oxfordshire_saint

Morgan wouldn't be a bad shout, a centre-back's nightmare and had a good season in League 2 last year. If we want a backup for Lambert, this is the sort of player we're likely to sign and to be honest, I'd prefer us to sign. Someone with a bit of hunger. Howard would be ideal, but I'm guessing he'll either stay as a backup at Leicester or go to Huddersfield as a 1st choice. With regards to some of the other names mentioned, it's both hillarious and embarrassing how little some of our fans seem to know about football.

I was more suggesting that perhaps another one of Markus' offspring may step up, apparently he has a son and a daughter. I'm fairly sure we won't suddenly be up the creek, progression may slow down a bit, but I doubt anything more than that. I'm sure we'll hear more when the decision makers have had time to come to terms with this tragedy.

100% sure that it's a MALI tie, which would make sense as it's on the MALI site. Although Cortese, I presume, will continue with the day to day business here, overseeing MALI and Saints may be too much for Katharina Liebherr, so perhaps it may be premature to assume we will follow suit with MALI.

In response to the OP, it looks fairly certain that AP knew, the MALI website says on their statement that Markus passed away on Monday night. http://www.mali-group.com/en/home/

Shocked and saddened, the club is debt-free but we're forever in his debt. Thoughts go out to Cortese too, love him or loathe him, he and Markus were obviously close, so hopefully people will give him some space to grieve too.

lol @ those who think sponsors will be scared off by this. Televised games (and the highlights shows) and the fact that they will then have thousands of walking advertisements wearing their logo on the front of a shirt probably means a helluva lot more than the ever-so-rare pics we get in the national papers. Still, doesn't mean that I back Cortese on this one, it all just seems a bit petty IMO and seriously, how much money will it make us? How much is he expecting to sell the photos for?

Tounge was firmly in cheek when I made that comment, but I wouldn't put it past The Sun. It's the voice of the idiots and the fact that it's so popular and powerful tells you all you need to know about this country. Have they asked Kelli, 23, from Harlow, what she thinks of NC's blanket outside photography ban?

Indeed. I'm expecting The Sun to run a story soon that labels NC a peado/terrorist/benefit cheat/frequenter of brothels

Not saying he should go, but as a side thought, if AP did at some point get the boot, do you think Cortese would bring in a proven League One/Championship manager or use his "contacts" to bring in someone from the continent? The latter would be a huge risk if it did happen (we all enjoyed "the Dutch experiment" under Lowe didn't we?), but I could see it happening.

All this AP stuff is getting boring now, "manager likely to get sacked if team performs below expectations", shocker!!!! There's only a couple of managers in the country who are virtually sack-proof and that's Ferguson and Wenger. If Mancini isn't in the top 4 or 3 at Christmas, I'm sure Man City's board will show him the door. If any of the lower-half Prem sides are in the bottom 3 with more than half the season gone (maybe less), then I won't be surprised if their gaffer is getting the boot, even if it's at a promoted side who didn't expect to even be in that league. Football is a high-pressure results business and sadly, managers get sacked by chairmen hungry for success, that's the way it is. Even moreso if you've had a truckload of money to spend.

TBF that'll happen even if we only get a draw, even if it's a really unlucky draw and were it not for a dodgy decision, won the game. Actually, the doom merchants will probably still go on even if we only win 1-0. Some people are certain that a mediocre pre-season equals a guaranteed poor season, some people are sure we'll destroy every side 5-0. Realists will see that we've got a good squad (that will no doubt be added to) and we're favourites for a reason. Yes, we'll lose some games, we'll scrape past teams we should be thrashing on paper and most of the time it'll be frustrating watching teams come to St Mary's to "park the bus", but that's football. Personally, I reckon 1-1 for Saturday.

Has now joined Millwall on loan: http://www.millwallfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10367~2110811,00.html?

