Badger

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

"Playing hardball" - there's a throwback to the days of Rupert. Only problem is that we simply don't hold the better cards in the case of Toby so we're not in a position to exercise any muscle or real influence.

Always the way though, same with Clyne. In the case of Clyne I hope we don't miss out on Trippier and Byram whilst Clyne and LVG dally about. For our central mf though, perhaps we should bang on and bring in Clasie, and/or the Senegalese bloke, Gueye (?), and if we're serious about Europa League etc next year we'll have a good pool to select from. (Keeping them all happy may not be so easy though).

Isn't Schweinsteiger an attacking MF though ? If so, I don't see that Man Utd would see Morgan as an alternative to him ? Although there may be other options for the role MS might be best at, Strootman perhaps, I doubt its Schweinsteiger.

People were saying it was a done deal with Arsenal the day he signed for us.... In truth though I think it was viewed that he was Arsenal bound if they wanted him, but it seems Wenger is looking elsewhere.

.. or film it

We were linked with Phillips whilst he was at Wycombe during Pardew's time with us, but nothing materialised. There was a story at one point that we'd made a derisory bid and Wycombe rejected this before selling him to Blackpool. Austin - again linked in L1 as we were pushing for promotion under Adkins. My recollection was that Swindon refused to sell to us as they saw us as a promotion rival, selling him to Burnley instead, NC bemoaning the fact we'd offered more money than others and he'd gone elsewhere. Others on here have said the bid was accepted and Austin turned us down to go to Burnley.

Austin & Trippier are the stand out options from the list. Phillips to a lesser degree, although like Fer, Caulker & Green is now associated with two relegations (three in Green's case I think).

Uncalled for sexist humour. Mods should try and nip this in the bud before it takes off.

having seen the post from NTA these would be better than Shalke or Dortmund of course if we wish to qualify...

Don't get to excited , it may not happen still, and even if it does then it could be a qualifier against Inverness, St Johnstone, or Bala Town.

If Clyne intended signing for us then he probably would have done so by now, Saints have publicly said he had a ten day deadline, which I think expired before the last match of the season, yet we are still 'hopeful' etc. Nothing wrong with that but realistically I think he has one foot out of the door, and will only sign for us if his dream move doesn't materialise.

I did read it somewhere a while ago, but it must have slipped my mind

Are the shirt sponsors are 'Mengele' by any chance ? If so, its probably just the South American farm machinery company and pur coincidence.