FriendlySaint

I just read the article about Hibbert (and Osman).. It makes me wonder about Koeman frankly. Really disgraceful stuff from Everton.

Personally I think from the players' point of view they will be desperately disappointed to finish lower than 8th. I reckon Fonte will be looking for another record finish and trying to drive everyone to achieve it. I honestly don't think we are at the end of a journey, but the beginning of one. And I think the players will give everything to try to top last season. Footballers earn a lot of money and some lose their desire and their passion. Leicester showed last season how far you can get just with grit , determination and belief. As did Portugal in the Euro's after Fonte and Cedric came into the side. As have Atletico Madrid under Simeone. I think passion and drive is in our dna now as a squad no matter who comes and goes. The most important thing to keep this camaraderie in the club and the squad I think has to be Fonte. He's been there since the start So I don't think anyone should underestimate the factor of Fonte alone as a leader and his drive to succeed and be a role model for younger players. This in turn is helping making all the players better, more confident and play for one another. The new players that come in are not only good signings, but are made to feel at home straight away. They feel happy and want to do well for the squad. Whereas at other teams new players could feel like they don't belong and don't feel like they want to give their all for the team. I think it's what's happened to Schneiderlin at Manchester Utd. Fonte's been here through the whole journey and I believe he was the key player for Portugal. For Ronaldo and his career (apart from the World Cup) Fonte has been like the final piece in the puzzle for Ronaldo and Portugal. Ronaldo always wanted to win a tournament on the international stage and I think if he has to thank one person it ought to be Fonte. Fonte looked like a leader and a rock in the Euro's the moment he got game time, in a side that he hasn't played many games for. That says a lot for me.

Any right back is hold and cold when they are in and out the team. Especially one that is clearly better than the alternative (Martina). It is going to confuse any player, and hit their confidence, if they aren't getting picked over a player they are clearly better than. Martina only got games from being a favourite of Koeman and being dutch. I'd suggest that Martina has absolutely no chance of getting picked over Cedric this season. Martina has no chance of ever playing for Holland, no chance at all. Cedric is another class of player altogether. You also seem to be forgetting Cedric and Fonte were the real reason Portugal won the Euro's. Portugal's fortunes completely changed when they entered the equation. Their defence went from being wide open to conceding one goal in over 400 minutes of football. Fonte in particular was key to that, he was a rock. He is also our captain and leader, it's really important we keep him.

We've signed players too you muppet.

You need to seek help. Get a therapist. You obviously have a problem with alcohol.

I have no idea why we didn't go in for Ayew when he was a free agent. Or a better team than Swansea. It's not like he suddenly got good last season.

Bang on the money. We should be playing 4231/433 with the players we have. We don't have the players to play 442 diamond successfully at this level imo. We will might go down playing 442 diamond every week imo. With 4231/433 I can see us finishing top 8. I don't like 442 diamond at all unless the whole team has pace to burn and can run all day every day. Particularly the two upfront. If he wants to play 2 up front then 442 and 352 are far better options imo with the players we have

I will add that they refuse to do anything but play like this even despite an obvious lack of quality in the side. Fair play to them. Although this philosophy could potentially change with a new manager. I do think that Paco Jemez would have been a good and really interesting, but risky, option for Saints instead of Puel. I do think Puel was a good choice though

Rayo Vallecano are a great side to watch and my favourite team other than Saints, so this interests me. They seemingly wish to play beautiful possession football with the ball and high press without the ball from the first minute to the last. When I've seen them they still expect to dominate the ball even when reduced to ten or even nine men. They are kamikaze to say the least, but they are a great and fun team to watch whether they win , draw or lose. Despite going down they had the sixth most goals in la liga and the fifth most possession. Says a lot about their philosophy. They just lack two decent centre backs with pace and a bit of pace throughout the side,, otherwise they would have finished top half. It was a real shame to see them go down.

