Wes Tender

Liverpool only have 11 players, the same as we do. They are a bigger club of course and capable of wasting large sums of money on buying players, many of them ours. Much of the concerns that we might have about new players gelling, is applicable to them too. I know that the pat response to that is that they could still field pretty well all of the players they had at the end of the season, but that doesn't include Suarez. Much of their success last season was down to him and I suspect that he will be as big a miss for them as Bale was to Spurs. Our main strength is that we are an unknown quantity. Several of our players have not played in the PL before and neither has our manager. We could spring a big surprise on them. We know how they like to play, but they know little about us. Our weakness is likely to be our defence, but we are still very strong in midfield and potentially stronger up front than we were last season when we played them. If we pack the midfield to stop their possession, close down their players quickly, hit them fast up the wings and play Long high up the pitch to catch them on the break, we could get something from this match. We undoubtedly will respect them, but provided that we don't fear playing them at Anfield, then we should be OK.

Pochettino's high pressing style was effective early on in his reign, because it caught many managers out. But when they got to realise that it was pretty well our only tactic, that we could hardly adopt any other style to take account of circumstances, the tide began to turn. Many of the top teams were arrogant enough to continue playing their own style, refusing to adapt their game because of little old Southampton and sometimes they paid the price for it. They relied on their expensive quality players to make the breakthrough against us. However, some clever experienced managers of less illustrious teams, who were prepared to be more pragmatic, countered our style tactically and took points of us. For all the attractions of Pochettino's game, there were shortcomings that he didn't address with his transfers. When Rodriguez was injured, there wasn't anybody else up front with the necessary speed to replace him. If a team parked the bus in front of their goal, we didn't have the guile to break them down and get behind their defence. Sometimes playing a high line meant that a ball over the midfield to a striker upfield had us in deep trouble. It was often the case that although very fit, the energy required to play that style meant that we were tired in the last 15 minutes. We didn't seem to be capable of closing a game out to protect a lead. It is yet to be proven, but I suspect that Koeman is much more tactically aware than Pochettino was and will plan his tactics in a game to exploit the other teams weaknesses and play to our strengths. If it requires us to park the bus, or to hit the ball over the top, or to keep possession, or to move the ball quickly with one touch football, who cares as long it is the right tactics against that opposition. By reputation, Koeman's teams are attacking teams and attack is the best form of defence, but as a defender legend in World football, I expect him to organise our defence to be hard to penetrate too. No doubt, it's going to be a fascinating and exciting season watching it all unfold and seeing how the new players adapt not only to the English game, but also to Koeman's style of play.

Ronnie Eklund Andreas Jacobsson Stig Johansen Peter Madsen Mikael Nilsson Antti Niemi Alexander Ostlund Egil Ostenstad Michael Stensgaard Anders Svensson A pretty mixed bag, the Scandinavians

I'm delighted that it appears that he will stay, because if he gets his head down and has something to prove to Didier Deschamps, then we as a team will be much stronger for his contribution. I'm amused that there are some who will be supporting the players selectively. They're going to cheer their heads of when any of our players get the ball except for Morgan. That's a bit churlish. I suspect that as fickle as football fans are, some man of the match performances, which he is perfectly capable of giving, will soon have people forgetting his histrionics. Although I'm not raising my hopes, it is possible that he makes good friendships amongst the new players, Pochettino is sacked by Spurs by the time the January window arrives and he decides that he quite likes playing for Koeman, and Saints once more.

Players like Jo Tessem, you mean?

It's us against the world, backs against the wall, all for one and one for all. Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning. We shall go on to the end of the season, we shall fight in the Premier League we shall fight in the League matches and in the Cup we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air and on the deck, we shall defend our goal, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight at Anfield we shall fight at Old Trafford we shall fight at the Emirates we shall fight at Stamford Bridge we shall never surrender I see you stand like greyhounds in the stands, Straining upon the start. The game's afoot on Sunday: Follow your spirit, and upon this charge Cry 'Koeman for Southampton, the Saints, and Saint Mary's!'

BBC says that Koeman states that Schneiderlin is ready to play if selected. I would love to see him get a run out.

If it's just your opinion, then fine by me. It's just that you said it with such certainty, that I assumed you knew something that made it unlikely. As I said, it depends both on his mental state and his fitness.

