Charlie Wayman

I guess we'll be in or around the relegation zone all year - second season syndrome - and found wanting in creating goals as we were last year when the pressure was on and we desperately needed to win games. Not many clubs seem able to avoid this type of slump in their fortunes and the only explanation can be that all the pumped-up hype and expectations of pre-season (usually arising from the relief of surviving their first season) is misplaced introspection. As they say, "We need to get out more" - a quite valid observation as much of pre-season is internally focused (navel gazing) with most external excursions - like playing Spanish 4th Division clubs - intended to boost morale and the sense of team togetherness. What must be remembered is that all our rivals are doing exactly the same thing as us and 'progressing' in their own minds in equal measure. Nothing that I can see so far definitely makes us a better team than last year and our transfer activity success has never been stellar.

I'm already pointing the finger at Fonte for our defeat by FC Schalke. No problem until he came on. Jos is boss for these occasions.

Only a few days ago Ricky said he wanted to end his career at Southampton. If you want to sell newspapers invent the most improbable story you can imagine. Just ignore it fellas Ricky "ain't going nowhere".

I did too but the encouraging noises from the other players seemed a bit border-line PC to me?

Let's not get ahead of ourselves just because we won 8-0 against a pub team but there is every sign that we are going to walk the PL this season without losing to equal Arsenal's feat a few years ago, Guly is going to star as our new main striker and Isgrove will play for England alongside Clyne, Shaw and Lallana

I don't know if this point has been made on this thread but Pochettino has an employment contract with SFC and would have to pay the club huge compensation to be released from it, money he probably doesn't have. In any case he looks well settled here and he clearly believes he is a father to his players here and he doesn't look the time to turn his back on them at the drop of a hat.

How the hell does that build team spirit? In my career I've been on dozens of motivational and team building projects but nothing as remotely loony tunes as this nonsense. The guy running it is taking the **** big time and Pochettino is either part of the set-up or a complete mug. What a waste of time and money.

Agree, Davis is top class nothing prima donna-ish about him just gets on with it and consistently so

Well, if he also plays as well as Beckham, he'll be the new soccer icon - and he's a Saint! A star is born? Fingers crossed.

How many managers have come and gone? Where have you been these last few years?

This could be a critical wheel-nut falling off? Obviously he doesn't buy into Cortese's Utopian dream. What's he going to do at the FA except sit on his arse all day, it's not the FA's job to scout, recruit and train young players, unless of course they are so ****ed off with PL's attitude to the release of players for international matches that they are in future going to grow their own talent and run England as a separate club!

It would be a mistake to overlook Isgrove, he looks the real deal in the younger sides and is obviously well in with Pochettino. Expect to see him come on as a sub early in the season and starting next year.

If Pochettino is as fit as the rest of them do you think he'll play next season? Is he allowed to? Some training pics show him fully stuck into it... "Come on guys, hit me hard, no really hard..." FFS he's a boss not a pal, this will all end in tears.

I'm better pals with the boss than you are, na, nna, na, na!

Amazed that the whole squad fly in one plane, beggars thinking about if that one goes down... especial as I've bought my ST. No sensible corporation on this earth allows more than three top execs on one flight yet here we have the whole shebang bottled up in an explodable aluminium can. Irresponsible in the extreme. Idiots!

I suppose there's wisdom in there somewhere. At least Alex gets to play at The Emirates more than once per year, one of the world's great stadia.

Now we can win the PL!

Let's hope that more will follow him in. We need a world class playmaker in the No 8 or 10 position unless Gaston gets his act together this season.

Poor old Adkins, his bus has arrived far too late for him to take any advantage. Turfing off the conductor was never a good idea

Now we're after Frederik Sorenson supposedly, I can't keep up with this. If they all sign on none of us will recognise our team next season. Chants of "Who are You?" from the Northam will be in order when the teams are read out.

Morgan is clearly settling into the role of Club Captain and why not he's been here longer than most, is intelligent and has a good positive sunny personality.... and he likes being here very much. What's not to like?

Isn't it time to re-name the Itchen as The Marcus Liebherr Stand or even the Marcus Liebherr Stadium?

Answer to OP question.. Yes! Probably makes Cortese feels like a real grown up when he's talking to such people.. Not quite there yet, 'though!

The guy is superb and surely will be first choice left CB. Talk about a non-story. It seems to me Jose is the one who should watch out not Yoshi

Boy, you sure push your luck. Good on ya!