I would sign Andre Ayew for 12 mill. Think his fee would be higher though considering he got 12 goals last season and played all over the place, got shoved out of position a lot of the time. Swansea are a poor side too in my opinion, so 12 goals for them is a very good return. I'd still be happy to pay perhaps 15 or 16 mill. He got more goals last season than any of our player and isn't injury prone at all. That really puts it into perspective that He would certainly strengthen us

You don't know if we will finish 1st or last. Nor do I anymore after Leicester's performance last season. I bet you predicted them to go down at the start of last season. Personally I'll be extremely disappointed to not finish top half. If I was the manager I'd be aiming for top 8. I'd be aiming for the title and pushing the players to try to win it, but top 8 I could be content with if I were the manager.

Forster Cedric Fonte VVD Bertrand Clasie Hojbjerg Redmond Davis Tadic Long Subs: Gazzaniga, Yoshida, Martina, Romeu, JWP, Rodriguez, Austin

It is actually a disgrace the Joe Hart gets to play for England over Forster. Literally everything about Forster as a goalkeeper, leader, team mate etc is better I would have been picked Bertrand over Rose in the Euro's. Shaw is the number one for me now though. I also feel Clyne should have been playing over Walker. Carroll and Defoe should have been in the squad. Drinkwater and Noble too. Sterling shouldn't have been there at all and was a starter. Wilshere shouldn't have been there. Vardy should have been playing over Kane. In fact the way England played Carroll would have suited them best.. As they were constantly getting into crossing positions. Sturridge should only play as a striker etc etc I could go on and on, but I could be wasting my time as my opinion means nothing in reality. So many question marks over Hodgson and the media. And what certain players earn and the club's they play for. Lallana for example is a great dribbler and really hard working, perfect for a CM in a 433 that already has an anchor man, yet he is seen as a winger for club and country. I'd play Lallana as a CM in a 433 and people might laugh at that. Football really is strange.

With the players we have I like a 4411 or a 442 with a flat midfield four. 4231 also a good and possibly better option

Please tell me,How do they pronounce Fonte's surname in Portugal Jorge and PortugalSaint?

Fonte was already a club legend in my book anyway. I was one that watched every game we played when he was playing for us in league one. I can't escape calling him fontay still because of it. Font sounds wrong. Maybe I sound like a mug saying fontay who knows. He and Lambert were my favourite players as we came up the divisions. Fonte is the biggest club legend for me in recent times because of what he's done for us as a player and a leader. He's the only one that's stayed out of the stars we had in the lower leagues and he's now won the European championships to go along with the JP trophy. Just take a look at the JP Trophy win Saints had with Fonte in the side and how much that meant to him and the others at the time. It's amazing the journey Fonte and Saints have been on together. When will the fairytale end? Surely we can't do the unthinkable and win the PL with Fonte!?

This squad plus two or three signings is plenty good enough for top 6 push. Just look at the squad Leicester won the title with. I reckon The club won't be happy with Puel if don't finish top 8. After Leicester last season and two of our players winning Euro's we should be pushing to win the title. It won't hurt at all being really ambitious like Leicester were . You can't win a PL title or finish top four unless you and the fans believe it is possible like Leicester did. I'd have though that Fonte will look for us to get another record PL finish after winning the Euro's. He has great self belief and drive, he looked like he was there to win the Euro's from the moment he got a chance..not just take part.

Redmond is young and improving. Quite pacey. He's never played for a decent side either. I think he's meant to be Mane's replacement.

I am not worried at all.

Unrealistic to expect us to bring in a CB. Fonts and VVD will not be happy being anything but first choice. We won't find better back up CB's happy to sit on the bench and just be back up

We already have Davis who is a similar player, but better (imo). Would rather see Reed get more chances than sign someone like Allen. We need to give Reed more games to see what he's capable of.

What a laugh that Koeman played Martina, and even Yoshida at times, over Cedric at right back

Not buying that we made a bid that high for one player. Doubt we would pay over 20 for one player

Was very good at the Euros (apart from the calamitous penalty), but time to sell considering there's only one year left on his contract. Cash in now straight after the Euros and bring in a replacement quickly. Whether the replacement will be target man , or a different type of striker , is dependant on what Puel wants . We will need to bring in some type of striker, my preference is a hard working striker with pace to burn , good movement , good runs and plenty of stamina

I'd like to see Reed get a run in the side. He has been great when he's had a chance and has been desperately unlucky not to play more games than he has