Why is there no chance at all of him playing? Do you know something that confirms that opinion, or are you just one of these posters who states categorically that Schneiderlin has already played his last game for Saints? If he now accepts that the club will not relent on their stance that he is not for sale and that it is pointless sulking, then he might as well take the view that he should play as well as possible and make a good case for him being both worth more and having more suitors chasing him in the January window or at the end of the season. Provided that he can pursuade Koeman that he accepts that he is not going just yet, I don't see why we wouldn't select him to play, if he is fit enough. If his head is right, then playing is the best medicine for him to integrate himself back into the team and hopefully forge a good working bond with his new team mates. He is still our strongest midfield player, so why wouldn't we play him if available?

Some of these team selections look exciting on paper and the number of different combination variations is indicative of the fact that we are pretty much there with a complete squad with alternative options in most positions. A bit of extra cover at CB and then it depends on whether Schneiderlin stays and buckles down or not on whether he needs to be replaced. But arguably there is already plenty of choice even if he does go. Cork is another doubt, but would certainly be useful if he stays too.

Was that when he was on the sauce, or was it during a sober moment?

He's not sure that we've got 11 players to put out? I'm not sure that his IQ would beat 11 either.

Welcome Florin We're getting there...

Ah, so it was my opinion on Wellbeck's ability or lack of it that rankles most. Tell me, did you form your own opinion on Wellbeck, or was it formed for you because he must be good, as Hodgson, Moyes and SAF rate him? But this doesn't seem to work the other way around, does it? If Koeman or Reed rate players enough to consider buying them, it is fair game for some mighty windbags on Saintsweb to claim that they are rubbish signings. Hodgson's managerial credentials are inviolate are they, despite England coming bottom of our group and failing to get into the second phase of matches? Moyes' opinions are never infallible, despite signing Fellaini for United? SAF is pretty untouchable generally, but then he didn't play Welbeck that often. So you don't think that Long's wages will be substantially different to Welbeck's even given the level of clubs that they play for? OK.

Which bits are incorrect? Hypo's propensity to make baseless snap judgements? The assumed prices of each player? Assumptions of what each might earn? Whether we have made discrete enquiries about Wellbeck? My opinion on Wellbeck's ability or lack of it? And as these are opinions we are discussing, it is a bit arrogant to take the position that yours is right and mine is wrong, isn't it?

Your comments regarding Bertrand establish you as being somebody capable of opening your mouth before engaging your brain, so as you have previous, who is to know whether your comments on Long are your knee-jerk thoughts on him, or your carefully considered opinion? It really isn't for you to say whether any crass remarks you made are irrelevant in hindsight, as they are evidence of your scatter-gun opinions on players who have not yet kicked a ball for us. Suggesting that Welbeck would be a better signing than Long is all very well, but as Long is already overpriced apparently, Wellbeck is fine for a couple of million more, regardless of you not having the faintest idea of what his wage demands might be. Neither do you know whether he would be prepared to come here, any more than you know whether he would go to Hull. You don't even know whether we might not have made discrete enquiries over his availability and willingness to sign for us, so making comparisons between the two of them is the bilge unless Hull sign him for a comparable fee to Long's. Following on logically from that, any opinions about the mental state of the Club's management is churlish to say the least. No doubt you think that you could do a better job of it. Wellbeck, one of the most over-rated strikers to have played for England these past several years, the modern day equivalent of Heskey.

Or could it be that you have gone mad? And had we signed Welbeck, we probably would have had you posting "rubbish signing", just as you did when we signed Bertrand on loan.

And this vehicle has met with almost universal derision from not only the Saints fans, but football fans from all over the place, even Spurs. Most find it hard to accept that overpaid prima-donna footballers might have been hard done by because they claim that there was a "gentleman's agreement" promising them that they could leave a few months after signing a lengthy contract. The one who allegedly gave the promise has subsequently left, so why should the club honour a verbal contract anyway? It is the player who should have the common decency to honour his written contract. In any event, it is extremely naive for the player to think that this so called verbal promise should be honoured at a price way below his market value. The time has now come for the club to insist that he will be fined if he doesn't train and fined if any more articles appear in the gutter press or the social media about how unhappy he is. It is either him or his agent doing this sh*t-stirring and it needs to stop right now. He needs to be told categorically by the club that if he thinks that he can force through a move because of his appalling behaviour, then he or his agent have made a bad error of judgement. He should also be reminded that we do not have to sell him for a fee acceptable to him, or indeed that we have to sell him to a club of his chosing. The club should issue a statement similar to that issued by Lambert at Villa regarding Vlaar and tell Pochettino that they deplore the tactics that Spurs are using to destabilise our player.

