Badger

So, a choice of Portuguese (working in the NHS), and other working Europeans who might contribute something , or the uncontrollable rabble seen at Calais trying to enter the UK illegally and will probably contribute the square root of f^ck all, becoming a drain on resources. Not sure many would follow the logic of your choice here.

Not to mention no qualms about £29m on another striker ...

Probably end up with the Skates (again), so his career is just starting ...

They've followed the England template here,talk big about winning it before it starts, then underperform, elimination and come home early.This should stand them in good stead for future tournaments at senior level in years to come. And lets not forget Southgate is often suggested as being fast tracked into the England job.

I wonder if this 'leak' is just Saints being used as a 'stalking horse' here, to try and hasten the bidding.

Gareth Bale wants to come back as well,and will pay his own transfer fee. In fact he is so embarrased by the f^ck up following his departure, he will personally reimburse the club the remainder of the fee that Lowe negotiated away, and also compensate us for wages paid to Tommy Forecast. All of which was from the wife of an impeccable source at the club.

Niemi Mk II ? That would be good. Trouble is though, with both Nyland, and the Finn ( presumably you mean, Hradecky mentioned on here previously), neither have played league football in a comparable league to judge how they might fare in England. But then again that is possibly what the Black Box is for ...

Not just Wiliams though is it ? Very few , Shearer and Bale the notable exceptions, really fulfill their potential and exceed our hopes of them, on leaving. Trouble is though, no matter how many times this happens, it will have no bearing on the current lot who still have the belief that their move will fulfill all their ambitions (££££ .. as well). All of which makes MLT more of a standout player and person.

not 2009 with the takeover ? Or 2007, with Paul Allen's yacht ? They were good years for people proclaiming deals were done, and if they weren't done then imminent, (there will be an announcement on Friday).

.. but 'tapping up' on international duty just aint saintly...

Yes, Heaton, was the last one linked with us. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-set-rival-southampton-5900526 Before that it was the Norwegian, Orjan Nyland. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/southamptons-transfer-molde-keeper-orjan-5626924 Both stories in The Mirror ! Suggests they're trying a shot gun approach of throwing out as many names to clubs as possible, in the hope that one or two are proved correct.

Should be up to the club, just say "No" f^ck off, we're not selling to Poch.." Depends on whatever agreement the club made with him really, hopefully we'll only sell to a Champions League club, which will rule Poch and the yids out of it. My big fear though is that if none of the CL clubs make a firm bid, then he'll simply want to leave to a 'bigger' club..

All gone quiet on the link to the Norwegian, Oyland, from a few weeks ago as well. As the new GK will be straight into the first team, I suspect we may seek an experienced one rather than one with 'potential' for the future, so perhaps Heaton remainds a likely contender, which would rule out the Norwegian as well.

dump

Agree - bet he can't believe his luck, being paid for **** all for a month or so.Sets the wrong tone, he'll think the club is run like a holiday camp.

Despite all the permutations and options, we still lack someone who can rely on to score consistently.

Dennis

I wouldn't bet on that. As you point out the knowledge that they only have to make part of the hazardous journey and will then be picked up and safely transported to Europe will keep the flow going, whilst EU leaders pontificate about what do.

Glad we're recruiting from the south west and not just relying on the usual circuit.

symbol

Saints will probably entice him, move the whole family up here and buy them a house in Ampfield.

Yes it was Smith at Arsenal I referring to, who to be fair has a better scoring record at Arsenal than I thought, of 1 in 3 matches, but still not prolific as Shearer who I'd used in the comparison. Meaningless data from Wikipedia as below: Appearances/Goals: Alan Smith : 1982–1987 Leicester City 200 (76) 1987–1995 Arsenal 264 (86 Shearer: 1988–1992 Southampton 118 (23) 1992–1996 Blackburn Rovers 138 (112) 1996–2006 Newcastle United 303 (148 ) Total 559 (283) Jay: 2007–2012 Burnley 105 (31) 2008 → Stirling Albion (loan)11 (3) 2010 → Barnsley (loan) 6 (1) 2012–Southampton 68 (21 Austin: 2009–2011Swindon Town 54 (31) 2011–2013Burnley 82 (41) 2013–Queens Park Rangers 66 (35)

Shane Long won't regularly find that form for two reasons. Firstly, his career is full of isolated high spots ( including a stand out performance for WBA and two good goals v Villa ) sandwiched between goal droughts. Secondly we won't find too many teams as obliging as Villa were that day. I suspect Rodriguez's abscence has changed peoples perceptions of him, but my recollection is that for all his qualities and attributes, he was not an out and out goalscorer (in the Austin mold), and often his shooting was pretty tame (as was Lallana's) needing three or four efforts before he eventually took one. Rodriguez will offer much going forward, but he's more of an Alan Smith than an Alan Shearer (for those old enough to remember both). For all our options, we don't have someone who has regularly put the ball in the back of the net through their career. Austin should bring that.

or the Portuguese Paul Telfer ?

What's he done to deserve five starts ? I though twenty minutes of the home debut was the critical point to judge a new players worth