david in sweden

well .......back to the subject of a possible signing Lallana . Those who condemned him for signing for Liverpool may never forgive him, but he wasn't the first - nor likely the last - to take the chance of signing for a club who play at the top end of the Premier League but although I was sad to see him go , I also think we must be pragmatic and understand that " ambition " is not a dirty word and at the highest level a player's career can be short, and not more than the next major injury. 36 may sound " old " to many younger fans, but a fit and experienced player can balance his career and fitness and DAJFU. He won't be offered a 5 year contract for goodness sake - and even if he can help stabilise a squad of young talents and new signings who can't find their way to St. Mary's without a sat nav. Next season is about survival until we can build a solid squad able to fend for itself and we need experience to help the newcomers.

Looking back at a few videos on You Tube, he reminded me a little of Adam Lallana in his better days, but if Lallana comes back for a season ( or two) .. than Brooks might even be out of contract by then and we could get him for nothing.

Mmm....he was a bit young - and only used to U21 football when he came and looked a bit raw at the highest level, but he wasn't afraid to put himself about and took a few a knocks in the process, but he also scored some valuable goals, too. Problem came after the New Year when " he'd been found out ", and got some rough treatment from some of the Prem.'s heavy mob. After that he struggled with injuries and lost his influence up front. When he returned to Chelsea, he played a few games for them, then (I think) got an ACL-type injury and was out for a long stretch. Have him back (?)... Maybe . He would be as a good a shot as anyone for his age / experience, but certainly not for 50mill. Even half of that would be a big ask on our limited transfer budget, as we 'll need to buy 3 or 4 more established names as well. IF... we can agree a reasonable deal ..why not? At least we 've seen him in action and know what we'd be getting for our money. Interesting situation ....if we had to choose between him and (say) Danny Ings .. (another rumour doing the rounds a.t.m.).

In line with some of you ( above) ..I've spent a few hours looking back at various highlights throughout the season ..on YOU TUBE , and one thing became blatantly obvious when I watched our League game v. Leeds at SMS . back in September when we won 3-1. TWO almost identical goals from Adam Armstrong that beat the Leeds offside trap........and guess what?... his winning goal at Wembley was the same move and the same execution. A low ball past the keeper and inside the far post. Clearly, Leeds only have themselves to blame when allowing our leading scorer the space to repeat the move that had beaten them twice before.

I think a few names are still in " the pending tray" . It's obviously a tough task to have to release anyone... especially for Academy boys who might have been with the club for 8-10 years already, and now must look elsewhere for another club . I recall Gordon Strachan said (in interview)...that when he took over at Coventry, he told a youngster he had to let him go... and the lad burst into tears. Details usually out around now, but maybe it's " diplomatic" - not to sack anyone in the same week that we get promotion?

Think it was a combination of the prospect of playing Championship football..... and also retaining his place in the Poland team. I think his sojourn at Villa was a punishment for the fallout with ..whoever was " the manager of the month " at the time.

very mixed opinions on the idea of " the Return of the Magnificent 7 " , (well not quite all of them yet)... but clearly if we do sign / re-sign the likes of Lallana and /or Ings they clearly won't be getting 3-4 year contracts, but their experience can be invaluable and help stabilise and encourage all in the dressing room, at least for the first year or two back in the Prem. Saints are never going to pay 40 or 50 million for any player (as the "rich" clubs do regularly), but if we can get the right sort of deals and buy in talents that will be the foundation for the next generation . We aren't talking about 90 minute players every week, but those who can give a good 60 minutes on a regular basis, or come off the bench for the last 30 , and be impact players. Survival is key in the first season back. We finished well, but with a Championship squad that included half-a-dozen loan players, (but they won't all be with us next season), but we need fresh blood longer term, but their sort of experience can't be bought on our budget, and those who may recall happier days at SMS might welcome the chance to finish their careers with Saints. Some may have left us with mixed feelings, but .. " Once a Saint ..................... "

Yes Whitey, There are always fans who are unhappy with " Russball " but at times this season (and occasionally yesterday), we looked in total control with almost faultless one-touch passing ...and I was reminded of a comment from the Don Revie era at Leeds, when Billy Bremner was asked about his excellent combination play with the superb John Giles, and his reply was......." .it's simple - we don't see the opposition " . At times this season I have found myself recalling that quote. It seemed that whoever passed " somewhere" , there's always "someone" there to collect it ...and move it on. Great stuff.

