beatlesaint

:lol: Of course for those that believe we were the 8th best side in the league last season congrats, fill ya boots

Yes cant say he doesn't deserve it, has improved a hell of a lot.

are they ? In an average season that number of points would have seen us 14/15/16th

We are, absolutely just average. We will have bad days like yesterday and we will have good days. We are average middle of the table Premier League. Nothing wrong with that, it beats battling relegation year after year BUT the club keep selling us this vision of pushing on and breaking regularly into Europe. It's not going to happen unless we buy one or two high quality established players to go along with a Hoedt, Lemina, Gabbiadini. Every successful team has to have a mix. We mix promising with average, we should mix promising with proven and established but we won't pay the transfer fees for that or the salaries. The club want to be self sustaining, again that's fine and when the balloon bursts the club will be one of the healthiest around financially. But please don't be surprised when VVD, Bertrand, Cedric and before them Mane, Wanyama, Lallana etc want to move on to being better than average and earning more money. We have been spoilt in recent seasons, we punched above our weight. I think finishing 7th/8th is beyond us currently.

in a nutshell

Absolutely this. We are just one, albeit very long, week away from pulling this off and standing firm. It would be a big kick in the nuts to concede now no matter what him and his agent do or say. One more week away from him either making some form of peace with the club and coming back into the fold or one week away from him cutting off his nose to spite his face whilst not playing and forking out weekly fines for not honouring or fulfilling his contract.

I keep reading about a static Austin. The manager and coaches must surely see, and if not do some bloody research, that Charlie's strengths are best served playing with two up front. Gabbiadini would take defenders with him as his movement and intelligence is excellent. That would free up Austin to be the poacher that is his strength. its not rocket science and there is nothing to lose by trying it and seeing what happens. We have two many "on their day" attacking players. Yeah on their day Tadic, Boufal and Redmond can be very good and are match winners BUT just one of them having their day is as rare as hens teeth and that's a huge part of our problem I think.

Absolute class to get between 2 & 3 million for him. Well done Les

I think you have answered your own question with your last paragraph to be honest.

Well he's been playing in a better league than VVD was when he joined us so that should be an advantage straight away

whats any of this got to do with VVD ?

He gave away two penalties for us at the start of last season. The tightening up of that rule really has done for Jose. That and knowing he hasn't got much pace anymore so he needs to keep attackers close.

always amuses me this "moving back to London" business. Its Southampton ffs not Newcastle. I know footballers aren't the sharpest but bloody hell even they can see it's not a long journey these days.

Its not just Southampton using them, Huddersfield have them for their match on TV now. Didn't Leicester start this clapper thing off a couple of years ago ?

thats a bit of a concern I would have thought.

Peach for both ?

To be fair his body language hasnt been great for about a year now. He had a good game last week, as has been mentioned he may not have been 100%

I don't think Redmond will get as many chances with MP as he got with Puel last season. That's two matches in a row he has disappointed after a decent start.

Doesnt he ever get tired of re-cycling the same old lines ? Absolute cock just like his bloody son.

Sky's attempts to big up this transfer window business at every turn gets on my tits. I'm sure Jim White thinks the window was only introduced for their benefit

Hang on, when you have finished assuming the moral high ground can you just bear in mind the following - HE HAS REFUSED TO PLAY FOR SOUTHAMPTON therefore supporters are perfectly within their rights to let the guy know how they feel. It would be a boo when he first touches the ball then that would be it, kind of a "we aren't happy with you treating our club like ****e but its time to move on"

His agent has played a blinder for him. Must be pretty thick if that's not dawning on him yet.

i got on at 6-1.......if he goes Ralph is getting a strongly worded letter

Isn't he just. The club historian called him Beckenbaueresque. That's way way OTT.

Even if he accepts it, and I don't think he will until 12.01am on 1 September there is no way he will feature until mid to late September by the time he's had a couple of behind closed doors games and more importantly he's got his head back to somewhere near Southampton.