UpweySaint

He may be a good signing and may well want out but i'm not optometristic of us going back in for Lens.

I know it is not quite equitable but Pellegrini has came out and said, with the signing of Cabellero, that City have "two number ones" and that both have a chance at forcing their way into his first eleven. I appreciate Cabellero in the cheap to City aged 32 with Hart to compete with is not an exact parallel of our situation but I see no reason why the arrival of Forster can't force Boruc to work even harder. Up to Roko to keep both happy I suppose but, anywhere else on the pitch, it would be bizarre to have guaranteed starters.

That is rather black and white. I think it often depends on the context - I don't know Viking personally so would not want to pass a judgement either way but saying it must be a racist statement because 'paki' is deemed to be one is a simplistic notion. Are we offended by the short-hand Brits? Or are Americans by Yanks? Often, no. It's about context and intent. If he uses the term Argie as shorthand for Argentine and then refers to Poch as a c**t, that's fine. If he says he is an Argie therefore he is a c**t, it's not .... Anyway like others still hoping Gaston comes good. Have always thought he would come good and has the ability but this season really is make or break for him in the English game.

He's not been 'picked on'. He has simply been told to fulfil a contract he signed. Jesus wept! Let's face it. We don't know what is going on. Saying KL wants to sell the club is pure speculation and in no way a fact-based judgement. You say precedent has been set but, with all the transfers that have gone previous, potential suitors have met our premium. No club has apparently done so for Morgan.

Add in - would Reina actually want to come to us? Moreover, petty as it sounds, I would rather us not hand Liverpool any monies after the classless way they signed up our mob!

Is a four year well paid contract not, you know, some sort of promise ...? Maybe we backtracked, maybe we didn't. Nobody actually knows. What we do know is the lad is contracted to us and is behaving unprofessionally.

Come off it that is a bit of a stretch. We are bedding in four new recruits, some have been here longer than others, and the fringe lads have been around the first team for a while and each other for many years. All is not perfect but we're not Blackpool ....

Not sure how people can judge the state of the team in such absolute terms without considering the academy graduates. Gallagher - thrown in perhaps a little suddenly last season but did not look overawed. showed promise and was one of those who undertook a pre-pre-season to step their game up. Reed - looked good last season when played, has rave reviews from our academy staff, apparently interesting the usual mob of 'bigger' sides already. JWP - showed flashes last season, may well be more suited to Koeman's team, scored a beckham-esque free kick for the u21s over the summer and has big fans at St Georges. Targett - impressed in pre-season, well hyped, never got the chances last term but will see more this time. Isgrove - looked class in pre-season with his direct running and effective crossing. Seems determined to take his chance this time around and offers us something many said we lacked - pace and genuine width in the final third. Rowe, Stephens, Sims, McQueen all on the fringes yet to come through (worth noting Rowe hit a hat trick in pre-season). I may be a tad of an optimist but, the past would indicate, some of these players will step up and bring plenty to our squad and, hopefully in some cases, our starting eleven. Let's not kid ourselves, most other teams in the league would kill to be producing the consistent quality that we are. Many were hesitant about us relying on the likes of Shaw, Chambers et al but look at them now! Huge fees and being talked about as the future of English football. (Feel free to correct my observations of players or call me a happy clapper, opinions on a forum ... whatever next!)

As we all expected .... "Southampton have sent England Under-19 centre-back Jordan Turnbull to Swindon on a season-long youth loan." Link https://twitter.com/Official_STFC/status/497683758062272512/photo/1 Good luck to the lad, seems highly thought of.

By applying rules without consistency ... Debrechen fined but not kicked out for a strikingly similar offence. That and common sense. The tie was not affected by the substitution. Legia were clearly not aware of the mistake and nobody from UEFA (or Celtic) noticed it before the game.

Some people are never happier than when they have something to complain about eh! We're doomed.... Or, more likely, we may have to increase our offer for our targets or look at alternatives we certainly have considered.

Seems like a v dodgy decision with little consistency ...

CSDAJFU?

http://cricfree.sx/live-football-streaming-free.php seems decent enough now but it links to celtic tv, commentators seems to think celtic are brilliant and should easily see of legia ... I would say legia look the better side! Forster not had too much to do but has done what he has had to do well enough.

Mine is now at 6.27.Will let you know what happens at the end of the countdown. If not I have found a passable link elsewhere but it has parts of the screen blocked off ... http://cricfree.sx/live-football-streaming-free.php

Not working for me, anybody else having better luck?

Full respect for quoting blackadder! That aside seems like a win-win deal

MLG is massively chipper come hell or high water but I rather agree with what he has said here and would like to point out that no players have gone to spurs. A manager, who's links to the ousted chairman are far from secret, was tetchy from the moment NC left and it is no surprise he jumped at the chance to go to a team at a level we simply are not (even if, had he been loyal, he may have found himself in-line for bigger and better things!)

Massive difference between not putting more in and actively seeking to take it out!

Crikey he looks good! Not sure the show pony needs to be drilled our necessarily, just needs maturity of decision making. That sort of player will lose the ball over elaborating now and then but will also have moments of inspiration! Sign him up

http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/1184-july-2014/11780-southampton-s-player-sales-vindicate-academy-trust Nothing ground breaking but a quick, interesting perspective.

If true it confirms a lot of our concerns about what has been going on at the club but I do not see a single source and, for a fact led piece, it comes across rather subjective.

Noubt wrong with people doubting his ability so long as it is not personal jibes. Kelvin has been a class act for us, remember seeing him on the pitch the league one promotion and you could tell how much it meant to him, cracking pro. Anyway ... somebody at the game fancy giving us some ratings? I know it is really subjective but nice to get a few perspectives personally I hope Isgrove looked good. Think he looked rather good v bournemouth and would love to see the lad finally make his breakthrough with us this season!

Does anybody happen to know if there be a steam available as was the case for the Bournemouth friendly? If so links would be kindly appreciated!

The artist formerly known as saints starting XI ... Or, not saints related but a classic that makes me chuckle, 'dontcallmeschurrle'