SKD

On paper it is. They've played Newcastle (come up with them and hardly strengthened) and Palace (battled against relegation last year and are always down there), but they haven't seen us play. If we perform anything like we have the season, then they will turn us over. But should we play to the best of our ability, then it should be an easy win. Anything but a win will be disappointing. 4/5 points from our first 3 (very, very easy fixtures) isn't a great start.

Boufal for me. He works harder, is younger, quicker and has more natural ability. When he learns when to release the ball, he has that x factor we are currently missing. Tadic is too much of a pre madonna who seems to think he's better than what he is. He's a good player when on form, but that just isn't frequent enough and he just lacks composure, which is a problem when we're lacking goals (was fine when we had Pelle and Mane banging them in, but you notice his glaring misses more and more now). I'd bet good money on Tadic wanting to leave at the end of this season, like he has the past 2.

Spot on - The boy clearly has talent and to me it just looks like he's almost trying to hard to impress, which is probably due to a lack in confidence. There's still time for him, he's a young lad and he's adjusting to a new country. I have every faith that he will come up trumps, given the right management (time for you to earn your ££'s MP). FWIW, from what I've been told he's generally well liked in the dressing room - he's a bit of a joker.

Oh Adam, bless you, you are naive. I'm not saying that we will sell VvD (FWIW I think we will), but you are a fool to believe any PR spill that comes out of Les Reed's mouth, generally it's all bullsh*t. If we are looking to sell, is our hand stronger or weaker (meaning more or less £'s) if we are to come out publicly and say "we need to sell VvD" and "Virgil will be leaving the club"?

He can't really mark either, which doesn't help. Too often does he lose his man inside the box. Really, his best trait (at the moment) is his composure on the ball, but as a defender this should come secondary to his defensive ability. Should we sell Virgil, it is vital that we replace him. Stephens and Yoshida are not good enough to be first choice CB's in a top half PL team.

Tend to agree - if we try and play football, they will beat us, comfortably. We just aren't good enough and don't move the ball quick enough. unfortunately, we're pretty easy to play against. We will need to defend well and counter quickly. I know its early doors, but these are the sort of games we cannot afford to drop points in. -----------Forster------------ Cedric--Yoshida--Hoedt--Bertrand --------Lemina--Romeu------ Redmond---Davis------Boufal (a little bit quicker than Tadic) --------------Gabbi------------ Bring long on with about 20/30 minutes to go depending on how the game is going. 1-0

Sell to Chelsea for c.£50m + Christensen and then use that money to get a creative ACM and a forward. Credit to the board for going this far, and as long as they don't sell to Liverpool I'd have no hard feelings. But there is little to no point keeping a player who doesn't want / won't play for us, when there are other areas of the squad that need improvement.

Ive yet to see anything to suggest he will ever be at the races. What a waste of money.

Tough game, Wolves are a good team with a couple of players who would improve us so we will need to play a strong team. Not sure how seriously they will take it though, generally teams don't take it too seriously until the quarter / semi finals, so a good chance to have a decent run and I think the extra game will help implement MP's philosophy. ------------McCarthy--------------- Cedric--Stephens--Yoshida--McQueen (give Bertrand a rest following his injury against Swansea) ----------Lemia--Romeu------------ Redmond--Ward Prowse--Boufal -------------Austin------------------ Forster, Bedarnek, Pied, PEH, Tadic, Gabbi, Long 0-1 (should Wolves take it seriously) 2-0 if not.

I think we've been crying out for one of these, since the sale of Lallana, in all honesty, but especially highlighted last year without the x factor of Mane. As you've rightly pointed out, I think we have enough in the wide area's and unless we get someone of Mane's ilk (quick, direct and has an eye for a goal) the money would be better spent centrally. For me, we need someone who is capable of getting box to box, can pick the ball up from deep then drive forward the with the ball and has the finesse to split the opposition with a quick 1/2 or through ball. Given the service, Gabbi will get the goals.

Glad he's gone, absolute waste of space and money. I don't blame him for going to Spurs though, if I was him, I'd rather be 3rd choice at at PL club than sit on the bench of a L2 club. Awful keeper, who's total save amount you could probably count on 1 hand.

