Graffito

Saints player profiles seem to be young, up and coming, with resale value, or homegrown. He doesn't fit either of these profiles.

Designed by a committee. Drawn by a child.

Didn't MP stay loyal to Espanyol...and then found that his better players were sold?

Lallana's response to that last question only served to add to all the uncertainty. I must admit to being more concerned for having seen the interview. How many points will we finish off what would usually get a CL place, 20 points or thereabouts? It will obviously take significant investment to make up those 20 points. Better contracts for the best of the existing squad and quality bought in. I can't see that happening. I missed the beginning. Did MP make any input? Did the Chairmen say anything of note?

Pulis. When I saw Palace at St Mary's they were so poor I was convinced they would be relegated. Plenty of effort but no quality. Pulis has worked wonders there. Brilliant management.

Football fans create atmosphere. Music spoils it. Can't say I've noticed the music when Saints score. Music just prior to ko, at the very point the crowd gets going, drives me nuts.

On the contrary, the move started with a perfectly timed last ditch tackle in Saints' penalty area, through midfield to a stunning finish. Pity it had to be him but so it was. The goal of the season.

West Brom away first game of the season, memorable only for the late penalty and last Saturday's late winner at Swansea in a similar dull game kind of bookended Saints' best away points tally in the PL, within which probably Liverpool and Manu were the best of the results. Norwich and Fulham are always good days out. Sadly we may lose Norwich too. Had never been to Stoke before. Interesting place! The Old Stock Joint in Birmingham is a cracking pub.

Having read the two articles in the Observer I can't see how the authorities are going to resolve this. There's been serious inconsistency in how the rules have been applied. Altrincham docked 18 points for a similar offence. It's a right mess.

Everyone wearing face masks. Perfect cover for a thief.

Snatch of the Day it is then.

Recruiting the managers was the key ingredient in Saints rise from League 1. How did he do it? He took good advice. I've always been interested too know who advised him.

Yes and no Rooney and no Lallana. Mirror should get a few hits with that.

Like the word "Mong"?

A chip off the old tit.

This more or less reflects my reading of the situation. To which I would add that the most loyal manager by far in the PL, Arsene Wenger, routinely delays signing a new contract, most recently because he too wants assurances on signings.

Cabin Crew.

Something positive from the DM. "The side which had buried Manchester United a week ago could not begin to cope with Southampton’s movement and control. In fairness, the Saints were quite outstanding. At their best, they are one of the two or three most charmingly potent teams in the land, and here they were at the peak of their powers. From front to back, their football was an absolute joy; swift, thoughtful, incisive and blessed with impeccable technique. When they are in such a mood, then there is a sense of genuine privilege in watching them at work."

I think Hodgson was there to watch the fullbacks as Lallana and Lambert are going. Battle of the fullbacks today. Ours won. I'd be happy enough for Cole to be selected but it's looking more and more likely that Shaw will. Shaw has shone against Chelsea when Cole's played and today against Everton with Baines. Clyne's probably a better defender than Johnson or Walker, acknowledging that he isn't so good in the air. Whether it's too late for Clyne who knows. He wouldn't let England down.

She took her time about it then. Someone spending £73m of my money over two seasons. I think I'd have noticed a bit sooner.

Battle of the fullbacks.

Diego Rivas looks like a neat player. Is he the Diego that said he wanted to play for Saints?

Did Cortese have a massive chip about Saints when he was interviewed by the Independent last year?

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/financial-fair-play-policy-unfair-on-smaller-clubs-claim-chairmen-of-chelsea-and-southampton-8872161.html It was as if “we had a broken finger and we cut off the arm,” said Bruce Buck, Chelsea's chairman. Nicola Cortese, his counterpart at Saints, added: “It is wrong to call it 'financial fair play', it is financial regulation. Though we are a club that believes a lot of things are possible to close the gap in commercial income with a club like Manchester United will be virtually impossible." Under Cortese, Southampton have gone from bottom of League One to the upper echelons of the Premier League, a process made much easier by access to the fortune of the late Markus Liebherr. Taking the next step however, will be more difficult as they will no longer be able to significantly outspend as they speculate to accumulate. “We have got to not feel disadvantaged,” said Cortese, “we will grow our commercial income but if we cannot close the gap commercially, which will probably be the case for all time, we have to use other aspects [such as youth development].” He added: “We fought against the [Premier League] salary cap. We think it can lead to a situation where we make profits but cannot use those profits to retain a player on a higher salary as we are capped quite low.”

Don't remember such interest in our final match last season. Stoke.