Saint Fan CaM

Would be a top signing - it ain't gonna happen though I don't think. Plus I'm not sure we should be thinking about loan players - they don't work out so well when we're trying to retain a squad spirit that's as close as the one we've enjoyed for the last 2-3 years.

Dann would be an ideal choice - like Jos at Celtic, he has not been given a good chance in a progressive team and his age is right to develop with the squad. Is he left or right footed - anyone?

Bit of a bargain for £1m TBF, but I cannot see this guy fitting in with the 'Southampton way' - not one for the future like Jay Rod.

Check out the 1978-80 shirt following our return to division one. We've gone back in time with the sash design, could it be we're doing it again in relation to past achievements so we're getting this one again? Could be worse.

I'm not surprised by the price hike, however I didn't think I would be paying £175 more for the same seat watching the same team in fewer games. I had thought about £100 increase would be about right compared to other similar clubs. I think the issue for my ticket is that I am now sitting in a 'premium' seat - central Kingsland - so the club think I deserve to be rogered for the extra. Bit disappointing to be taken for a mug, but let's face it, if we stay up it will probably have been worth it and if we go down, we can look forward to cheaper seats!

That's a really interesting table - I am of the opinion we will do quite well this coming season.

NC can wait for as long as likes - I'm getting an ST. In the past, I've always been hacked off when induced to buy an ST early to get a discount and then the squad is decimated and no decent signings brought in - it always felt like..."OK we've got your money, now we can serve up rubbish football". Not since NC has been at the helm - I'm more than happy to keep hold of my money while I wait with bated breath on new arrivals.

Would be nice for the club to show it off on the OS surely? NC OUT!

Europe has to be the aim. Nothing else is good enough otherwise the extra three tiers at SMS and Di Matttio's wages will not be paid for. Never the less, we will finish somewhere between 20th and 14th. Ish.

PLEASE STOP IT! All this about Adkins?!?!? What if pigs end up not flying? What if there really are more stars than grains of sand on every beach in the World? What if the World was to stop spinning? FFS - this is worse than reading the Sun!

He has been plagued with serious injury and has struggled to keep a place. Of course there MIGHT be a plan to allow Davis to play while he recouperates his injurys as no.2 given that he's on a free, but I would be surprised if we took the risk TBH.

Take those in red out of the equation as probable loan deals, pending sales or in the case of Forecast assignment to the training ground staff and that leaves 19. So I think that means we could buy-in up to six new senior players? That would be GK, CB, RB, CAM, RW, ST - which seems to be about right. My shopping list would be... GK - Robinson CB - Scott Dann CAM - Pienaar RW - Jarvis ST - Rodrigues

Blackpool - once liked Wet Sham but Fat Sam has ruined the club and I would love to see them sack him if they lose.

Unsurprisingly you have misquoted me. However, others on here clearly think like me - the guy is not one for our squad ethic/culture IMO. Sure he can score goals, but so can many, many others.

Not that keen on Yakubu to be honest - seems to be the exact type of journeyman player we could do without. Having said that, at his age he's probably pleased to sit on the bench, waiting for our main strikers to get injured and pick up a fee to take him out to retirement.

Forgetting the detail for one minute, anyone who doubts NC's determination to lead Saints into the top half of the Prem and potentially beyond must have been living permanently in a secluded cave for the last three years. The five year plan remains - individual targets will have been moved by necessity. I have no doubt SMS will be expanded or a new stadium built (from the horses mouth) - the timing of this will not be apparent until we have performed in the Prem with the revitalised squad decided over this summer. Planning may start as early as January 2013 if things look really encouraging - but we'll not know of course until the construction starts or it's announced on the OS.

Kightly would be good - Jarvis would be great. Both would be excellent business.

Take it or leave it TBH - I don't think he's too much better than Morgan, but he has got some experience on his side. s-:

I don't think loan players are the answer - they just don't seem to fit into the team ethic that has seen success at the club over the last 3 seasons IMO.

I see that once again the old destabilising forces are still out to try to mess with the heads of those that will believe them. These people want to discredit the great things going on with the club to serve their own agenda. Give up guys - the club is on a path of success and your day has been and gone.

Wouldn't change a thing. I've thoroughly enjoyed the climb back up the leagues and love the set-up now.

My dream is for a world where dorks on an internet football forum are able to debate subjects without resorting to abuse of other posters because they don't have the intelligence to do otherwise. I'm not holding my breath for that one.

Stupid question, unless you're an armchair fan IMO. If I thought we were just aiming at mere survival from day one I don't think I would bother going to watch football atall - what the hell is the point unless you're challenging to win every freaking game?!?! I don't believe for one minute anyone at the club is planning to put the club into a position of fourth bottom - so why should any supporter? Simple answer - NO!

Man City away - 8-1 loss. Welcome to the Prem!

There are many key factors to consider. Dune puts up a very good case, as does Dubai_Phil. One key aspect alluded to is access out of the Stadium. Not so much of a problem getting in as travel times are staggered, however getting out of the SMS is always a complete nightmare. Just count how many traffic lights exist between SMS and the M271 westwards and the M27 J5/7/8 eastwards and this will tell you all you need to know about why St.Mary's location was a bad choice in the 1st place, let alone with an extra circa 10k+ trying to get in/out. If there was a way to marshall traffic out to the M27 easily, then SMS expansion would make more sense. IF the council had the balls and was highly forward thinking then perhaps out of town parking with a monorail link to SMS and the town centre might be a fantastic idea that would also attract general tourist trade and promote good environmental management. But no, that would be too much to hope for (other than West Quay I am struggling to think of something really exciting the Council has done to promote the City in the last 30 years). If the Council do not play ball with Cortese (in terms of obtaining land around SMS and improving road infrastructure) I can see us relocating - possibly Stoneham, because that has the best overall options in terms of development to take advantage of road/rail/air links. I heard that a £300m development fund had been provided by Markus to use when Saints reached the Prem - probably way off the mark - but who knows? £15m on a revamped training facility tends to suggest there's money to spend on big projects. Being stuck in a vehicle for 30-60 minutes trying get out of the City is not going to appeal to many and will potentially turn prospective fans away. If we want Saints to compete at the top then we have to welcome all-comers to the party and the next step with the Stadium will be an important one for the clubs future.