saint1977

Minus the odd long-range spectacular goal - e.g. that overhead kick V Spurs Was going to mention the long throws but Stoke got more benefit from those. Was an OK player who had the odd standout and poor game. Was considered pricey at £4m in 2001 - guess £16-20m is the modern equivalent fee?

Agree with some of that but not all. DC agree but not DMC, that is critical and must-do; we were totally reliant on Romeu last term and even then he was covering a stupid amount of ground in games, hence the yellows for desperate last ditch fouls where our spine had collapsed. Stephens and Yoshida were left very exposed at times and even with VVD fit we still lacked proper screening. Fraser suffered from not having the depth of screening that Morgan/Victor and Oriol/Victor had given. I would agree that we can only sign AMC if we trim in that area but I believe we should. Agree totally on strikers - no point Gallagher signing a new deal and then not getting a try, Long and Gabbi should do better with a fresh system and regime. Fingers crossed Charlie is fit but is our best natural finisher. Can only see another striker if Charlie moves on if doesn't quite fit MP's system.

Hoping so, rumours that he wasn't getting on with Puel but hopefully this is MP starting to settle things down a bit.

He didn't have the best season but tbf De Gea would struggle, Romeu apart, with that defensive screen in front of them and for half of the season a rookie and squad player (although a good one) in front of them. People were saying 'buy a new keeper' but better value to buy a good quality DMC to accompany Romeu and give us some resilience if he gets injured or sent off.

Not a fan of Corbyn; but the Sun and Mail are actually winning him plenty of votes with their stupid articles. The IRA one was a classic - the word on the grapevine is that it helped Labour in a number of marginal and cost May an overall majority. The Sun was no better. Still 'it's the Sun wot lost it' isn't quite as catchy. If the press want to hole him below the water line; where's the money coming from? Has pledged to abolish University tuition fees which was very popular. Where will the £11bn come from? He could reduce places but could that disadvantage social mobility? I won't even go into the remarks on the loan book but that could make fees a drop in the ocean. Public Sector pay as well. Re-nationalisation of rail? Very difficult for him to U-turn on the key elements (see Nick Clegg) but if he was elected he'd have to address funding. It's healthy for democracy that some of these issues are in the debate and will strengthen the One Nation Tory/Right of Centre hand against the most extreme loons on the Tory Right (and there are some sensible people on that wing as well). However, I confess to be being quite scared about how any, let alone some, of these items will be paid for.

Going on Les's comments about the midfield options last summer this is probably on the money as an assessment of club thinking. Fast forward a summer and: JWP rose to the challenge in his new position and developed; Clasie I don't think got a fair rap from Puel but going by LeG's cryptic comments stamina was an issue and if MP wants to reintroduce a higher tempo he'll need to work on that; Reed out on loan and whilst I've liked him when he's played the club feel he has stagnated; PEH - started well but lost not only his place but a bit of his identity by season end (and was as out of favour as Clasie). MP hopefully can help him find what he is really good at again and develop his strengths. Davis; Mr Reliable and the Kelvin of this era (and a very fine player). I agree that he is starting to fade which is why my priority would be DMC and AMC (latter for Davis) for incoming transfers. Another DC if there's something decent left in the kitty but not absolutely essential if VVD stays AND we buy another DMC with stamina and ability to screen the back 4 to help Romeu.

Quite - he'll still have some off days but expecting a much better season and he should be encouraged to take long range shots. Some of them will go in Row Z, even the best do, but if he scores 3 or 4 like the Sunderland and Boro goals it'll help his confidence as well as the goal tally from midfield.

I really wish Jay well and hope he revives his career at WBA (but not score against us). However, he did score a similarly superb goal in a home pre-season friendly in RK's second season (can't remember the opposition I'm afraid) which sadly created an excited thread on here, proving a false dawn. If he does revive his form, fair play to him but the change of environment probably did it and not Les Reed's fault. Playing under Puel last season as an attacking player last season must have been sapping - Long when fit should do better, look at Gabbi when he arrived Vs the end of the season. Glad for Gallagher's sake as well we've changed it.

I know you are being ironic but I actually don't think Everton's signings would be right for us anyway and they've lost Lukaku. We are lacking in different areas - power/stamina/athleticism in midfield, giving Romeu and FF helping with screening the back 4 and possibly CB. Want to give Gallagher a proper chance and for MP to implement his system before strikers are considered, if they are in Jan at all.

Totally agree on Clasie, decent player but unless MP changes the system quite considerably we won't see the best of him. Agree also on point 3 about CBs. Less sure on point 2 - Long is 30 so club may sell if interest but Shane was another poorly managed last year and could have an 8-12 goal league season if played to his strengths, rather than being obsessed with playing one way as Puel was. Could be some truth in this although the club have always said that transfer strategy happens with some managerial input (Tadic and Martina clearly had the input of Koeman/s) but largely independently. Doubt if MP knew much about Bednarak for example.

