mikee

Why don't the authorities just ban sponsorships from "related companies" to avoid a loop hole for gifts. There is already a HMRC definition of related companies and it wouldn't stop investment in infrastructure such as stadia and academies. Also surely any "traffic" issues with a development at this site could be addressed with a number of "park and sail" locations at say Hythe, Millbrook, Burseldon / Warsash etc. It would certainly add some glamour to the club. Include decent shops. a large spa and good creche and it might make it easier to grow the attendances as it would be easier to justify for many family men.

personally I can see the demand in the Premiership for 40K if we had the capacity, probably only for the big teams and definately if we allocated 5K to away fans. I doubt our gates would drop below 30K for league games. That much I can see just based on our recent Premiership experience. Any more than that would require a major shift in the clubs success and would only happen over a long term period - that's not to say it can't happen if Cortese is to be believed but there is no current evidence to support it. As I say 40K expansion would be very low risk but very costly per seat bugt I would expect this to happen sometime in the next 5 years.

Saw him at the ex-saints game on Sunday - he was there with his wife and kids. I asked him where he would be playing this year and he said "nowhere, I am enjoying some time with the family". Clearly any offer from Saints would suit him best but i don't think that we are really interested. No harm in letting him train with us, just to have a look at him and how he might fit into the squad, but personally, whilst I loved him when he was here, right now i would prefer a younger pacier striker to have on the bench.

I understand the point you are making and I expect that FIFA will end up bringing this in, but for me it will look a bit like bringing in some technology so they can say they are embracing technology when in reality it will have no bearing on 99% of matches which will still be decided by other more important mistakes that will go un-addressed.

Personally i get much more frustrated by poor offside and penalty decisions - those often have a major impact on the outcome of a game, and with refs being so inconsistent i don't buy the "it evens itself out" argument. What is the point of bringing in technology for something that might happen no more than once a season at each ground and ignore the wrong decisions that happen several times a game and result directly in goals being scored or ruled out?

The problem with the OP is that we are only enjoying the Championship now because we are winning - and this will inevitably lead to promotion - if not this season then soon after. Personally, I think that if we can keep the same manager and ethos and add to the squad in a discerning and deliberate manner, we can be very strong in the Premier League. Look at how well the squad has dealt with the step up to the Championship - the natural assumption is that we will not win as many games - well so far we are winning more! I think our style of play is key to our future as this type of football will allow us to compete better in the PL and will certainly ensure that we are too good for the Championship. It is a real cliche but Nigel really has made the whole team worth more than the sum of its parts and I am really looking forward to seeing how far this can take us in the PL. I share many peoples views on the "excesses" of the PL but it would make me even prouder of Saints if we could compete without resorting to these tactics but maintaining our principles. This will also give us the best chance of growing our fan base and picking up neutral support as many see the PL as full of mercenaries and having no soul.

Agree - most improved players so far- in order: Hammond, Richardson, Lallana, Guly, Lambert.

I don't think it will ever be our intention to compete with the likes of ManU and ManC on a financial basis. I can however see a time when by playing our style of football and keeping our youngsters as well as attracting others that aren't in it for the money, we could compete on the football pitch and challenge for at least a top 6 spot. It is just that most managers these days are too lazy to coach players and seem to rely on buying success. Which requires money we will never be able to support. This is what I think that Cortese means when he talks about the "southampton way". Mercenaries can go elsewhere but if you want to upset the big boys playing great football with a great bunch of team mates, then come to saints.

I am sure from what Nigel has said many times that we only want players who really want to play for Saints and buy into the "PLAN". I am also sure that if NC or NA get the feeling this is not the case, they will move on to other targets and I for one totally agree with that strategy. There are too many mercenaries in football, both players and agents and I would rather these players signed for another club. I will only worry when a player that we want, and who wants to come here, subsequently signs for someone else - but I don't think that this is the case so far. The team spirit we have at present is critical to our success and we cannot afford to jeopardise that with a player that doesn't really want to be here. I appreciate that as fans we feel the need to speculate and worry but on this occasion I really do feel that it is unfounded. I also still think we will sign a CB and striker by Thursday.

with a little more pace and better finishing power he could indeed make Messi look s***e

My brother is a mk st holder and loves Baldock. i have seen him play a few time and he is very similar in style to Owen. lots of pace and a good finisher. unfortunately he is also as fragile as Owen and spends a lot of time out injured. if he can stay fit he would fit into our team and style of play very well.

