Badger

Take it all back. Glad you didn't mention Guly though...

We had been linked with Bas Dost at some stage, but looks like he'd only join the injury list: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3397376/Newcastle-target-Bas-Dost-ruled-six-weeks-breaking-bone-foot-Wolfsburg-training.html so can rule that out.

Do you expect two good games from Long in a week given the intensity he tries to play at ?

We should avoid South American players like the plague. Unless you're buying the top drawer players theres too much risk involved. Surprised we haven't learnt that - it has been a costly mistake in the recent past.

I think we were linked with him whilst Poch was here.

Although Pelle is available again, we do need other options. Long's run of form is over what period ? His last game v Watford perhaps. His track record suggests he is unlikely to keep that up for the next match, and probably won't score again for 3or4 games.

I'm surprised we haven't pursued this one as we were meant to be keen in the summer of 2014, although at that time Leeds were meant to be seeking £6m. Perhaps we don't think he has developed since in the way we'd have hoped, or perhaps Ross Wilson has just gone to sleep on the possibility (or just trawling Football Manager stats to find another cheap ill-fitting recruit from the continent).

He's probably fully aware that he's not getting a virgin bride. But then again at his age he probably doesn't matter to him.

I would have thought Juventus were more likely to consider the prospect of losing Pogba, and therefore keen to retain this bloke for that eventuality, irrespective of Gundogan.

One Swansea fan says : He'd definitely be our sort of signing then.

time

Okay, fair enough, I thought Seagar was older than 19/20.

Seagar is a player I had expected to see more involved given his scoring record at U21 level. But question, how old is he ? I thought he was now in his 20's in which case I would have expected his chance to have come by now, either last season, or even before under MP.

This is surprising as he was widely acclaimed for working with, and bringing youngsters through at Feyenoord. Perhaps the question is whether his "attitude" towards the U21's is more to do with the management and personnel involved in it, (be it Reed or Hunter) rather than the players. Or perhaps he genuinely feels the players at that level are not up to making the step up. If there is a conflict on this scale, then I can only see one outcome, and it won't be the 5 year contract on another thread.

Rather like when Chris Nicholl was sacked, the obvious outstanding candidate is along the coast at Bournemouth. Whether Howe might be interested is entirely another matter. He is worshipped down there, would he risk that status, to move here, knowing a big club chance is likely to come his way anyway ? As Bournemouth are showing ambition in backing him in the transfer market would we be such an attractive proposition ? The name circulated a couple of years ago was Thomas Tuchel, but now that he's at Dortmund there is litttle prospect that he'd give that up - CL & 80,000 crowds - for the relative obscurity of Saints. Perhaps we dodged a bullet in 1991 not appointing Redknapp, but I still believe he was the outstanding candidate then, and would have been better than Branfoot.

Good point, but wasn't Alan Ball , or Graeme Sounness mocked for how often they told the squad of their medal haul, (in Ball's case about his WC medal) ?

Deep down I didn't expect a win yesterday, and the team announcement - playing Yoshida, Martina, and Targett - cemented that thought to be honest. Perhaps we should have stuck Caulker in as well for good measure. If going for wing backs, might Cedric have been a better option ? As for the match, seemed in control until Davis (mainly) & Yoshida combined to give Palace a clean run at goal. Yet again, our biggest problem is converting chances. 12 corners, and only two near the end really created a real opening. Too many players want too many touches (which seems to be the real 'Southampton way' , as it used to be like this with Lallana & Rodriguez, but they were a cut above the present lot, in creating more and eventually taking an opprtunity). Most seasons I feel its season over when we exit the FA Cup.Now I hope we have that this year, although if the current slide continues we'll have the 'excitement' of looking over our shoulder at the drop zone to look forward to.

Main positive from yesterday is that I don't have to worry about the scramble for a semi-final. or final ticket (again) this season. Other than that, I suppose we've only got half a season of that vile green away shirt to put up with.

I did wonder about the selection process involved in recruiting for this position when Wilson was announced, or when we were first linked with him. I'm not critiscising him on his selection, or suitability for the role, but what would make him stand out to Les Reed above other possibilities ? If he had a track record of unearthing a few gems at Huddersfield then fine, but I'm not aware of any (I think Jordan Rhodes pre-dates his time there). Then again a similar thing could be said of Mitchell at MK before joining us. The track record over the last 12 months though has been pretty poor, and like many I suspect many of the signings are Ronald/Erwin inspired rather than by the Head of Recruitment. I find it surprising that we are not still linked with Byram, or now with Cook at Leeds. It appears that AFCB without our mega-centre at Staplewood and 'black Box' are more alert in the transfer market than we are. Hope Kat realises what a poor return on Marcus investment at Staplewood the present incumbents are serving up.

I sincerely hope so.

I've said that ever since Chris Nichol was sacked. Remember the disaster that followed.

Monk had one golden season when it well for them, but had to sell Bony, and I gather from a couple of Swansea supporters I know , some of the recruits have not been up to scratch (sound familiar?). As you say it turned sour for him, and it could it head that way for RK ? Is a single 'successful' season is the most we can expect from a manager nowadays ?. Perhaps it is, Poch came to us after a good season at Espanyol and it all going tits up the next. As for Howe, that could be coup, but certainly wouldn't happen mid-season, and if AFCB stay up he'll certainly be in demand, but would he be more principled than 'Arry, in 'joining that lot down the road?'

A proven one would probably be out of our pocket, unless we're talking of Austin, injury record and all. I'd settle for one who could get 15, or as we are at the moment, one who might at least get into double figures. But with our proven and acclaimed scouting network we should be seeking an up and coming one.

Yes, a Spanish U21 from Malaga. Good idea. Obviously encouraged by the roaring success of Juanmi.

I'd be happy to see him go to Arsenal tbh, anywhere but to Poch.