david in sweden

........almost feel like a member of the squad - if only I was fit enough.......and young enough......

........will be interesting to see who his next employer will be ?...........

.....plus a distinct lack of knowledge about our training methodology. One " loosely-worded " report I read last week said that Schneiderlin had been " punished " by Koeman .....and had to train with the U21's. Quite a number of the U21's regularly train with the first team squad. They started last week - as did many of of the first teamers, and with those who had international call-ups in June being allowed to return on week later (read today). Whilst MS did train with the U21's----so did everyone else who was present.....it was the start of the pre-season......(very poor journalism)

I stand corrected, but I am assuming that SFC will pursue this through a court of some description ...or ?

Brendan has picked up 3 or 4 players on free transfers so far, maybe he'll take a closer look at Osvaldo ......now that he's available for nothing... After all those ear-biting escapades with Suarez......Danny O is a mere beginner.......

surplus ? ...not from I'm sitting , though it would be nice if a few more of them could score regularly.

to LVG ...just shut up and pay the money. The real problem is not getting MU to agree the extra £5 million,..... but he doesn't want to lose face in a battle of words with RK.

......meaning to pronounce and spell correctly?. All prospective signings must also pass the " Dave Merrington Language Test ". If DM can't manage that - forget them - they're out .......

..is that a criticism, or a compliment ?

as I recall Les suggested there wouldn't be large scale signings this summer......so until we passed last summer's 9 new signings, he's still on track. You also need to consider that "a loan keeper" to cover Forster's absence was already on the cards, and in order to maintain numbers ....we need replacements for Clyne and (most likely) Schneiderlin. too. Toby was only a loan signing last season, but was a first team regular .. so he also needs to be replaced....or preferably " signed ". Given that statement was made before our Euro place was confirmed, it's more than likely that we will have buy more in order to cover " all eventualities " .

so many conflicting reports / guesses/ behind the scenes blah-hah on this already, but if it hangs on a date in the original contract for the £1.5 payback (which AM apparantly have seemingly not paid.......and Saints has told AM they want Toby for the agreed (£6.8 million) then we surely have a very strong case....... IF AM go ahead and try to sell him to the highest bidder..:suspicious:they stand a chance of being convicted for breach of contract...and further penalties from UEFA.

OUCH......a bit out of the blue, but with all the other transfer gossip - this seems to have slipped under the radar. If ever Matt Targett needed a reason to perform, now he has the chance. We can't continue to see him just as " a former Academy lad made good ". He has a long term pro. contract and despite the difference in age / experience (with Bertrand) now is his chance to show what he is capable of. Koeman has said we need two players to cover each position, and Mattie's time has come.

......especially as we forked out around £12 million for the likes of Osvaldo and Gaston........

Think they might feel happy to be able to stay up in their first season back. I worked with a group of Hammarby fans recently and they were really dedicated.

thanks for the correction about Anders. I should have said " kept his starting place " which is still pretty remarkable at that age. Most veterans sit on the bench until the last 20 mins. of a game.

reply above

Agreed St. Patrik. Many Stockholmers have been following Guidetti since his teenage days with Brommapojkarna, and am a bit surprised that no rumours have come out of SMS about possibly signing him as he's now a free agent, and played a very good loan season at Feyernoord when Koeman was his manager. Maybe RK isn't keen on him, and knows something we don't....?

Historically speaking....that's about par for the course. I recall after Alan Shearer's famous Dell hat-trick it took him around two seasons even to get selected.....let alone become a regular. MLT and Channon too, if you go back far enough.

.......buy Balotelli? ......which club has the craziest chairman .........?

.........at which point it ceases to be a serial, and starts to become a " reality soap " ............

.....and isn't he a prime example of clubs who buy a player, and take him away from those who helped make him successful and try to play them in another formation .

Agreed. However, it seems that some fans think that all players should emulate MLT and stay with the club for the duration of their careers. It won't happen. By now, we must surely believe all those soccer folk who keep saying "..it's a business nowadays "...for so it is, and " everyone has a price ",and players will always come and go. Although Mane blew a bit hot and cold at the start of last season, his record-breaking hat-trick will surely put an extra £5 million on any eventual valuation. Who knows? ..he might get to like So'ton (although I'm prejudiced having been born in the city), but at £25 mill. per player transfer we're sure to sell one or two of the best every season ......until we get CL qualification that is, at which point in time, who'd want to leave? As this thread is supposed to be about Victor Wanyama .......I'd write the same about him, too.

Several times, Elia was thrown in to a side blighted by injuries and devoid of regular goalscorers, and he took stick for not scoring. I agree with those who say he didn't impress (except for this match-winning efforts at Newcastle) but the man has massive international experience, and must be regarded as a potential asset in Euro games, but not at that price ...and at the expense of other players who would come in at bigger fees. £1.5 - £2 million would be a safe gamble.

Sorry - no good. Dave Merrington would never be able to pronounce that name on Radio Solent........

.......and another player that Spuds WON'T be getting ....wonder how their Black Box looks right now ?.