KelvinsRightGlove

Can't see it happening, but would be pretty happy if Bony and Chicharito came in. Rickie who? Obviously, I'm only joking. I'm still gutted he's gone.

I wonder if it hurt Ashton when Cortese shoved his hand so far up him he could use him as a puppet? The whole, it would never have happened under Cortese (or at least alluding to it "under Cortese they had ambitions of finishing 4th" etc stuff is vomit inducing.

They are forever moaning. Didn't they try and take United to court because Fergie didn't want to sell them Heinze?

Hang on, Beattie's first cap was in 2003, he left in 2005. Surely he qualifies?

I think Bony is a good player, and was value for it, but at £12m he wasn't exactly cheap. Having not played over here, it was a risk, one that paid off of course. That's the trouble with transfers, it's always a gamble, some come off, some don't happens to all clubs. That said you have highlighted two very successful transfers for the same club, who actually have a decent hit rate.

No idea what you're going on about windows

Still left when the big offer came in though. He may have had some offers before, but I can't think of many. If someone is a success, it'll turn heads. Sadly, that's just how it goes. I'd rather get someone who comes in and does a good job, and attracts attention and possibly leaves, as opposed to some one that comes in, does an average job and stays for yonks being average because no one else wants them. Unless Saints (or any other team just below the established 'top 7' clubs) crack through to 'the next level', this is probably what will always happen. Sadly.

Poch wasn't exactly a household name super star over here until he got the job at Saints. Took how long for a 'bigger' club to come in for him here?

You know what this place would be like, WE SHOULD HAVE SIGNED HIM I'm not too fussed, as I said I saw him once and he had a good game and made a very good goal. My point was I just hope whoever is in charge of transfers looks at players over more than one game.

That's probably the same as any manager/player, isn't it? Shall we just sign rubbish, that way no one will ever want to sign anyone from us, and no one will ever leave!

There's a fair bit of hype around Clasie. Serious talk of him following van Gaal to united. Hard to judge on one game, the one time I saw him he had a good game, and played a blinding pass to set up RvP for a cracking goal. Let's hope if we were to sign him, the scouts will have watched more than one game.

Is there anything more predictable than Alpine making a total arse of himself? Settle down fella. Good luck Rickie, gutted to see you go. No departure has hurt like this in my time as a saint. Thanks for the memories big man, now, on to the next one.

There was meant to be a comma before your name. Apologies.

Alpines wet sister is sour mash.

Do you read anything non football related Monk lad?

Nope. If there are any discrepancies in a major news event that is being reported live, on the fly when no one really knows what exactly is happening. That is evidence it is a conspiracy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/8193383.stm Sometimes marquee signings turn out alright.

So, we're a laughing stock because we have a squad of players that top teams want? And a manager that was wanted by another team looking to crack CL football? Sure. Is this like the time we were a laughing stock for appointing Pochettino? How did that one pan out?

Oh, Cloud Nothings were bloody fantastic too. One of the best bands I've seen in quite some time.

I've seen Pet Shop Boys in the past, they are incredible live. Anyways, so Arctics last week. The weather, just about held, despite spanking it down all the night before and that morning. We did the British thing, dug out our wellies (that actually meant a trip down to Brantano for me) and stuck on our waterproofs. Royal Blood kicked off proceedings, and were bloody brilliant. I've banged on about them before, but seriously, go and see them. Miles Kane was up next, and was his usual fun self, I think, things start getting blurry around here. Tame Impala were really great. I think. I remember I really enjoyed them, and that I was annoyed that nobody else in the crowd seemed to be paying any attention. And the arctics, well....I remember them coming onstage, and that they played Do I Wanna Know, and Miles Kane came on for the en core (featuring a Last Shadow Puppets track). Other than that, a complete blank. Nice one Kelv, oh well. All in all a fun day out. Sunday was hard.

Good post, summed up my feelings in a very succinct way. Totally agree. It's just a feeling of 'if only'.

Thanks everyone. It's a nice change to not have post torn to shreds, people don't often agree with me. It's a shame this is what people do agree with me on. Don't be daft, I was simply agreeing with what was a fine post to start with. Yeah, fair point. I'm not even angry at people really. I don't now what more the board could have done about MP, I'm not convinced a great deal more could have been done. As I said, deep down as much as it hurts, I'm made up for Rickie. If I was him I'd be gone in a flash, of course you would. Lallana, Shaw yes it's disappointing. But I don't know what else could be done. It does just seem a problem with football.

Yup. Been chatting to SuperMikey & Pap on Twitter on similar lines. I'm usually a pretty positive guy when it comes to Saints, especially on here. I've often been called a Happy or a Clapper. But the uncertainty is what is really getting me at the moment. I just have no idea what is going on (that's not a call for the board to put out more statements). I cannot for the life of me remember a situation like this (yes, emotion may cloud my judgement on this one) after such a successful season. As others have said, I cannot think of any time where a club comes off the back of such a decent season, not in the financial mire and looks set to lose so many key personnel. I expected outs, but I never expected to lose MP, 3/4 possibly 5 first team players. In even my worst case scenario I never saw Rickie leaving. I don't begrudge him it at all, I really don't. In other circumstances I'd be absolutely made up for the bloke (deep down I am really, but it's just a bit raw at the moment). As I said, I'm not usually one for all the doomsday stuff, and yeah this isn't the end of the world and of course there will be a team next season, but I really have to say, recently I have been thinking the same thing as Monk. "What is the point?". Why bother trying to develop your own players, recruiting good managers, building a decent infrastructure, if the second you have any kind of 'success' (it's depressing enough that an 8th place finish is seen as a success) the heart is ripped out of the team. Is this the best we can ever hope for? I don't know, I'm probably just moaning, and venting a bit, and come August I probably will be back in the full swing of watching games and supporting the team. But, right now, my love for the game is being tested to a point it never has been previously. So yeah, what is the point?

Disagree on Moyes personally. I do think he is a very good manager, and will do a good job elsewhere. I just don't think he is the right manager for us. It would see a complete overhaul in style, and he isn't that great with youngsters. Barkley has come on a lot under Martinez. Rooney, well he was a bit of a special case at a time when the other striking options were Tomasz Radzinski. Coleman was signed as a 20/21 year old and loaned out (he's 25 now btw). Rodwell has hardly shown the potential he looked to have when he first came through. He isn't exactly in the Poch mould of being happy to chuck in the 18 year olds straight from the academy.