MarkSFC

I think a big part of RKs comments was aimed at the players. He's clearly not happy with our recent first half performances (Bournemouth apart) and as he said the lack of consistency over individual games. I think the we need to spend money was a message to both Les and the players, as in we do really need probably a couple of decent players - Striker and CM - plus maybe another RB. The job of the manager is to win games, it is not to manage "the project" that is the club's responsibility. It's unlikely that we will ever become a regular top 6 club but he odd occasion once in a while will be great, but it's important that the club remain a top 10 club year on year and to be competitive in cups. If this I print for some fans then they need to blame sky because they have made the Premier League boring in terms of the teams who challenge for the league.

I'm not sure that its wrong but its definitely selective and inconsistent. A minute's silence is respectful but yet gain, selective solidarity.

Who cares!!! I met Garry Monk many years ago when he was a player (in the loosest sense) at Saints, late in the night / Sunday morning after we had lost at home 1-0 to Sunderland. He was splashing the £50 chips in Grosvenor like there was no tomorrow and was incredibly obnoxious and was clearly hanging on the coat tails of Kevin Davies, BT, and Claus who were all there. Was a Championship standard defender at best but seems to have a superiority complex. I could be wrong of course and he might turn into a great manager......I won't hold my breath. Like in his playing days he is getting an element of fame because of what others do or have done to help him in the position he is...he got lucky with the team he inherited but as he has had time...Swansea have got worse. mmmmm!!!!

R.I.P. Mike. Sad news. I wasn't a mate but met him over the years at games and even in Sydney watching the Ashes in 2002. A passionate guy who clearly loved The Saints.

Be happy if he signed a long term contract with release clause for Holland post 2018 WC or Barcelona anytime.

I do not think he was as bad as some are making out on Sunday but he is not skilful enough to make the difference when you come up against a defensive unit like West Broms. This means he's not good enough to start every game. His main skill that needs serious improvement is his shooting; now that IS poor. If he can sort that out and it's almost certainly more a mental obstacle than a technical one, then he will have a chance of making it with us, otherwise I think he will be gone in 18 months. Clasie will be interesting when he finally gets going and will take the pressure off JWP.

As his Saints contract runs until July 2017 he may as well sign an extension to 2018 at least because the next Dutch National Team manager will surely get a deal until the World Cup in 2018. Mind you the way they are just now they probably won't qualify so perhaps 2017 is about right for Ronald to take over!! Probably all depends on our progress too. Assuming he does go in 17 or 18 I would like to see us go for Eddie Howe if he has kept Bournemouth up in that time.

can't wait for this game....first away game for 2 seasons and a first visit to The Hawthorns. Going with my Saints supporting mate who lives up there and his WBA mates, so should be fun in the pub before and after the game.

So....does last nights horrendous display highlight the need for three decent signings - One each in defence, midfield and attack? Are we just going through a bad run of it with injuries? Will VVD or A.N. Other(s) still want to come here without European football? Did we have signings lined up based on qualifying for the group stage? Discuss!!!

Yes. You may be of the opinion that it's a lot of money but in the world of football it really is not especially when we sold nearly £40m of players. It would not be unreasonable to think that our budget is c.£30m on average per summer given all the TV money (excluding player sales). If Clyne and Morgan had stayed 2-3 players would of been sufficient in a normal year but as we are in Europe an additional 1-2 squad fillers were clearly necessary. Martina and Juanmi seem to be those and Steklenburg is obviously just temporry so doesn't count (he would be in the contingency category) as does Caulker for the same reason; although I think he's going to be a very important player this season and hopefully become permanent next summer (or even January like Bertrand). Clasie and Romeu have effectively replaced Morgan between them and Soares Clyne. VVD or which ever CB eventually arrives is the replacement for Toby in terms of numbers if not necessarily quality - but time will tell! Therefore so far this summer we have spent approximately £20-22m on squad, loans, and replacements leaving £15m+ surplus from sales. Add the perceived and not unrealistic £30n budget mentioned and there you get why I expect three more purchase for £30-45m both interns of quality and quantity reasons. Wages will not effect this assumption.

We are on the verge of repeating the errors of summer 2003 and the surrounding years of the Lowe run years where a) we missed an opportunity to attract higher quality players post European qualification in2003 and b) spending money on squad fillers and subsequently upping numbers but lowering the overall effective quality of the team. Earlier in the summer I thought the signings of Juanmi Soares Caulker and Stek were good and then Clasie was positive but because I honestly expected another 3 quality signings each in the 10-15m region. This may of course still happen but we are leaving it right. Assuming Victor stays I still think we need 3 players, a CB of quality ( this appears to be VVD) an attack minded midfielder and an out and out striker (ideally Austin) to put some real pressure on Pelle. If VW is ax then we need 4...that's a lot of business to get done in 6 days, two of which are match days and one a bank holiday! I know that doesn't really matter but I think it highlights the pressure I think Les Reed,the club and RK are under right now to make sure this opportunity is not squandered and history repeats itself.

