SaintTex

the first team fought tooth and nail to qualify for the damn thing, but you advocate putting our B team in? No way, reward the first team players and show that you value what they did last season to get here. It's the first group stages game and early in the season. Let's go for it. -------------Forster------------ Cedric--Fonte--VVD--Bertrand -------------Romeu------------ ------Davis-------Højbjerg---- -------------Tadic-------------- ---[striker]-------[striker]---- honestly, I have no idea who our best pairing is at this point, any combination of Austin, Redmond, Long, and JRod, I reckon. crap shoot, really.

hmmm, let's see... Who spent the most money this summer? OK. Here is my prediction: 1 Man City 2 Man United 3 Chelsea 4 Arsenal 11 Saints Relegated: Swansea, Burnley, Sunderland

For all of saying "we don't have to sell players", look at all the misery, drama and ill will that has occurred with holding steady on Fonte. Now imagine if we were dealing with it on multiple fronts with Pelle, Wanyama, and Mane. It would be chaos in the clubhouse which would certainly transmit to the play on the pitch. Unless we can match the wages that Man U, City, Liverpool, Chelsea, China, etc. offer, we will always be losing our best, most talented players to those clubs come summer time. You would think it would dawn on most of us at this point.

To me all this angst is not really about our business this summer as it relates to the squad (boths ins and outs). I would imagine 99% of those wringing their hands right now would feel pretty good about the current squad if Koeman was still at the helm and we were sitting on 5 points instead of 2 points after three matches. I know... ifs, but really it is the Puel factor that has most worried. With the lack of charisma and the language barrier, his leash is much shorter with fans if he doesn't produce right away. As a fan, he is not an easy figure to get behind and rally around. (I wish I felt differently.)

Part of the approach this summer was to extend contracts of several key players Forster Cedric Van Dijk Bertrand Ward Prowse Davis Tadic Long I would imagine the delta in increased weekly wages for these 8 players is more than our remaining net transfer spend which is £20.36m Further, if you include Redmond, Boufal and Holjbjerg that is a lot of important players on the 1st year of a 5 year contract on the team. I can't remember ever having a summer like this where we locked down so many key current players to extended contracts.

This place has never been worse. Some people just love being miserable.

It will be interesting to see where Puel plays Tadic and Boufal when they are both on the pitch and if the formation changes to accommodate that. The Boufal signing screams this formation IMO. -------------Forster------------- Cedric--Fonte--VVD--Bertrand -----Romeu-----Hojbjerg------ --Redmond--Boufal--Tadic---- -----------[striker]------------- Where do you play both Tadic and Boufal in the diamond formation? Tadic is not a box to box midfielder.

Frank de Boer is manager of Inter Milan. Interesting considering he was on the short list and interviewed by Southampton this summer.

Which makes you wonder. If the diamond continues, and Boufal takes the No. 10, where does that leave Tadic? Really think we need a formation that keeps them both on the field, which is why so many on here are stubbornly continuing to provide a 4-2-3-1, because, well, it appears to suit the squad we got. ------------Forster------------- Cedric--Fonte--VvD--Bertrand ------Romeu-----Holjberg----- --Redmond---Boufal---Tadic-- --------Long or Austin--------- to me, that is our strongest line-up. There is no clear cut striker first choice IMO: Long or Austin, but either could be placed here. second team: ------------McCarthy------------- Pied--Yoshida--Gardos--Targett --------Reed-----JWP------------ --?????---Davis---JRod--------- --------Long or Austin-----------

I know your taking the ****, but we really need to "replace" players who contributed 162 minutes and 29 minutes respectively, last season? Further, you are equating these two players who contributed nothing last season with Redmond (£12m) and Boufal (£21m) should read: Juanmi / who cares Ramieriz / who cares Wanyama / Hojberg Gazzaniga / McCarthy Martina / Pied Mane / Boufal Pelle / Redmond

In a general football board I also follow, Liverpool supporters are already saying he is their best player. Also, saying that if he had played in the Burnley game, the result would have been different. his consistency (or lack of) will be interesting to follow this season. Plus, a lot of them seem oblivious to the fact that he will be gone for nearly two months this winter in Africa.

you know, I was liking this, but doesn't Redmond prefer to play on the right? And Tadic on the left? Didn't Koeman fiddle with playing Long behind Pelle a bit last season with some success. How about? -------------Forster---------------- Pied - Fonte - van Dijk - Bertrand ------Romeu - Hojbjerg----------- --Redmond -- Long -- Tadic------ ---------------Austin---------------

Where would have we have placed last season if he was signed in July?

This still blows my mind. in America, NBCSN televises 3 to 4 matches on Saturday, 2 matches on Sunday and the Monday matches when they occur. The remaining matches are streamed live on their virus free website. No dodgy Russian streaming sites.

Yes, but this also highlights what a good job Southampton has done finding better players than Bolasie for more than half that transfer price. That is ridiculous. Bolasie has 9 goals and 13 assists in 3 full PL seasons. S. Davis has 7 goals and 12 assists in 3 full PL seasons. Think we could get S. Davis for £28m? I would have been ****ed if Southampton spent £28m on Bolasie. Everton way overpaid.

The Koeman business threw a monkey wrench in that plan.

I can't imagine selling him, as we seem to be short on options. Long seems to roll around on the pitch wincing in pain 2 to 3 times a game.

defectors had a good day today. 5 of the 7 goals in the Arsenal Liverpool match by former Southampton players Walcott Lallana Mane Oxlade-Chamberlin Chambers

gave the ball away needlessly, especially in the first half. So frustrating!!! Hopefully that is just a symptom of the players getting used the system. Right now it seems pretty obvious that they are trying hard, but having to put thought in what they do or where they need to be, instead of just instinct. Hopefully it will get better with familiarity and how they play becomes second nature. And maybe, this game might light a fire with management on getting one or two more players in before the transfer window closes. We have the talent, not worried about relegation or even the threat of it, but it might be kind of a "meh" season. A Stoke like season, if you will.

I always have doubts. modern football.

new contracts signed this summer Forster Bertrand Van Dijk S. Davis JWP Tadic Long I think these new contract signings has been a wise summer strategy rather than splashing silly newly found league money overpaying for European transfers. considering new players Redmond and Holjberg signed 5 year deals that is a nearly SOLID Starting XI on long term deals. ---------Forster---------- XX--XX--VVD-- Bertrand -------Hojbjerg---------- -----Davis---JWP-------- ---------Tadic------------ -----Redmond--Long----

hmmm... I'll go with: Col. Mustard Lead Pipe Billiard Room

With Forster in goal and Cedric, Fonte, VVD, Bertrand as our defensive four we'll be fine. Yes, we likely need more firepower up front. But even with no further additions this is a Top 10 club.

Kind of what I was thinking.. second Starting XI being... ----Gazzaniga (new GK) ----- Martina--Yoshi-Gardos-Targett -----JWP----Reed----Davis---- ????--------Austin-----JRod--- Would be nice to get another quality winger (£16+)... That would give us more flexibility to maybe play Tadic in the 10 position now and then, but I am not sure how completely comfortable he is with that, even though you think he would be a natural. Always though Clasie had the chance to move in to the 10, not sure he has been given the opportunity or even wants it.

I thought Puel was a 4-3-3 guy. ------------Forster---------- Cedric-Fonte-VvD-Bertrand -Clasie--Romeu--Hojbjerg- -Redmond---Long---Tadic- maybe Davis for Hojbjerg...