Cheer up Whitey, Despite the huge effort it has taken to get back up, I think we will find that a certain number of players already have their names on the team sheet for the first game, but that there will be a few new additions to dwell on...(maybe not a lot) ..but clearly we need to strengthen a few areas. With Bazunu out (at least) until the New Year, and unsure of his fitness thereafter I'd see no harm in giving McCarthy an extended short term contract as his input has been invaluable in the run-in after GB's injury, although we'll need a good prospect as a long term no.2 - if Bazunu can't cut it in the Prem. A big name buy for an experienced midfield general to play alongside Downes and Smallbone would be good thought, and of course a reliable striker. Adam Armstrong has shown good qualities above that of passing 20 goals, and had earlier drawn the short straw when we were so dependent on Che Adams. Adam's critics continually said that he couldn't score in the Championship (!).., but such things were quoted way back about Rickie Lambert when in League One, and he improved all the time, and ended up scoring goals for England. ( I think Che.. DAJFU for a while, but needs a new challenge elsewhere ) IF ....Ross Stewart comes back fully fit , he'll be a threat, and both Dibling and Ballard will be a year older.. and ideal for that extra striker place on the bench. So don't be so sullen Whitey, If we never win the title , and can get a few good results, and maintain a decent midtable place, it'll please most of us.

.....from all you " fans" who have criticised Russell Martin and continuously called for his sacking whenever we lost a run of games - either side of that 24 match unbeaten run b.t.w. - but without considering that he arrived in July to find that the club had sold the best of those we had, and then lost Ward-Prowse and Tella after the opening games, and being forced to loan out some of the remainder. The team he could " cobbled together " included 4 players who aren't even Saints, but were loaned to us by clubs who didn't want to keep them as they had no place in their starting sides. Yes.. there were lots of good reasons why you were able to criticise him at the time, but suddenly I see some of you glorying in our successful return to the top tier. Perhaps next season you can be a little more circumspect in your comments if we don't manage to beat the City's and Arsenal's in the Premier League , and once again return to the campaign to denigrate the hard-working efforts of the staff and players. Shame on you " fans ".

Not a trophy maybe, but a win would be a huge reward in itself. Winning would be a good morale booster for the squad, and a huge economic boost for the club.

...and maybe clean the drains while you're at it . Only the important jobs today Whitey. (haha)

Some of the " name pundits " in the media are making Leeds the favourites - well good ...say I. It's puts the pressure on Leeds to perform, and as " underdogs" should give Saints the freedom to play the way we know they can. Sadly I can't be at Wembley, but will be first in front of the TV with the grandchildren in Stockholm to cheer us on to victory . COYR ..( or whatever colours we will be wearing).

OK that we have to have alternative kit in different colours, but for goodness sake let's have our first shirt in red and white stripes in any combination you like, but it's never quite the same when we have all manner of "fashionable designs " but it's just not SAINTS.

after Adams leaves, AA will be the only finisher we have. It will be hard enough replacing Adams with a goalscorer of ANY real merit, but losing AA as well would be a catastrophe, and new players will have to learn " Russball " PDQ. Adam is also a very good defender ...when he's not scoring goals and assisting others.

Well done Nathan, hard luck Harry. Whilst Harry Kane moved to Bayern Munich expecting to win trophies he finishes the season empty-handed, despite clocking up around 35 goals whilst Bayern's reputation was cruelly shattered, and they finished a poor third in the Bundesliga without winning anything. Compare now the good fortune of Nathan Tella. Never really a regular starter under Hasenhuttl, he had a brilliant season on loan at Burnley and was their top scorer in helping them get promotion in 2022-23. Burnley (to their shame) were too tight-fisted to meet Saints asking price (16 million ?) , and then even Saints saw his departure as an economic gain when selling him to Leverkusen for ... (a reputed 23 million), and he disappeared into the morass of young British players seeking to make a career in European football, but my goodness ... didn't he do well ! Now Nathan finishes his first season as a part of the invincible Leverkusen squad who became Bundesliga title winners... and left Bayern in the dust. Although rarely in the starting line-up, Nathan was almost always in the squad and made a long row of sub. appearances, (often replacing the highly-impressive Frimpong ) whilst also picking up a handful of goals and a valuable number of assists. Congratulations and well done Nathan.

