MarkSFC

Lukaku would be my preference!!

whats that got to do with anything?!! Never suggested any facts, merely my instinct. You seem to be upset by that. strange man.

Cortese does not strike me as a man who would be at a very local game if he wasnt confident of getting some deals finalised or they have actually been so already. He would be open to questions, easy not to say anything of course but he would be very much aware of all the rumours and therefore would expect fans to ask...... just a hunch but I imagine the next day or three will reveal 2 or 3 players.

If we sign a better striker than Lambert then he either improves to get back in the team - I think JRod will be even better next year - or he accepts his position as sub or he goes. Simple.

5,6 years ago Spurs began their major investment in players to move from the ever age team they were to the top 5 they are now and getting better. I recall that they let it known that they were after all these top players and willing to spend but it actually took them a while before anyone of real note signed up. I see a similarity here with us. Of course Spurs have a better pedigree than us so it will be a little tougher to convince many players to come but I love the fact that the intention and ambition is so clearly there. We may not get Damieo or Wanyama (although I think we will!!) and if so there are many many other options in the world so I am confident that regardless of how long we take to sign these great improvements we will certainly do it.

He's clearly not world class but he is only 23 and had played for the best footballing nation in history nearly 20 times already. Name me the equivalent Spanish German French Italian or even English 23 yr old striker and would they be any better?? This would be a great piece of business particularly the year before a World Cup in his home nation. Get real people.

I support Southampton FC because it is "my city". IF I was born and bred in Manchester. Liverpool, London, Birmingham etc then it would mean other reasons dictated who #i would have started supporting 40 odd years ago. Now as much as red and white stripes has been synonomoous with "Saints" for (virtually) all my lifetime, I have never actually preferred them to a ""one colour" type shirt. I like our new strips but totally get why some do not. his is not the debate on this thread. I'm not saying by a long way that I as a supporter would accept anything but the things thst REALLY matter in terms of tradition and heritage are simply the performances and results of the team itself. Everything else, boardroom battles, venue changes, manager changes, players, do not change the fact that I support Southampton FC BECAUSE they represent MY CITY. It would not matter which division they are in and it didnt!! The decisions of the owner(s), directors and employees of the club simply determine whether I spend my money with them and how often. My attendance or not at any particular game will not and never will effect my passion for the team/club nor my desire for them to win. Fans claim that owners have/do lose siht of whats important, I would put it to you that possibly us fans do too....

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/201213-released-list-854898.aspx

Sergei Gotsmanov and Alexie Cherednik. No idea on clubs without googling but guess at Dynamo Moscow

Can be seen at The Peartree Inn having a pint or two occasionally.

Boruc, Clyne, Shaw, Schniederlin, Ramirez, Rodriguez. So, we need to sign 2 x CBs, 1 x CM, and 2 x Attackers/strikers/wingers. Names; Astori, Ince, Lamela, Nangelbandon..(whatever his name is), and A N Other CB! That would leave; Gazzinga; Yoshida; Fonte; Cork; JWP; S Davis; Lallana; Puncheon; Lambert; probably Guly and then the kids. Pretty happy if that happens, certainly more than capable of top 10 with that talent on board!!

1st

give the bloke a chance to mould the team with his signings and a proper close season FFS. We may not have seen consistency but we have seen a higher level of performance from Adkins players than Adkins achieved. Roll on next season....be excited.

jeez........

Of course not. Hunter has the right to judge as the manager. The OP unless employed by the club in a footballing role associated to the U21 side is simply pedalling unfounded opinion which happens far too often, by many on here, seemingly exclusively with overseas buys. Give the International a f****** break. Some fans are bloody clueless and embarrassing. And I don't care what you think of me!!!

Amazing!!! The expectation that footballers perform at their highest level for EVERY single minute of EVERY single game is ridiculous ignorant and shows no understanding for sport. I wonder whether these distractions have every had "a bad day of the office" or even just 15minutes.... This forum is full of cvnts.

no..

There should only be a concern that he's not playing if we are struggling against relegation. We are not. That allows him and us time to get him ready for the huge season that next year will be. It's a safe assumption that his arrival upped the performance and focus of the other CBs, which is exactly what the squad game is all about. I suspect that sooner rather than later he will make his debut - and will be first choice alongside the CB we sign in the summer.

who?

Hardly inciteful. all bar Shaw and Ince already been involved at senior level. And where's Clyne?!

As nervy as it may be through the summer and given our history it is fairly natural to think we may lose one or two major players, HOWEVER this is a different club now with different owners and more importantly a different CEO. I truly believe that ALL the key players will stay, and most have signed long term anyway. We do not need to sell, we are in the Premier League and things are progressing. The whole ethos of the club is one of development and progression and this will continue until Cortese achieves his ambition which I believe IS Champions League. Unrealistic for most to comprehend but visionaries and highly talented people achieve unrealistic and exceptional things. Cortese is one of those people. Its going to be an exciting few years, starting with 3 or 4 major signings this summer!!

Bet he becomes first choice alongside the established International CB we sign in summer! Hope to see a young striker, Vydra could be shrewd. A winger who can play either side, Ince would be great. A quality CM better than either Morgan or Jack despite how damn good they are. That would do. Forren can back-up as LB.

Exactly...maybe the problem is that certain Ex-players/managers/employees "expect" certain treatment like free tickets/hospitality, possibly because that's what they were given by previous regime(s) who nearly bankrupted the club?!!

As great as Cork and particularly Morgan are performing we should get a CM (seems like we tried in Jan). I think we also will go for a right winger, experienced left back, and a centre back better than we have. Jos will move on I suspect. Depending on the opinion of MP about Gazza we might get a GK too. I think Boruc is proving his quality, its all about consistency.

People finally coming round....Atkins great a job as he did and as nice a bloke he was I always had the impression he wasn't actually ambitious enough or in fact his judgement of players standards in terms of ability was not actually high enough. Cortese is shooting for the very top..I get the impression that MP is that way inclined (he was an international so does have high achievement in his history)....whereas NA was at the peak of his achievements in life. Improving on that would have been hard for him (perhaps) and maybe that is a major part of the reason for him going. High achievers do not go for rides on a bus....they go in chartered planes.