SaintJackoInHurworth

I forgot to include the Wallace brothers (Danny and Rod not Ray!), Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain - again mainly wingers, but have been used as strikers (Rod was primarily a striker).

Mick Channon, Steve Moran, Alan Shearer, Matt Le Tissier - all pretty good if you ask me!! You could also add Terry Paine, though he was more renowned as a winger. To a lesser degree you could also add Nathan Dyer who has not done too badly - though mainly as a winger. You could also add: Kevin Davies - Started at Chesterfield but developed as a top-flight striker at Saints. James Beattie - started at Blackburn, but was developed as a top-flight striker at Saints. Peter Crouch - moved around a number of clubs before Saints but only really got established as a top striker once he had joined us - he has always opted to play for teams that play in red ever since - and mostly clubs that play in red and white stripes!! Beyond those I'm not too sure!

A lot of people are assuming that we will play a system of two defensive midfielders and one in the hole, but I think that should not be assumed. With the players we have now, I suspect we will be able to vary that system a bit with Clasie sometimes playing more of a box-to-box type role. It could be that Wanyama or Romeu play holding player while Clasie plays in a box-to-box role. Alternatively, one could play holding player while two others adopt the box-to-box role. There is no question that we now have the scope to vary our team line-up according to who we are facing in these ways and also in other ways. So, for example, against teams that are weak at full-back you could imagine Mane and Tadic both starting, whereas in other matches we might play with just one winger and either two strikers or a more orthodox number ten (i.e. Rodriguez, Juanmi or Ramirez). It could be interesting to see not just who gets selected, but how they are used.

Another question is whether he will be able to get a place in the first team squad. With more foreign players not developed in England, will we have a squad place to offer him? If not he will either have to wait for cup games or find a club able to take him on emergency loan.

Personally I still think he's still a quality player and if he decided that Liverpool wasn't working out and wanted to come back that would be enough for me to be convinced that he had learned his lesson and could again be a useful asset to Saints. If anyone could help him get his head sorted and get him playing to his full potential then it's RoKo. As for the thought of him going to Spuds, that for me would be worse than anything and is just an extra reason that should he become available we should (cautiously) welcome him back. The thought of him re-discovering his best at Spuds is not a good one! I understand the anger of many on here, but a lot of that anger comes from a feeling of betrayal and I suspect that for many those feelings come from the fact that he used to be the player we most looked to be our star player. It's a bit like the anger between two lovers having a tiff! Yet, in time, reconciliation is possible and with that could come the possibility for an even better relationship with the club than before! This is not to say I am not riled every time I see that awful LFC/Nivea advert! That winds me up something chronic!!! Grrrr!

OK - it's disappointing.... A few weeks ago we had signed Clasie among several other players, with more players coming in than going out... At that time we had also just thrashed Arnhem (supposedly one of the toughest possible opponents we could have faced)... But now, once again, Saints fans are in meltdown - it has all seemingly gone wrong and fans are even going as far as to question whether Koeman is quite the brilliant manager we all thought he was last October... some are again talking about us facing a relegation dogfight this season. So let's get some perspective here: * Last season we expected to be in a relegation dogfight but ended up having our best league finish for almost thirty years. * Yes, we have put in some disappointing performances recently, but then we have been without Bertrand, Forster, Clasie and tonight Mane and Wanyama; we have also not yet signed a replacement for Alderweireld. In addition, Rodriguez is not yet fully match fit and a number of players are still adapting to playing in the EPL. * Playing poorly in cup competition, especially when away from home is nothing new for Saints - remember Sunderland (several times), Sheff Utd (at least a couple of times), Mansfield and many other games like them over the past few years and realise that, unlike in the Lawrie McMenemy era, we are not a great cup side. * For those that are slagging off Targett, remember Luke Shaw when he first broke into the side - he was similarly nervous and seemed poor! But when he got a second chance later in the same season, he suddenly started to turn a few heads, grew in confidence and ultimately earned a big money transfer to one of the financial giants of world football. * Similarly, those that are slagging of JWP, just think of how long it took for Lallana and Schneiderlin and many others to really establish themselves in the Saints first team. So let's cut him siome slack - after all, in one or two games this season he has actually been one of our best players going by some reports (sadly I wasn't at those games, so can only rely on the 'expert' views of analysts). * Finally, let's remember last season, how clubs like Liverhampton and ManUre started very slowly, but built up confidence and momentum as the season progressed, ultimately finishing above us. We may be on our poor spell of the season right now, but who's to say we can't turn this around and begin once again to challenge the so-called big boys at the top of the table (or at least the positions from 6 through to 10)? So let's not have a meltdown just yet; instead let's keep the faith and believe that RK can and will turn this around and further develop our reputation as a football club who do things the right way! COYR!!

