UpweySaint

This really. A bit naive to think but perhaps it could work in partnership with some of the smaller devon sides? We work with a group, the best of the bunch come to us, we send those that have not made it their way. Who knows we may have missed a real late bloomer or simply a few who may make it at a decent level but not quite in the premiership .... Echo the sentiments about the first team squad needing attention but, it's that word of the moment, 'holistic' approach to a club. Whether or not you trust our first team will be in good shape come the end of the window (I do, others don't, opinions ...) I see no reason we should not also be seeking to develop other areas of the club - especially considering it is our academy,and the respective satellites, that have produced some of the best players we have seen in saints shirts (and, arguably, one of the world's best!).

Can we not do both? Gnabry could arguably offer competition for JRod's place alongside the likes of McQueen. Plenty of game time to be had to both develop our own and play Gnabry.

Not sure that one needed a question mark

And this needed a new thread why ...?

Yawn. Bore off.

A broken clock is right twice a day ... keep predicting a meltdown. Sure you will be smug when it happens ... dullard.

This. If posters want a p*ssing contest then take it elsewhere.

To have a different opinion is clearly somehow absurd and a rewrite of history ...Okay then. Shaw was not perfect. He had a good season (fantastic when you consider his age) but he, like all players has room to grow as a player. No question he has all the makings of a top class full back. Targett looks to be a different player with different strengths and weaknesses. He has not made his breakthrough as early and may not reach the same heights as Shaw but, then again, he might even be better. I hope he sees plenty of game time this year and, when he does make mistakes, we back him.

John Terry is slow as you like but one of the best cbs in the division last season. Not saying Caulker is directly comparable but he is strong in the air, can play out from the back and, as others has said, is a decent age for a cb (ie plenty of time to develop but enough under his belt to be in a decent first team such as ours). I like the fact he is English, adds a set piece threat, is a good age and the prices being banded about seem v cheap for a player of his potential.

"never ever works" then giving two examples of it working seems a bit silly don't you think? You, or I, don't know what is going on behind the scenes but our club always has, and always will, give more opportunities to our academy graduates than other teams. I hope that does not mean we will over-promote but, by the same token, I am happy to take the odd chance. In fact I am rather glad we do it and think it is our best chance of ever being a successful club. Besides we have signed two decent players. It is reasonable to assume we have other targets in the pipeline. If Clyne leaves it is worth remembering there could be many factors ie. him, the new manager, emergence of academy product etc.

Okay pedantic ... but come now, surely you agree that watching your own teams games you can't get to is a large part of the draw of sky/bt sport packages? Respect the fact it is simple marketing - potential utd and liverpool 'fans' are a bigger audience but the way it is split is likely to marginalise fans of the clubs not seeing much screentime.

And they wonder why people watch things illegally ... why on earth would a saints, hull, palace etc fan stump up for sky sports when we are on twice as it stands?

I get where you are coming from. If we were going in with him as our main goal threat alarm bells would ring. I think he can get goals from the bench and could be a decent third choice striker. Somebody like Pelle at the better end of their career would hopefully provide us with the immediate goal threat while allowing Gallagher to develop and eventually take over the role himself.

I don't get the assumption that Gallagher is not good enough. Looked decent at the end of the season, another pre-season under his belt. If Koeman has faith in him as a first team option then I do too. Would still like one, or two, strikers and a wide option (Redmond is top of my own list!)

Chris Perry. Remember thinking christ he is old and a bit naff and on loan from Luton, glad it's only a short-term loan while we rebuild ... and then we signed him. Kinda summed it all up for me.

Genuinely chuckled at this. Nice one!

Its an opinion from a man who has not even trained under the new coaching team yet or seen the type of player we are bringing in. B**locks to no ambition. Maybe we aren't saying we can bankroll our way into the champions league any more but we have appointed a top manager, invested heavily in player development and may yet make some decent signings. We are showing ambition but to do things our way - ie not the Pompey, QPR, City, Chelsea way (which we simply cannot, and should not, do). If, by the start of the new season, no decent signings have been made and none of the academy lads are looking like they might come good I will apologise whole-heartedly but, until then, I think Dejan is being an absolute tw*t.

Thanks for the insights as usual Guan! As much as I understand the worries of our fans and am inclined to be a tad more pessimistic than Guan about the current state of our squad I do think patience may be required. Clearly the board thought the Tadic deal was as good as done so for Everton to swoop in is unfortunate! If we haven't made any decent signings by August I may be sitting uncomfortably mind you ... I do hope though that we compliment the signings with continuing to promote our academy players. It is a point of pride and a workable longterm strategy of success for the club.

Absolute f**cking disgrace! I hope we ship him out to anywhere but liverpool now. Wanting out if one thing but mouthing off like this is beyond disrespectful to the club who pays his sizeable wages, the fans who supported him last season and everyone associated with sfc. The one thing that keeps happening is Liverpool's failed bids keep landing in the press absurdly quickly "I found out about the bid from other people" and it was much the same with Lallana. Can't see the leaks coming from anywhere else but them. They have shown no class at all. Honestly hope they royally balls up next season and miss out on the europa league!

Thanks for the input. We had a feyenoord fan pop up recently too and you've both made a nice contribution. I think most of us would be delighted to see Tadic join us (sooner rather than later!) and hope we have enough to attract his kind of player. Anyway thank you again for sharing your insight, best of luck with the season and the finances (we've had our share of issues!)

I see both sides here. Football careers are short and if Dejan wants out, to some extent, it sucks but that is ok. But he has a contract with us (a well paid one!) and we brought him to the premiership and did wonders for his reputation so I think he owes us a little. I would like to see us play hardball ... £24mil to a premiership side or £20mil to a foreign side. We turn to Lovren and say this is our line, if anybody wants you enough that is a fair price ... if not don't worry son, have a blinding season and next year it will be barca, juventus, city calling not spurs and liverpool. Seems fair and relatively realistic right? (Ok a touch optimistic but it's how I see it)

Im glad we can all stay chirpy even after having players poached!

Thank you for the insight pal! Do you think Pelle is likely to bang the goals in over here? Apologies if it looks like we are disrespecting your league. Just look at the way the national team has played and you can see that the players must be up to standard! There has been a history of Dutch strikers being very hit and miss in the premier league mind and I would suggest that is where some of our doubts about imports from the Dutch league come from.

Accept your point but disagree. Though some of the comments, perhaps my own included, have been a tad harsh in the immediate aftermath I honestly believe this has been a d**k move by Adam. Putting aside all that wanting to leave despite all that had gone before; pledges, captaincy, support from the club etc. We proved with Shaw we would let players talk to other clubs IF our valuation was met. When we told Utd to match our valuation or sod off he didn't publicly grumble. Low and behold Utd realised if they wanted him they would have to come closer to our valuation ...they did, he left. No hard feelings. Liverpool were playing hard ball, can't blame them. Had AL had kept things quiet the board could have held out for a better fee, could have shook hands and Adam could have left us, despite a touch of bitterness about losing him, as a saints legend and wish our respect.

Anybody with a good eye for the academy lads and a bit of time want to make notes on who is in pre-season with the seniors? I know it is not entirely reflective as our squad will change in the coming weeks but will be nice to know who is around the first team.