Sour Mash

He's retweeted what they've written. Yes, I think he's with Besswick.

Surprised Hoensbroek have started Schrijnemakers on the bench, thought he'd be guaranteed to start for them.

Sweet of you to stand up for your little mate.

Yeah, pointless little dig from Samuel there, he is an odd one, if you'd offered Lovren the choice of Saints, man U or Liverpool 12 months ago, he wouldn't have chosen us then either, so what, nothing has changed in that regard. But Samuls is outdone in terms of utterly pointless articles by this http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/anybody-home-see-depleted-southampton-3861281

The fact that it's a reasonable possibility that they are an upgrade is a positive point on its own. We've lost two key players and have replaced them with players that look like they could be better, can't complain about that.

Do find it weird we're so low down the pecking order - didn't expect us to be up there with Liverpool, Man Utd etc, but didn't expect us to be rock bottom either.

Is it just me or do we seem quite low in terms of games picked for tv? BT Sports have never seemed too keen on us. Shouldn't complain though.

Nice try.

Oh dear indeed.

You've got no idea if they care or not. Professional or not, how many times do you see quotes like that about wanting to play for your first opponents of the season?

I suggest you read his quotes again. Bit more than "worried " about the direction the club were going in.

What's your point? It's one thread. Not like there isn't plenty of discussion on our signings on other threads.

Had heard that Palace had out-bid QPR for Caulker - they should have a decent side next year, not sure where all their money is coming from.

No it won't of course Koeman will try and get the team used to playing how he wants, especially in the later games, Brighton & Leverkusen.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that Koeman should be doing an announcement on it! Fair question on what changes we'll see to our set up and approach to games. Any chance he'll ry and use Wanyama to drop back in with the two centre backs to create the 3 at the back? It probably goes without saying that the expection will be that any left back we sign will have a fairly attacking edge to his game.

I'm still not sure how Lovren can be intergrated back into the team, have the support of the fans and line up in our first XI against Liverpool in a couple of weeks, after re-reading his comments on wanting to move. They were pretty extreme and clear-cut.

Hardly anyone has written off Shaw, quite rightly, as he's destined for a full career at the top. Fair questions on whether Lallana or Lambert will cement starting spots at Liverpool every week. Not many slagging off MP's managerial ability, fair question as to whether Spurs will give him enough time.

We obviously know who the striker is, give us a clue on the LB? I'm going to guess, either the The Forest Inn or The Gamekeeper?

He's not 'world class' on a par with David Silva, Hazard etc, but he's grown to be better than an ordinary winger hasn't he?

Obviously a quality talent, but gives the ball away too easily, plus he's one of the clumsiest tacklers I've ever seen. Could be an interesting barometer of Koeman's approach compared to MP's - is he happy to concede possession a bit in return for an increase in creativity?

Agreed, my take on it as well.

Thought Simon Carter had a decent rep? But yeah, I found it a terrible read, s**t article, strange over the top approach, badly written.

I've done plenty of foreign pre-season trips with Saints and know loads who wanted to go this year, so I'm aware of the frustration, I agree, should have been sorted sooner, bit disappointing.

Reckon hardly ayone will go with it being such short notice, pity. Good little trip that'd be. Find it strange that the "big" fixture fell through and we couldn't source any sort of reasonable replacement. Playing Devil's Advocate, could it be that Koeman didn't want another fixture sandwiched in at that point? I'm probably giving the club too much credit there.

Pity about the big Euro away fixture falling through, but the rest of the pre-season schedule looks well set up.