Mowgli

Hmmm. I'll have many great memories of Big Vic but I can't honestly say his heading ability will be amongst them.

Most definitely, although to be precise the phrase used was financially sustainable and more recently termed sustainable growth. Technically this could be interpreted differently to self financing but the net effect is the same in that we won't throw money away in transfer fees or excessive salaries.

Would he want to come to Saints though? Interesting tweet the other day showing that Saints win percentage was higher without Big Vic in the side than in it. Most people are seeing Clasie and Romeu as being a good partnership in defensive midfield but little has been said about JWP who did toughen up last season and Reed who never really got a chance under Ron a nd for me will be a midfield hard man for many years to come. His lack of appreciation by RK being something to do with being (allegedly) caught on a 'night out' earlier in the season. Don't know whether that is true or not. Seems a bit disproportionate to penalise him for a whole season.

Errr... ..apart from Forster, JWP, Davis and Virgil who have just signed new long term contracts. Not to mention making sure we retained Morgan and Wanyama for all but one year of existing contracts. I see that as pretty shrewd business for a Saints.

Although you have to wonder if we would her signed Virgil had we retained Toby's services. Like Morgan, Victor got his head down for one more year so I wish him luck with Spurs. That said it's better to reap what you earn rather than what you yearn. He's earned his right to Europa not Champions League. And after his antics last year, it would do no harm to sign a one year extension and put right what he put wrong in the qualifiers last year.

Not quite sure the point of your post. Some will say last years buys were RK inspired but in reality, I recall the statements saying at the time that Tadic and Mane were high on our watch list anyway. As far as I can see Pelle and maybe Clasie were RK inspired though Clasie said at the time it was the club not RK that sold the deal to him. This idea of picking one random individual out of the club for praise or criticism is really missing the point that we are structured around a collective so that any one individual leaving has little or no effect on our five year plan.

They really are pretty stupid to put that £100m transfer budget into the public arena. Every player they show an interest in will be marked up accordingly. The secret of good negotiation is never ever show your hand too early.

He is announcing his back room staff at 1330 today in his first press conference where he will also apologise for mistakingly turning up at Anfield thinking that was the big club he was joining. Erwin will almost certainly follow him but I think it's more 50/50 with Jan. What might persuade Jan to go too is if Saints cannot guarantee his position when the new manager comes in. Think he will be almost a bigger loss than RK simply because he had also become a fan.

Whoever you are, please don't hack alpine saints account again. It's doing my head in.

Not sure that would be disastrous.

I just googled Farad Moshiri to get a better understanding on the guy and the club and was amused to see he spent a long time slowly building up a stake in Arsenal before giving up and going for his second choice of Everton. He then decides he wants the best (available) manager in the world and goes for Emery before giving up and going for his second choice of Koeman. You see the pattern developing here? Everton are without doubt a bigger club than Saints historically but the only thing that really matters is the present and the future. Everton will always be second best to Liverpool and, it seems, everything else. It's in their DNA. I'm really not bothered by them. Or Koeman. I would like to keep the actual playing squad together as much as possible. I accept that we may lose Wanyama but as Koeman himself said, one or two changes each summer is no bad thing for the team as a whole. I think a new manager coming in would be very lucky to inherit this squad not to mention the promising youngsters who will probably get more of a chance to break through with a new man at the helm. Very pleased with what we achieved with Koeman and I really took to him but he's damaged goods now and needs to move on.

Seem to recall our manager last season saying it's not all about the money. Whilst some players may see an opportunity for a big pay day, they need to respect th contract they sgned (or words to that effect)

You're quite correct. I make it six players there over 21. Suspect the limit would be three.

Errr... ...which is exactly what he is doing. Hence many fans are complaining that he's NOT coming out and making a statement. Make your mind up guys...

Or Koeman himself saying he's not interested. Oh, wait a minute, he already did that...

It was well thought out. June was his best chance for player of the month award.

It sort of balances all that dross that comes out of the Daily Mail troll, Martin Samuel

You mean after Tranmere? Don't forget Liverpool. Then there's Everton.... ;-)

Yes to all for this year. Isgrove has talent but must step up this year. The rest will stay beyond this season I suspect with at least 3, maybe 4, getting regular appearances this year.

Crikey. What a fickle lot we are. Most of those mentioned I have quite fond memories of with the exception of Speedie and Hughes who were in my book just a nasty couple of characters so far up their own backside it wasn't true. Then again, the signings never excited me so they don't meet the criteria. On balance I'd agree with you. Got very excited by Mark Paul who was a real discovery that we nabbed under the noses of the big boys - but as you say, he never played a game as far as I can recall.

Seriously? That signing excited you???

I guess its going to be real hard to get tickets. With 3 away games will that mean more people get a chance or will priority be given to those who went to the first game. I fear a lot of disappointed fans either way

Is this replacing the thread created on 9 April or the one created on 5 May ;-). Maybe someone could merge them all ...

I'm torn tomorrow. I want to go straight into the group stages by virtue of a Man U win, but I also want to see LVG sucking lemons while he explains why he lost to Palace....

This years away kit looks OK