I've not got a feed to watch this game, but sounds like we are playing the way we have played against Sunderland in the cups for the past few seasons. I'm guessing from some of the comments that most of you were fortunate enough to have managed to avoid those games. It is gutting that in recent years we have been so rubbish in cup competition, especially away from home and it looks like this is another example of that. Nevertheless, I remain confident that when Bertrand and Clasie return from injury and when VVD signs, JR gets back to match fitness and Juanmi, Cedric, Martinez, etc. begin to adapt to the English game we will again see Saints beginning to surprise the big clubs. Just look at it like this: last season we started strongly but ended weakly while other clubs like ManUre and Liverhampton did it the other way around. Hopefully, this season it will be us that finish like a steam train and push on to finish even higher than this year! It's disappointing to see us drop out of Europe, but we will bounce back! COYR!!

I don't know if I should be posting this as a separate thread, nor how reliable this is... nor do I understand why he has not posted this himself as I believe he is a regular poster on this forum(!!).. but I see that Connor Armstrong is reporting that we are in discussions with Atletico Madrid about the possibility of signing Mario Suarez: https://twitter.com/ConnorArmstrong/status/621086005232304128 I also see that this has also been reported on some dodgy looking rumour sites in Spain. For example, this one: http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.todomercadoweb.es/primer-plano/atletico-mario-suarez-cerca-del-southampton-133693&prev=search Anyway, I thought I'd post it anyway. I will let Connor tell us more if there is any more to be known!

Surprised at how positive a response people on here are giving him - especially considering the paddy he threw last season which has ultimately led to this (and reduced his value too imo). Personally, I am gutted he is going and particularly wish he wasn't going to Manure. Last season they were dire and extremely lucky to finish where they did - in my opinion we could and should have finished above them and I think only a huge dollop of luck and some poor refereeing led to them finishing above us. Of the top four clubs they were the team that we had most chance of finishing above, but I fear that having got so close this season, we will not now get another chance like it for a very long time. Also in relation to the response to Morgan leaving, I don't quite understand how people can have been so hateful to Lallana, yet so positive to Morgan. Both have contributed massively to our rise and both went about getting a move last summer in the wrong way. The fact that Morgan didn't manage to get that move doesn't change that. Similarly, a lot of hate has been aimed at Shaw, Chambers, Lovren, Clyne and Toby for leaving, yet all of them except Toby and Clyne have gone to clubs who were in the Champions League at the time they moved to them (Liverpool may not have lasted long in the competition, but let's not forget that they actually finished second in 2014 and competed in that competition last season). Personally, I am very grateful for all that these players have done for us, hope that they can get established in the first teams of their respective clubs (and ultimately get a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona with a large sell-on fe coming to Saints as a result!), but beyond that my only wish for every single one of them is that they and their clubs will finish behind Saints in the EPL table!

Except that we have just signed Martina to play right back for the first few games! I'm anticipating that we will possibly see Targett going out on loan once Bertrand is back from injury, although I do hope he might begin to show his potential and come through as another excellent player that has been developed by Saints.

