Toon Saint

I've got quite used to David Salas translating now. So much so that I just think that his voice is Poch's voice, in some sort of strange disembodied way.

He seems like quite a cosmopolitan chap so London would be appealing for a number of reasons - culture, music, history, shopping, restaurants, urban living in general... Bearing in mind he has spent the last 4-5 years living in Barcelona and Rome, living in or around Southampton would probably feel a bit of a come-down for him.

If we have offered him a reported €3 million salary a year, will that still be enough to tempt him? The link below suggests he is on a fair bit more than this at Roma anyway, starting at €3.6m and rising to €4.47m by 2015-2016 season. Would love it if he comes, but its not exactly the same position as Ramirez or Wanyama where we are offering the player a significant hike in wages. If based on current press reports - which could be wide of the mark - it would seem that Osvaldo would have to take a wage cut to come here. http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2011/08/25/2636032/roma-sign-striker-pablo-osvaldo-from-espanyol-for-15-million

Didn't Forren himself say that he hadn't spoken to Adkins but Poch and Cortese before he signed? I thought it was referred to as a 'Southampton' signing. Even if it was an Adkins transfer, surely Poch wouldn't be so petty as to marginalize a player just because he was signed by the former man in charge? Would that then also apply to Clyne, Ramirez, Maya, Mayuka, Cork, etc? Interesting insight on the money we lost though. Pretty poor business, indeed.

This chap has posted the following 'blog' on twitter without realising that anyone can edit his post. Mark Reeves‏@MarkReeves9991h Why I think #SaintsFC should be looking towards top 6... http://shrib.com/Saintsfc . Plz RT http://shrib.com/Saintsfc Enjoy boys... Also enjoy editing.

Some papal just can't let a joke lie.

A* punning

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/aug/13/premier-league-preview-southampton Guardian previewing our 2013/2014 season and predicting a 14th place finish. Some fair comment in there, especially about breaking down poorer and more defensive teams at home, but I think their prediction is pretty harsh esp. the comments on Wanyama transfer. Worth noting that they predicted us to finish rock-bottom last time out and QPR to finish mid-table. Think a lot of us would be disappointed with 14th, so hoping we prove them wrong again.

Double post fun

Sounds like promising developments, though t'would be nice if Pablo came of his own accord. The Fulham link is a complete non-starter - well, Simon Peach said as much. They aren't willing to go anywhere near the price so have no clue why the Express keep making that link.

Not sure if posted before and sorry to honest Saints player subscribers but highlights from yesterday... http://youtu.be/_rTqKokbkuI Posting this from mobile so hope link works.

Adam Blackmore ‏@bigadamsport 51s I'm told Luke Shaw will have a scan tomorrow on his injured knee - the feeling is that it's ligament damage but not bad #saintsfc

Just listening to talksport now, there is an interesting chat with Michael Calvin, Independent on Sunday writer, on scouting. Calvin described James Ward-Prowse as the best young footballer he has ever watched/scouted. Described him as v. similar in ability terms to Frank Lampard, talked about his maturity and vision, and that he expects a big season from his next year. Must say I'm a big fan of JWP from the few games I saw him play last season, so hoping he gets the game time and continues to progress. Our midfield is shaping up to be scarily good.

Just noticed in the video that Danny Fox appears to say to Lallana, while he is getting his photo taken, 'This is for the Jewish Times'. Rest was too scouse to decode. Casual bit of anti-semitic 'banter'?

So only the number 1 goalie is allowed to train? We caught a tiny snapshot of training, no evidence that he's dropped down the pecking order or that he is not being involved. He's proven in all the friendly games that he is most definitely our best keeper, would be very surprised if he didn't start vs. West Brom.

Great news and thoroughly deserved, couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Made up for him. Only sour note is the faint praise emanating from Hodgson and others in the media. Listened to Adrian Durham interview with Sir Trev Brooking earlier, and he asked whether Lambert's call up reflected a dearth of talent among England forwards. The guy usually spews utter tripe anyway, but you do wonder whether the wild misconception of Lambert as Grant Holt mark-II has stuck. Saw a couple of stats earlier that showed that Lambert had created more chances (80) last season than Mandzukic, Cavani, and Higuain combined (71). He also made more key passes (75) than Xavi and Messi combined (68 ). Stick that up your pipe and smoke it Adrian.

6-3 vs. Man Utd. This is sort of preserved as I can spot myself, aged 10, in the slowed-down replays of Le Tiss's chip over Schmeichel. #sexyhair

Un-be-lievable tekkers. On a side note, liking the look of this Finnbogason. I'm a fan of anyone who can perfect the 'dinked' finish and he has a really good goals-to-game ratio for his age. Being Icelandic he'd speak perfect English, so sure he'd settle in well. As said above, would be a decent investment around the £5million mark and a lot less risk than someone like Damiao.

Wonder goal? It was about three yards out and went in off his chest after someone else headed it into his body.

Alpacayourbag on Xbox Fifa 13 Mainly play UT, nice little Saints spine to my team of Lovren, Lallana, and Gaston

This, exactly.

Worst analogy ever?

Joy - Would probably go with the same game vs. Coventry. Don't really member any of the details of the game once Sharp scored, but the whole wave of euphoria that went through the stadium and the pitch invasion afterwards was amazing to be involved with. As you say, a massive release after too many years in the football wilderness. Sadness - I always remember one horrific game vs. Middlesbrough (I think in the 1998 season) when we threw away a 3-2 lead in injury time to draw 3-3 - Boro only had nine men on the pitch! Remember throwing the ball away from Andy Townsend to try and waste some time when he was taking a throw-in (stupid thing to do I know, but I was young,) but they still managed to nab the equaliser. Seemed to encapsualte our habit of self-imploding. The one that hurt the most though was probably the play-off semi-final away leg against Derby. Cracking game and the atmosphere was incredible, but an awful feeling at the end knowing how poor Derby actually were (*****ing Darren Moore) and how we had massively under-achieved considering how strong our squad was. We should have been Champions with a better manager in place. The mutant Derby fans chanting at us at the end didn't help either, nor did the torrential rain on the journey back. Amusement - 'you're just a fat Alan Carr' chant at the steward at the Hartlepool away game in 2011 made a miserable game that bit more bearable.

Another thread with the OP moaning about effectively the same thing as before: we haven't signed enough players, we haven't spent enough money, others have spent more money than us, we need a top class striker, we are leaving things way too late, who is to blame?....etc. Mighten we just subsume all of these posts under one 'bedwetting' thread and be done with it? Unless you can offer something original or an opinion with a modicum of perspective then really, why bother?