's considerable experience in developing youth + a regular appearance in a global shop window and SFC gets a big fat transfer fee in the next couple of years. If it all works well then everyone's a winner. Any player with ambition will want to leave Scotland sooner rather than later regardless of the fact that Celtic are a huge club. That's where Hartson doesn't get it.

How about Phil Boyer whose goals helped us into Div 1 and who was Div 1 top scorer in 79-80 + Mark Dennis who was superb (if a little crazy).

Midfield looks very powerful and if we were to get Banega it would be up there with the best in the prem. However we badly need pace up front and Gazzaniga on the bench does not give me any confidence if Boruc gets injured. Top priority must now be a pacy striker to open up our attacking play.

Yes, of all the players mentioned on here he's the one I'd love us to get. The Brazilian looks exciting but this guy is a proven class act. Sadly unless the Don pulls a man sized rabbit out of the hat I think we're both dreaming.