NickG

Thanks for summary. Your concern about cork - was that more a sympathetic concern as we may have better options or did Wanayama/schneiderlin not look as good? Got feeling / hoping JayRod going to be big player this season but agree lacking in options

Lol, wish was drinking few cold beers now rather than working. But will he learn? What is your expectation for season?

Just learn from your mistakes. You are always wrong. You state as fact your predictions for the season. They prove wrong. You insist we need to change our pathetic transfer policy, you state squad is not good enough for your lowly prediction. You write off good footballers, Schneiderlin, Ramirez, Jay Rod are all crap according to you. But somehow, with crap players, amateur transfer windows, failing to sign players...we do better than you think was certain to happen...how??! You show lack of respect for other posters. You are too thick to learn from your mistakes, even someone a bit slow would have realised they should not sound off when time and time and time again you show a lack of understanding football. Others may disagree with my views on saints but I will explain a reasoning. You sneer and run every time a poster pushes you for a logical rationale. You come across bitter, spiteful and dim witted. Find something you enjoy.

Embarrassingly Cardiff have officially retracted their claim admitting their bid was never accepted - bid £10m, was turned down as 12.5m was price

Agree. Hoping Jay Rod will step up but does sound like club looking for new first choice forward. Not sure his plans for wide midfield but think we would benefit from a fast direct winger / forward - even if as a sub. Sort of signing i thought Mayuka was! But if no-one else comes in (and think they will) we will have a good season. Think we will have some poor performances, young teams are often inconsistent.

People will have differing levels of excitement or optimism but at least everyone can be pretty relaxed. Squad we finished season with was a decent mid table one. No key player left. Shaw signed up. Likely most players improving. Two signings who fans of higher clubs wanted. If window shut now we couldn't complain.

Funnily enough some same posters couldn't see his ability and wanted him out.... Hopefully Gaston next season improves on MLT record at the same age.. MLT aged 23, Played 36, 6 goals and as more forward player MLT early seasons included returns of 6, 0, 9, 6 goals. Bet you are glad there weren't match day threads then which would be haunting you now!

Is this the Schneiderlin thread from a few years ago? I am curious whether a lot of those writing him off haven't seen him play live. You can see the likes of Clyne looking for him as an outlet. His ability is obvious, so unfortunately is his inconsistency. what I don't understand is how people think a transfer fee needs to be justified in one season. Judge fee on : fee paid - fee when leaves. Ox-C went for bigger fee but played less, scored less, assisted less - but fee was for his future. Appreciate Gaston bit older but principal the same. Considering he arrived late, had thigh injury requiring hospital treatment, moved to new country, attacking player in team in relegation pressure, father died?... See how many attacking midfielders of his age scored / assisted as many in premiership? A very good player who I always look forward to watching. Depending on our transfer policy, potentially Ramirez behind Rodriguez could be an exciting future.

You have similar view to Rickie Lambert who has also said Ramirez is our best player and has never known a player with such awareness. Fitness, playing to systems, settling into new country, recovery from injury etc are all things that can easily be improved. But you can't teach a player to have his awareness and technical ability so easily.

Wonder how many moaning saw him play, or just expected messi due to fee? Clearly very good player and probably very good signing. I was disappointed that he didn't perform as I expected after villa game. However think anyone who saw him realises talent we have. If he settles better he will do very well. Find it amazing how many don't understand that when you buy a young expensive player you are not paying that fee for one season! Not complicated fee is high due to ability, age and full international. Alex O-C was £15m, first season scored two goals in 16 games. Waste if money? In the 20 odd mins before sending off Gaston did more, of higher quality than rest put together.

Its not about names or rumours or judging on each player. Its what club needs to go forward. Also accepting every single club signs some who don't make impact. If you look at the step forward we have made, between each window, he has got it right. Of course could have done little better but that's pretty harsh!

