S-Clarke

All of our transfer business will be done by the time we play Liverpool, as expected. 2 more to go. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/southampton/11032483/Southampton-close-in-on-Shane-Long-and-Florin-Gardos-to-continue-Ronald-Koemans-squad-overhaul.html

The slight difference is that we had no one at our club with premier league experience up front. Chelsea have Drogba and Torres as options too. Swansea had Michu, Villa had Bent. We had no one, we couldn't really afford a gamble. We needed someone who has done in this league before, not amazing records, but reliable. If we went into the season with 2 unproven foreigners and a young kid in Gallagher then its' a huge gamble, utterly massive gamble. So we've obviously paid a tad over just to ensure we got that experience. Still not quite sure who else is gettable for us with PL experience. Long is a good fit in that sense, and also with the attributes he brings to the party.

I believe you may be an idiot. Just a hunch.

I thought he was a Hull player?

It's the in thing these days. Morgan is lining up his attack on James Ward-Prowse as we speak.

The board have done a poor job of this asset strip. In fairness, it was never an asset strip. Just an incredibly poorly managed situation from the word go.

Isgrove, I'd expect. When he had his storming season for Reading, he played with Noel Hunt - but he often played on the left side of that attack, with Kebe - I believe, on the other side. Scored 21 goals, but also got 12 assists that year.

Have you heard anything other than Long/Florin? Still fancy an attacking wide player...

Their chairman seems a rather excitable chap. Got a really good feeling about this signing though.

Because they know there are people out there who will believe it and turn it into an internet rumour.

Haven't we done that with Morgan?

We will not be able to afford Gyan, no chance. And at least with Long, we've got a player who has done it in the PL. Gyan hasn't really, bit of a flop all being told.

Is there any news on Morgan? Assuming he's been training as normal this week in the build-up to L'Pool?

His career is down the pan. He's just picked up by the big clubs as their 4th striker, quite a cheap loan, good cover on the bench. Job done. I personally think he's ****.

That's such a comedy centre back pairing, to be honest! Still too close to the first 11...

Germany may have Schweinsteiger Özil, Spain may have Iniesta Xavi, but Ireland have Long Cox

When you see Kroos going for £20m, then Lallana @ £25m was excessive. Mainly down to the sell on stuff, but it was excessive. Very talented player, but if you're basing fee's on ability then he's probably only a 10-15m player tops. Shaw to Utd for £30m is insane, would love him back, but he's yet to show he's worth anywhere near £30m. Chambers at 16m was excessive, long-term potential there granted, but still excessive.

I wouldn't say he's a very average player. I think some people will be very surprised, he'll become a fans favourite I reckon.

Long will achieve more in his first 6 months than Osvaldo did here. Osvaldo was the meh signing if anything.

To be fair, I've learnt to ignore anything that comes out of his mouth. I suggest everyone else does the same!

I believe those people are on day-release from Tatchbury Mount.

And it's a good point on Osvaldo, we spent all bloody summer chasing a player who clearly never wanted to come here - it was obvious from all the media snippets we could see. Up to £15m squandered on a player who scored less goals than Shane Long did last season, and that was for 2 clubs. Osvaldo was a name, and I think that's half the issue. Some fans just want us to sign names, they may not be any good, but his name is popular and pretty.

Flogged our stars for excessive fee's, you'd say. So you can't expect us not to receive the same treatment. And he's not dross, costing £12m doesn't mean he's dross. If he's not a dross signing at 800k, then he's not a dross signing at 12m. He's a good player who will add to this team. Fact.

No, it won't. You've got to cut the ties from last season, it's the only way you can look forward. We won't be as good or as exciting to watch, I've accepted that.

In essence, the frustration and 'meh' feeling surrounding this deal is regarding the fee. If you remove the fee and suggest we've picked him up on a free transfer, then I think 90% of us would think that's a fantastic free signing. As in terms of a player, he will add quality and attributes which we are currently missing. Just ignore the fee, in this day and age of football the fee's are kind of irrelevant in terms of judging a players capability.