Daft Kerplunk

Jackson's Farm is to potential finance what Matty Holland is to potential transfer targets

I expect Reed and JWP will feature more this season, surely that's part of the plan?

Pretty sure there are more English players in that eleven than Dutch

Well when was the last time you went to any of these places? I've been to Liverpool recently and it is a lot more vibrant than Southampton, feels much wealthier and has plenty to do. The point I am trying to make is that of Southampton were a more attractive city then that element would never be a barrier. Accepting that it needs improving is the first part of moving forward

Well, I'd say that number has declined in recent times since Kevin Keegan...and because they can keep houses because they have lots of money and like Keggy, Ball and the like those you refer to are probably English (and not necessarily interested in cultural activity beyond the golf course) and also it's a good place for older people because of a slower pace. Not really fitting for the new young and wealthier profile. I'm not off in my thinking, it's a strategic concern for the whole city and better not to be in denial and try to make it better so we can keep players here because of a good lifestyle as well as team. Yep, probably but where should I go that matches the criteria of a wealthy, culturally interested, globally experienced, expensive clothes shopping, non-chain restaurant, non-chain bar, exclusive club, michelin-starred eating person? Oh and I need a few options of each to keep me excited... It's a big city, with a lot going on for wealthy footballers. Why is it barmy? Strong word with no reasoning attached. Don't get me wrong, I think Southampton has a large amount of potential, but it has a lot of catching up to do if it is to genuinely compete at the top level as a city with a varied and vibrant culture, and like it or not, top footballers are going to want a cool place to live in as well as a healthy pay packet unless they are motivated by a quiet lifestyle.

But the lifestyle for someone wealthy is. That's the point.

Would be a good signal if we can get Toby to sign for us, if it is a straight choice for him between Spurs and us as on the pitch they are the team we can overtake. I think the next 5 will be difficult without a cash investment, bigger stadium to make more revenue etc. The appeal of being in London to the more rounded interested in culture international players cannot be understated either. If you've got money you want nice places to go and despite all the ridiculous 20 years out of date things said about Liverpool, that's a place that is richer than we are in terms of quality places to go, shop, hang-out, so Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, Man Utd and City, Liverpool, Villa, Everton, Newcastle and even Bournemouth are ahead. Any investors out there want to make Southampton better by investing in some nice (non-chain) restaurants, bars, cafes etc. to make the city more attractive?

We need to sign Alderweireld. Then perhaps an attacking midfielder but priority had to be signing Toby. I think some of the academy lads will step up to fill the gaps.

Good luck to Clyne, wish no anger towards him, he's doing what he thinks is right and if that's for money then so be it. He's been an important part of our rise, now it is time for us to march on with our new right back Soares. The money from him will probably not be that much but goes towards Soares and Juanmi. Potentially good business if these both work out well.

One key thing for the Toby deal is surely going to include where else we need to spend the money. Once Clyne and schneiderlin have gone then a part of that will be available but probably not all, and where the club feel we need to strengthen as a priority may not include spending a wedge on Toby. I hope that isn't the case but who knows who will come in to replace Morgan and if there is another position the club feel we need more strength that could use the cash from those transactions.

Out of town stadiums should now clearly be seen as a dead concept. They 100% suck sewage

At the time they showed we were a club with ambition but both reek of being purchased outside the black box method, which appears to be a little less maverick in its player choices

With Clyne and any player, we as fans just have to respect their wishes when they want to leave. There are all sorts of reasons they may want to and as far as I'm concerned as long as one of our best/better players doesn't leave to join Pompey or Spurs (unless they are fans) then they go with a thanks for being part of the journey. As a club whose fans are good spirited when players leave we'd be much cooler for players who in turn would like us more. Seems a total nonsense to really hate players who decide to leave. It's a shame that players want to go when they are ones we like but I'm pretty sure if Clyne goes the set-up as it stands now behind the scenes is better placed to deal with it than ever before.

Now I think the opposite may be true, although not that players from other countries dream of playing for clubs like saints. I think as time goes on, or even now, players from other countries are less impacted by our unimaginitive press who only focus on certain clubs and that English/British and Irish players still are. Meaning that our profile abroad right now is pretty high and growing so young foreign players view us as a good bet whereas young English players only hear that the usual suspects are the clubs to play for to improve and also do something with. Some foreign players may actually be better advised and know we are a good bet. Johnny Foreigner is not necessarily as likely to want to bugger off and our English players like Lallana and Shaw who came through our system should in theory have wanted to stay longer, or see out their careers with us but left when they actually would have been better advised to stay. Whilst the **** media here still might not get it, the more enlightened and less history bound folks abroad know we are a good team. That will mean players do as well.

English players wanting to leave to join other clubs is a big factor. Lallana and shaw didn't need to leave, Clyne doesn't really either. Not that I begrudge them their moves but I doubt the club really wants to lose these players but replacing is hard with youth players and cheaper with foreign talent. Until we are consistently in the challenging for Europe places and able to offer comparable wages we will find it hard to keep the best English players we have

The lack of height is why I'd suggest we should never sign Messi...too much of a risk with him being so small

If weather was an argument for players choosing somewhere to play in England, Man Utd and Man City would be non-league

I get the feeling Micah Richards could become the new Matt Holland

I don't think this really matters that much as he says it is up to us is he leaves. It's not the best but let's not get our knickers in a twist. It only fuels the media feeding on our worry

100% do not want him to go, definitely our best player but the 6-1 defeat of Villa without him gives me hope that we could be okay without, as long as the money is spent where it needs to be spent on reinforcements

Moving up the league and continuing to play European football is key. Cups require luck as much as anything else. They are by no means a realistic target whereas league position is as you can have bad days wiped out by good days. Sounds obvious but there appears a sentiment that you can target a cup win and then just make it happen when that's the plan of a lot of other teams as well.

We can but hope

Apart from keeping all these players, I think we could do with a player who has won a title in a decent league and offers a presence to drive the players on, just the same as we used to do with Lawrie Mac and then with players like Kevin Richardson. Someone who knows about playing to the end of the season and putting it in. I know Toby did it with Atletico Madrid and Ronald knows all about winning titles but a player on the pitch with a big presence and geeing players up could be really useful. For what's it's worth, a striker and quick creative midfielder would be good additions

the old school Adidas tracksuit top is a classic not bog-standard!

If schneiderlin goes to Spurs then it would be disappointing as they are the direct rival to our ambitions more than anything else. They do have a richer history than us and clearly have more fans generating greater income but they are clearly the team most there for the taking by us before they expand their stadium and leave us behind more in terms of income and player appeal. The rest above are a great deal harder to keep up with. Anyway, if MS genuinely wants Champions League football, he won't go there. And we will replace with someone just as Clasie.