I would agree - think Fraser was carrying a niggling problem in the groin/hernia area and due to two dreadful windows, the midfield apart from Romeu was horribly power-puff. So FF's protection was heavily reduced from his first 3 seasons. PEH was managed poorly last year and should be better, JWP improving but have to work to his strengths and limitations. Would perhaps say AM slightly ahead of CB, but didn't quite get the Bednarek signing unless Saints were taking a promising player off the market. DMC definitely top of agenda although take Cartman's point that athleticism and stamina are equally as important as height.

Good win and bigger margin than on paper due to Southee's knock. Hants innings looked like 200+ with Carbs fireworks. Subsided after Bailey departed but Middx lost wickets regularly, especially to Crane. Afridi's figures not as amazing as Crane but anything under 8 p/o in T20 is tidy. Come down for Middx after late Finn win v Surrey in front of 27k at Lord's.

Great experience for Harry to potentially play at some of the bigger grounds in the SPL, including Old Firm.

Sadly you are probably all too correct with that last statement.

Last couple of posters saying he's now injured - bad one? Couldn't see it anyway - unless Tadic or Boufal were being sold. Very unlikely we'll sell Boufal before he has proven himself. Tadic was unhappy under last 2 manager seemingly but new manager in. DMC/athletic MC/AMC areas for strengthening as priority anyway. Think PEH will come good, Davis maybe more squad player next year but still important at club and OR essential. JWP improving and home grown. Clasie will depart IMO. Put a midfielder with more pace and power in there and the others will improve as well. Boufal could be the AMC in the right system but didn't suit Puel's preferred set up.

I think Badger was being ironic - and you may be as well.

Hope so, when SFC aren't playing I'll look forward to going to Home Park from time to time and seeing him play.

Quite and as someone pointed out, we just got £14m for someone who was sadly very plagued in the last 3 seasons, albeit that I hope his fortunes improve again at WBA. Chambers money was in Koeman's words at the time 'a gift' and those figures don't include the TV deal either and you are correct, I didn't see Shaw there either nor Morgan who have depreciated in value since leaving. He should get a job with Trump's campaign team with analysis that wrong and biased.

Good luck to Jay at WBA. Was never the same after that horrible injury at Man City - can still visualise it now - and was such a shame as he was awesome in 2013/14. Everyone has mentioned the Fulham goal and rightly so but no-one has mentioned the equaliser at Newcastle. Look it up on You Tube, it was a counter attack with the recorder stuck on X8 fast forward. The Bournemouth and Leicester games gave us hope that the old Jay might be returning but the negative tactics finished him and all of the strikers off for the season including even Gabi. However, you could see Jay in some games looking for acceleration to get away from defenders which was deserting him a lot of the time in some games, hence why he had to take earlier shots. Will still do a job but not one necessarily which Pellegrino needs but Pulis might. I think Jay just needs to find what type of forward he is again - not suited to lone striker necessarily without the midfield support (which was dreadful here last term) but harder too see him bombing in off the left as he did for Poch or playing on the shoulder. Perhaps he needed a new environment and if he does score 2 or 3 I hope some of the plums on here don't castigate Saints.

Good for both parties. Liked his debut at Everton, wasn't fazed by playing right back and looked composed. Need to get the right partner for him now - Yoshida is a good 3rd choice but either keep VVD or new firs choice - will keep Jack's development going.

This is good news - Sam even when he was raw first time around had a rare combination of assets - height but athletic with a turn of pace. Losing his father set him back as it would any of us at that age and strikers of that height take longer to mature (Crouch, Niall Quinn). Scored some good goals last season in a struggling side where chances were at a premium and got glowing reviews and quite a few suitors. Good bit of business and hope he's allowed to compete for a first team place next term whereas I think Bednarak has a loan to the Championship written all over him but Saints wanted him off the market.

It wasn't some 'unorthodox' watering of the facilities beyond the goal was it? Ding Dong, Ding Dong, Where's your bell gone?

Has a very good contract (and job security) with Exeter for that level and hence hasn't moved even within Leagues 1 and 2. They will make a few bob from Wheeler and particularly Watkins so Tisdale will good for more seasons there yet. On Todd's logic, Tisdale would be manager of Saints with Pinnacle owning us (as they were working with MLT), Paul McVeigh would be Norwich manager, the Skates should re-appoint Alan Knight and Liverpool with Aldridge as boss. Tisdale was a fringe player for years who had injury problems, he's done well at Exeter as a manager and has recovered popularity with the fans after a rocky 3-4 years. Was at Team Bath before that.

Yet, the narrative coming out of CP seemingly before the appointment was that CP had invested heavily with Pardew and Sam across 2-3 windows and that they needed someone to get the best out of some of those investments? Perhaps FDB was told that he could sell some of those bigger money signings e.g. Benteke and re-invest all of it? Or perhaps more money has been made available? Runs contrary though to Parrish's statement though about the new investors sorting out their facilities, which need heavy investment (not least the very old main stand at Selhurst and Arthur Waite is hardly luxury having watched Saints V Palace and Wimbledon there plenty of times).

Would be difficult to keep them all happy, even on City wages! Mendy is another name that keeps popping up but Ryan has the domestic card and helps them. Alves won't be able to play every game. Did I read somewhere that Kolarov might be on the move? Ryan might prefer to stay in the south though.