Charlie Wayman

Can't you ever add a constructive thought rather than exist only to insult everyone else on here? Do you ever have anything useful or interesting to say?

So who gets left out of mid-field? The three playing yesterday looked settled and good with a good understanding already so on this showing will be first choice to start so where will Davis & Højbjerg fit in? If the six Euro 16 absentees do not get game time in Holland, will they be automatic starters or will they have to fight for their places and how will this affect this pre-season bonding? Wonder how we'll line up against Watford, will Puel place faith in what he has seen in pre-season or take a flyer on the returning internationals doing their stuff from the get-go? There are some big challenges ahead for M Puel.

Takes one to know one, pri.ck!

They think Jeremy Corbin is a good leader and will make a good Prime Minister....

There is some really excellent stuff on the OS but it is awful to navigate. The best bit by far for me is the You Tube space where new videos are posted more or less on a daily basis, those that can't be Rrsed to use the OS are missing out big time, how can anybody claim to be a supporter and not follow the OS everyday to keep in touch? Shane Long's interview today is unmissable if you really worry about the new season. Let's be honest most of what is written on here is speculative nonsense and if a certain type of person prefers to indulge in that without balancing it with a few facts from the OS than more fool them.

Er... um... yes? I read a FA book of football tactics once written by Howard Wilkinson when he was their technical director and much-hailed whizz, when England played really well and one a couple of World Cups and the odd European Championship. My view of tactics and tactical formations has been coloured by that book ever since. It is all total mumbo-jumbo and utter c.r.a.p! With a few exceptions most footballers will find it a bit of a stretch to understand what a coach is talking about when formations are presented on a white board, even if they can concentrate hard enough for long enough to take any of it in. As for remembering in detail and understanding their individual roles and responsibilities in a live match situation to ensure that switching from anything other than a basic 4-3-3 doesn't end up as an on-field organisational chaotic mess is stretching credibility too far. Old generals will tell you that War Plan A ends the minute the first shot is fired in anger because no matter how detailed the planning, they have no idea what the opposition has planned or how it will respond. How often do we see in football any shift in the balance or pattern of play at any time other than sometimes at half-time when managers get 20 minutes with their players to explain a plan B, because by that time he has realised that his own Plan A hasn't worked? Sometimes they get away with it if the opposition is on top and the oppo's manger just advises "more of the same". More often than not in my experience when you get managers forever shouting instructions from the side-lines to change things around a team falls apart in confusion rather than for anything useful being achieved.

It is somewhat optimistic to conclude that KL will be around for "some time yet" based on a few obligatory kind words to preface your new book. Did you actually meet her and ask the question or was it all arranged though phone-calls and PM's? A company boss who really has a heart or a heartless politician? We'll see when the inevitable turn of our fortunes descends upon us and will fans be so keen and loyal to the owners when put to the same test? Everyone is your friend when you smile! I am less cynical about the Lambert contribution, surely your next book should be about his story at Saints, almost a biography if you will and I will buy the first 10 copies. The rise and rise of our club like the Phoenix from the flames would be nicely encapsulated by the story of Davis, Fonte & Lambert, three of the nicest guys ever to wear a Saints shirt. If we can find a non-job for Kelvin just to stand around, smile and lark around a bit, then surely we can find a role for Ricky - like explaining to our strikers and attacking mid-fielders the relationship between the ball and the back of the net and the desirability of bringing the two together more than once in a blue moon?

You can be sure of one thing, if the club does allow Matt to go out on loan it will be a clear sign that they don't rate him as good enough for us and what will that do for his morale - and loyalty - a young local lad who wanted nothing more in life than to be playing for his beloved Saints. If ever there was a one-club man in the making, Matt surely must be him. ....and, what happens when inevitably Ryan gets injured again or gets red-carded? A loan is a loan and they can't just call Matt back for a couple of weeks to help out, no team will want to be ****,ed about like that and nor will any player. Now, if both the invisible manager and the recently departed have concluded that Matt just cannot make the grade then fair enough, they know or should know a hell of a lot more about footballers than any of us then let him go but it would have to be a transfer as he could never again come back here and feel the same way about the club who he once loved but ended up shaftin'g him.

Bit of both needed really.

Forster, Bertrand, Long & Davis are all back from hols, the US jaunt is over yet no news or pics at all on OS of training at Matchwood? Seems a bit odd we usually get this stuff rammed down our throats every day with a scattering of player interviews. Sudden gagging order? What's going on up there iris too hot from them to run around a bit?

Nope to this one. I'll wait for the real thing.

There seems to be a worrying lack of momentum in this pre-season, partly it must be said because of the Euros but that is not the only reason. The Dutch tour is obviously something that was set up by/for Koeman and has a distinct 'old regime' feel about it. So far we have seen or heard little from Puel (the invisible man?), certainly no sign of the charismatic leadership that both the players and fans need to build excitement and anticipation of a bold new venture. Despite the departures of several key players from the last campaign the club have given little sign that we will replace them - it is possible of course that recruitment is far more difficult nowadays, that potential incoming players hesitate because so many others have left and we have a relatively unknown coaching team. With 20 days to go before kick-off we seem to be leaving it a little late to pull everything together in time and many must sense that we are about to enter an important new season with an engine that has not been properly maintained and is not firing on all cylinders. To me it seems that Koeman's departure was so abrupt that the club had no plan B and whilst Puel may turn out to be a super coach in his own right he seems unable to provide that big personality feel (Boris Johnson) that grabs people's attention and convinces that the impossible may be possible.

No doubt Gaston wanted to stay? No doubt Deano wanted to stay? No doubt Chappers wanted to stay? Cuts both ways. It's not one way fickle and cut-throat.

...who happens to be the mentor of our new manager, whose name still escapes me.

That's not true 'though is it? This choice was forced upon him by Wenger only. Saints could let him do both roles but come on lads, it ain't going to happen the guy's a Londoner and a superstar and probably only ever found his way to Southampton because he was on a coach to SMS.

Ryan is a very shrewd guy, given his almost last chance at Saints he has grabbed it with both hands, improved himself beyond measure, become a regular first pick on the team sheet and forced his way into the England squad. No way was he going to rock his little boat in the choppy waters of Saints close season squall. Some players never learn when they are well off, they think it is all about money. Ryan clearly is not one of those at all. Good luck to him, I'm chuffed as bunny.

Fonte and Cedric next to go? You heard it here first?

Effing Reed couldn't seal a deal on a free senior citizen bus pass, whenever he's involved we lose out. The old fool is a liability and will ruin this club.

I thought it was yellow submarines queuing up in the Mersey?

Well let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, most of that article was from a briefing script prepared by Reed.

Misguided and unfair.

If it is so then it'll be Mr Reed politely telling Mr Koeman to FO.

He's just realised he's been sold a pup by Reed and has to stick it out for at least two years before he can flee back to the Côte d'Azur. What, not even a beach? Scare Bleu!

Yuk. How did they get it so wrong. Taxi for the design manager please. Still the stripey bit is the right colour. Shocking.

The opening half dozen fixtures are a nightmare combination of "easy (must) wins" at home and impossibly tough games away, not to mention a sprinkling of energy sapping EL matches in amongst them. It'll be tough enough if we do not lose any more talent in the next few weeks but if we end up fielding a string of new players or erstwhile reserves Puel could be on a very steep learning curve indeed.