S-Clarke

For sure, although last season he was somewhat backed as well with the deeper squad - although now we're in a position to evolve the starters who aren't good enough and have been strung along for years. Still need significant work in the 10's and up front though, then I'd say he's been backed and has the tools to work with.

Aribo is quality, I'd be happy with that. He wouldn't cost ''too'' much either as he's out of contract next summer. Good performer in European football, not just SPL. Adds a bit of experience/know how in a position where we are crying out for goal scoring quality.

Give me a nice Yellow and Blue away kit any day, this one is making me feel a tiny bit sea sick.

It's fortunate we are able to hoover them back up after a few years then!

Great read, thanks for posting. I know he's only 18 and he's got a lot of developing to do, but much in the mould of ABK and Bazunu, if you looked at the position on the pitch and the traits the player needed to have to fit our style, he seems to tick every box.

I think "14m" is a headline figure, he may end up costing that much but if he does he'd be a regular standout in our team. I reckon this seasons outlay is more in the 5-10m mark with the rest in add-ons.

You're focusing on the games at the back end of last season, to me they're gone now. All history. And too much focus on just players as well, a lot more is going on that is a sign for optimism. As has been said, the club have clearly seen problems and are actively going about fixing it. Positive moves with backroom staff changes, ambitious moves for talented recruitment people and a clear strategy which now seems to be being accelerated. Last summer we wouldn't have been able to sign Bazunu or ABK until we sorted a sale. We wouldn't have even been able pay the compo for Davis, Watson and Flemming last year, let alone pay FC Kobenhaven compo for Selles without a sale of sorts. It's seemingly a different kettle of fish now. The end of last season was pure bilge, but the club have recognised that and we seem to be going through a much needed reset in many areas.

Much better than what we used to get - ''Southampton are comfortable with the squad situation'' ''They believe better targets become available at the end of the window'' ''They are keeping all options open, priority remains position x, but club are relaxed if they can't find the right player''

He's signing on the pitch before our home game, Jim Branning will be letting off balloons first.

It's tough to see a clear pathway within the next 2 years for him. Chelsea have got to figure out what to do with Gallagher, Gilmour too. Then they've still got Jorginho, Kovovic, Barkley, Loftus-Cheek, Mount etc all technically in front of him and all still on decent contracts. Tino was in a similar boat, he had Reece James, Alonso, Cesar, Chilwell etc in front of him for a full back slot at the time.

I really like Harvey Vale, he's class. Still the same situation with that one, 1 year left on his Chelsea deal and we've been sniffing.

I'd imagine it would be a loan for delap, but more chance of an option to buy on this one I reckon. Then if he does well we can use some of next years budget to sort that.

It's got to go to a new 'star' attacker or have it retired in my opinion. 7 is such an iconic number for us, not just in the past with MLT but more recently with Rickie too.

You'd have to say Delap from going by our recent years efforts. Young up and coming player from a Top english clubs academy.

Very Broja-esque wasn't it!

Don't have a bad word to say about Long, he's put in a great shift with us. But the reality is that we need to move on now, we needed to move on a couple of years ago to be fair. Thanks for the service Shane, but now we can move forward with players capable of performing at this level.

Tweet on the previous page says we are interested in Lavia, Collwill and Hudson-Odoi. (Plus the City recruiter is joining us) Secret Scout is a decent source from my experience, certainly with the 'youth' side of things.

I get the concerns, but I still don't think age alone should be a pointer of experience. PEH, VVD were signed as young players but you wouldn't have ever said they were 'young' by the way they played. Not all young players will be like that, but I don't think it should be generalised that experience only comes when you're late 20's early 30's.

Good signing by Brentford, he's a talented young player. That's pretty much the going rate for young Champ players to be honest, we paid £15m for Armstrong so these fee's come as no real surprise.

I think it was more along the lines that they'd have been really limited in what they could have spent this summer had they not have sold Richarlison before the deadline. They have a bit more flex in the market now as this sale boosts last years FFP. It does make a mockery of FFP though, it really is a load of nonsense.

I wonder if he'll smile now? He always seems the most depressed footballer on the planet.

Hudson-Odoi is a strange one, like you said Bayern were after him (and Dortmund) and if he'd made that move he'd be on a similar trajectory as Bellingham and Sancho imo. But Chelsea priced him out of that move, then continued to leave him out of their own 11 - so he's really stagnated as a footballer, the kid has so much potential. He's got a big decision to make this summer, even if it's just a short-term decision. I don't think we'd ever sign him full time, but a year of regular football in the top flight would be good for him, us and Chelsea.

I think we need another full back, weirdly after strengthening it last season we find ourselves a bit short. Valery will prob leave, I think we'll struggle to see Tino much next season and Perraud is struggling with his injury. That leaves KWP, Vokins and Small. I thought we'd have looked for a loan cover though, but maybe this is part of the bigger picture and potentially preparing to cash in on KWP or Tino in a year or so. Who knows.

I don't think people are saying ''old heads' and experience as such, it's more about having players with genuine top level exposure. They can be 23, 24 and still have that exposure as Mane did for e.g. I don't think people are calling for a load of old blokes to look after the kids, just more match ready and match proven starters.

Good shout. Hopefully he has a better impact than Fleming, who followed a similar trajectory as Carl has.