Midfield_General

I was sat in the Arsenal end as I live near the Emirates and a Gooner mate got me a ticket. Couldn't watch any more as it got toward the end of the first half so I went for a pint, and missed our goal. Great day all round really.

Absolutely hate everything about it.

I agree with your point earlier that it sounds like it's going to come down to desire. Big pay packet for a cushy number in Oz, or less cash but a final real challenge over here. From everything I've ever heard about the guy, he seems like someone who truly loves the game, and if he put in the best part of a full season last year for Juve it would suggest he's still got the fire in his belly. Time will tell I guess but I'm actually now starting to think we might get him, simply because he'll want to play football at the top level for as long as possible. Which would be remarkable, really.

Guardian reporting that he has not decided yet - not clear whether this is based on any new info though or just rehashing what's already been discussed: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/sep/04/sydney-southampton-alessandro-del-piero

Blimey the old fella in the middle's done well. I dread to think what's in her glass.

I'm not saying he's perfect, he's not. Just that neither of the goals yesterday were his fault so it's a bit harsh to point the finger at him for those. To your point about over the last few seasons, all players, including keepers, make mistakes from time to time, and just looking at the first two games of the Prem, Given, Federici, Cech and De Gea have all made howlers already, and you could very nearly have added Al-Habsi to that yesterday. Nobody's perfect. So while I realise that we can chase more than one position at a time, and I agree that we should always be looking to strengthen wherever we can, if we are in a position where we have to prioritise time, budget or resources for transfer activity in the last week of the window, personally I think we have bigger priorities than a keeper right now.

Agree with most of those, but Burridge? Entertaining obviously because he was such a mental case, but I remember him erratic for us to say the least. Apart from anything he was about five foot six. But then Flowers came through and Lo, we had a proper keeper. I was gutted when he left. Woods was toilet for us as well (though he was good for Norwich and Rangers). Still remember his horror show when we shipped seven away at Everton. I was on a car journey with 3 non-Saints supporting friends and there was about a 15 minute spell on the radio when there were five goal flashes and every single one was that we'd conceded another one. Not sure he played for us again much after that.

For goodness sake neither of those goals yesterday were down to Kelvin. The first was smashed in from about 6 yards after the defence was split, no keeper in the world would have saved that. The second he was left totally exposed and Kone is a quality player who was never going to miss a 1-on-1 when given that much time and space to pick his spot. Also, for those banging on about Al-Habsi, with the exception of the shot from Lallana that he tipped onto the bar (which was a great save), the rest were total bread and butter from distance. If any of those had gone in it would have been put down as a serious error. Plus, he was very lucky to get away with the one that he nearly bundled into his own net at the near post, and nothing stuck to him all game. Kelvin's not perfect but to blame either of yesterday's goals on him is unfair. It's the defence in front of him who were culpable for both and that's where our priorities should lie.

I didn't say he did - I said he may have had more chance of making an impact if he had, instead of JWP.

Norwich who lost their opening game of the season 5-0?

Saints lost, let's all blame Guly. He was one of our best players in the first half. At the middle of most of our passing, keeping the ball, linking play and bringing Clyne in down the right. Second half he faded badly, but then they all did. Other than that, what everyone else has said. Rodriguez is not a winger and was a passenger today. Play him in position or don't play him. Lallana looked bright but he can't do it on his own. Wigan had one chance in the first hour and took it ruthlessly, we didn't. That's going to be the difference in this league. Surprised that when we made our subs, it was Ward-Prowse who came on. He looks a tidy player but not sure he's the one who's going to change it when we're chasing the game. Not Puncheon's biggest fan but thought he would have possibly made more impact running at tiring defenders in the last 25 mins. Wigan looked like what they are, a canny side with experience of closing out a match at this level. We'll learn from this I think. And - obviously - we need a CB. But then we knew that. Let's see what the rest of the transfer window holds before we all start panicking.

We'd better have our fingers crossed that as a young lad he can cope with expectation after all this, if we get him. I would love him to be spectacular but part of me can't help feeling that for a club the size of Saints it's a hell of a lot of money for one young player who has never played in this league and never lived in this country. Obviously he's got a fantastic reputation there are so many examples of players have come to the Prem with a massive rep and big price tag and just not been able to make an impact, whether down to loss of form, failure to adapt to the style of the league, inability to settle or whatever - Veron (£28.1m), Aquilani (£17m), Luque (£10.5m), Alves (£12.5m), Marlet (£11m), Jo (£16m) and our own dear Tin Man spring to mind. Obviously there are loads who have come and been brilliant, and not to be pessimistic because I hope we get him and I hope he's amazing, but just slightly concerned that for a club of our size, it's a lot of dosh for a fairly unknown quantity. Let's face it, very few of us have seen him play. Time will tell I guess.

I think in all the excitement he's getting 'revel in' and 'relish' confused. Bless him.

Photo please

Oh god. Sung by what sounded like the New Seekers, starting off quite low and whispered, then building steadily to a shrill, shrieking finale, before the voiceover man from the Odeon ads for curry houses on Above Bar cut in to push tickets for this Saturday's thrilling clash against Wimbledon at The Dell. Jesus that was bleak.

Nope. It was a stickman, front-on, with a smiley face, wearing a saints scarf, standing on one foot for some reason, with 'Spirit of Southampton' scrawled in what was basically comic sans underneath. I seem to remember it came terrifyingly close to being our official logo. One of Rupert's best efforts.

Dear God I remember that. It was teamed with a horrific 'Spirit of Southampton' jingle on an advert that seemed to be on a neverending loop on Power FM (RIP).

...

For the Boxing Day fixture, to this tune http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjmGbI-Mnys: Nathaniel Clyne Up the right touchline Hear us singing Christian rhyme With logs on the fire Gifts on the tree We got him at tribunal For an undisclosed fee Then we all join hands and sway in time, with a choirboy doing a haunting solo in harmony over the top.

Class

Hmmm, given the new kit maybe it should be Red, Red Clyne? Then anyone who's got their knickers in a twist about the lack of stripes could boo ferociously, and we could have a big fight amongst ourselves. That could work.

Clyne is going to be a regular starter so he's going to need a song. Let's look at our options: a) Sloop John B b) Something by the Smiths or the Roses to show how cool we are as a fan base c) - with 'Nathaniel Clyne' instead of the chorus. Get Gary Crosby in a jewelled jumpsuit to lead it. And maybe leaving out the bit about touching me, touching you. d) Nathaniel Clyne, clap clap clap clap - why change a winning formula Any others?

Guardian reckons it will be contracted that they have to pay it if they stay up: "Liverpool have told West Ham that they can have Carroll on loan for the season in exchange for £2m, but that West Ham must then pay a further £17m to make the deal permanent if they retain their Premier League status... there would be no mere option for West Ham to buy Carroll next summer; if they remained a Premier League club, they would be legally bound to sign him." http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jul/30/andy-carroll-west-ham-liverpool A bit damn risky if you ask me.

...and Bennett, and Davenport...

Bit of a weird one. If they can convince Carroll to go - and by the sound of it he doesn't want to - then they can get him for £2m for this season, which would seem a great bit of business. But, if they stay up, they are then legally bound by the terms of the contract to buy him outright for a further £17m. Which could lead to an interesting situation if, for example, he did a cruciate at the end of the season but they still stayed up. They'd still have to pay a huge fee to take a player who could be injured indefinitely.