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Uh oh

Always liked the look of Hesketh, and should've had a couple more assists with more clinical finishing from J-Rod and maybe one or two others. Think he'll get a few chances this season. Rodriguez looks a bit of a shadow of himself still - grabbed a goal but also a few very tame efforts and not running through defences like he used to. Have got my fingers crossed he stays fit and works himself back to where he was but it'll still need time and at the moment he's still a little bit away from being ready for regular first team football from what I've seen. Good to see quite a few under 18s playing with the older age groups and looking good. Pretty sure the trialist QPR keeper didnt earn himself a contract...!

Fonte wont move to a club outside of European football... Surely?! haha! You can never know with the world of greedy footballers. I think if he leaves it's an absolute disgrace considering the amount we're paying him, the number of new improved contracts we've given him and the promise of coaching role etc.

They did tweet about him being at the match etc so dont think they would've made anything of it if he was then going to leave

I think a young, relatively inexperienced player can fully accept that they are below a full England international in the pecking order? Doesnt mean we dont want him - just that we might want him to gain more experience...

I've always thought he (and Hesketh) had something about them that meant they could well make it at Saints. McQueen seems much stronger than Hesketh though, so perhaps more likely to get there? Would be good to see him stick around and see if we can put him in for a few early cup games or some time off the bench and see what he can really do.

Fair play!

Jeez this would be a great signing.

It remains to be seen. I think most fans are not holding their breath but will be pleasantly surprised if he does more than a few games and photoshoots.

Bevis Mugabi?! haha

They would probably love it and blame someone we had paid 10 million for, even if they had a decent game

It's looking increasingly like we do want this to be the case, and it's been documented in the past that we want something like 5+ academy products in each match day squad. Always liked the look of Hesketh (reminds me of a young Lallana - possibly with better finishing), and think Reed will feature a bit more this campaign, possibly also Stephens - although likely behind VVD, Fonte, Gardos and Yoshida, so not sure how many chances there'll be there. I thought a few of the loanees got rave reviews? Seem to remember Lloyd Isgrove getting a fair bit of praise and Jason McCarthy was voted either Player or Young Player of the year at Wycombe albeit in League 2.

A few who have done good things in the u18s/21s (Jake Vokins especially) and a few others coming in who must be pretty decent. Looking forward to hearing a bit more about some of these kids over the next 2/3 seasons. Also, Harlem Hale looks like a proper badboy.

Not a position we need players with Bertrand and Targett, (so definitely fingers crossed not linked to Bertrand out) but he did look very promising at the start of last season before a nasty injury ruled him out for most of it...

I think that's the problem - wont last a full pre-season!!

Blackstock was probably about 12 years ago!!!

Is 'Prem' some sort of code for physio room?

There are plenty of very good ones to choose from..! Celina and Garcia particularly good.

So what happened to de Boer etc? We seem to have come down to Pellegrini or a bunch of no hopers?

Thought he actually looked pretty good in the couple of games I saw him play...

Has he signed yet? Or still on holiday? Or not happening?

I second this (if my post at the same time is anything to go by)!

Think he would be a good signing - young, promising English player with good experience and only going to get better. Also already (presumably) mates with Ward-Prowse, Targett and Stephens (and possibly Reed) from international duty - so will settle in nicely. Keeping my fingers crossed for this as the first of a good summers haul!

Anyone know? I'm guessing it must be pretty big considering the size of Virgin Media? Why is this thread only 3 pages long? Thought people would like a great bit of news like this!

Although we didnt think Koeman would - would Pelle (Italy's starting striker at the Euros) sacrifice a top 6 prem team in Europa league to join Stoke or Everton? I think he might unfortunately leave, but surely back to Italy or at least to another Europa / Champions League team