Wesley Whaooo Wesley Whaooo He signed from Lazio To Liverpool he'll go

It's Wesley, you knowwwwwwww Signed in this transfer Windowwwww We hate Pompey, we hate Pompey Clap Clap Clap

Have you seen the footage? If not, I suggest you watch it (link above). He reacts to an awful tackle, by pushing the player (in the arm/chest) who stuck one on him. That happens every single week in the PL. Yellow card at most and given his injury record, I can understand his reaction. City's No. 5 (assuming CB) runs to the half way line and jumps on him, getting him in a head lock. He doesn't really respond. FWIW, the City player was also sent off. Hardly 'completely unacceptable', is it.

1. Did you see the tackle? 2. Did you see the reaction of the city player he pushed (in the arm)? 3. He didn't start the mass brawl, the City player who ran from the other end of the pitch to have a go at him did. He was equally sent off. Disgraceful tactics from City to try and get him sent off and even so, I don't see what relevance getting sent off in a U23's game has. That being said, he did look slightly overweight. He was one of Bournemouth's best players early last season as he has been in some of his most recent England performances (wasn't he MOTM 3 games on the trot?) Not a nearly man (I suppose you would have said that about Bertrand when he signed. Lets not forget, his loan spell at Villa was a lot worse than Wilshere's at Bmouth), he has undoubted talent, just rotten luck with injury. He has something that we currently don't have in central midfield. He has the ability to run forward with the ball, and make a defence splitting pass. Agree, but that won't happen. Aren't they offering him c£120k a week to stay? Also, doesn't he have top 4 clubs in for him? Wouldn't be surprised if he ended up at Liverpool, should they sell Coutinho

We're crying out for a bit of creativity from midfield. If he was willing to drop his wages and it was a try before you buy type loan, I would go for Wilshere. For me, if he can stay fit (I do appreciate that's a big), he'd be prefect in the AM role. He clearly has ability and I could see him and Gabbi being unbelievable together.

Spot on.. Everyone's replaceable and some people are paid a lot of money to find them replacements. It's concerning that next summer, there's a high chance that we could lose 3 of our back 4.

I'm not a fan of them, but lets be honest, our support since returning the the PL has been / is dreadful, both home and away. Hopefully these help bring a bit of life back to St Mary's. I'm not sure if it's the tourists that are ruining the atmosphere or the fact people are only willing to sing about 3 songs.

I tend to agree. If he / Southampton Football Club were to purchase and develop the surrounding land, that would add significant value to the club. I don't really see how the value of the club will increase, enough to make it a decent business proposition, now (unless we get into the top 4, which won't happen without massive investment). Time will tell I guess and I've seen nothing to suggest that anything will change, apart from we now have an owner who wants to own a football club. That being said, the debt does concern me slightly, however as long as it's not transferred against the club, I don't see a great issue. As for no more transfer funds this window, I'd much rather we carry on the way we have been, than invest stupid money into 30+ years olds, like Villa are currently doing.

Nope that was a fact, at the time of the post, Bertrand wanted out as did Long, Cedric, Virgil and Jay. Had Puel stayed, all 4 would have been more vocal in their desire to leave, as it happens the manger went and we appear to have put our foot down and prevented anyone, who we don't want to leave, leaving. Which you have to credit the board for.

I hope he stays, for your sake more than anything. Both you and the board will look a tad silly if he goes

They were at the start of the summer along with Bournemouth and Reading. Not sure what happened, I guess both (bmouth and Brighton) signed other targets. If he goes anywhere, IMO it'll be back to Reading. As poster has rightly pointed out, he/his family are very much against moving back up North (hence to he move to us in the first place).

Disagree that Hoedt coming in would signal the end for VvD. Hodet is left footed and could easily play next to Virgil. If we are serious about not selling this summer, it would be very sensible to get VvD's replacement in this year and give him a season adapting to the PL before being our key CB next year. For me, Hoedt would be the perfect Fonte Replacement and would give us the possibility to play 3 at the back: Stephens VvD Hoedt That being said, I cannot see us keeping hold of VvD and if we do sell, I would be getting 2 cbs instead of 1.

Mr Gao whaooo Mr Gao whaooo His daughters names Nelly He f*cking hates Pompey Clap clap clap clap

Welcome aboard Mr and Mrs Goa.. Keep running the club as is (hands off approach) and provide much needed investment (to keep us progressing) and you will go along way.