mcbendy

"For me Shaw is still defensively a bit green on the edges." I agree - he is great and has great potential, but if you look at some of the goals that we conceded in preseason without rose-tinted spectacles it is clear that he could have done better. e.g. the header against the Spanish waiters... I see no harm in having a bit of genuine competition for this place...

Someone may already have posted this - in which case apologies - but here is a link to the full and somewhat worrying history of this player and his 'troubles'... It seems like a hell of a gamble bringing someone like this into such a grounded and team-focused squad... http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/6474?cc=5739

This just now from someone who claims to have contacts in the game: Talk Football @GoTalkFootball Roma have accepted a deal for Osvaldo, they have persuaded him to move to Southampton even tho he's not keen on move. [18m euros] #Saintsfc

Better still: Alex Goring Crook ‏@alex_crook 1m Luke Shaw trained this morning and is expected to play v #wba on Saturday #saintsfc

Elliot Pratt @Elliot151 Anyone else watch the 1 o'clock South today news? Had a short clip which showed both Shaw and Clyne training with the first team #SaintsFC Sounds promising?

Not obvious how to watch it on the YouTube site - but there is a video window and countdown clock here... http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/wba-away-press-conference-live-993267.aspx?

Totally made up for Rickie. One of the best nights of my life - seriously. What an inspiration!

Please say this is true (assuming we are signing LB cover for Shaw) http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/332543/Southampton-s-Danny-Fox-set-to-join-Bolton

boooo - not available in the UK. Can you use an online .flv grabber then post on YouTube?

Downing has just signed a four year deal at Wet Spam while Chamakh has gone to Cripple Palace for a year. You may disagree, but I am in no way jealous of these signings. Is it a measure of how far we've come that if Downing has signed for Saints I'd be up in arms? Which got me thinking - which of the completed Prem transfers from this summer do you wish had come to Saints, and why?

Just now on Twitter from Adam Blackmore: Adam Blackmore @bigadamsport Spoken to a few people close to #saintsfc camp about Luke Shaw injury & general consensus seems to be 'not as bad as first thought' #hope This combined with Shaw's tweet give me hope... I always feel nervous with Fox in the team and my nerves usually prove well founded when we concede. It's not only his direct deficiencies - the defence as a whole suffers because he is so often out 'roughly' of position and 'somewhat' slow to close down. It means that he initially appears like he might do the job, but then fails and does an irritating little skip (has anyone else noticed this?). Someone has to sprint out and try and cover which leaves a gaping hole. It's a different matter when a full-back is right up the wing - then it's obvious that someone needs to cover. Anyway - hopefully Shaw will be back before too long.

Surprised to read people questioning the purchase of Wanyama. It is a long season and the boys in centre-mid have a hell of a lot of running to do. Strength in depth in these key positions is clearly important. The ability to rotate wed-sat-wed and/or bring on a fresh pair of legs on ~65 minutes will be crucial if we are to maintain the high pressing game throughout the season. Davis and JWP are better higher up the pitch in my opinion (see WhoScored for JWP v poor tackling stats) meaning that our 'strength' in this area runs to Morgan, Cork and Wanyama. Three players for two positions is hardly overdoing it...

Things I learned tonight: 1. Gaston provides creativity in a way that no other saints players seem able 2. Someone needs to explain the offside rule to Mayuka 3. Steven Davis is better than I realised 4. Lovren is a class act and we did well to sign him 5. J Rod needs to become much more clinical in front of goal if he is to reach his potential 6. Given concerns about Mayuka and J Rod, we REALLY need a top level striker

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