.......and most likely not terribly debt-ridden, and not requiring a big investment at this time.

old Chinese football proverb says ." never go back " ..it's better to have the good memories.

Now is the time for him to redeem himself, because he did next to nothing to help during the season.

I was a keen advocate of VAR ... especially as when lower level teams " lose " games to dubious / ignored decisions so that the big clubs can get the points to qualify for Europe , whilst " the other clubs" can wallow in the midtable morass where nothing " important " and nothing happens from one season to the next. Off-the-ball incidents are often ignored - except in those cases like Ryan Bertrand's red card in the 0-9 game at SMS or dubious penalty shouts that should be observed ..and are most often ignored. More than bad luck if it means relegation for someone. It may not matter in a game where nothing is at stake , but it's a catastrophe for a club who ends up relegated because of a wrong decision. The lack of VAR cost us the League Cup Final v. Man Utd. Ibrahimovitch was offside ... and scored, but Gabbiadini was not, but he did score. The current rulings mean a player is offside if his arm is outstretched, but as an arm is "an illegal limb" to score with - then why is he penalised? ..also players with their back to goal have no advantage over defenders, but Danny Ings' sleeve was not part of his body, but his kit. Nonsense. I know , I know .. it's down to " swings and roundabouts " they all say, but if the wrong decisions come in important games it makes a big difference. Without VAR we see there is no such thing as a " neutral referee". They are all born " somewhere " and are frustrated players who neve made the grade. The real nonsense is that millions of fans can see the real decisions simply by watching TV. Who needs VAR when there is Sky Sports.?

last established Academy graduate to get first team recognition? ....(better late than never) ..but Jack Stephens came in after the departure of Fonte and van Dijk and although he wasn't a regular first choice at that time, he must be past 100 apps. by now.. Others?. well that Ward-Prowse fellow came through the Academy and got a few starts - didn't he ?

.Sort of ...yes ? ....provided that they don't actually expect to play for Chelsea. Many good youngsters have come through their Academy, and they do it by numbers. A few years back, I reckoned they had 35 players out on loan. They may make a career but end up playing elsewhere. It may have been true in the past, but when the ownership spends hundreds of millions every year, very few kids make it to be " permanent fixtures ".

"Sport Psychology " never used to be quite so complex. Lawrie McMenemy had the answer when he said .. " Players are only people ....you have to kiss some ...and kick the others." His team selections were roughly-based on the analogy of ...." 2 prima donnas and 8 road sweepers..." Q - ..........What's so difficult ?

The whole team was the worse after Romeu's departure, although I didn't begrudge him the move, and his career in Spain has blossomed at a late age. He and JWP had a good partnership but many people tend to devalue Prowsey's contribution, and for those who only credit him with the free kicks don't remember that in many cases his free kick goals got us valuable points. If free kicks like his can be easily disregarded , why aren't there half a dozen other players just behind his tally. ? JWP's contribution to the club is unparalleled and not just because of the length of service the long run of uninterrupted, injury-free games . Many times I 've watched his sweeper-type role and almost faultless passing skills. His main fault was that he wasn't demonstrative enough in the media and (unlike a few others in the past ) wasn't all mouth and trousers, and understood the faults better than the players who committed them. On the rare occasions that he went on the attack, he showed good vision, and in emergencies was as good a full back as any we've had . Downes has good skill but his injury problems of late have become a little disturbing, but I'd sign him in a blink if WHam willingly let him go.

.. .and might even be valuable in teaching " the occasional scorers in the side " to keep the ball down instead of pumping shots into Row Z.