shurlock

Played behind Slimani in the World Cup as a CAM but does seem pretty versatile, though again we have quite a few players in that mold -Davis, JWP. And lets not forget that it was Davis that ultimately kept Gaston out of the side.

Could Taider be the green light for Gaston to go - seems very crowded at CM/AM?

Cant it be both?

Might say more about Osvaldo than Taider TBH.

Though in the friendlies, it appeared that the wingers hugged the line more while the three in CM were more fluid. In the past, it was the opposite: the front three interchanged while the CM roles were more fixed.

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?50941-Koeman-tactics#.U9kNEdq9KSM

Not a bad side. Bit worried by the mobility of the starting CBs, though the two fullbacks will be there to bail them out. Not convinced by Ramirez's consistency, so would need more competition in that position. Would like a genuinely wide, pacy player - ideally with prem experience. Goal scoring options from the bench, like last season, still appear weak -can't believe Ings would come to warm the bench. Nor would the Celtic lad - possibly if he comes in, Fonte will be moved on.

Are you going to be out of a job MLG? I mean the way the side's shaping up, you'll know practically next to nothing about the new side

Yep. Point is he was very much the exception and I find it very unlikely that similar clauses would have been inserted into others contracts. At most, a player might have got a verbal assurance, as is reported in Morgan's case; but there was firm interest in him in a way there wasn't for other players. Could the new players -Lovren, Wanyama- have had similar clauses as an inducement to join little, ole southampton? Possibly but I doubt it. After all, it wouldn't explain the way Lovren went nuclear.

According to the Molina article, he could have left last summer, suggesting something more concrete was on the table. He didn't, promised he could leave this season if a decent offer came in. As it turns out, Morgan subsequently spoke about keeping the team together and making two or three additions to push for the top seven, so it seems that he was amenable to staying. Whether this was always wishful thinking is another matter.

Only a player like Shaw could have pulled it off. Every other article was linking him with a move, even before he had signed a professional contract, so it would have been understandable if he had sought assurances. His dad's tweets after Cortese's departure suggests that the lad -rightly or wrongly- was pretty bound up with the project.

Even though Hofstetter made it absolutely clear that these difficulties weren't so serious that they would require the sale of any players - a position Krueger continues to restate.

Most have been blamed on the players and nobody has raised questions about the fees. But there have been questions regarding the timing of sales without accompanying transfer activity in the other direction and the continuing uncertainty around Fonte and Cork's contracts -to which Krueger's response yesterday added only more smoke and mirrors. You don't like what Adam Blackmore, a trusted journo, reports about a lack of leadership and direction, so everyone, including him, are somehow being played You may have been disappointed by the Chambers sale; but you felt that the club was powerless to do anything about it. If there was one player we could have made an example of, it's probably him. You want evidence that the club has been less than straightforward, posters point to Chambers mystery illness and you make an utter tit of yourself by drawing the most tortured and disingenuous distinctions. Others point to Krueger's remarks about not selling anyone before the appointment of a new manager (or at least without his involvement); yet Lambert is sold practically the next day. Your response: Koeman informally sanctioned it, even though at time a managerial long list hadn't even been drawn up As I say, there was sympathy for the board's position, esp on the acrimonious Lallana and Lovren deals -one reason why some decent and timely signings would go a long to building some credibility. But it has to earn it.

Jeff I don't think you know what you're talking about. How have the players looked fine? Most, if not all, have come out of this terribly. Until recently, there was plenty of sympathy for the board's position; the criticism has arisen largely from its handling of things. However, the Chambers sale which almost everyone universally agrees was unnecessary (except you), has triggered alarm bells.

Benteke handed in a transfer request last summer; he went nowhere. But this is only going to end up one way.

two in a row - agree completely.

F**k me - this is hard hitting, basically saying the board is taking the fans for mugs and the intention remains to sell up. Supposedly Morgan could have left last summer for a big club but was promised that he could leave this summer in case a good offer came in. http://www.hat-trick.fr/eclaircissements-a-propos-de-southampton-et-schneiderlin/

Newcastle weren't broken up in any real sense. Nolan went to Wham. Enrique and Routledge weren't even there when they finished 5th.

I know, I know. The equivalent of not going out in soiled underwear in case you're hit by a car.

With so many places to fill, am I the only one who's less bothered about bringing a keeper in at the moment? Can quite easily see Boruc going off the boil if he becomes no.2.

Fulham, Bolton too. Either way, it would have to be incremental so it could be sold politically. Pointing to the experience of Newcastle and Villa doesn't show anything - they didn't have the benefit of a playoff system that might have been an incentive to stay put.

Mentioned that a while back on here.

Wrong - when Krueger made that statement, (May 29) we still hadn't even drawn up a long list of managerial candidates. http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/11242017._We_re_aiming_for_Europe____full_interview_with_Saints_chairman_Ralph_Krueger/?ref=mac Lallana and Shaw are a different matter. They were sold much later. You seem a bit confused Jeff. Take a break instead of pontificating.

Would always be an uphill task to keep the better pros after the first or two went; but the club could have taken steps to show a bit of direction and credibility. Getting players in would have been a start - instead we're putting in derisory offers and delaying action. Under other circumstances, this would have been fair game but in this case is contributing to the clusterf**k.

ART's now ITK - wtf is going on