saint1977

I think they want to invest in Hughes though long-term, even if he is having some technical issues at the moment.

Not a Bell fan either but he really has to do the business under pressure this time. Plus he won't be facing McGrath or Warne which helps. Hopefully we'll see the Bell that made 90 at Brisbane and not the terrified one that that edges behind with no footwork for 0. Nervous about him AND Bopara playing. Looks like Aus are going to drop North for Watson - talented player but has an injury record far worse than even Freddie. Pity Tremlett didn't get a late call - the way he bowled Saturday would have tested any batting line up in the world and Broad's not really making runs either.

I noticed during the victory parade around the pitch that there were a couple of Swiss flags over in the Grandstand! Good work.

Yep, I got burnt sitting in the top level of the Edrich stand. Good friendly banter between us and the skates but never any whiff of trouble. Great performance by Hants, Sussex packed their side full of batters but that left a dreadful bowling attack bar Kirtley and Arafat so Sussex needed 300 bare minimum to have any chance of winning and 325-350+ to be in the box seat. Cork, Dimi and Tremlett were superb - Tremlett should be included as cover for Thursday as he would cause the Australians problems, Sussex got hit quite a few times and he was very hard to score off. The fielding was tremendous and the effort was summed up by Ervine hitting the boundary boards. Didn't see any trouble from the Sussex fans walking back towards Baker St but a number of their lads were very well oiled and the potential was there after a poor Sussex performance.

I remember Steve Baker and Pulis is actually worse. Will look great alongside Lancashire, Marshall, Todd, David Lee, Ali Dia and many others in the fans' worst ever XI.

The club should sort Ollie Lancashire out with some education or training because he isn't going to make it as footballer at any level. One of the worst ever players we've ever had and currently partnering Scott Marshall in my worst ever XI. Pleased to hear John did well, sounds like Saga had the Mumbles and Gower Peninsular on his mind. Paterson is doing himself some good but look on the bright side Nick, at least Pardew and ML know exactly what is required, there has been no papering over the cracks from this rum lot of players!

I think he may have got League 1 player of the season in 2007/8 unless I imagined it. Best mate is a Leeds exile so I'll ask him.

Yes for me - will give 100% and better than anything we have. Gillett is potentially better but hasn't quite got the volume of games yet although did well for Blackpool.

Forgetting about Ajax, and indeed friendlies in general, there has been a problem with Saints teams since WGS left being 1) Not focused and a lack of leadership 2) Not fit enough 3) Not wanting to win as much as their opponents barring one night at Pride Park 4) Not being professional enough (late goals regularly conceded, sloppiness, lazy possession retention, poor skills focus not least set pieces, bottling 50/50 tackles) All of the above must be tackled successfully if the club is to move forward. No more Southampton Football/Social Club unless this side are 20 unbeaten with a string of successive wins behind them. I want Pardew to make privileges earned and bring in players with some charisma and spirit that get the fans going - they don't have to be high earners or big names but players that want to improve and grow with the club. Players that we can identify with and know that they will always give us 100% if nothing else.

Harding was assigned to stop Theo when it was 3-1 and although Harding was a bit cynical, it was a tactic from Blackwell that turned the game (along with a terrible ref and mass panic from Saints midfield and back 4).

If Fortune hasn't signed for anybody he might be the next signing. Perry is good cover but not 46 games a season. Thomas will be quality at this level and looks settled again, hope he doesn't get any more penalty decisions like Saturday's against him.

Charlton fans rate him and were mystified as to why he wasn't getting a game under Parkinson. Don't know if Pardew was playing him or not.

Out of that lot, one of the keepers is probably off. James is more likely to feature in midfield (where he should be) but I'd anticipate Pulis and Molyneux are going and White will probably be loaned out again to gain sharpness after that nasty injury last term. Saga may be off as well.

John has a shot like a cruise missile - particularly volleying - and is decent in the air with service which to be fair is very different from Euell.

Would be very surprised if Gradel was let go by Pearson. Another pacy player that is on trial at Charlton that could prosper in L1 is Wade Small.

I'd go with that although perhaps 8-9 signings rather than 12 as if deployed sensibly and at their own pace (unlike last season's lemming introduction), SOME of the young players may make an impact. Harding is the sort of player we need to bring in - he was switched to do a job on Theo by Blackwell in that infamous 4-3 home defeat by Leeds at 3-1 and it changed the game (plus the awful ref). Another CB (maybe 2), a RB, 2 CMs with height/strength (Prutton?), 2 wingers with pace on both flanks and at least one striker with blistering pace.

Released from Coventry I thought. Hendrie would be quality IF his attitude is right, would run a lot games at this level although would leave us lacking a bit of height in the middle if paired with Gillett who should also shine at this level.

Harding is a good signing and if Prutts is wanted by Pardew and fancies a return, we'll have that as well.

I think it was more productive and the players will have learned more from Saturday and the Hearts game than another 7-0 beating of a Swedish 5th division side and the coaching staff and players on the lash afterwards. It certainly will have got them fitter and it sounds like Pardew will ensure the players train properly for the first time in years.

Good signing IMO although slightly concerned Mills may be blocked. Molyneux is on his way almost certainly. Need another RB even if Murty signs a deal and 2 wide players with pace, a CM with height and power and a striker with pace.

I think ML will but Pardew is just warning agents that we won't be paying £10k a week for any old tat or unproven players. The bubble has burst a bit outside of the PL.

Also, he and Markus don't want to pay inflated money to average/unproven players and their spiv agents. You only get the better money by performing and getting Saints back up the leagues which is how it should be. I suspect what Pardew also means is that there are lot more semi-decent free transfers available than past years as squads recede at most clubs so players are going to have to be more realistic in their wage demands. Sturrock said something similar the other week and agents know Plymouth have had new investment.

Spot on, Markus is doing 100% the right thing and more to the point, is leading by example.

Please don't tell me Holloway has signed sheet of glass Powell as well? He can have Ollie Lancashire and Pulis as well and then his SFC sh!t collection will be complete. I'd keep Stern John though and it looks like Pardew wants to.