sydneysaint17

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/football-specials/jordy-clasie/club-after-summer-transfer-window

Clasie more likely to stay at Feyenoord or go to Lazio than us according to Unibet. SkyBet refused to give me odds on Clasie to Southampton. Lazio thing is vaguely interesting, but doubt it means a lot!

Given his current wages and ever-shrinking reputation we will struggle to get more than a loan deal for Gaston. I'd keep him with Saints if we get Europa league and use him as a rotation. Despite his critics, in his first full season in English football he got 5 goals in 26 appearances, looked good at times and also contributed a few assists. Oscar was signed for Chelsea that same summer for £7m more, and contributed 4 goals in 34 in much better team.

Clearly theyre different players and its not as though Oscar is now headed for a Balon D'or, but I think it shows what might have been if we'd persisted with Gaston and not written him off after one average season. Cliches aside he obviously has talent and just because he was frustrating to watch as a 21/22 year old with no preseason behind him playing in a new country, doesnt mean he will be now.

He hasnt set the world alight at either Saints or Hull, but he also hasn't been given an extended run in either side for a very long time. Obviously his previous inconsistency is likely to be a reason for that, but for me, he was never given a fair chance and when he has played he's made things happen.

Found this on the Red Bulls website

 

WERDER BREMEN, SOUTHAMPTON, VALENCIA AND BAYER LEVERKUSEN TO VISIT RED BULL ARENA

 

http://www.redbulls.com/en/fc-red-bull-salzburg/news/saison_2014_15/red-bull-salzburg-to-face-big-name-opponents-in-2015-16-pre-season.html

If Football Manager has any truth behind it, this will be part of the Mane deal.

Good point just look at the improvement of Swansea since Cork went there!

Before this round of fixtures, Jack Corks points tally for the season would see him in third (points acquired when he was in Saints and subsequently Swansea squad). Obviously doesnt mean a lot but £3m for such a solid squad player seems nothing - especially given the dramatic fall of Davis.

I'd go for; Davis, Clyne, Toby, Fonte, Bertrand, Wanyama, Reed, Djuricic, Mane, Long, Pelle.

Need our best available defence, and got a feeling Djuricic's moments of creativity could finally produce something today.

4/1 to still be at Saints after the summer... Could stick a hopeful tenner on that

Very much hope this is true. The KD instability cannot go on. (anyone notice his dives for those penalties? Have rarely seen slower/less agile.

Ball had hit the back of the net before he even dived...

Albert Rusnak...certainly seems as though were after a striker

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3067643/Southampton-rival-Manchester-City-signing-Groningen-forward-Albert-Rusnak.html

Adam Johnson returns to the squad - will be interesting to see what reception both sets of fans give him if he gets on...

Personally would love to see Pelle, Mane and Jay Rod as a front 3 with Mane/JayRod playing as inverted wingers (if that's the correct term?). Would allow them to make runs off Pelle and still allow us to play with width when necessary as the full backs push forward. Thats my plan for football manager anyway..

Murphy V Pearson was just painful, hopefully the fight tomorrow night wont be quite such a mismatch. Articulate and logical V aggressive and misguided.

Assuming Morgan doesn't leave the PL for someone like PSG/Monaco/Dortmund etc. there are very few clubs that he would consider/would consider him;

Man United - linked heavily with Gundogan and already have Blind, Herrara, and Carrick for another 12 months.

Chelsea - Khedira on a free would be the most obvious choice for them given his relationship with Mourinho

Arsenal - Have always been interested but also seem keen on Gundogan and a whole host of other DM's. Would they pay £25m+?

Liverpool - No champions league football. They will probably look to replace Gerrard but would they spend £25m+ given how last summer went and seeing as they already have Henderson, Allen and Lucas.

Tottenham - Surely a sideways step for Morgan, especially if we get Europe. He loves Poch, but seems as though he enjoys playing under Ronald as well, so doubt this would be a massive factor anymore. No guarantee of CL football anytime soon, very hard to see what a move to Spurs would achieve.

That leaves the only club that haven't actually been linked with him;

Man City - Yaya going and the fact that I believe Morgan counts as a homegrown player would be potential reasons for him to go there. Yaya is obviously far more attacking minded than Morgan, but if he was deployed in a similar role he would certainly offer them the defensive workrate that Yaya hasnt provided. City could obviously afford him, CL is always guaranteed and would give him opportunities to win big trophies.

There's been a remarkable amount of previously closeted diehard Cherries fans popping up on my Facebook newsfeed in the last 24 hours...

All round terrible idea. Best way to wind up Bournemouth fans would be surely be to sing along with them when theyre at St Marys - would make their idea of a "rivalry" look rather cute.

Although it's tempting for Koeman to look at the eredivisie/Dutch players, I don't believe he would go for 6 Dutch players in his team. Although Vilhenna, Clasie and Krul are very possible. I think Elia may leave.

Been linked with Janmaat who is versatile, has prem experience and wouldnt cost the earth. Same story with Vlaar, ticks a lot of boxes although I can see us going after a more long term replacement if the money is there.

No idea if this is the right thread, but my predictions for the summer would be;

OUT;

Clyne - £20m

Toby - £1m fee from Athletico

Morgan - £30m

Jay Rod - £14m

£55m

IN;

Janmaat - £10m?

Vilhenna £3m

Clasie £12m

Krul - £5m

Ings or Hernandez - Free (with compensation) or £10m

Vlaar - Free

Elia - £3m

£43m (max)

Not incredibly unrealistic in terms of fee's received or calibre of players targeted. That summer (with preferential signings) would see us line up as follows on the first day of next season

----------------------Krul----------------------

Janmaat-------Fonte--------Vlaar-------Bertrand

----------------Clasie---------Wanyama-----------

------------------------Davis---------------------------

Mane------------------------------------Tadic/Long-----

----------------------Hernandez------------------

SUBS; Gazza, Targett, Yoshi, Vilhenna, JWP, Pelle, Elia, Tadic/Long

Thoughts?

Bialkowski (not sure if thats spelled right) forgetting that goalies could use their hands was pretty amusing.

Best manager - Koeman

Keeper - Niemi

Foreigner - Pahars

Atmosphere - Coventry

Best game - MK Dons. 3-2 and Johnno Quick showed his class

goal scored by a Saints player - Pelle V QPR

Most memorial match - Coventry promotion

funniest moment - Either Barrys slotted finish to the bottom corner or Verginis volley. Puncheon pooing must be up there as well.

I dont think Saints would consider selling him for anything under £20m and despite his obvious potential, he certainly hasn't done enough yet to warrant a fee near that yet. Very excited to see how he progresses next season following a full pre-season/years experience in the PL.

There's that striker at Inter whose meant to be pretty good, apparently got a temper on him though

Mrs Browns Boys is possibly the least funny programme I've ever seen.

Some moaned about his form.

 

Many showed their ignorance and wrote him off, questioning fee (you) etc.

How have you had time to do that...

Not sure if its been mentioned before but funny how media/journos are all rating Ward Prowse today and he hasn't got a single vote on the poll from us lot! Saw he was Motm for a couple of websites/papers and in Garth Crooks team of the week. Whose wrong?!

Did well but his physical restraints (speed/agility) meant that there were times when he really struggled - don't think Clyne would have let Hazard cut in quite that easily for the goal. Dont think he could have done much more - as people have said Koeman clearly wanted Toby V Costa.