MarkSFC

If Stones is worth £50m the VvD is worth £100m!! IF we were to sell him this summer for anything less than something north of £75/80m then I would be very disappointed and although the length of contract will drive up any price the negative message this sale in particular would send would be devastating. I am very confident that it won't happen but its obvious why the scenario is mooted!!!

Not because it's Everton but I do not think Witsel is really all that. I would not be excited if we signed him and would question our scouting for once. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yeah great signing. He seems genuinely happy to be here. He's done the so called big club and you would think he's realised it can't get much more secure than playing for us. Instead of feeling nervous every summer that players will leave because they only have a year or two left we have some relative security with lots of key players and any more additions. Exciting times. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

bertrand new 5 year deal!!

2 years. 20 odd million I would guess. In our reach. Your attitude to choices and chances is very fixed, once made or passed that's it according to you. Strange approach but you're entitled. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

He played 23 times for Shalke last season who finished 5th and has already played 15 times for Denmark.....one for NOW!! Sounds exciting. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Ironically he's probably in a similar situation to what Bertrand was at Chelsea behind Ashley Cole! I hope he stays as I think he has potential but actually more as a winger. We will see. No doubt if he does go it will be spun as selling the Crown Jewels.... Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

We do not need a new CB.....didn't you hear, we are selling everyone and playing the U21s?! Seriously though we do; Yoshida is a decent squad player but like others have said if he is to be relied on for more than just a few games we would not be as secure at the back as most teams in the top 10. I think Tomkins for 10m would of been a shrewd buy but really I hope we get a young one who not only puts pressure on Fonte but is better. That makes our CB position strong, and if we want to go far in the cups we need this quality of depth. A left-footed one may make a lot of sense but they are a rare commodity! None of know how good Gardos is or may be and it would be great if he proves us all wrong but right now he needs a bit of development I've unfortunately. Stevens may come good but I think he may end up being a good championship / EPL level player which is a shame. There is a player in the U21s, (A Jones??) who I saw a few times last season and my instinct was that he has the potential, still in his teens I think but I'm sure our resident geeks will correct me! Either way he's at least a season or two away from the first team, 2-3 at least from being good enough to be first choice, so one decent one know is perfect. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Having a long term injury does not mean that when you come back you will definitely break down again, but it is more likely that you will compared to someone who hasn't (talking ligament/muscle injury). Austin and JRod will I am sure have good seasons and play at least 25 games each if not much more. The issue I have is that virtually every top team has 4 really good strikers, if Pelle goes we have 3. When we bought Austin in January I thought it was an excellent piece of business and still do, but just as good was it gave us a 4th striker. Assuming Pelle does go I think we need to sign a young striker (Berahino would be great or even Andy Carroll although unlikely) which will give us a front 6 of JRod, Austin, Long, Tadic, Redmond and new one. We then just need an AM (Chamberlain would be good) and a DM (Moussa Sissoko my choice). A back up GK and maybe a decent CB on loan and job done. Total spend may well be 70-80 but income would be 60-65. Nothing really. I imagine that the media suggestions that we are taking our time and not necessarily going to replace Pelle are just our way of moving out of the limelight for the National press so we can just get on with business and to try and subdue our thirst for news Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

How very dare you!!! To suggest such a thing is downright rude!!! If only others got it..............

Obviously (if this is true) it can be construed as "Im happy and do not need any more players" but I prefer to take the viewpoint that being happy with the squad he currently has is a really good thing because it shows that even though we have lost some quality and recruited a bit overall we are still strong. I would be absolutely stunned if we did not recruit at least 3 more decent quality players, specifically DM, AM and ST. Arguably we need a CB (but I thunk we will loan one) and a back up GK.

I think we do need to look at getting a new CB, ideally a left footed one. It's not as important though as getting a really good DM and Mane replacement. I think we might see a loan in this position to give Gardos and Stevens a bit of breathing space and then next summer make a permanent signing of neither have proven themselves good enough to oust Fonte. VVD will play 2-3 more seasons then go not just the one people seem obsessed with. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

No. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Over the last few years we have sold 3-4 players for between 20 & 35odd million pounds. So far we have been very successful in recruiting within the 8-15m bracket. Unfortunately this bracket needs to shift up for two reasons; firstly we are aiming get higher each year and so the pool of players we need are going to be more expensive. Secondly everyone on the Premier League has vastly more money and so there are people clubs willing to chuck money around - albeit with a far less robust long term business model than ours may I suggest - and so we need to spend more for those 2-3 really good players we need to improve our team, not our squad. If Boufal is acquired for £25m then it's obviously a big leap for our record transfer and although the actual number seems huge for us, these numbers are all relative. We as fans should forget the actual number and compare ins v outs window to window. I would also hope we spend 15-20m on a defensive midfielder. I would imagine then we would also get another striker for fairly decent money. Any other additions like perhaps a RB (although I don't think we need one) and a young CB and of course a back up keeper will likely be purchases in the 5-10m bracket. I can see us spending 80-90m on new players but of course that's likely to be a net spend of 30-40. Sounds big but not in real terms. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I feel mixed about Pelle. On one hand he has been a really good player for us, and I the Euros has looked one of the best. One the other hand if we were to get between 10-15m as has been mentioned for a player his age I think it would be too good to turn down. Assuming he does go then we clearly need another out and out striker and although I would be happy with Berahino or Benteke my preference actually is Andy Carroll. I can't see WHU selling him but he has the qualities we need, tall and powerful. Long, JRod, Austin, Tadic, Redmond plus at least one real quality attacker is a formidable set of front players. Hopefully though we get two! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Don't forget that football doesn't really exist outside of Liverpool, Manchester and London according to the media!! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Oh well. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Just today?! This appointment is exciting. The last time we had a French technician in our club we produced some excellent players. French football has always been based on sound technique and flair and if reports are anything to go by our new manager produced scintillating football with Nice. It's fair to say we almost certainly have a stronger squad but I'm sure we will some exciting players added and this means we should be in for some exciting football. We may not finish in he top 6 but I have no doubt we will be in the top 10 if not top 8 and experience a good cup season. For those who are not impressed you are probably symptomatic of our culture now which because of the Internet allows EVERYONE to share every single thought and emotion with EVERYONE, instantly, which causes further over reaction and uncertainty forced on those who would prefer you keep your emotions to yourself! Logical comment and debate is what is normal, not irrational, I'll-informed, knee jerk rants! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Very true! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Many people on here would probably not be happy if we signed Mourinho or Guardiola! Yep lets get it done and enjoy the signings coming our way.... Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yours is also a decent post! The sooner people "get it" the sooner they can enjoy supporting this fantastic club of ours! I think this is great deal if the price is around 30-35m. People will always moan about the price and if we sold him for 50m some would say we should of got 60m! Our club id not "lucky" in its success it is based on sound business model. Buy young, improve them, improve club, sell at profit and repeat. Expecting any player to spend more than 3-4 years max at any one club is rare unless you are Real Madrid or Barcelona etc. We are not and never will be. I'm proud of how our club operates and am looking forward to a great summer of recruitment and an exciting season in Europe!

So in you your world what does that actually mean? Of course we are a football club first but it's a business too that needs to be successful in that sense first otherwise you end up in administration.........oh! You're supposed to be an expert on our history but clearly you have not learnt from it. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The Southampton Way is merely a corporate slogan and it sounds like you do not get the difference between a slogan and a culture. The Southampton Way is not a PR slogan it is a particular way of doing things, how people are treated, what the values of the business are, what the objectives, are how they go about achieving those objectives. You can attempt to condone this so often called corporate speak as none sense but the reality is that every single business, every single family or group of friends have their own culture, what they do and what they say and how theŷ think. The Southampton FC culture is ever evolving and is clearly based in sound foundations and has success running through its veins at most levels and areas of the business. This is not the club we had under Askham or Lowe or Wilde which also had a culture.......predominantly a small-minded culture, whereas under the leaders since administration that mindset has changed significantly. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Comparing the appointment of Puel (if indeed it does happen) to those of Wigley and Gray is ridiculous, there simply is no comparison. Also comparing the decisions made by Lowe to Read is ridiculous. Read has proved for many years that his and other people visions and decisions are sound, whereas Lowe failed miserably at virtually every step. Puel is someone I had never heard about but then I do not really follow other countries football to the same detail as I do here. Reading the various articles and info available on him and he seems like a really good fit to our clear philosophy. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Reportedly 11-12m anyway for Wanyama. Redmond we don't actually know but he is 3 years younger and English but if it's about the same or even a bit more that seems fine. As good as he is Wanyama is limited and won't improve a great deal more. Redmond has much more potential and will certainly score more goals! You don't seem to be really good at understanding football. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk