david in sweden

...with yet another milestone for Anders Svensson, who celebrated his 40th birthday last week. I can almost hear some newer /younger Saints fans saying... who ?...at the mention of a player who left Saints in 2005, but in Sweden.... Anders was the closest to a footballing ikon this country had seen, (prior to the Zlatan era). A Swedish journo' once called him " the Scandinavian Beckham." Anders retired last year with a place in the record books as the most capped (male) footballer in Swedish history (148 games) in a career that saw him play over 700 games...most of which were with his home club (Elfsborg) for whom he played over 400 times, sandwiched between his 140 games for Saints (2001-2005). Even today, fans who recall his time at SMS, are divided in their opinions of his contribution to a Saints at a time that also saw him play in the FA Cup Final 2003. In a newspaper interview, he commented on his move to Saints, (after his first spell with the Elfsborg club where he had won both Cup and League medals). The move to the Premier League was a big event which helped him develop in many ways. He said he had been used to having people around him, taking care of things, but then had to get used to taking care of himself. He said that he developed a lot as a player and a person during his time at St. Mary's. " I came as an attacking midfielder, who also made a lot of mistakes defensively, yet who could also provide spectacular goals, as well as dribbling and passing. At Southampton, I developed into a more complete footballer, both in attack and defence, as well as becoming ... a bit tougher." Anders said that, for him, playing Premier League was a boyhood dream. He recalled that several changes of Saints' manager contributed to much turbulance at the club, and he finally moved back to Sweden in 2005. He also added that he regretted many Swedish clubs didn't do more to develop their younger players, (as Saints do).. recalling his own development when he began kicking a ball around (as a 4 year old)......with the village team that his father managed. Back in Sweden, he clocked up another 250+ games for his beloved Elfsborg, and continued his career as a Swedish international before retiring last year. During his time in England, there was a lot of publicity surrounding a romance with Danish designer Anine Bing, but after returning to Sweden, he met and married a childhood girlfriend (Emma), and they now have 2 young children. After retiring from internationals some years ago, the Swedish FA decided to present him with .. a brand-new Volvo.... to mark his career achievement. When he learned he would have to pay a large % of the car's value in accordance with the infamous Swedish " gift tax ", he told the FA.... they could keep it. (!) Anders now devotes himself to several different areas in football, as a consultant and sometime football commentator, but that the income from these events goes to Cancer research and a childrens cancer charity. He said that he had achieved many of the things he could only have dreamed of 20 years ago. He has been a constant critic of recent Swedish team performances (as was seen in Euro 2016), and somehow I don't think we've heard the last of that issue. He said he is very thankful to be fit and healthy, has a wonderful wife and family and the sort of playing career that he always wanted.

that's the one I was waiting for...he won't have to be in Pelle's shadow any longer .... well done Shane.

......you could be right at that. Tadic and Martina both in the news now....with Tadic replacing the " soon-to-be transferred " Sane .....and Martina possibly joining Ron and Erwin at Everton. Claude Puel will surely want one or two of his own choice.... and the above-mentioned are now relics of the " Koeman Administration ".

Sam McQueen did his bit throughout his Academy days....and continued well in the U21's. Now he's soon past that age group, he needs to be out playing regularly with some " grown-up footballers "......(albeit at a lower level) ..Southend may not be the height of success in some people's eyes, but if Sam's going to be any good to Saints ....he ought to be able to shine in that division. I was reminded a while back, that Harry Kane played over 50 games in loan-outs .....to four different clubs ....before Pochettino put him into Spurs first team.

..... v.g on assists......looked good as part of the Pellé /Mané set-up ...(oops ) ....but now perhaps won't be such a good fit for the new Puel strategy. Forecast.....still just 27.......current international for Serbia.....+2 good seasons with Saints......bought for £11 million (?)....so maybe £18-20 million? Who knows?

As his name was being bandied around last season, I was interested to watch him in his shorter apps. in Euro 2016...... with hindsight...I thought " he may have looked the part" , but was half-a-yard too slow at the vital moments.... (a bit like Lambert or Pelle.... on a bad day). Can't think he'd be anywhere near top of the list in the Black Box.

...if some of the transfer rumours are true?.......Tadic won't be here much longer.