I agree they are not playing to last seasons high standards but they are still quality players and so they will return to form much sooner than lower level players. The Europa league has this reputation for effecting teams in the first part of the season and I don't think it has much to do with the number of games but rather the fact that teams have to get competitive a week or two sooner and have a shorter time in pre season building unity, shape and rhythm before getting competitive. Koeman has hinted at lack of time on the training pitch and I think this is the problem he needs to sort out....plus a couple more attack minded players perhaps!

I'll admit to not seeing him play other than some clips but he clearly has some skills that Saints like/want (supposedly) and although it can be argued that in a poor league such as Scotland he should stand out, it can also be argued that in these lower levels it's harder to develop your potential fully. It seems like he will need to up his concentration levels and consistency and although the Premier League is a big step from the Scottish league, Wanyama managed it comfortably and so there is no reason to think VVD couldn't. Also he will have better players all around him and more protection. I would not be surprised if within a few months Caulker and VVD will be our regular partnership.

Austin for 15 and Bruno Martins Indi for 15.

If he does mean from 2013 it's a pretty pointless thread.

Is it just me or are these stories "breaking" only on the eve of games?!! The window should shut the day before the season starts! If Spurs want him then tell them £30m plus Townsend but ONLY IF we can get a replacement!!

I'd hope the team is this: ---------------------Stek-------------------- Cedric------Fonte--------Caulker------Targett ------------Romelu------Wanyama------------ ------------------Juanmi----------------------- ---Mane--------------------------JRod-------- ------------------Pelle-------------------------

When you judge a journalist and especially one as terrible as Crook you need to remember that the press is the definition of hypocrisy. One minute they love us for what we did getting back to and then challenging for a short period last season and then a minute later they are peddling rumours to destroy the team. The media is a business like any other and the writers are only interested in their own income and writing controversy and or articles that drive sales and boost their profile within their own incideous industry and those who they get their "info" from have vested interests themselves. I would love to know his many "genuine" exclusives there are nowadays but I would guess less than one percent of all "stories" are nothing more than made up guesses disguised as intelligent and in the know. Anyone can make anything up and get it spread worldwide within minutes. Sky rely on this to fill their schedule on SSN and to drive money into their betting channel. It's one big circus!!!

This would be a very risky approach as VVD could get injured at any minute leaving us to need to properly "panic buy". Either Celtic have agreed to sell when other terms have agreed with the player and he signs when we want him to or they have not been agreed and we are already considering other choices such as the Napoli CB in case of injury to VVD and or agreement not reached.

I haven't trawled through this thread so apologies if I repeat posts but the reason we lost today was Steven Davis playing alongside Victor in the first half. He is a good player in the advanced midfield role and I think this week and last RK got it wrong by playing him deeper. The other option was Reed and he should of trusted the young lad - didn't he play against Everton at home last year? - but instead went did experience. This is compounded by the fact that the four in front of the midfield two are not link up players and so there was a gap too big and the front four were either too far forward or deeper than they are used too and in areas where there talents have less effect because there were more players in front of them. There really is no need to panic though. When Caulker, VVD ( or other) Bertrand Clasie all return and Romeu is settled we will be a very good unit. It won't be as exciting in the league as last year and we all knew that but finishing top 12 and having some fun in the cups especially abroad will still be progress.

Both. But the EL without doubt....were automatically in the FA Cup every season so plenty more chances!

I agree it's unlikely but actually from a financial perspective we have still "only" spent 20-25m and recouped 37is so even if we did get them both for 25m we are still just a net spend of 12-15, not unrealistic. Either would be great?

Maybe we're getting both?!!

Without the same degree of panic and number of players leaving this summer is turning into the same as last year by most who continue to judge before the transfer window shuts. I said Les and the club should be judged as of the close of the window last year and that turned out ok, so I do not see the point to feel less confident than then. We do need two or three more and quality can take time as others will obviously be interested too.

I think today shows just how far our club has come. We are not rich enough to have 22-25 top 6 quality players but even up against a flying pumped up Newcastle team in front of their own fans and the managers first game, without our strongest team by 4-5 players we still picked up a point and had more chances to win it! I expect a new CB, a new CM and possibly another winger type, and then add in Classie Bertrand and Forster to the squad on show and we will be strong.Soares will settle to the pace and improve and Caulker will put pressure on Fonte which will help. Juanmi I think will probably end up starting more than Tadic. No need to panic or slag off Mane for not scoring, one was a very good piece of defending, the other on his weaker foot. Not the greatest performance but a positive point.