S-Clarke

GK i give you, stronger at the mo. But if Boruc does go, then we're in the same position. Defence still has the same glaring weakneses to be honest, no might about it! With Yoshida and Jos still hovering and an injury away from a first team slot, we still have weaknesses there. I have a positive feeling about Florin, but he'll need to go some to replicate Lovren's season here. Jury is out on the midfield. I wish people wouldn't throw all their eggs into one basket re: Gaston, we've been betting on this for the last 3 seasons and he fades away again. I hope he does a good job and actually contributes this year. Taider looks ok, but we'll have to see. Up front we've added a bit of depth for sure, but Lamberts all round game will be a struggle to replace and we'll miss Jay until he's back. A lot has to be said for team spirit and continuity in the squad as well, that's been ripped out. This will be mainly a team of strangers who play together next year, and I personally felt we had togetherness that a transfer fee couldn't replace. So I'd say we're currently weaker at this stage than we were at this stage last year.

But having so much change in one summer is a recipe for disaster to be honest.

We've spent £68m though, which makes it even more of a WTF summer. Can't quite work out where we've improved by spending £68m.

Saints are set to make this summer’s spending the most lavish in the club’s history as they aim to tie up deals for Shane Long and Florin Gardos. Quite depressing really, club will use that to say the ambition is still there, but compared to last year the squad looks pretty god damn average. We have the same weaknesses as last year.

Rodriguez is a better player than Welbeck, so I'd expect him to be sold for north of £20m. He won't be though, as clubs will get him at a snip next season due to his contract situation.

I think I saw this, and it's just been misinterpreted. Was along the lines of have you bought him off the back of 1 good season..etc.. so he justified it by saying he was also very good at Lyon, which to a degree is right. He's just saying that he was aware of him before Southampton and that he hasn't just been a 1 season wonder!

Does kind of show that fee's are incredible these days! What the hell has he ever done to warrant a fee at that level? He's a non-goal scoring striker. Wouldn't be too fussed if we missed out on him, but again, like with long, way, way over priced. Crazy and depressing market.

Unless you are a press person, why the hell would anyone bring a laptop to a football match? And tablets as well? Why? Just use your phone, or just watch the game...which is what you've paid to do! Wouldn't bother me a jot to be honest, I travel light to the football so the last thing I've ever wanted to do is lug around computer kit.

It's madness, let's be honest. After the total upheaval we've had, you at least try to keep the valuable members you had from last year. Some sort of continuity, just a bit. We're going to be a team of strangers. This smacks of Fitz Hall all over again.

Rigged draw ffs!!!!!

We're not even good enough to be on Sky's list of selected seeded sides. Doomed I tell you.

CB is really no worse off than it was at this time last year, if we're honest. No one knew how Lovren was going to turn out then, and the same can be said of Florin now - could turn out to be as valuable.

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?