Saint Charlie

Another vote for Matt Le Mod. Let's get some order about the place.

Anyone know when we actually name our 25 man squad? Its after the end of the window rather than before the first game I presume? Clearly the window would be better if it shut this week before first round of matches.

Good news but no way he will be match fit enough to even make the bench vs City surely.

Of course you do if you think there might be a player that interests you. Dev squad have had a couple of keepers on trial. I would expect Gazza, Seaborne, Butterfield, Hammond etc might get a game today.

Of course he is.

Not a quote from the agent but a tweet from the reporter: Tancredi Palmeri ‏@tancredipalmeri Ramirez agent Betancourt expected today on meeting with Southampton top executives, probably Cortese

Bit unrealistic mate, especially as Rodwell has already joined City. Keep up. Johnson isn't even as good as De Ridder anyway.

Maybe Cortese hasn't been on holiday but in Italy trying to do a mega deal, trawling round all the top clubs begging for players to appease the baying mob of Soton fans.

Yeah apparantly Spurs agreed €16m with Bologna but wouldn't pay him anymore than he was on there so its not happening. Wouldn't think he would fit with us but who knows these days, maybe Cortese has read Dibden Purlieu Saint's transfer activity thread and its swayed him.

Cortese meeting Gaston Ramirez's agent today according to an Italian CNN journalist on Twitter..

This. Was selected ahead of Martin at the start of the season and did a good job in the first couple of games. Would be a good loan signing for Charlton or Millwall.

Friendlies Ive seen him in he has looked assured on the ball. Definitely the best passer of the CBs we have. Not actually as bad as people make out, he was a scapegoat for us not being promoted in the first L1 season.

If he leaves then definitely two - not enough to have three CBs and we can't bring any in on loan during the season. One might be a relatively young player, but definitely two bodies needed.

Seaborne out on loan? http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11684/7987799 Must be two centre backs lined up as NA has said all along. Makes sense for Seaborne to get a season in the Championship.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11684/7987799 Must be two centre backs lined up as NA has said all along. Makes sense for Seaborne to get a season in the Championship.

We have our targets, have enquired about lots of players, need to decide which ones to go for now as Nixon says. Pretty sure Bentley won't be on the list.

Accused of...but see your point.

Ah ok - what type of centre half is he? Pace?

Juventus nearly signed Benalouane last year - also linked with Newcastle recently. Looks an interesting player.

Source? They were linked earlier in the summer and now have money to spend from Rodwell sale.

No - Im suggesting that for the 4-3-3 Clyne and Davis fit in nicely. Clyne gets forward to supply width when Puncheon comes inside and Davis can either sit or move forward in the midfield. Of course they can play in other systems too but the poster I was answering said that our signigns don't fit the system whereas the only one who doesn't is JR and he would do if he was played as the central striker. IMO its less the system and more the jump in quality that is going to be an issue.

All the signings fit the formation apart from JR. Can't help but feel that he is lined up to be the central striker (but Adkins can't really drop lambert yet because of his immense record for us which is totally fair). Clyne is the RB who bombs on, Davis will fit into a few of the central midfield three and Gazza is an up and coming keeper. We really need that wide player and as you say central defenders. If we were to bring in a wide player, LB and CB then we would be looking good in the 4-3-3.

Just like they put in an offer for Carroll? Dempsey wants Champions League. EDIT: Just heard West Ham have bid for Neymar too.

IMO we have the players who can play the system (with a couple of additions still to be made to finalise it) - the pre season games we have lost have just been against better teams with better players - regardless of the formation. I agree with Adkins that 4-3-3/4-5-1 is pretty much the way you have to go in the Prem or you get dominated in the midfield as other teams have the central three and will run around you. The key for us IMO is the attacking wide positions. Puncheon is doing ok and linking well with Clyne on the right but the left is not working as JR doesn't suit the position and Fox can't get up and down in the same way Clyne does on the right. If we had a bit more pace ( a Matt Phillips type player) then we could stretch the opposition defence. NB; I know we have a defensive issue but thats personnel not system. Also worth noting that the Udinese game was Blackmore's first of pre season. We were clearly beaten by a much better Champions League team, not because we played 4-3-3. If he had seen us play well vs Ajax then he might feel a bit different.

True - lots of Prem players who are capable of the same. That's why we have played good teams in pre season rather than Eastleigh, Yeovil etc