itchen_dan

Very, very average. Nowhere near worth £12.5m.

The problem is that as alot of pundits and journos have pointed out, there are nowhere near as many goals across the division this season. Last season, teams forgot how to defend and the entire league shifted to an all out attack approach. This season it seems to have gone the complete opposite. Lots of low scoring games and draws.

Is it not true though? Current squad was showing form of top 10 last season apart from the first 10 or so games. I said we'd spend £50m - we spent £32m and could've easily gone for one more pushing it towards £40m. We signed 2 Champions League quality players in Lovren (absolute class act) and Osvaldo (proven goalscorer) and splashed £12.5m on a player who needs to improve and probably will improve. Top 8/6 is/was obviously the target judging by the comments coming from the club during pre season.

I think it was £1.2m.

Here is what I want to see: Gives us the ideal excuse try Ramirez and Osvaldo and give MP the excuse to "drop" / "rest" Rickie after playing virtually 2 whole games over the last week at Intl. level and Osvaldo has only really played about 80mins.

Still turns me every time I watch this one!

@solentsport: BREAKING #saintsfc forward Tadanari Lee invited back into first team fold, and will take squad number 19.

Just been chatting to Monk and he's asked me to put this on here as he needs to renew his sub but is busy at the moment. Take a read - it all makes a lot of sense to me IMO. ------------------------- The English culture restricts us. Children are not out playing footing in cul-de-sacs, climbing tree’s or fences. Even the finer details have an effect. We will never play like the Spanish as it’s a completely different culture, siesta’s, diets, climate and more. British children are now either wrapped up in cotton wool or stuck in playing xbox’s or playstations. Our children need to be introduced to different sports at an early age. Enhance their motor skills and psychological awareness of what they can and cannot do with their bodies. Redknapps claim may be ludicrous to a few but it is so true. English coaching has been poor for the last twenty years, I have found when a coach gets to a certain level or receives recognition at being remotely useful they cut themselves off from other coaches believing because they are elite, and they should only be working at that level. It riles me so much, if you are a good coach; get out at grassroots level and share it, engage with others. Strikes me as an Island mentality, coaches don’t like being told they are ‘wrong’ or ‘their way isn’t the only way’. I have seen a slight change in coaches’ mentality and twitter has been excellent for linking our coaches and resources. However I am conscious that coaches will just start using resources just for the sake of a session, not with any relevance or engaging the creativity of a coach. Grassroots need to move away from results but just allow kids to play. We do not encourage creativity, we stifle it, and it scares coaches as it usual is a sign of an individual. Coaches are more comfortable with a team of ten robots “yes sir, no sir”. We need to have a team of ten individuals. Let them experiment, be creative, disruptive at times. Personalities should never be concealed, it’s usual a daring individual that will try something out of the ‘norm’ and becomes a match winner. That’s how a number ‘10’ can be created, not by a drill sergeant. Coaches and parents don’t need to shout at match days “pass it”, “Shoot”. Let the child make their own decisions, ask them “can we dribble or pass?”, “What might you do differently next time?” Have winter breaks through out the country. During these breaks, get the children playing in Futsal based leagues. The stats do not lie either, Spain, Germany, Italy, Holland, Brazil. All of their leagues are biased towards their own players. Even the top leagues in countries like Croatia, Sweden, France, and Ukraine are full of over 50% players from their respective countries. I can tell you know from experience, I took a squad from a satellite centre to play a ‘trialist’ team at Cobham. The trialist team only had five English players and 4 foreign; this was under 13’s for crying out loud. The BPL has been superb but it is a separate entity to the FA, most clubs are too scared to blood youth at the top level because of the financial repercussions. I personally think that clubs should have a quota of English players or academy products. Let them experience match days, let them make mistakes or excel. The FA are doing the right things now with their skills programme and working with the EPPP but it will not happen overnight and when the player is ready, that club needs to have faith in its own product (not just the player but their work with that individual).

Completely agree with that one. That should be our First XI for the season.

Had it confirmed...... no news! just a wrap up.

Live to Saints next for some reason?

Every other source incl. Dave Whelan saying McCarthy will not join Everton - Nixon however... reluctantnicko: Everton will be getting James McCarthy from Wigan. Numbers have gone up. And payment plan hitch will be sorted in next hour.

Lukaku is going to WBA. Gutted. Palace trying their best to push through a deal for Andrew Johnson.

I know not genuine but made me LOL OfficialArsenaI: Hang on - we're gonna confirm the signing of Ozil in a sec, we're just trying to find out how to do those two dots above the O so stay tuned

Just waiting for my journo mate to get back to me re: the 'rumoured' mystery £12m bid. He's is also an Arsenal fan so may have some more info on it whether it is true or not.

olly_lancashire: Arsenal making a cheeky £12million bid for a Southampton player... Simon Gillett has also retweeted this...

tancredipalmeri: BOOM! Manchester United have sealed the signing of Fellaini, according to Sky Italy!

Correct. dcfcoffcial: Billy Sharp arrives for medical. Set to join the Rams on a season-long loan #dcfc #saintsfc

Spurs have had a 2nd bid rejected for Fernando Torres.

Lukaku potentially to Everton on loan. Gutted about this one.

Nope. Monk may be able to shed more light on it when he gets the chance to post, i dont know.

Chelsea City Spurs Liverpool

Seems the move I was told about won't happen. SimonPeach: Sorry to the bearer of bad news but #SaintsFC are done for the day. Nobody else in or out. SimonPeach: Sharp, Martin, Lee, Barnard & Forte will all be remaining at #SaintsFC for the time being. jordansibley: Well this is a first, should be home in time to watch the fanfare as Jim White arrives in the @SkySportsNews studio!

Getting Quagliarella by the sounds of it.