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Far better he trains and works out with the squad than being rushed into playing and ending up injured. There is a long, tough season ahead and a fully familiarised and prepared player is better to us in the long run. The British game will take some getting used to besides settling in and moving to the area.

Gutted reading former Saint Brian Howard has joined the even fewer few and will be captain. Hope he ensures they go out of existence before his month contact ends.

I had just returned from France to run the old man's hotel in Scotland. I was walking down Dumfries high street that day when I read the billboard saying Elvis was dead. Left me completely stunned in that it just didn't seem possible someone as huge worldwide as Elvis could actuall die so young. In his 42 years Elvis achieved so much despite the restrictions and controls imposed on him by the Colonel

35 years ago today, August 16th, 1977, the one and only Elvis Aaron Presley passed away. It hardly seems a day passes without his voice, his songs, his films are heard or seen. That day, the world lost a legend, someone who changed the musical scene forever, delighted millions. Elvis and his music lives on. His memory will never die Long live the King. May you eternally rest in peace. [video=youtube;gj0Rz-uP4Mk]

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For a few weeks I'll a hunch that future signings hinge on Celtic failing to qualify for the Champions League. Whether this happenings before the current Transfer Window shuts leaves me uneasy if this is the case. It's kind of like putting all one's eggs into the same basket. Definitely for me, Celtic very much features in Adkins aspirations for the coming season. Just hope we don't need to wait till th January Transfer Window

We have entered the best football league in the world. We need world class players. Too many supporters don't realise just how tough the Premier League is, just how much a team has to be ready for every scenario, cover for injury after injury. There will be no excuses. We have to be prepared. This is why so many have Saints done for relegation strugglers Without the class cover in all positions we will and the clock is ticking towards the kick off, the closure of the transfer window. Our biggst enemies will be injuries, players involved in international games, and incapacity to change our formation and play.

Since Redknapp lost his job at Totteringham I've had an inkling he'd end up back at Saints as Director of Football. Then again, his dodgy dealing reputation would probably make him "persona non grata" in Nicola's eyes. Nicola has more respect for the likes of Silvio Berlusconi

2 + 2 = 5!!!! Mike Ashley, Newcastle Chairman was last night named as one of the 3 till now unnamed investors in New Rangers. Negotiations were held in Europe in the past week. Could it be one of the other two investors could be Cortese and the Liebherr family? Would be a very nice and potentially lucrative piece of business.

George Prost joined us from Olympic Marseille after the Bernard Tapie scandal and clear out of all the clubs management and coaches. George's manager at Marseille was Rolland Courbis, an amazing, if not tainted coach, who was behind my local club, Montpellier's rise to success, before serving a couple of years prison for his involvement with Tapie. Courbis developed many youth players and is currently running the Niger national team. If anyone could reproduce the high standards of Prost it has to be Rolland Courbis, though Nicola may find his past undesirable at Saints.

George Prost was the best appointment ever made by he whose name I shall not mention. Sadly due to cancer he returned to France. In posting, I am not criticising those people involved at the club, just that since a week ago we have an Under 21 side (although under 21 does not describe the fact it's a Reserve team that includes many over 21 year old). I feel the creation of this new side, this new league opens the door to a higher level, more internationally experienced coach/manager as was George Prost.

I was wondering what members thoughts were on the best Saints Reserves/Under21's manager. I have felt for some while losing Stewart Henderson has been a big let down. With not having a Reserve team for the past couple of seasons he kind of became obsolete. However I think he did a great job and we could do worse than renew his services at the club. Even Jan Poortvliet got a lot of good out of the younger players. Certainly we are in need of a good appointment in this area.

West Ham, Harry Redkrapp. Sam Allardyce and the French Connection (Willie Mackay) all speak volumes even to this day. Wonder how Sandra's luxury yacht BUNG is doing these days.

More likely Cortese's has found friends capable of a Pompey takeover that would make money. Raising the Titanic and restoring the wreak to former glory would be more likely

Totally agree on De Ridder, he just isn't up to the level of the squad. Besides he's always injured. Surprised no one's nicknamed him "Sicknote" before now. Never thought he'd have been retained and yet he's still here, suffering from this and that and getting nowherel

The more people say the Theo to Saints rumour is crazy, absurd, not on etc. the more Cortese and the Liebherr family will do to prove they're wrong, that they underestimate the Saints ambitions. Laugh I say, he who laughs last will be Saints and Nicola Cortese. ha ha!!!

Don't people realise one doesn't look a good horse (player) in the groin. You get what you pay or didn't pay for.

I think that Bale would be a better acquisition for the team. If only we'd held on to Oxo an additional year. There it shows that few at the club could have thought 15 months ago we'd get a second promotion and be in the Premier League so soon.

Why are we writing off good and loyal servants of the club. Where would you guys who don't think Dan's got a future in the Premier League when Saints signed Chris Marsden from a career in the lower leagues. . " Marsden did not reach the heights of the Premiership until he was 30 when he was brought to Southampton by then manager Dave Jones. There is no comparison between football played in the Chamionship and the Premier League and there are players who've bloomed coming from the lower leagues and found the style of play suited their game. Being 30 is no restriction to a player as Paul Telfer showed when he played week in week out for Saints.

I read a while back that John_Portsmouth_Football_Club_Westwood has some vintage cars that he rents out for weddings. For a bit extra he even agrees to chauffeur for you. Now that would be really original, especially if guests are invited to urinate on the car at the end of use.

Biggest laugh I've had in days. Just read that Glenn Hoodle is casting for the next "Dancing on Ice" Kind of suits the way he has led his life in Football Management. If that's not enough, John and Edward Grimes aka Jedward are also being considered. Any suggestions who else would be a good choice? Would really like to see wee Gordon giving it a go

I can foresee in the near future players like Walcott and Bale will come to regret no playing for Southampton Football Club. I believe under Cortese and the Liebherr Group this is a very realistic foresight.

What an amazing chairman we have. Makes one so proud when one sees how once again the new Southampton is leading the way in today's minefield of sordid dealings and dishonesty in the once beautiful game. Would reckon part of the deal will see Saints loaning newco Rangers some of our Academy players to help them out over the Transfer ban. Could really work to our benefit in the long run.

Sorry but this was posted after the Teamtalk link on BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18934111

That is Football League thinking to think the emergence of Shaw is the reason behind any deal falling through. We're going for Europe and therefore will be in need of a very strong squad. I believe if the deal was off the club would say so in the way they did last year with Coventry over the player who said he was signing for Saints. Buttner is probably an option but could be we've got positive news on a better option.