As the song goes, 'Let's all have a meltdown, let's all have a meltdown. Na, na, na, na! Na, na, na, na!' So... last summer we had complete meltdown but that was followed by our most successful season for many years and one that would have been more successful without a few injuries at key times and/or more strength in depth in our squad. Now it looks like we could be in the midst of another mini-meltdown with the departures of Clyne, Alderweireld, Bence, Limbrick, potentially Schneiderlin and also injuries to Forster and Bernard. But, like last season, we have also seen some potentially significant arrivals and I'm sure we will see several more (and hopefully with them an increase in our strength in depth, which could be further enhanced too by more development squad players beginning to step up a level). So... based on last season's experience, what's the likelihood that we will not only cope with the departures but once again emerge stronger and better and more successful? I'm gutted to see both Clyne and Alderweireld leave (especially Toby) and will be even more gutted if we lose Morgan, but maybe, just maybe, we can surprise the naysayers once more! I certainly hope so! COYR!

You all seem to be assuming that the rumours are right that he has signed for Spuds. What if those rumours are not true? What if the rumours that his Dad/agent has said nothing has been agreed are true? What if we believe the discussion between other football agents and journalists on Twitter that this is just part of the game of how transfers progress? What if the rumours that he has told friends he wants to come back to Saints are true? And what about the assertion that he was not having a medical today by the very same journalist who is now claiming the deal is done? What if he was correct last night but is guessing tonight? Let's just wait and see. Even if it is announced tomorrow that he has signed for the Spuds, he could end up having to sit it out at WHL while the legal experts get to the bottom of it. Or maybe they will allow him to play, but once they discover that AM have broken their contract with Saints, perhaps they will insist that the surplus transfer fee over what Saints had agreed to pay be paid to Saints instead, plus any sell-on benefits, etc. plus some level of fine.

I thought he was a money guy not a legal guy? Still, you can't help wondering whether his departure has something to do with this. Perhaps he was leaking financial details of the contractual agreement between Saints and AM to Spurs and he was found out. Expect to see him getting a job at White Fart Lane next...!

OK - I voted Saints because... * They are the best at giving me enjoynment when they win (and depression when they lose). * They are the best improved team in recent seasons. * In recent years they have been the best team at developing new talent (though admittedly the other three haven't actually been too bad at doing so either). i.e. we have the best academy. * They are the best run club. * The question asks about them as a club, not which has the best performing team. * Last season I actually think we did deserve to finish above the others in terms of performances when at our best - i.e. our best performances were better than the best performances of the other clubs and if we had maintained that without so many injuries we would have finished above the others. * They have the best kit - all-white and all-red are just boring but put them together in the form of stripes and you have quality! * Southampton is the longest single word in any of the club names. * Historically we were set up with the most community-minded aims. Southampton St Marys was set up by the church to serve young men in the local community, whereas Spurs were set up for the kids of a grammar school bible class, Swansea were just set up for the sake of having a football team alongside their rugby team, while Liverpool were set up by the businessman who owned Anfield, which had previously been the home of Everton. * Our club is in Southampton, whereas the others are not. * Unlike the others, we don't have any stupid bird pictures on our club crest. We are the only club with a proper (slightly) historic, symbolic, meaningful club crest. * We have the best manager. * We have our own way of doing things which is distinct and better than the others - The Southampton Way.

