SaintRobbie

We need 3-4 more high quality players to start to challenge for Europe. On current signing rates that should take us two more Premier League seasons!

To be fair, we need one more decent signing. A proven striker. We have irons in the fire and 28 days to run on the window. I think we've spent wisely on reinforcing a steady team with x2 quality players. But, I'd love to see some firepower arrive. I think we will. Certainly not worth worrying about at this stage. Keep calm and pass to Rickie for now

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/gareth-bale-transfer-southampton-sold-2109437 What about this?

Shame he left when he did. I think he'd be a squad player for Saints still. So much potential and legged it too early IMHO.

Did he eat his words when Blackburn won the Premier League title? Of course we can do it.

I want stripes. I also love the British sense of traditionalism being displayed by the poll result and the messageboard in the round. Can't help but hate myself therefore for saying this... but its growing on me. Flipping change...! BUT still want stripes. Wouldve been so much cooler.

I rather liked that!

It's crap. Perhaps someone could sell red and white striped t shirts outside SMS on match days so we can wear them over it?

The original Ted Bates Statue sculptor would have a field day making one of him!

He appears to have a strange double jointed left arm and a rather big hand.

Here's a useful warning to you badge tinkerers.... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-22696130 We tend to like tradition. Our badge is now a tradition in its own right.

S ave O ur S tripes! (Please!) Good voting result - the people have spoken.

Good result this poll! We love our stripes!!!

Nothing wrong with either of these... isnt that right Matt?!

Stripes AND the same badge please... it's just Saintly!

What's he worth... every player has his price right? Personally I'd sell him for £15m if we could keep him for one year on loan whilst we look to climb the table. Our youngsters are not guaranteed to all become Bale's and Walcott's, but we do need to reinforce our team not bleed out our best if we want to kick on. But, to kick on we need cash and we need to retain our best. So selling high and keeping him on loan seems to work for me as we advance towards the top half, its a helpful compromise. Don't get me wrong though, I'd prefer not to sell. If we need £15m to reinforce, sell Ramirez not Shaw. I guess we have the luxury of keeping such youngsters when we're top four. Meantime, we need to finance our progression to the top four. To sell or not to sell... horrible dilemma really. I hate being a feeder club to the top 4. But, until we are top 4 how else can we finance our progression to get there?

http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/newcastle-united/s70/st182312/rumour-has-it-pardew-has-been-sacked Rumours rumours.... but you'd certainly not be insane to put a bet on that he will be sacked.

Phew. MP and NC staying. Finished 14th in the Premier League with something to build on for next season. Now sell the mediocre, buy in some talent and lets push on! ... oh and Pompey finish LAST in League 1. All in all a great season. Lots of hope. Lots of good days ahead. Just need to get the manager speaking English and buying some decent players!

Mayuka - useless. Fact.

Just arrived in late... why the black arm bands?

Good news. Better still the talks were done quickly and are out of the way. Hopefully NC gained some financial backing to build the team this summer to kick on. I cant fault Cortese's ambition. Glad this rubbish is out of the way before pre-season. Now lets go marching on.

This is based on judgment and experience old chap. No one knows the full facts, all we are exposed to is a Chairman who's threatening to leave and a manager who's also just said he's off if Cortese leaves too. That's the facts. The rest is what I would do.... and I suspect what the trust is considering right now as a possible option. What's your take?

If this is a way of trying to get himself a better deal, or to waken up the owners to his ambition and back the project (a sentiment we all share), it is a very public and very poor example of management, especially for a high profile organisation. NC of all people knows to keep dealings behind closed doors - he's been a master at excluding the Press from transfers et al. Now MP has backed his chairman and said he'd be off if Cortese left!? WTF?! If I were the owners I would start this morning by examining who was available and how soon they could come in to replace them. Then I'd calm down having got angry, get over it, and work out what NC wants. I'd weigh it up and then make a decision. If the potential replacement chairman and manager were better; I'd sack Cortese and Pontichello. I'd do it as quickly as possible though. Being held to ransom by NC and now MP isn't how it works I'm afraid. NC and MP are desirable.... not expendable. And there are plenty of others who can do the job and may even be more desirable for a variety of reasons! EITHER PUT THIS TO BED NOW - QUICKLY - AND GIVE NC WHAT HE NEEDS, OR SACK HIM AND MP NOW SO THAT THE NEW TEAM CAN BUILD A SIDE TO SURVIVE NEXT SEASON. BUT DO IT FAST.

I would like Cortese to stay, for now. But I would also not be overly concerned if he left. No one is expendable in football. No one man makes the team. But, like replacing a manager, you should only remove a chairman if you have someone better lined up to take over.

One point has never felt so good! Jason Puncheon can poo at my house anytime!