But we've got two very respectable wing backs in Bertrand and Clyne and some decent pace up front from Long and Rodriguez when he comes back with his speed hopefully not compromised by his injury.

I agree. A lot depends on how Rodriguez is on his return and whether we keep Schneiderlin for a bit longer. With both of them and some further strengthening of the defence, a decent argument can be made that we do start the season stronger.

Valid, maybe, but delivered in the child throwing their toys out of their pram mode. When one reads such an over the top rant about a player who hasn't even played for us yet, then it shouldn't come as any surprise to the poster that it receives some derision in return. I'm all for sensible debate on anything regarding the club, the owner, board, manager and players, but rather than sensible debate there is a lot of hysterical claptrap being spouted by some posters based on nothing more than rumours, innuendo, knee-jerk reactions and private agendas. There are a couple of posters who reacted hastily over this news regarding Long, who with the benefit of being able to sleep on it, took a more circumspect view of their initial opinion and accepted that he might have been signed for strategic reasons best known to Les Reed and the manager. When the likes of Sidney Fudpucker and Captainchris calm down and start to accept that there may be some good reasons for the decision and that some element of benefit of the doubt should exist, then their opinions will gain more respect.

When are you going to start?

I have to agree, Osvaldo is much the greater pr*ck

How did we manage to screw Liverpool for £25 million for Lallana and £20 million for Lovren. We had their pants down too.

A really sensible and well reasoned response to all those usual suspects who make knee-jerk decisions the instant the news is announced, when really they would do better to quietly contemplate the implications before posting. What is interesting for the sake of balance, is to look at what the fans of the selling club think about the possibility of their player leaving. No better source for that then their local rag. What I read, is quite a few disgruntled fans saying that he will be a loss for them and hard to replace because he was a player that created problems for defenders. Heck, he made problems for our defence with his pace and ability to run into the box with the ball at his feet. He was a decent foil to Pochettino's high-pressing game when he stationed himself on the shoulder of our last defender and you knew that if he had the ball struck into the space behind him, he would have seen off our defence for pace. And as others have mentioned, he is that sort of niggly player that rival fans love to hate, because secretly they wouldn't mind having him in their team. And in their local rag, who is the player they would like to see replace him? Well, some idiots are suggesting Hernandez! We really do have to trust our management on this if it goes through. Koeman might consider him to be the perfect foil for Pelle. He doesn't seem too different to me to what Rodriguez brought to our team, as a fast attacking forward prepared to run onto a ball played high upfield past the midfield. What really takes the biscuit is the opinion that he is a player who because of his age won't increase in value. What exactly is the relevance of that? In any event, despite his age, he will have doubled his value in the course of a year. Because we have sold a couple of players from midfield/striker, it seems sensible to sign a player who is comfortable in the PL, especially as the replacements in midfield are a couple of players with no experience in the PL. How it pans out will also be dependent on a couple of other players who are key to our team. We really need to keep Schneiderlin and when Rodriguez returns he will like a new signing and then he and Long can be cover for each other. I take on board the opinions of some that he at first sight might be an underwhelming signing, but when alternatives are suggested like Ings, then one wonders what exactly he has proven to make him a better option. As for players like Hernandez, yes, that would be nice, but players who have played for the glory clubs have too high an opinion of where they ought to move to when they become surplus to requirements at those clubs. Surplus players at the glory clubs like Man City are an option, but when their clubs offer them for sale, one wonders why they themselves didn't press for a transfer when they weren't being played. Probably because they were happy to play in their reserves for more money than they would get playing regularly for most other PL clubs. Would we want players with that attitude anyway? I'm happy to wait and see what he brings to us before making any judgements on him based on what he brought to others.