Dusic

Not sure Gibson is all that really.

Good: Bad: https://southamptonfc.com/news/2017-06-23/announcement-mauricio-pellegrino-new-southampton-first-team-manager Ugly: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/12/28/southampton-keen-daniel-sturridge-ready-make-audacious-move/

I would love that but think after this WC he wille be in the £35m+ bracket which rules us out. We need to get these sorts of players before their breakout moments. Re Wilshere: are we are good enough team to miss the chance of signing Jack Wilshere on a free transfer if he was interested? Ideal Steven Davis replacement in many ways.

RB competition should be a priority, especially as there is some doubt over Cedric's future and he may not be able to play the first couple of games even if he stays, should Portugal get quite far in the WC. Cedric had a poor season but lacked any kind of serious competition. In fact, so did RB. Full back cover the weakest area of the squad.

ICYMI - we are in the PL, not L1.

Can only assume he always preferred Leicester but they hadn't had a bid accepted so we thought we could be an option for him if they weren't willing to match our fee. Otherwise if we knew he would pick them then why bid? Bit of a blow. A side like Leicester were miles better than us last season and already have 2 (3) good signings sorted whilst we have none. Tick tock Wee Ross.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/james-maddison-set-hold-leicester-12729318 Lots of factors at play, including that he is from the Midlands. A few Saints players signed for us and turned down Hughes (Redmond and Cedric for certain) but not sure it counts for much. They are likely to be stronger than us over the next couple of years as will spend more. But we have a better record for delivering players to CL clubs, which is probably where he is ultimately aiming. Reports say Leicester favourites but if there was no chance of swaying him then why bid?

At the end of the day, bids are bit of a red herring, the player will choose. Leicester have already made two decent signings and are midlands based which likely gives them an advantage. But Saints have a good record (albeit not of late) of boosting careers of high potential players. Will be interesting to see how it plays out, but I will be suprised if he picks us over them.

Good player, reminds me of Lallana a little bit, clever in tight spaces, with just enough of a burst to escape a player. Genuine no10. Hopefully a more reputable source adds to this, otherwise it reads a little like its flushing out interest from other teams. Skybet still have Leicester as favourites for what its worth. I'm not convinced its as clear cut as the article suggests.

Easiest way to solve it is to not name an official launch date (seeing as you cannot buy the kit yet anyway) and just communicate it once its able to be communicated. Most clubs released news of theirs before the end of last season or in late May, some clubs wore new kits for the last game of the season. Financially it would be better to launch then as its a bigger sales window for summer holidays etc. Anyway, summer is for signings, holidays and cricket, not ****y kit launches.

Operationally, this launch has been a total **** up! But its only a kit so one of the least concerning **** ups of the last two years!

@SkyKaveh: West Ham back in talks to sign Javier Pastore from PSG. Talks at an advanced stage. List of players the Wires have been strongly linked to is pretty strong. Clearly they won't get all of them but one of Mawson/Diop and Pastore/Anderson plus Fabianski and in addition to Fredericks would represent some very solid business in the face of their usual shambolic transfer windows. Sullivan must have been marginalised. Fakianski Mawson Diop Anderson Pastore Maddison

E = Jacinto Ela-Eyena

http://sportwitness.co.uk/ajax-left-disappointed-player-opts-england-burnley-crystal-palace-southampton-picture/

Now is your time son.

Tough start for The Wires and we all know their fans can be quick to turn even if they do bring in some quality. If they do well in that initial period then they could be set for a good season as fixtures get easier around Christmas. #WireWatch

Need to make some proper decisions re some of the homegrown players this summer: JWP Targett Stephens Sims Gallagher Who is good enough, who isn't. No room for passengers.

Club are a bunch of jerks. Source: Last 24 months #believeinsaints

West Ham closing in on Fabianski and in for Diop at Toulouse.

Les and Ross have been too busy texting fans asking them to shell out ST money to even check on potential signings. Maybe do it the other way around! *Edit: Think Ross also had a couple of weddings to attend

We must be the only PL team without even a well sourced report of player interest? Hasn't been a single Wilson report on signings as yet. Hopefully behind the scenes Les and Ross are on it...always better to have players in for pre season, especially as the window closes esrly this year.

Its a good job for him, absolutely. But he has seen the squad we have at first hand, knows the strengths, weaknesses and player situations. He knows who will be leaving so must feel that he will be able to replace in order to be sufficiently competitive. These guys have big egos and big bank balances. At his career stage he doesn't need to agree to a job in which he feels he won't have a chance to at least hold his reputation. I'm sure will we bring a couple in, but equally sure we will end up with pretty much the same CBs and Strikers as this season when in reality we need a clearout, especially of the likes of Long, Austin etc.

Could we do much worse than look to bring back Dany N'Guessan? Has pace, strength and will bomb up and down the line all day.

Im not really bothered about the kit specifically. Its a football kit, and its miles better than the kit we wore in our first year back in the PL. However, the operational side of it has been a shambles, which is symptomatic of the last 18 months or so. Whilst our team has gotten worse, so have things like communication, ticketing, social media etc etc. Bit of a general malaise and lack of accountability. Specifically re the kit, it hardly disproves the suggestion that they are more focused on what happens in the Asian markets than what happens in Southampton. Which is a shame for a club that will never be more than also rans in the fight for overseas attention.

@MirrorAnderson: Leicester and Everton are slugging it out for Norwich’s £25million-rated James Maddison. Fulham also keen. https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/leicester-everton-eyeing-james-maddison-12676154 ------- We have been linked before but obvious won't be in at those sort of fees. Also says Fulham want Joe Bryan from Bristol City, which would surely have an impact on any move for Tiggs, unless they want both.