Nice to be able to say that and mean it! In the recent past it has seemed more like a declaration of support than a real belief. Nigel has earnt our trust and I am happy to leave the team development entirely to him and Cortese and concentrate on being a fan of the team. Football is back and it feels good!!

Great point by the OP that in these times of instant gratification, we forget that players can develop and improve. Many fans (and MerceSaint aptly proves the point) believe that if they are not good enough today, they will never be good enough tomorrow. Coaching is not just for the under 21's and players develop at different paces. One of the joys of following team is seeing the development and improvement of players - James Beattie being one of my favourite examples. I am really excited - if not a bit nervous - to find out how important a settled squad and team spirit is to achieving success in the championship. We have had so many changes over the past 8 years that we have forgotten what a settled squad can do - a la Strachans squad between 2001 and 2003.

Does Gorks paly as a left sided CB? If so, should be a great partner for Fonte.

The only thing August is likely to prove is that we have a load of reactionary drama queens on this site. Personally I think that the first couple of months look particularly difficult and we will have a reasonable idea of our chances this season by Christmas. Even then, I would expect us to get stronger and stronger as the season progresses.

Just found out that he is moving in 2 doors down from me so will try to have a word. Might also suggest some kicking practice over the park.

One of my favourite moments as a Saints fan was watching that pre-season Reds v Yellows match and thinking that we were really on the cusp of something special. Didn't expect it to be 2 relegations and administration! Had a similar(ish) feeling at the ML Memorial Trophy but think we are still a couple of players short of getting near that squad.

Chris Nicholl for me

spent most of my childhood abroad as dad was in the army so never really had a team, although my grandad was a big spurs fan and bought me my first kit. We were living in Germany in 1976 and the FA Cup was a big match on the barracks but everyone seemed to be supporting Man U. Just to be different I decided to back Southampton and they became my adopted team by allowing me to gloat at all the plastic MU fans. I still remember running around the back garden screaming my head off for about 10 minutes after Bobby scored! In October 1976 by a sheer quirk of fate, my dad got posted to Marchwood and we moved to Calshot. At that moment I knew that I was meant to be a Saints fan and I haven't regretted it since.....honest.

I understand your point but an average of 8,000 empty seats per game last season suggests they didn't maximise revenue. Demand will increase this season due to promotion but this demand will be dampened by significant price increases so I would expect the level of ST's to remain about the same.

It is bizzare how the club don't seem to be maximising on any revenue opportunities - perhaps this is what it is like when your club doesn't have financial and particularly cashflow problems - they become very complacent about sales. It does feel strange as a season ticket holder not to be courted in any way but I guess we will have to get used to it and so long as SFC can deliver success on the pitch it is probably a strategy that will work.

There is no sensible reason why they can't show us the design today. We could then see it on some new players tomorrow and be even more tempted to buy it. This reveal date strategy is bizarre. It is just as well that things on the filed are going well as the current marketing at Saints is the worst that I have ever known in my 36 years as a supporter. There is not one aspect theat they have got right: shirt sales; season tickets; fan communication - all appalling and makes fans feel used and abused. Whoever runs marketing at Saints should be very ashamed.

Never thought I would say this but I now prefer the football rumours site to this one. It is always slated on here but has all the same rumours (most rumours on saintsweb einate from there) but without the vitriolic slagging that seems to dominate any thread on this site. There is nothing worse than logging on here and getting excited about 2 new pages of runours (must be some big transfer activity you think to yourself) only to find it is just 2 tw*ts in a ****ing contest. Shame - and it is not just the closed season - its been like that for a long time but become more noticeable as people inevitably drift away leaving the lunatics to run the asylum.

aaaaahhh - the annual Alps in premature ejaculation thread shocker. As usual the OP makes no sense at all as we still have time to sign all of our key players before pre-season training starts, but of course Alps couldn't wait until then as there might not be anything to moan about..... it seems to be the current culture where it is easier to moan about what might happen than debate what has.

Wow - the first couple of months look particularly tough but if we can remain competitive then we should be able to climb the table in November and December, giving us a good platform for the new year! I would feel a lot more confident if we could add 3 premier league quality players in the close season.