Midfield / CM would not have been my priorities but as he seems to do transfer windows better than any one else hopefully right plan

Agree re winger with pace - on paper Mayuka looked possible but not being used for some reason, and maybe aiming higher now. Striker also agree. Usually said you need 4. With our systems and potential use 'in the hole' of Lallana or Ramirez we maybe would not get a lot of use out of four but at least three. Keeper - think KD is ideal as a sub. Good character to be involved with the squad. Experienced if needed to quickly come on - not always easy as keeper. Plus GK often come on to face a penalty - his strength. If we are aiming high I don't think he is the standard for a run as first choice. Disagree re CB. Unlikely teams use more than three. I think Lovren / Yoshida look good for first choice and Fonte as third. JH or Jack Stephens or even VC if we are struggling. However, if we are looking at some of names linked with can't be bad

Puncheon was playing as a winger last season

Thing we can offer the other players we have been linked with is a big money move to English prem - he has that already so maybe harder to attract? 17 goals with 22 starts last season. Only just 20. 6'3 16 in 37 as teenager for anderlecht. Think one poster is trolling!

Last season, players with 1) more than 10 appearances 2) more than 5. Man u 1) 17 2) 23 Man c. 1) 16 2) 20 Chelsea 1) 17 2) 17 Arsenal 1) 16 2) 20 Spurs 1) 19 2) 19 Everton 1) 15 2) 15 Liverpool 2) 16 2) 20 Saints 1) 14 2) 17 Typically further 7-8 with decent amount of sub appearances. Looks like 16-17 core starters covers season. Interesting those saying need cover at defence, not many CBs used. Three plenty on average.

You need to get out more, speak to a real person. Cheer up a bit.

I'm not that fussed how a club did a generation or more ago or how 'big' its fans think - does it increase anyone's excitement or enjoyment for their team? How good team is now and how optimistic its future is more important to fans and prospective players (plus mainly money for players). 40 odd years ago Leeds won the title - counts for nothing now. (Saints and man u relegated sides!) Top 6 sides included Burnley and Derby. Of course is not black and white - if Man U had a nightmare first season without Ferguson, they would still be biggest side. If we finish above Everton and spurs for ten years then everyone would view us as one of very top clubs - here and overseas. I didn't consider Chelsea a big club - following football in 70s/80s through to 1998 as they spent 90% in 2nd tier or lower half top tier. Crowds 15-20k. They were miles behind Liverpool and not a big club. Fifteen years of money and success and most would say bigger than Liverpool. If Everton / spurs league positions dip for next 10-15 years their status will too. Only size that counts is league table.

Good chance you are wrong. Who knows but personally think that squad should be able to get top 8 finish. 1) for last 30 odd games of the season, over 75% of season we were 8th. 2) key weakness was CB - added quality signing 3) most squad still at improving age 4) manager had time with squad for fitness and way of playing 5) we struggled against physical sides - added monster! 6) think Shaw, Clyne and Ramirez will all significantly improve and be excellent for us. 7) and we always do a lot better than you predict

Strange edit of my post! Didn't say it was poor. Appreciate he is four years younger than RL, and can't say I have any idea how the scoring difficulties compare between two leagues. Maybe I am out of touch we fees but £20+m sounded high. RL managed 1 in 2.5 last season. Osvaldo has been better, but was asking more about him (although he is also 1 in 2.5 over last 5 seasons )

Is Osvaldo an and out CF? Not seen him play so looked at his goal record, price seems high for 27 year old.. 12/13. 16 in 29 11/12. 11 in 26 10/11. 13 in 24 09/10. 10 in 26 08/09. 0 in 20. I know stats don't paint full picture, but not having seen him, what will £20m buy us as doesn't seem prolific. What type of player is he?

If car was one that didn't depreciate and it was dealer who approached me possibly. Stretching the analogy! Profit comment (with ) was tongue in cheek at you once again being negative without facts. Reckon a loss is more likely than profit, if this is true. But he is young, international in their country, not impossible that they are keen to get him. Anyway Think we have two good international first choice CBs, and two in reserve, plus youth. We won't want our 25 man squad full of CB, four plenty - not having seen him but hoped he would be better than JH/JF to be one of 4. Reckon good squad now, early deals done, pressure off...

Or profit? (So soon, returning to same club, wouldn't be surprised if just cancel fees out)

Bit confused by Hartson's logic. Over season we finished outside of bottom few where he rates us. For the last 30 odd games we were 8th. Our team is nearly all under peak age so majority still improving. We have added an international CB from 4th rated side in world, IMHO the position where we were playing players not top half premiership level. He clearly rates VW highly and says he will have big impact... ...and we will be worse??

Good post.