Atletico Madrid have decided to honour their agreement with Saints and Toby will be our player in the next few days. In addition, despite speculation, Clyne is still negotiating his contract and the deal is almost done for him to extend his contract with Saints for a further five years. On returning from England duty this week this too will be completed in the next few days. Oh... and for those assuming Schneiderlin is on the way out, he has declared he will not leave Saints for any more than Champions League football and also wishes to stay in England. Both Man Utd and Arsenal have stated that the price tag that Saints have slapped on him is outside of what they would be willing to pay and are looking elsewhere, while Chelsea and Man City have no interest. Consequently, Morgan has now enquired about the possibility of an improved deal with contract extension. In other news, a goalkeeper is also in advanced negotiations to sign. This one is under wraps, but I believe that Saints have been talking to both Tom Heaton of Burnley and Orjan Nyland of Molde and one of these two (possibly both, but unlikely) will also be unveiled as a Saints player this week. There is also news that Saints are negotiating with both Grzegorz Krychowiak and Jordie Clasie and will sign at least one of them despite Morgan's descision to stay. Finally, Martin Odegaard will be making his anticipated loan move from Real Madrid. What is interesting, though, is that they are negotiating a similar deal to the one they had with AM for Toby - except that there will be a larger buy-out payment to cancel the sale and Real will not be able to sell him for two full seasons should they cancel the deal. ... if Carling... (or maybe Tetleys?)... did ITKers!!!

Surprised no-one seems to have commented on this (unless I have missed it), but now that we have signed Juanmi, I doubt we will be looking to sign another striker, especially as Rodriguez is back from injury now. We've got Pelle, Long, Mane, Gallagher, Juanmi, Mayuka and Seager. While I expect Mayuka will not feature (except perhaps in the League Cup as a substitute!) and that Seager could end up going out on loan to gain experience, that still leaves us with five strikers! If we are going to buy (or loan) any further attacking players then I would hazard a guess that they will be wingers not strikers!

Skacel had one... Ramirez had one... Osvaldo had one (though not as long as Skacel's or Ramirez's!) So, who is going to be the next player to have such a thread and will they be any better? And why is it that when we have a player who some suggest should be out of our league in terms of quality and we sign him, he turns out to be not really good enough?! That having been said there have been some other long threads for players that we have not signed, especially Ever Banega who, of course, has just played his part in helping Sevilla become Europa cup winners.

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/portsmouth-city-council-leader-donna-jones-defends-red-and-white-spinnaker-tower-deal-1-6783325 Obviously the leader of the city council thinks Saints play in all red and doesn't realise we play in Red and White! LOL

Only a few minutes to go and it's 0-0. If it stays like that City are confirmed in second place and will have less to play for on Sunday. Hopefully that could help us. As I'm sure someone has said, if we win and Liverpool and Spurs don't win then we finish fifth.

Ward-Prowse - he definitely needs to improve his shooting ability, though he's not bad at free kicks from outside the box. Schneiderlin - so with two more years on his contract we could dig our heels in and keep him until next summer and then if he still wants to go (if the rumours are true) let him go then for a tidy sum in 2016, having developed a replacement during the 2015-16 season? Still, I doubt he will stay if he has only got two years left, so I assume we will have to sign a replacement. I'd love to see us sign Banega, but I guess that's unlikely!

It's great to hear that Rodriguez has signed so that that particular piece of transfer nonsense can be put to bed this summer. It's also good to hear that Clyne is in talks and things looking promising. However, therer is nothing about Schneiderlin and plenty of rumours that he is leaving, so are we to assume the rumours are true? Or is his contract long enough that we can take all of that with a pinch of salt? When does his contract expire anyway? If he is leaving then who should we get to replace him? Clasie? Vilhenna? Banega? Would we get any of them anyway? Or should we just focus on developing Ward-Prowse and Harry Reed? Personally I would rather JWP were developed as a more attacking midfielder and while I'm excited at the thought of Reed developing into a great talent, to expect him to fill Morgan's boots would be a lot of pressure.

