batterseasaint

Not in the slightest. Look at message boards of every Premier League club in the land; they're all being linked with the same players as us. Because agents and selling clubs leak these stories out there in order to generate interest and get their hands on some of the Premier League pound. Look at how swiftly we did the deals for Juanmi and Cedric. Would we therefore have struggled to get a deal over the line for Gueye, who is evidently desperate for Premier League football, with Lille also very keen to sell?

We're not being beaten to anyone by anyone. Agents have been using our name to flush out suitors. Gueye is just one of many players we've been linked with for whom we've had no real interest. Add Praet, Ogbonna, Bender and others to the list.

I think its quite simple why he's not giving a definitive answer to Saints. He's not that bothered about moving to Liverpool, but does want to wait and see if Utd come back in for him.

I agree, we only need one, but he needs to be a left-footed CB. I am concerned that all the CBs we have been linked with are right-footed apart from Rojo. Jos is our only left-sided CB at the moment. Stephens looks like a real prospect. He is strong in the air, great with the ball at his feet and he seems to have that ability to sniff out danger before it has happened. From his performances in pre-season, I think he has a real chance of breaking through this season. I'm glad that Koeman has seemingly decided not to send him back to Swindon. And with only Jose and Yoshida in that position I would like Jack to be given every opportunity to fight for the spot.

Sorry to change the subject but this was the only thread I could that relates to mercurial South American players. Does anyone know if Gaston is back in training yet?

There was not much evidence of it yesterday, but that is not to say it isn't there. He only really got forward with the ball at his feet once, when he ghosted past the full back and got his cross in. But the quality of the opposition means there is little we can take from that. It is also worth noting that our wide players this year are likely to hug the touchline more than last season, so the width will come from them rather than the full backs, who will of course overlap at times, particularly if the left-footed Tadic plays on the right, but there will be less requirement for the full backs to be so good going forward. Primarily they will be defenders who support the 'wingers' when the occasion allows.

I would like to see us hedge our bets by signing another young left back, but someone who already has league football experience, so is less of a gamble than Targett. Signing an established international left back will undoubtedly hamper Targett's progress if indeed he is ready, so a good alternative would be to let two youngsters fight it out for the spot. The best man will then win, and if Targett isn't ready then at least we have another good left back to fall back on. I wonder of this was the thinking when we were thought to be after Kolo.

I was at the Hasselt game last night and watched Matt Targett with interest. Unfortunately he wasn't challenged much so it was difficult to gauge what he can do. What I did see, though, is that he has a very assured touch. Every ball that came to him he killed dead and he has that imperceptible way of addressing the ball that indicates a proper footballer. Bridge had it, Bale had it, Luke Shaw had it. Positionally he looked absolutely fine. Did everything right but and didn't take any risks. He looks to be a full back that is more pre-disposed to the defensive side of being a full back. But then both Luke and Calum were hesitant to get forward when they first came in as well. He is a big unit; taller than Luke I think, and doesn't looks like he would be that easy to muscle off the ball. My overall impression was that he is probably just about ready to be given a go. It will take him 10 games or so to get into it but I wouldn't have any problem if the club decide that he is our first choice left back this season.

There's no way that photo is real. Look how that yellow patch of glare to the right of Mo shapes round his body. He has just been stuck on by a moderately talented Photoshopper.

Our name is being used by other parties to get what they want. Does Levy really want Mo, or has he been conducting a straw poll to see how popular he would be? Maybe he has his eye on someone 'bigger', and wants the credit when he 'rejects' Mo and appoints eg. Mancini or Ancelloti. Is Sherwood REALLY in the running for our job, or does he want Brighton to hear that a Premier League club are after him? And do the press really think that we're going to lose all our staff, or are they sniffing out in story before they start on their biannual slaughter of the England team, which contains 3 of our players?

Certainly his wife is from Soton so I reckon this one should be filed under very unlikely.

Not so badly injured to stop him viewing houses though!

Just to add fuel to the Nathan Dyer fire, he was viewing houses in the New Forest on Saturday.

A blog on how Rickie brings England together and makes them play more cohesively than Rooney does. http://wp.me/p3PzQZ-m

Some thoughts from blog The Spirit of Bobby Stokes on what the team should be tonight. http://www.thespiritofbobbystokes.wordpress.com/2013/08/26/but-can-he-perform-on-a-wet-tuesday-night-in-barnsley/

If you haven't seen it already, below is a review of the game by Saints blogger 'The Spirit of Bobby Stokes'. http://thespiritofbobbystokes.wordpress.com/2013/08/25/all-change-or-plus-ca-change-at-st-marys/

He was wearing a John and Yoko t-shirt today, which was probably a reference to the first line of the Ballad of John and Yoko, 'standing at the docks in Southampton'. If we were as effortlessly cool as Dani himself, we would come up with a song based on this to show we got the reference.

Interesting article on his suitability to Saints. http://thespiritofbobbystokes.wordpress.com/2013/08/18/the-fallen-idol-that-seeks-solace-on-the-south-coast-2/

There will be plenty of opportunities to play all three next season. It will give us an opportunity to control the midfield in away games, which we largely failed to do last season, hence our pretty abysmal away record. Mo will flip the 4231 into a 4321. The places of Lallana, Rodriguez and Gaston are just as likely to come under threat with someone like Wanyama coming in as Cork's is.

Yet somehow managed to deliver so much more than most English professional footballers in history. FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Cup, Premier league title, Ballon D'Or, Premier league golden boot, 10th most capped English player, only English player to play in 4 major tournaments, 2nd most goals for England.

I saw him come off the bench on Sunday night v Sevilla and he looked pretty useful. Played in a wide position and put in a good cross for a goal. Looked a good technical player and I suspect could play anywhere in the front four. Definitely worth signing if we can get him. Courtois was in goal as well and he looked excellent. He would be a brilliant signing.

In fairness, when fans were buying up available shares back in the days before Lowe was ousted by Wilde etc, the purpose was not to own the club. The purpose was to have a say in the EGM in which Lowe was ultimately ousted. I don't think there was any intention, or belief, that the fans would buy out a controlling share of the club.

You must be thinking of Bob de Ridder.

Oddly enough, this is almost exactly how I had it finishing, even goal difference. Literally the only difference I had was Fulham slipped into the bottom three and Reading clawed out of it.

Wasn't Kevin Keegan refused entry to the Dell car park by an overly busy steward back when he played for us? Then, it was seen as rather amusing. Now, the Echo use it as a stick to beat Cortese with.