I tried writing that a few months ago....but he's not first choice, (not at present anyway).. and certainly not the " wreck " that some on here suggested. It's really difficult to judge, as in his first season, he couldn't get ahead of Alderweireld, and was injured pre-season last summer when Virgil was clearly so good anyway. If he fits the bill for Puel.... we may see more of him in some of the Cup competitions, and hopefully available in case of injuries in the back line.

a new book .......another for my collection I will buy it on our next visit.....that'll be the Watford game !

and not much better .....everywhere else. I was really shocked when seeing him in some of MU games last season.

what reminds you of someone?...their manner ?.. way of speaking?...or their looks? am I the only one who thinks that Pierre- Emil looks a little like Alderweireld ? If he plays half as well as Toby did, we'll have made a good buy.

can't believe some people are still complaining about this......£34 million for Mane is a no-brainer. I hope for his sake he does OK (except against us), but he does waver between being.... incomparable and invisible. There's a lack of consistancy in his game. ......that sort of money goes a long way at Saints, when you consider all the deals / sales we've made in the last 4 years.

Ouch! not the first time I've made that mistake this year. I get " brain-fade" whenever I start to think of them both at the same time....

in 2 years time......our asking price may be £30 million - even for our reserve players....

YES !......isn't it comforting to think we don't have to pay out £30 million plus in order to get good players.

This club really provides a chance for even established players to develop. Whilst everyone brags about our Academy prospects, let's not forget that in recent years we have seen Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne and Morgan Schneiderlin reaching the point where they were capped for the first time. The number of Academy lads who have been capped at various junior levels is also very impressive. The fairy-story careers of Lambert and Pelle....as well as Jose Fonte show even at 30, they were just reaching their peak when many of their contemporaries were looking towards the end of their careers. Whilst we look for " new blood " coming into the first team, it also shows that even some of our senior players can get a " career-lift ".

Despite all the media coverage on Jose and Man U......a quick look at the side that Van Gaal started his first season with would find quite a few gaps in the line-up. Now the story is he's going to sell-off 8 players ....to fund the Pogba buy .. No matter what their " qualities " all these new big money signings are prima donnas - where are all the road-sweepers? Ironically - Saints have only 5 players still on the books who were with us at the start of 2013-14. Who?.....Fonte (of course), JWP, Jay Rod and Steven Davis was on the bench that day, and Yoshida was also on staff. Players come and go... we just seem to get better and better. Worried?......not as much as I was at the start of 2009-10, when we were -10 points at the bottom of L1.

Don't panic, and get yourself labelled as " a July bed wetter" Tony....historically most of our signings have been in the last week or 10 days before a season start. I'm sure that Puel also has one or two of his former players in mind, and we won't know who they are until he signs them.

another one hidden away in " The Black Box ". Even getting a game in the Bayern set-up is a pretty good recommendation. He must be good, but who has heard of him before ?.... almost no-one .......but it doesn't matter if he can DAJFU.

Career-wise ......he wants to be playing regular first team football....can't see him getting in ahead of Bertrand..... or anyone else that Puel has in mind ...

I still think Romeu deserves a run-out. He DAJFU whilst Wanyama was out on suspension, and he seems like a man with a footballing brain who can pass to his own players.

If we consider than Redmond is Mane's replacement (he might need half-a-season to get up to speed), but I think there's enough competition in that spot already. There are a few unhappy players on the bench as it is....don't think we need any more, especially if Puel is looking to bring in someone from the U21's. (Seager /McQueen?)

[quote=Nolan;2368220 ]With Kelvin now having retired, Fonte still in France, and Davis not back from holiday after the Euros; who is taking up the Leadership role within the players in this early pre-season training? ??.... you make it sound like they'll all going to lose their way on the training run in the Forest......

......and (apparantly) TP took a knock to the head in the first 10 minutes, but continued a bit "groggy" but played out the game to the end. Alf Ramsey didn't want to take a chance in the next game with TP's case of concussion, and so put in Alan Ball instead....the rest (as they say) is history. As for Fonte and Cedric....If Portugal win the Euro Final, then they will move up a notch in " the Legendary stakes ".

......and (apparantly) TP took a knock to the head in the first 10 minutes, but continued a bit "groggy" and played out the game to the end. Alf Ramsey didn't want to take a chance in the next game with TP's case of concussion, and so put in Alan Ball instead....the rest (as they say) is history.