As I said in my original post, both Champions League and dropping to 8th behind Swansea are mathematical possibilities, but I don't expect that either is the way that things will pan out. My predictions for the key results involving Saints, Swansea, Spurs, Liverpool and Man Utd are as follows: w/e 9/10 May Arsenal 2 v 0 Swansea Chelsea 2 v 0 Liverpool Crystal Palace 1 v 1 Man Utd Leicester 1 v 1 Saints Stoke 1 v 1 Spurs w/e 16/17 May Liverpool 2 v 1 Crystal Palace Man Utd 0 v 2 Arsenal Saints 2 v 1 Aston Villa Swansea 1 v 2 Man City Spurs 2 v 0 Hull 24 May Crystal Palace 2 v 2 Swansea Everton 1 v 1 Spurs Hull 1 v 0 Man Utd Man City 1 v 1 Saints Stoke 2 v 1 Liverpool This will leave the places from 4th to 8th looking as follows: 4 Man Utd 66 pts 5 Liverpool 64 pts 6 Spurs 63 pts 7 Saints 62 pts 8 Swansea 54 pts Ultimately that will be an amazing result for us, but also a little frustrating realising that we could have finished so much higher if just two results had gone differently! I just hope that if we do finish 7th then Arsenal will win the FA Cup! (PS Of course, if Spurs lose rather than drawing against Stoke, we could end up finishing above them on goal difference!)

However, unlikely, isn't it amazing to think that three games from the end of the season it is still mathematically possible for Saints to finish above Man Utd this season... and to qualify for the Champions League? Who would have thought that at the start of the season?! In fact even a few weeks ago a few people were predicting that Man Utd would be the ones safely in 2nd or 3rd, while Man City scrapped to finally cross the line of CL qualification. On the other hand, it seems to have been assumed for weeks that we would definitely finish in either 5th, 6th or 7th. Yet, following Saturday's results, Swansea are fast catching us up and if we don't watch out we might not even finish in the top 7. Whatever happens, I hope that we can drive on for the last few weeks and achieve Europa League qualification above the Spuds. There is even that little bit of me that dreams of what that fairytale scenario might look like, so here (before it disappears with Man Utd beating Palace on Saturday!) is a little glimpse of that fairytale... > Saints beat Leicester & Aston Villa, Man Utd lose to Palace & Arsenal. Meanwhile Liverpool lose to Chelsea and only draw with Palace and Spurs drop points against Stoke. > Saints find themselves in 5th only 2 points behind Man Utd. > Saints win our final game against City (who are only too happy to help us finish above Utd) and United slip up against Hull. > Saints finish in fourth! OK, you can wake up now... but wasn't it a great dream?!!

I noticed earlier and advert for the Tories on the Saints website. I hope that the club are not getting political and that they have received a large fee for that to appear there. Considering a previous duck-hunting owner of the club got too involved with politics (with the Referendum Party - predecessors to UKIP), I hope that, whatever the political preferences of individuals within the club, those opinions will remain firmly outside of club dealings.

I think it is highly unlikely we could get anywhere near Man City. Their fixtures are significantly easier than United's and they have a game in hand (tonight against Palace, away). In my opinion, they have also got a better squad than any other club apart from Chelsea. That having been said, they have been misfiring lately, so who knows?! Anyway, here for reference are Man City's fixtures: Monday 6th April 2015 Crystal Palace V Man City (draw?) Sunday 12th April 2015 Man Utd V Man City (treble chance - I reckon away win) Sunday 19th April 2015 Man City V West Ham (home win) Saturday 25th April 2015 Man City V Aston Villa (home win) Saturday 2nd May 2015 Tottenham V Man City (treble chance - I reckon away win) Saturday 9th May 2015 Man City V QPR (home win) Saturday 16th May 2015 Swansea V Man City (away win) Sunday 24th May 2015 Man City V Southampton (depends on how much is riding on the fixture, but they absolutely tonked us at home earlier in the season, so don't hold out much hope of us getting a decent result from this one) From those fixtures you would expect Man City to get at least ten points, which would give them at least 71 points. That would leave us needing to get at least 18 points from 7 games just to draw level on points - in other words, 6 wins and one defeat, including beating Man City. Having said that it is unlikely, my previous 'predictions' (not exactly predictions, more projections of a possible scenario) were based on winning all games except the City and Everton games, so you never know!