S-Clarke

A frustrating player, but one I'd like to persevere with. Class is there, but all too often injured too easily or brushed off the ball. Will improve next year I'm sure. It's quite telling though, have a watch of the our PL goals video from last year, it's like a Gaston montage. Sometimes it takes time to just have a look back and you realise, actually, he's pretty class. Let's count ourselves lucky we even have a player of his ability.

I think it's hilarious that it's even under debate to be honest. We've had 4 great years, the previous 3 we won most weeks and enjoyed some of the best success we've had in the last 10-15 years, yet people think the transfers have been poor. In fact, our transfer process over the last few seasons has been bang on in most cases. Every club will sign a dud or 2, it happens, but we've done very well to get the players we have. I think the fact we're about to embark on a 2nd year of PL football, whilst being linked with the likes of Banega, offers a very strong case to suggest that our transfer policy has been pretty bang on in the last few years. If it hadn't been, i doubt we'd be here, would we? As with everything in the walk of life, there's always room for improvement, but we're not really in a bad place at all.

Sorry, decade.

To be fair, at least we can now work out who is being sarcastic/on a wind up and who isn't. Was quite hard to work out previously...

I must admit, the kit looks a hell of a lot worse in action than it does hanging up. It's usually the opposite! Horrific color contrasts. Very amateur and tacky looking. Oh well, it's only a kit!

Thread of the year.

If he's had extended leave, similar to that of Maya, then he's probably not up to the level to play in a match yet.

We're going to win the league. Good workout by the sounds of it.

A fatter version of Lallana?

Not massively bothered, Osvaldo doesn't ''feel'' right to me if i'm honest.

They've been pretty good. They called the Gaston deal last year before anyone else, would imagine there's something in it, but probably one of many options we're looking at.

Last summer I think. But, no, he doesn't set the pulse racing at all to be honest. A very average goal scoring record to say the last, up until his stint in Italy where he did better. Still not great though. Would hope we secure someone slightly more proven!

A striker who plays for FC Lorient I believe. Was on loan in Italy last year, did ok by all accounts.

Why would we want to buy backup though? The way to do it is to buy players who are better than the current player, therefore the ''current'' player then becomes the backup. All part of the squad evolution if it's done correctly. Signing players just to be backup is a sure fire way to having a hell of a lot of dead wood, which becomes near on impossible to flog.

Agreed. convinced myself it was either him of Wanyama, would have been chuffed with either. but to get both, holy ****. ''It's Happening''. Yes, it is.

Doesn't feel like the sort of signing we'd make for that price, to be honest. On a free transfer, maybe, but I can't see us paying around £10m for a 31 year old these days.

Assume that's a sarcastic post. I don't think anyone is judging him on one game.

Roma's best striker who they want to sell ASAP, will make any deal easier to conclude from that front. Internactional are openly listening to offers of £20m euro. Lukaku will not be for sale, full stop.

Wouldn't have thought so.

blimey. Would imagine the answer will be a big fat no though. No harm in asking though I guess.

"Mauricio Pochettino is close to convince his fellow countryman, Ever Banega, to join in his project at Southampton. The news about the English club’s interest in signing the Argentinean mid-fielder was first broken by ‘The Sun’. The offer was tempting for Valencia -10 million [EUROS]. The footballer, notwithstanding, did not seem quite keen. We was not convinced of landing in a mid-table team in the Premier League and the whole affair had overtones of utopia. However, the former manager of Espanyol, did not give up and one month on the transfer may take place. Pochettino knows of Banega’s technical characteristics and is convinced his game can help Southampton to give the quality jump they need to rub shoulders with the big teams in the Premier League. The Argentinean manager has placed in England the same bets on possession and combinations as on the Spanish ‘La Liga’ which brought him to the attention Southampton’s board. Banega would fit with no problems in this scheme and it seems that the footballer would be keener on moving to English football. For Valencia, these 10M are still a good offer, so as soon as the footballer given his consent, the transfer will be made.

Does seem slightly overkill as you say, but looking at it another way........we have an opportunity to sign a current CM for Argentina, who is 25 years old, for less than £8m. That's just isnane and we see it as an opportunity too good to pass up I'd think. Makes you wonder why the hell other clubs aren't linked though, at that price he will be the bargain of the decade.

It has made me wonder if the rumours in the Spanish press about Sociadad wanting Morgan may have something more to it (they have $40m euro to play with now to replace their star CM) I doubt they do, and we will just have lots of options. But it does make you a little nervous!

Looks like this one might be happening.

To be honest, I have no idea who is serious and who isn't on here these days. Everyone is beginning to merge into one.