doddisalegend

yeah that to

So no losses in pre-season and what? 2 goals conceded and 10 goals scored in five games. Can't read to much into pre-season but that has to be good for the teams confidence going into our first league match.

He won't have many easier than that this season. Once it was a foot race between him and the defender there was only one winner.

Southampton FC ‏@SouthamptonFC · 58s GOAL: #SaintsFC 1-0 @AthleticClub (@ShaneLong7 43)

Fonte is pushing 32 though and Cedric is what? 24? maybe Jose needs a bit of extra care at his age.

why do you say that? We've haven't lost a game in pre-season and scored in every game and only conceded 2 and that's before we've even played our best 11. Yes it's only pre-season and some of the opposition hasn't been top notch but there hasn't been much to suggest the players are struggling with the new system.

Koeman didn't even stick to the same tactics during the season and every manager we have had in the post take over era has changed the way the team plays we haven't spent the last seven seasons playing exactly the same way...

What else are they going to say? We are in the PL the next step up is Europe ideally CL so of course the club have it as a target doesn't mean they are going to get there but they can't really target finishing 10th can they. Nothing wrong with having lofty targets as long as everyone realises how hard it is to achieve and manages their expectations. Fans who say the club are targeting CL so that's what they expect are in for a lot of disappointment. It could happen (as Leicester proved) but its pretty unlikely.

His current manager reckons he would double Vardy's goal tally from last season..... sign him up....

But no Betrand .....

I have a target of getting a night of hot passion with Holly Willoughby. Just because I have this target doesn't mean I will achieve it .....

Talk ****e were interviewing a jurno today who said Ashley Williams to Everton was going to happen the clubs are just haggling over price.

TBF 50% of them are probably saint Charlie under his numerous other accounts....

Imagine what he could do to Belgium's defence....spurs fans probably hoping he doesn't get to coach them to often...

Top 10, passed the group stages in Europe and a decent cup run (quarter finals +) would be a decent season. Would be nice if we could start to get European football on a regular basis but I think that would be a tough ask given just how competitive the league is. This season is going to be extremely tough having European football added to the fact that Leicester gave the big boys a kick up the arse, which has resulted in them all (well not Arsenal obviously) strengthening, means the usual big six will be in their usual place leaving the rest us of us scrapping for mid-table/relegation places. The thing I'm not looking forward to is the inevitable meltdown, on here, when, in all likelihood, we don't improve our league position for the eighth season in a row ...

Bit of worry as he is 32 what will we do when retires if his irreplaceable...

I think every manager likes to bring a player or two that he has worked with to a new club. To me that's what this signing is. Not a problem for me as he is cheap and on a short term contract. It can't do any harm especially if it helps the manager feel settled.

I've long given up on second guessing whether players will stay or go but this article is on Fonte signing his last contract. http://www.southampton.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=417820 I know things change and you could say shades of Lallana but he does real sound like he feels important and happy here. "I still had another two years - this one and another one - but the club just wanted to secure me, I think, and make this almost the last club in my career. I am extremely happy if I finish here - I would be over the moon. This is where I feel comfortable and where I feel at home. We`ve been together for such a long time and, if it happened, then I would be going out of the game really, really happy"

No idea but I'm damn sure if Jose left the club aren't going to play Romeu as a CB all season they will bring in a new CB. Maybe the manager was assessing emergency options similar to Koeman playing Toby as CDM a couple of times when we short of options.

Who gives a ****...

like last season when we played a whole load of games with 5 at the back?

I guess your talking about Cedric..... The only place I have some long running fixation with Mane is in your odd little world sunshine

Yet again why do you struggle to understand the clubs transfer policy .....

I've never said I didn't rate Mane only that I didn't rate him as highly a you. There is a massive tendency on here on here to overate players who leave (and yes to underrate them as well). Yes Mane was exciting to watch, good with both feet and running with the ball, strong and scored some good goals but his end product was also not all that at times and he went through some very poor peroids over the two seasons he was here. This old thread makes interesting reading http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?52647-Mane&highlight=Mane Mane has had plenty of critics far harder than me on here especially as I've never been overly critical of him...except in your and Shurlock's world