Junior Mullet

27m for a tubby injury prone one footed left back was great business.

Just behind Pelle. Davis is a good player for us but Saturday showed me that we need something more in that position. Long nipping in and around there making runs and generally making a nuisance of himself might just work. With Tadic and Gaston on either flank.

You're over-thinking it.

If you come on here you might expect 'fans' to express an opinion on a player from time to time amongst the trolling and bickering. I'm with didcot - pelle will struggle this year

I like him. A poor man's Theo. I'd bring him here in a heartbeat. Why? - Did you see Isgrove at the weekend? That's why.

Liverpool are playing Dortmund live on bt sport from midday today. They have played done of the cream if Europe and England in the past month, unlike us. It'll bd interesting to see how they do today. I don't see Liverpool as top four this year. I reckon united, city, arse and Chelsea will bd above them. They will see our game as a match they should win well.

Just back. Formation-wise, we played 4-2-3-1. The three behind the target man played wider than we did under Poch and we didn't press. Here are my thoughts on the new players and focus on changes from last year. Defensively we looked OK. Yoshida was the weak link and the club clearly understand that and are working on a replacement. Bertrand looked good - good positioning both defensively and when we attacked, he has pace and likes a tackle. I think Bertrand will do very well for us this year and the fans will take to him. I don't think we'll concede too many goals this year. As a unit and with an additional good CB we will be solid and tough to break down. I believe that our problem this year will be scoring goals. I would be very surprised indeed if Pelle scores 10 goals (for us, OGs don't count). He played as target man today but didn't look a patch on Lambert. He was comfortable chesting the balls that were played up to him but looked uncomfortable heading the ball. I appreciate that it was a pre-season game but I hope he's more willing to use his head and generally get stuck in more once the season begins. He's a big muscly lad, but he needs to use it otherwise the Prem CBs will see him as easy pickings. I fear he might be this year's fans villain. I hope he proves me wrong. We started the game with JWP and Wanyama as the defensive midfielders, Tadic on the right of the 3, Davis behind Pelle and Isgrove on the left. Wanyama played well - he broke up play and occasionally gave the ball away - it was typical Wanyama. JWP didn't really get into the game and Isgrove showed touches of pace and promise but never looked like causing a breakthrough. Tadic was neat and tidy, as was Davis. We lacked creativity and penetration in the first half. Tadic didn't see enough of the ball. The lack of press meant we didnt force errors and all too often our passing broke down in a frustratingly easy fashion. The second half was better when Ramirez came on for Isgrove and Taider came on for JWP. Ramirez played on the right of the three and Tadic switched to the left. This change made us look stronger and more creative. We were more direct and there was more urgency in our play. Mayuka came on for Davis and did well. He played right across the front - looking for space, demanding the ball and then running at defenders with the ball. We looked more threatening with Mayuka on. Taider looks like a decent player - full of energy and good control of the ball. He played several passes back and sideways rather than looking for forward passes but I suspect that's due to him just joining. Tadic looks a good player - good control and skillful. There's undoubtedly talent in the midfield, Koeman just needs to find the right blend. We need to strengthen with a new striker though. Likely changes for the Liverpool game: a new CB straight in for Yoshida, Taider or Morgan (wishful thinking though I suspect) to start in place of JWP and I would play Ramirez if he's fit in place of Isgrove. Prediction for the season - 14th. We may also have to get used to staying up later for our Match of the Day highlights.

Nope, they charged me an extra 2 because its the day if the match and a booking fee per ticket on top. Can't be right can it? Anyway, I'm looking forward to Getting an insight into Ronald's plans for the season.

Looking forward to this. Interested to see the starting line up and Ronald's preferred tactics. A word of wafning though gor snyone rlse buying tickets today - At 8.00 last night the saints website was updated to say tickets priced at 12 each. Good value, only I've booked mine now over the phone to save walk up and they are actually 14, before booking fee. Apparently they cost more on match day, even though this is a friendly.

There are different ways if selling half the team. There are ways that keep fans on side, assist with the capture if replacements, appease sponsors and keep the wolf-like media from the door. The right way also does its best to prevent concern and unrest spreading to hitherto settled players and their agents. Don't try and re-write history sog, what we've seen this summer is an object lesson in how to mismanage want away players and several other issues to boot. The examples are plenty and well known and I do not intend to lost them here. I have so far seen nothing that gives me confidence in them. Cortese, on the other hand did things in a highly professional manner. I watched his actions and listened to his words when he joined and it didn't take long for him to gain my faith. I had real confidence in him. I hope the current board have learned their lessons and take actions that inspire confidence. Not because they have to, not because little me says so, but because being a football fan is so much more enjoyable when you have faith in the people making decisions that affect your club. Coyrawm!!!

They have appeared naiive and amateurish since Cortese left. I want them to convince everyone that they are in fact professionals who know what they are doing. I would also like them to state what their ambition is for the club and tell the fans how they plan to achieve it.

Can someone please tell me how our midfield is likely to look at the weekend? How will Taider fit in? Thanks :0)

Yup, anyone who still thinks Bertrand was brought here as back up for a top new signing will be very disappointed.

I think he's going to be a great player - one of the best ever to come through our ranks. As others have said, it takes central midfielders who are not blessed with pace a little longer to develop, like Lallana and Morgan. This will be a big year for James and I think he'll get plenty of game time to show what he's capable of. Good luck to him. Anyone who's ever seen or heard him interviewed will know what a smart and articulate lad he is too. I fully expect him to captain England one day.

It's already happening. It's why people pay big bucks to sponsor shows but pay very little to advertise in between parts.

I hope the players see this and get fired up by it. Last year we did well as the surprise package. Let's see how well we do this year with our backs to the wall. COYRAWM

So he's come here because we're sure to sell him to Liverpool as soon as we take up the option to buy?

What did Guan say?

I worry about just how much damage is being done in the meantime. Don't get me wrong, the club is so much stronger now that when Markus took over but we are going backwards at a serious rate. It's not long until the new season kicks off - we will do well to stay up.

Careful Crab Lungs, I was called names for posting this a month ago. There are some absolute rotters on here.

...and not just the cash in the bank. If you a net asset value calculation, which is pretty common with company sales, debtors and other assets are brought in. This would include installment payments on sales. The two things that point most to a sale for me are: broken promises and the current silence - neither of which are indicative of an owner or board who are planning longevity.

Have you been impressed with the board throughout all this? Do you have confidence in their ability to turn things around? Do you think Ron will see the season out with us? How many more of last seasons first team do you expect will leave? Just where do you see out goals coming from this season? Genuine questions mate. I'm a football fan just like you and personally I hate debating this. I'd much rather be discussing formations of something but what's happening is disgusting and as a fan (not customer) I feel compelled to voice my concern. The voice of the fans does have an impact.

Appardntly he liked a post saying the team are all for sale. Might be in hot water. He probably couldn't care less. Don't blame him the way things are going.

If you're looking for a theory, try financial fair play rather than debt generally. We are a million miles from being Pompey mk2. However, even financial fair play doesn't justify this level of selling and apparent incompetence / change of direction / loss of interest in progressing the teams fortunes. We have a couple of weeks to improve the first team or we are relegation fodder. The first half team vs bournemouth was rons current first 11. we have had our spine ripped out and boy it shows! Even when we do buy new players it will take time for them to bed in. The prem is an incredibly unforgiving division and other teams will take advantage. Tough season ahead.

Under cortese the club was like an attractive stuck up woman nobody wants to approach for fear of being rejected. We are now like a hot chick with loose morals, everyone queuing up to bang us.