MarkSFC

It has gone/changed.....I loved The Dell but it's gone! Different times, different finances!! Shearer went to a club who at the time were the Man City, bank rolled and it coincided with the launch of the Premier League I think or maybe season 2. Walcott went when we were in the Championship, the Ox when we were in League 1. Chambers for me seems totally about him and ego. He certainly went 2-3 years too soon as it is becoming fairly obvious to everyone! He'd played just 22 first team games.....was on a very quick peak of performance and could only dip, but he dipped in the wrong environment! Still, his decision, his life. No loss really. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

In the days of Channon, Paine, Davies, there very few if any foreign players which meant there were fewer players to go around and therefore fewer moves. In the days of Dodd, LeTiss and Dodd, our team was perennial bottom half, relegation fighters and so who would take anyone from us? Very few but the better ones went for different reasons, Shearer, Flowers, Kenna, Kachloul, Berkovic. The introduction of the transfer windows I think has had a negative effect particularly for clubs like us because players can literally only move at two times a year. Before these windows, if anything was going wrong or just that another team needed a player a transfer could happen when ever upto the end of March I think it was. The arguement against this was that smaller and lower level players got pillaged during e season and this was seen as bad for he game I think we are in the same position but actually it's intensified because moves happen in shorter time periods. As much as none of like to lose better players I actually think Saints have got it just about right. They are (internally at least) very aware of their real position within the sport and have modelled the business on that reality. The ambition is clearly to achieve as much as possible - that's the essence of sporting elite performance - forget the business for a minute, and so as long as the intention is to work as well and as smartly as possible to achieve the best you can you will attract athletes to your club. Every footballer worth his salt will know exactly what we can offer and that if they as an individual progresse as well as this club helps you to very very consistently, they will be wanted by bigger and more successful (trophy wise), and wealthier businesses within 2-3 years. For Southampton FC this is our USP and where we cannot compete every year with the big boys we can attract quality players within a certain criteria to sustain our position and reputation and perhaps once in a while have a proper good season. For me, where we are let down is where we sit right at this point.....we clearly need an attacker of note and CB (or two if Fonte goes)....but it seems like we won't get them. iF that is still the case on September 1 after the window shuts then we will have a dip in performance, both sportingly this year and maybe next year as a knock on, and financially in the next year or two as another result of the knock on effect. I feel the frustration but I actually like days like today when 5 ex-Saints players scored for Arsenal and Liverpool and 10 played in the two matches today which contained historically 3 of the greatest clubs in the world (whether you like it or not!). Long may that continue because if these clubs don't find their players from us they will get them from somewhere else and that will mean that we are getting worse. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Based on an assumption that he does actually want to leave "for a big clu" then let him go. I've stated previously this summer that he will not get better, he might sustain his level for one or maybe two seasons at a push I would suspect, mainly based on a mental relaxation I think he might suffer from after winning the Euros. We need to replace him within the next 12 months in time for next season at the very latest so we may as well do it now. Reuben Samedo was linked and although I know little about him he appears to be rated and clearly fits our recruitment profile. Get it done Les! Thanks for the last 7 years Jose...#wemarchon.....without you. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

You do not get the finished article for 11m in this era and very very rarely at 21 years of age. Puel clearly knows talent and he sees him as a striker so right now that's good enough. He showed the instinct of a striker for the goal pulling slightly away from the cross and it paid off....that sort of instinct is not coach able. I suggest Gemmel you have another assessment in a few months. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Redmond did for the goal.... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So you're correct from his comments that we are not after a striker but typical Sky interpret "striker" as an attacker. I think we are definitely after a creator at the tip of this so called diamond. Boufal is the obvious one but the concern is we do not have enough feeders for the strikers. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The latter was a million times better!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Even if we signed 3 players today we would start the season "as is". I think Puel is firmly in the school of public positivity and backing his players. By saying anything other than he is happy as is, consequently has a negative effect on the squad as human nature is to specualte as to who he might not be. And by signing any players does not automatically mean that he is not happy with any other player, merely that he wants someone else in the squad. In this age of instant communication controlling any bit of opinion about players is huge.

Gutted, Thought it was Messi. No ambition. On the assumption you are "close" to the club (and as much as I prefer some verifiable facts when posters like your good self write things like this) this is an interesting post. "Circus" and "18 months" are both intriguing comments so clearly the "circus" is not putting us off plus the interest for "18 months" strongly suggests we are very very keen to sign him. Are you able to give away current "league"? Thanks for the posts.

I think you might need to see your doctor....seriously concerned for your welfare. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Seems like a watered down "jack schitt"!! As someone else said an ITK needs to provide some sort of verifiable fact prior to the event that can prove ITK! Come on AR-10 give us something concrete..... Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

He's signed a new deal at Norwich Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Were we not linked with him when he went to Madrid in the first place? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

New player(s)...new contracts...both?!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Really?!!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Jesus Nooooooo. He is not that good. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The reality is the Puel has his system and playing a front three where the wider players play nearer the touch line than the middle is not his style. The front two will be strikers who split and cover either the ledt or right side from the centre to approximately the edge of the box. The role of Tasic and hopefully a new player also is the fulcrum and when we lose position they will be left as the most forward player but not isolated. The two striker will become a 2 in what looked like a 4-1-2-2-1 defensive line, occasionally 4-2-1-2-1 . The width going forward will be from the full backs predominantly. The Tadic role of last season is not what Puel wants. I have watched the friendliest on line but until Wednesday I had not quite got it, but it was fairly clear to see on Wednesday and actually I like it. As others have said, every manger who comes in normally tinkers and this is all it is. At the end of the day a decent player can make this adaptation and I think we saw glimpses on Wednesday of how good this system will be. Add in at least one more attacker/playmaker and we will see more effect in the last third. It's a process to get up to speed and actually this won't be against Watford but I expect us to be fully capable of winning. Tadic role has changed and although he is good we need better, regardless of the system. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

none will get in the team on a regular basis.

Exactly this!! OUR captain Euro winner commits rest of career to Southampton FC. Very rare headline!! I'm sure our excellent media department are all over this!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

1 or 2 you reckon? Or more?! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There is if he scores the goals that get them back to the Premier League......long term planning includes short term plans......if it doesnt you will not achieve them!

I would question everyone's judgement of Berahinos perceived attitude and say how many of us can genuinely say we weren't a knobhead at 19/20/21 and do rash things?!! If he is still being a d*ck at 23/24 then he probably really is!! I'd have him here in a heartbeat!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So what's left to come in this summers plan in terms of positions??!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Have you never heard of self-fulfilling prophecies??? The more our fan base perpetuate this mindset the more people will expect it. But then you probably enjoy it so you can feel comfort in the feeling of mediocrity. Our fans need coaching..... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Come back on September 1 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk