ratio_decidendi

As we're running a bit short on strikers this season, I wouldn't mind seeing Ings join Saints now. But, for some reason, I can't help but think 'why the big rush?'. The guy is just coming up to 22 and is on the final year of his contract. Why not wait until he's stayed in the Premier League for a year first and then move in on a free? Surely then the board can make a more accurate assessment as to whether he's Southampton/Premier League quality and it saves us money.

It's more about viewing figures than entertainment and I would presume (though may be wrong) that QPR and Villa garner more viewers than Southampton. Same reason why Man Utd is being shown more than City, despite the latter winning the league etc.

Are you sure? They were laughing for the majority of the video and only seemed quiet for the last 20 seconds (while it was tipping down with rain!). Seemed fine to me.

That's true, and I suppose the club would benefit from his flexibility in being able to slot in at RB of necessary. But for me that still doesn't explain why City were so reluctant to play Richards at CB when they've suffered so many injuries in that position. Also, I'm still not sure that the club would see it as the best investment of money right now with regards to fee & wages. Not the worst by any means, but there are better signings out there.

Would hate to see us getting Richards because, although I like him as a player, it would stymie the development of Clyne and/or Chambers. As well as that, his wages would probably be astronomical. There might be an argument for playing him as a CB, but why pigeonhole him there when we could invest in a more suitable player?

Blown away by this... Finally! A shirt I can take running without feeling like I'm 14...! Will be my first shirt in years. Edit: By the way, it looks stunning. Well played Southampton.

Southampton would surely be the more desirable choice for Redmond between us and Stoke. I'd imagine most fans would welcome him as he seems to be a highly promising, young English striker who seems to fit into the new system it is said that Koeman will use. And, to be honest, what alternatives have we got at the moment?

Aren't those just the same thing in context? But re Lovren leaving, probably both. I struggle to see him staying.

Erm... He's 21, what do you expect? Definitely a player with high potential, in my opinion.

My interpretation of the speed of Lambert's departure is that Liverpool's offer was so good, we could hardly refuse or negotiate lest we lose it entirely.

From the Saints OS: " A tall, talented and creative midfielder with good awareness and a quality final product in his locker, Chambers was one of four youngsters promoted to the First Team ahead of the 2012/13 season." Whenever I've read that Chambers was a midfielder as well as a right back, I always pictured him in a central role a la Davis. But perhaps that's just me. It seems like he wouldn't have the pace to compete on the wings?

If you want to give up watching football, why don't you just do that? What keeps you coming back for more?

Call me a pedant (or desperate) but isn't there a difference between the badges on the training kit and 'leak' kit? Yellow and black on the training kit vs yellow and red (the black v red being the background to the central tree). It's a small detail, but....

Maybe it's because I'm so disgusted at that kit, but the colour looks off in a 'photoshopped' kind of way. God, I hope so.

Undoubtedly given the accolades and exposure he's currently getting with the youth teams and senior Saints squad.

It sucks, but we do have a choice in reading these threads. By replying to them or highlighting them (in the manner you are doing at the moment) only serves to encourage the posters. Ignore them instead, and the 'trolls' will inevitably change tact in order to gain the attention they crave - perhaps by actually posting something intelligent.

As well as develop academy products, and then flip both onto 'stronger' teams for a profit. That profit gets invested into the club, we sustain a decent PL position, and everyone's happy (except those who act under the deluded belief that anyone can win the PL and winning it is every club's priority)

I know. It is genuinely one of the most frustrating things to see people suggest Southampton can compete on a financial level with these teams. Attempting to do so would be unsustainable and counter to our current business model. In my opinion, a club is a business and success can be defined in a way that doesn't include winning Premier League titles (though it would certainly be nice!)

This might have been because JWP faced stronger competition for a place in the starting XI, though agree that Shaw certainly looked the better of the two at season's end.

Or, to play devil's advocate, the blueprint of Chelsea and Man City.

In response to the original post, I am more than confident that the "powers that be" will not let us regress "dramatically". Our position next year is unlikely to be as high as it was this year (we overachieved and other factors) but there's no way that, with the incoming firepower and amount to spend, we're going to do worse than the promoted teams or PL strugglers such as WBA, Villa, CP and Hull. We will probably be able to compete with teams such as Spurs and Everton (as we did this season). I expect us to finish mid-table.

I would be very disappointed if we resorted to Billy Sharp at any point next season. What benefit would we gain when we could further 'blood' Sam Gallagher instead? As far as I can tell, Gallagher has more potential and heaps more value to the club. Edit: It's as bad as suggesting, for example, that we played Danny Fox instead of Luke Shaw at the back end of the 2012/13 season.

Who's to say that waiving the £5 fee would lead to an increase in posts from either member? The system seems to be fine at the moment.

The undisclosed fee would certainly indicate that as would Lallana's quotes: "I'm grateful that Southampton accepted the offer in the end"