Saint Charlie

Heard a little whisper actually Dave, about this Dutch LB and maybe another. Will give you a buzz later and fill you in. Hope Mary is well.

Thats for the season after, ESPN still have some games this season I think.

We clearly need a GK, two centre backs, a CM, wide midfielder and a RB so there will be signigns to come.

Apparantly Spurs are keen on Butland now. Big opportunity missed if we don't get him in, going to be a class keeper for years.

What about Football Manager?

Sorry - have you actually read the thread or any of the articles? Recap: Buttner knows what has been offered by both parties because he spoke to QPR, Fulham and Saints. He knows their offers, setups, training ground etc. He has publically said he wants to join Saints. We are now in the process of agreeing a fee. If the fee is agreed he will join us. If not, he might go to QPR, someone else, or stay at Vitesse.

And whatever some might say there is certainly a feelgood factor back at Saints, the last two seasons have been the best in my 20 odd years of support.

Thats harsh on Huddlestone. He has played well for one of the better Prem teams and before he got injured made a couple of England squads. He is having a good career bar this injury. Holmes isn't.

Yes...haggling over the fee.

Brighton have pretty much sold out of season tickets, have around 20k I think. http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~2830966,00.html

Quite possibly. Would be good to see Lallana central a bit more, but only if we had someone decent out on the left.

Seems like he wants to go to Betis.

Because we hadn't agreed a fee and QPR have. We became the prime club when the player decided he wanted to join us.

We weren't the prime club to sign him when he looked around. He could have opted for Fulham or QPR but wanted to join Saints. We just have to agree a fee now and then will sign him. We are in the strong position. He might well end up elsewhere, but don't really understand your point, as QPR had agreed a feee they were the prime club, and he didn't say he wnated to join them. He said he wanted to join Saints...so im sure he is prepared to wait for the clubs to agree a fee.

They already have, and Fulham, and Buttner has decided he wants to play for Saints.

Of course he will. But he has said he wants to play for Saints, so if we want to sign him then we will. if we don't then we won't. We hold the power as we know the fee they want, and know the player wants to sign here.

They are because the player wants to come here, and Buttner has a good relationship with his club. Of course they will want a good deal but player power counts for a lot.

Don't be sure about that Dave. I remember when you told me you thought Schneiderlin offered less than Jermaine Wright...not sure I trust your judgement!

Its almost the opposite. Saints know that the player wants to, and has agreed in principle, to join us. Therefore, we can play hardball over the fee knowing that Buttner will also be applying pressure. If we want him enough we will eventually agree a fee, but if by stalling for a few days we can pay less than that makes complete sense, knowing that the player doesn't really want to go to Fulham or QPR.

Good player but has missed a lot of games last two years and might be a bit similar to Morgan? Will be a good signing for someone though.

This is the time for Cortese to show how far the club has come. We have given away Bale, Chamberlain & Walcott and got relatively little in return - stick his heels in. If Shaw wanted to leave that much then he shouldn't have signed a 3 year contract. If all those clubs want him then he is clearly quality, and we have known for a while he was the next superstar from our Academy. Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City can have him...in four years time for 25m. Until then: no thanks.

Steele. But it has already been confirmed Butland will start.

Doesn't miss the whole of pre season and he will be up to fitness quickly too so shouldn't be a negative impact for us unless he gets injured (which could happen to any of our squad in friendlies).

Hopefully the ones the processed through before the crash will be fine.

Pretty much all the translated articles above.