david in sweden

Hi Norm, yes I agree. After 56 years of supporting Saints ...I'd say there is a distinct line between.....a fans favourite.....good/great clubman ....."all time great ".....and legend. I wouldn't want to " categorise " every player we've ever had, but those mentioned above are in a class of their own and their record proves it.

..but he still looks good, and has been given a contract extension. Surely we are expecting JWP or Clasie to develop into the " new Steven Davis " meanwhile Joe Allen? ....No . I think (or at least hope) that we can do better.

......Puel needs to lose the first six games before we can start to say that he is no good

I wasn't suggesting that Sammy didn't make a good contribution, but TBF....there are a lot of Brits. who might find it hard to understand " Scouse ". I think he got a poor deal from the Koeman's - who only joked about his dialect every time they were asked about him. Perhaps it was hard for them to work with him.? There comes a time when everyone moves on to other things....but being on the Saints staff for the last couple of years will still look good on his CV, and he may pick up a job as assistant to someone..or even to manage a lower league outfit. I did like Sammy, but I think many people would admit that KD's contribution to the club outweighs Sammy's in a number of ways. As for coaching (if that's what KD will become)....How does any of us know how well he may / may not do? He was (it seems) a big influence in the Saints dressing room. MY COMMENT : Being a good manager /coach isn't always about them having won things at the highest level....and quite a number of " successful " managers played at a much humbler level, and perhaps didn't win a lot as a player.....but they may have the nous ...to become a good coach.

Me too Dellman, I was born in So'ton and lived half my life there, but of course, there are fans who want a pub on every street corner........

A win-win deal .....a " no-brainer " considering he had just one year left on his contract, and will not be offered a new deal by Saints. Going away present?..... how about a copy of " Chinese for Tourists ? "

good question !....... What was Sammy Lee's contribution to the Saints squad? . Koeman had his own trainer-team and frequently admitted that he found it difficult to understand " Scouse." Kelvin Davis is the longest serving person (on the footballing side) in the entire club. 10 years plus, and he is well-respected by many and part of the SMS set-up. As the club have said they are looking for a "new role" for KD....I expect it to be somewhat more than being Matchday host in the Executive boxes.

...those Gothenburg lads (Göteborg) will need their satnavs to find their way to Llandudno.......

.....we need " a new Sammy Lee "......KD is perfect for the role.

...if they both hit form .....at the same time - it'll be hysterical !

The key question here is not how many CB's we have .....but how many of them can stay fit and in-form. Gardos was out completely last season and so there is no way anyone can assess his form, but * one or two more long term injuries like that could put us in dire trouble. Competition is good for everyone and planned usage of subs can be a win-win situation for lots of players - especially in a long season. [B]NOTE[/b]:* Those fans who remember Chris Baird's career with Saints saw a raw, homesick 16 year old (from N.I. come to The Dell) and through a series of injuries and loans, waited nearly 5 years for his debut, and just 2 months later played in an FA Cup Final, after which he was forgotten and went out on loan again. After returning, he became 5th choice CB, and only got into the side due to a massive injury crisis in the defence. He took his chance well and was outstanding for a couple of seasons and was voted Saints Fans Player of the Season (2006-07) and surprisingly ended up moving to Fulham for £3 million (no small sum even then). Despite a stop-start career and loan-outs, Chris has over 70 international caps for N.I. and aged 34 returned to Fulham at the end of last season and played 7 more games. For people like Jack Stephens - making the bench might seem a huge challenge, but (like Baird) being the right man in the right place at the right time can lead to success.

Mmm.....that comment is a little below the belt - isn't it?

of course both sides of this discussion have a point, but I recall going back about 10 years (?)..that Arsene Wenger used to play his Academy side in the League Cup....not sure if they won it one season (?) but did quite well..... .....certainly a good chance for Academy lads to get some real game time and not just the " Disneyland football " in the U21 League. L1 /L2 clubs have a selection of hardened veterans who would make good competiton for the lads, rather than sitting them on someone's bench on a season long trial.

it was a move in the right direction to get some out in loan last season, but there was an injury crisis in both U18 and U21 squads so that few had a chance to shine. Integrating promising lads into a successful line-up is a good introduction, but the question remains - who do you want to drop from the first team when they are playing well , and there are already good alternatives (some internationals) sitting on the bench? Names like; Harrison Reed, Jake Hesketh and Sam McQueen are often bandied around, as was Ryan Seager before his knee injury. However, the real truth lies in the fact that the difference between U21 and the Prem. is often light years, and few of them are really anywhere near that standard Previously Koeman only used youngsters sparingly, and then only in cases of injury crises. Managers want to play their best players, so it's upto the youngsters to impress. It was mooted that during last season, that he stopped the process of having Academy / U21 players train with the first team(!)....so there wasn't much hope for anyone. Claude Puel's philosophy is to bring on young players, and Nice (like some Dutch teams) were seldom " flush with cash" so younger talents were always encouraged. There is also a sort of myth about Acdeamy graduates of the past (Walcott, Bale and Oxlade-Chamberlain) when we recall that they all looked good ..in the Championship. Life in the Prem.world was very different and Bale had a nightmare first season with Spurs, and both the others found it difficult to set their seal in the Arsenal first team. In time a few will get into first team, (noted JWP ..England U21 captain) is still not a regular starter in our first team, even though he has clocked over 100 apps. .but as the saying goes ....come the day, come the man. We may see our own " Marcus Rashford " appear next season, but it will even be harder for him to get a game - if he's up against Zlatan for a starting place.

