Dman

It’s really fucking strange, isn’t it. Some are so invested in ‘the Southampton way’ bollox, that anyone over the age of 28 is practically seen as on their death bed. I genuinely think that some believe that unless you’re Young and hungry, you won’t improve us. When in recent years, those who we signed that were young and hungry , ended up being total shite (Djenepo, as an example). Eriksen is a proven PL player with bags of ability. He’d improve nearly all 20 teams in the league… which is why he won’t come here, not a chance.

Makes you wonder how much Armstrong would be worth, given his higher ceiling and all that!?

I’ve had/have total confidence in semmens, Crocker and co. Up until now, however, if we go into next season with McCarthy as our no1 and this noddy as our no2, then I will have lost all confidence in them. Incredible incompetence to let Fraser go, but extend McCarthy. They either both had to go or McCarthy had to (assuming we’re not gonna sign a first choice this summer).

Glad to see the “hand picked” owners are showing their ambition and intent with aggression in the transfer market. It would just be textbook Southampton to have a rebuild and make ourselves weaker as a result.

If Turks has the same source as me.. which I think he does… all i can say is keep an eye out for a plane from Madrid and new members at Southampton Muni golf course. Make of that what you will.

We seem to be infested by these types. A shame Luton didn’t come up and give these a right old clump to scare them away from football.

I do, England get the winner of this game + the play off. I.e Wales, Scotland or Ukraine… I’m not one for the sympathy vote, so easiest game possible for England please (Scotland or Wales).

Why hasn’t his new contract been announced? All rather odd. Either the club are going to try and fiddle It into next years accounts or they’re regretting the decision…?

Good shout. Re McCarthy, I wonder if there is a deal to be done with Burnley. I know they’re rare, but a part Ex + cash for Pope? Not sure how McCarthy would feel about that one mind.

One would assume if he did leave for them then it would be because he’s been told he is no longer needed and/or can leave..

I like Winks, he’s a tidy player, although he’s all too similar to JWP and Diallo And I’m not sure he’s a huge upgrade on Diallo, so for that reason I’d pass on him, unless we plan on selling JWP. Pope… very good keeper, but I can’t see us signing him. Firstly because he’ll be bloody expensive and secondly because he wouldn’t suit the style in which we want to play.

Interesting thoughts from an actual professional footballer and not a geek behind a computer screen…

They’ve just spent 30 odd years complaining that the police shouldn’t have opened the gates, now they’re complaining they’ve been closed… You can’t win with those who will not learn.

It was a misunderstanding. They meant no holds barred in our push to the championship. Going to succeed if the decent links are anything to go by. All pretty depressing.

Will fit in well with the rest of the squad then.

If he wants to go down the route of coaching / management, bring back Jose Fonte in a player / coaching role. Still has a little bit to offer on the pitch (better than what we have) and I’d love to see him in our dugout one day. Things started to go pear shaped when we let him walk, he should have been the one who took Kelvins role. A Natural leader.

Jesus Christ, you love saying things like this don’t you. It’s really quite simple, Football isn’t like many other industries. That being said, the story is a mountain out of a mole hill, the owners aren’t in charge of running the club day to day, so won’t get involved in such discussion.

As a club were generally speaking, pretty skint. We need to be spending wisely and spending on quality, rather than loading up on crap. As we have done for the past 4 years.

Aye? He might or might not be a better option than those at full back, however, we’re just over the crest of the wave and finally look like shifting the dross one, reasonable PL wages, who are adding 0 to our squad (Walcott, Long, Stephens, Forster and even Bednerak etc.) Bringing in Fredricks is more of the same. He’s crap, we can do better, even if it’s another youngster in the Tino mould.. I’d rather we looked at Brandon Williams who can cover both R and L back.

Fredricks is shit though. Pointless adding cover with someone who isn’t good enough to play a prolonged period of games.

We still have a better squad, innit.

If anyone is upset that they’re not earning 120k a week, then seriously let them go. Other than JWP (who’s probably on about that anyway) and maybe KWP, absolutely no one else deserves anything close to that figure. Maybe upsetting the wage structure and fucking off all the over hyped shite is the best way to go. Id much rather have Tarkowosk on 120k a week than Bednerak, Stephens on close to that. Likewise for attacking options, I’d much rather we pay for quality than have Long, Walcott, Moi, Redmond etc. Eating up the best part of 200k and offering us fuck all.

Wouldn’t mind Beattie getting a look in as a coach. Management experience (all be it very limited) and was assistant to Monk at Birmingham. Worked with Che in the past, and seemingly got him firing. We’re going to need someone who can really work with the defence as well. Also need someone tactically astute, in the mould of Rohl, to assist and help Ralph and manage the squad day to day.

To be fair, I thought / think Sparkes has done a decent job. We’ve definitely seen an improvement in the keepers if Forster is anything to go by. Don’t know a great deal about Kitzbicher, but isn’t he basically a analyst? and in the grand scheme of things has been here for a fairly short period of time (waiting for MLG to MLG me on this one). The other 3 have been useless for years now, especially Watson. Kelv is a decent enough bloke but offers us nothing and Fleming again, very average. All round, a good move by the club imo.

Diallo hasn’t been played in his natural / best position. He was brought as a backup / replacement for Romeu, however he’s more realistically a back up / replacement for JWP. I like him, given a run of games next to a proper DM, I think he would add something different to our midfield. I think people were expecting a knock off Kante when he signed, he’s absolutely not that.