Lallana's Left Peg

If we hadn't spent much in the summer and declared we were giving the youngsters who have gone on loan a chance people would have had a meltdown. The issue people have is that we are spending too much money on players that are not working out which then creates the problem because we compare them to the kids and think they could contribute (which is a fair thing to do). Had we signed players who turned out to be very good no-one would care about the kids going on loan because we'd be saying we're at a level too good for them now. But you don't know when you sign a player whether or not he is going to work out and you aren't going to sign a player for £15m and then sit him on the bench while you give the kids a go. Gallagher and Targett look like they could contribute this season and they are still at the club. We know McQueen could contribute but he's third in line so a loan move makes sense. Reed is interesting - I think he'd do well in a team that is doing very well but he plays in such an important position I don't think he should start for us right now at all. Sims is the only one I'm iffy on - but he's only away until January.

The fact we have been able to do this while the club strictly operates on an 'invest what we earn' policy shows how successful we've been for nearly 10 years. The big weakness in the model - and any other - is that the moment you start buying players that turn into duds it all comes tumbling down very quickly. We've spent too much money on players who are simply not good enough.

Well he may have a better idea after two games than he does after one - which would be better than still not knowing.

Jermaine Wright got a load of grief too.

Both those would make him a better defender by default, but it wouldn't eliminate the mistakes or silly fouls. I think he loses his head too much and it affects his decision making and concentration, which are both fundamental pieces to defending these days, even moreso in a struggling team. If he could strip the emotion from his game then he may be better, but right now he costs us too often.

Vestergaard Yoshida Stephens Hoedt Bednarek Hoedt may be our best defender on the ball but his mistakes undermine that part of his game. He appears to lose focus and concentration which is criminal in the modern game.

Was training with the first team today, whereas Sims wasn't. Not that it doesn't mean he won't leave of course.

Don't really like the uncertainty around our best team or formation. Kind of leads me to think the Manager isn't sure either, which is an awful situation to be in.

Not that I disagree with the point you're making, but you did ask for it - Charlie Austin.

Thought it was quite good, some questions that fans wanted to ask had been asked and you were never going to get the sort of answers you wanted. Thought Blackmore gave Reed a great chance to defend himself at times and Reed didn't really take advantage of it enough. I often change my mind of whether or not Reed is doing a good job, but I suspect the last year was a wake up call for him. His answer as to why we'll never have a 100k a week player is concerning when the likes of Crystal Palace and others around us surely now have. While its understandable for the club to believe in what they are doing because it worked in the past, the standard of our competition is getting better and they are moving the benchmark of what good players cost and get paid. If Saints do not, we will not be successful.

I think we have a huge wage bill when you look at the size of the squad and fact players like Stephens and Targett on on 40-50k a week. I think we sink revenue from transfer fees into the wage bill as well as transfer fees for incoming players.

Alot more attacking intent, but sadly a distinct lack of quality and cohesion. Gabbi making loads of runs that players do not have the vision to pick out and its doing my head in. Undone by quality in the final third that we don't have, other than that we're doing ok. The more things change the more they stay the same.

Loathe to move on one of our own and he has a sweet left foot but he's always been done by pace and the Prem gets faster each year. Assuming Bertrand stays, McQueen is a capable backup (even if not as good as Targett) and the £15m goes towards strengthening other areas then its a good 'opportunity' sale.

Talks very well, sounds like potential captain material. Hopefully he's not rubbish.

I think some familiar issues will continue to haunt us but we've made steps to address others and it feels more positive. It won't be an exciting season, but it'll be one in which we'll have plenty of new players to watch and one where I don't think we'll be looking over our shoulders.

This is quite a prestigious tournament - great going from the team.

You probably could. But could you identify ones that are available, that are within budget, that fit the recruitment profile, and that we have the right relationships with their agents and club to get a deal done whilst also facing competition for the player and having to manage timescales and the dependencies the deal hinges on?

England did very well this tournament but our ability in possession is massively lacking and it ultimately cost us. We progressed through great organisation and belief, but the quality has not been there. There are loads of things to be pleased with, but equally still lots to improve on too. To say we were unlucky is wrong - we got what we deserved last night.

If we persist with the narrow two behind the striker and the width coming from the wing-backs then we may not. In that formation, Armstrong would be considered one of the two to play behind the striker and wingers are not required.

The point is valid - we absolutely need several departures to have a manageable squad not only financially, but also to be able to actually register them. And that's even before any more signings.

I haven't seen much of Gunn but there is a lot of hype around him. If the fee really is only £10m, and he is willing to leave Man City for us to compete for the #1 spot and we can also shift Forster for the same amount to Chelsea and (I presume) Gunn will be on smaller wages for now then this is a really good move by the club. Given McCarthy has signed a new deal, then we're probably going from a tandem of McCarthy and Forster to McCarthy and Gunn and it hasn't cost us anything. McCarthy does need viable competition, and Gunn seems like a great player to provide it to him.

It's encouraging. I think the club have tried to be too clever in the recent past and now other clubs are after the same sort of players it just comes down to money and the promise that when a bigger club comes in we'll let them leave.

This is a bit different: Clearly benefits from being bigger and stronger than others his age in these clips but not often we get kids from Academies like Real Madrid on trial with us.

So the financials likely aren't as simple as this but at a high level you could suggest Vestergaard is costing us £5.5m and Boufal. Considering the later has no future at the club, that doesn't seem too bad.

That is absolutely awful from Forster - straight down his throat he jumps up like that giving him no chance to save it. He's completely done.