Latest rumour suggests China ! for very big money....maybe Graziano can quickly get used to sweet and sour instead of pasta?

Now we have a series of " possible new signings" being quoted in the media.. Boy!....the bookies are going to make apacket - aren't they?

well....he can park his yacht in Ocean Village and walk to work, I suppose.....

A good post Professor, but I think Puel's comment about a game every 3 days is a prospect that few of us have seriously considered. Prem. once a week - YES, and Europa League (?)...well six games for sure.... and then?.. .....Everyone enjoys a good Cup run and we also have two Cup competitions that might provide an interesting addition to our rather sparse trophy cabinet, but even the prospect of finishing 5th in the Prem. wouldn't see us better off than we are now. IMHO....Even if this season only sees us " marking time"... I think it would be a great achievement, given that a quick look at last season's end table shows a number of " the big clubs " below us, and most people would expect them to have some sort of a "revival " in form and finish higher ....even if they don't qualify for / win anything. Given the turnover of players since last summer, it'll take a superhuman effort to get to CL level in one season....but then again Leicester fans didn't expect that either, but the reality of CL football (maybe in a group with PSG, Barcelona or Bayern Munich)....might see them finish bottom of their group....and sour the memory of their title win. We've improved on every season since 2009...(and we all remember starting with -10 points in L1) but I think (even without any Prem. experience) ....Puel knows what European football is all about ..but I agree that the prospect of CL football in 2017 might just be " a bridge too far ". IF Puel says CL ...in 3 years... I'm happy with that. We have to build a squad (not just a team)....that can field a side twice a week throughout the season, and look to integrate our own young players into first team football, as it's most unlikley that we'll see Saints spending £30 million+ on any player (in the near future).

OK it's Claude Puel, but we're not the only Prem. club starting the season with a new manager, and it's down to who they are as a much as the new players they'll sign. Whilst Wenger starts his 20th season (!) as Arsenal manager, some of the other "so-called" big clubs are having to start from scratch with new bosses. In no particular order....Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Everton and not forgetting Watford ...(for whom Manager of the Month has another meaning), will all need to prove themselves anew, and there will be a few bruised egos come Christmas as they all try to sqeeze into the top four, and elbow out Leicester, Arsenal and Tottenham. Even the deafening fanfares that accompanied Jörgen Klott (sorry Klopp) on his arrival at L'pool have died away, as he failed to win two cups and L'pool finished (by their lofty standards)....a miserable 8th position and with no prospect of any European football next season. Jörgen's answer...".buy another Saints player "..... Lots of people seem to be expecting Jose and Zlatan to flatten the Prem. with their " Special relationship " at United, whilst watching to see who Pep signs at Citeh, and in turn wait for the stream of Italian players following Conte into Stamford Bridge.......Oh! ...this way Graziano...... ....Am I the ony one who feels that Koeman's new job at Everton might not be " the Walk in the Park " that he thinks it is?......He may be in for a rude awakening. So at the end of the day (or should I say) ..the start of the season...Saints' famed "Softly, Softly " approach in signing Puel may yet surprise a few people. One thing we can be sure of is that whilst many of our fans are quietly smiling at the prospect of the first few home fixtures......Claude will very soon find out what the Prem. is all about in the early season away games. If he's really the man for the job....it'll be a good chance to prove himself.

.....suggest that this maybe Kelvin's new role ?....or ?

I always recall that scenario, and last week watched Totten-lands inexperienced young playershelp throw away the game v Iceland .....and then seeing Forster, Bertrand, Lallana, and Clyne on the England bench...... reminded myself that there are some games that it is good NOT to play in. The 11 players who lost that game will forever be tainted with the memory of the defeat, those who avoided it may have a second chance quicker than they think.

Yes ..... and I noticed that a few of our Academy scholars were formerly " Chelsea rejects ", but are doing quite well in our U18 side.

Mmm.?.... ...thought I read that he was ready to sign an extension, but changed his agent in...February (?).. and after Martinez got the push, his new agent began talks with Everton. Sorry..tbh ....I've forgotten the precise source, but it has been fixed in my head for sometime past....which is why I wrote about the embarrassment of Saints' good finish.

Redmond may not be the " new Mane ", but he must meet the criteria for one of those spots......It'll be interesting to see who the "new Wanyama " turns out to be......

There seems to be two camps for the RB spot.....Cedric is (supposedly) Clyne's successor, but RK preferred the unfavoured Martina at the end of the season? Neither is OK. ..taking a brief look at Sidibi's You Tube clip...he's primarily a left-sided player....if he does come.....that means we'll have 3 possible LB's......and now the Echo has quoted Jordan Amavi (currently) Aston Villa! .........How many FB's do we need?....... As Pelle hasn't signed / hasn't been offered an extension, it suggests we'll let him go .....at a price. This may be conjecture on my part, but time will tell.