Looks like they didn't like what they saw, if he couldn't impress at Brentford then I guess we certainly won't be taking a look then! http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/football-ealing/brentford-fc-ealing/2010/08/02/former-charlton-frontman-shown-brentford-exit-door-109642-26981680/?

I wouldn't be surprised if, towards the end of the transfer window, we've not managed to get any of our first choice striking targets and pick up Izale McLeod on a free. Left Charlton this summer and it was Pards who signed him there. Has had injury and form problems, but if revitalised, would be a decent enough backup behind Rickie, Barnard and Connolly.

No word of the squad on the OS preview, any guesses? GK - Bart RB - ? CB - Martin CB - Tafazoli LB - Reeves RM - Oxlade-Chamberlain CM - McNish CM - Pulis LM - Holmes CF - Doble CF - ?

Is it possible to have any rational debate here? Yes, we need some more bodies, most certainly a CM, RM and backup target man, but the levels of hysteria that some are working themselves up into is embarrassing. I would class myself as only mildly concerned right now TBH. The XI we put out vs Reading was missing Lallana, Lambert, Puncheon and Schneiderlin, yet was still leading a pretty strong Championship side until subs aplenty were made. If we lose the first 4 league games and we haven't signed another 2 or 3, then perhaps I'll start sinking to the depths of negativity that some on here seem to have plummeted to. Football transfers are a complex and murky world, it's not as easy as just going out and signing X,Y and Z and putting your feet up with weeks to go until the start of the season, how many other teams have all their business done and dusted? Almost every team will sign at least one more player before 31st August. Just get behind the team vs Plymouth and for the moment, let those who are paid to worry about it, worry about it.

Spot on! Every thread, no matter what the subject, seems to degenerate quickly into a pro/anti Cortese slanging match involving the same individuals who've already had the same argument on another thread. My subscription ran out last week, waiting to see if the start of the season brings a little sanity back, then I might renew.....

Indeed it was, Reading had an option to extend his contract, regardless of Antionio's wishes. Whether they did it to keep him due to his maturing as a player with us or to make sure they get a fee if they sell him, remains to be seen.

To quote Colonel Hans Landa from Inglorious Basterds: "I love rumors! Facts can be so misleading, where rumors, true or false, are often revealing."

Meh, it's all pretty tame here, just a few lairy drunks posturing, having a brawl or chucking stuff around. Get out onto the continent (Italy or Eastern Europe in particular) and the English "hooligans" don't seem so scary at all.

Worth a try if shows enough in training though. I remember a Leeds supporting mate of mine telling me that Dan Harding was a complete bottler and one of the worst left backs he's ever seen. Turned out to be one of our best players last season (scoring the winner in a 1-0 win over Leeds fully rubbed it in my mates' face too) Also, if I remember rightly, we weren't too sad to see Kevin Davies go, but he's been superb value for Bolton. One man's trash is another man's treasure, so to speak.

Paul Wotton Football Genius!

From what I can see, it just seems like certain people are jealous of the level of involvement he's had at the club over the years and based on that, are now revelling in the fact that it seems the new regime don't exactly see him as flavour of the month. Let's look at it from a neutral point of view, if what has been alleged is true, it's a very shoddy way of treating a customer, especially a long-standing one. I like Cortese, he's clearly an excellent businessman, but perhaps he needs to either employ or take advice from someone who's worked in PR at a decent club before, because he appears to have a lot to learn on that side.

When I registered with that name I was in Wallingford, then Henley after that. Back in Hampshire now though!

Can't believe people are calling a 30 year old player over-the-hill. If he was 29 you wouldn't hear a peep from people, it's not like he's 34 or 35, he's still got a good 2 or 3 seasons left at least. FWIW I think he'd be a great signing in this league, he's got pace, he's clever and has experience of Premier League campaigns and a World Cup. Can even be used on the wings too. Anyone who has a gripe about signing him on a free is frankly an idiot. How can we have people pooping their pants about the prospect of Huddersfield signing Howard and Carsley (yes, I know he joined Coventry in the end) but then panning Vassell? Madness.