Charlie Wayman

Let's face an uncomfortable truth if Ings and Vestergaard badger off during this summer break we will be knee deep in effluent without a paddle (being polite). It will make us odds on favourites for the drop and we will drop no doubt about that. So, do we force them to stay against their will to see out their contracts and risk getting nothing for them but stay up or sell now and risk the bigger financial calamity of relegation. My guess is that Gao will take the short term view, will sell the players and hope to offload us before we drop. If he creams off £40/50m from their sale that will significantly reduce his exposure and allow him some flexibility on selling price. Don't bet on any of the selling fees being ploughed back in.

JWP is nowhere near as good as the lads who are playing for England or indeed Grealish who seems unable to stake a claim for a starting place in a Southgate team. One suspects he is seen as a bit limited if not quite a one trick pony. Talk of £50m is pie in the sky, £30m tops if we are lucky but more likely £20m + add ons like England appearances.

The delta variant of Covid-19 has dictated our pre-season plans and quite rightly so. It is bound to be restricted and disappoint but all that matters is that our players get as many match miles into their legs as possible ready for the new season in August.

Djenepo has had ample opportunity to show his abilities and has failed to deliver. Boufal is better so there's the rub.

We need a new era at SFC, a break away from the English old-boy cohorts typified by the Ings, Bertrand, Ward Prowse love-in that must unsettle foreign players. Let him go and we may have a better team and culture for it.

This is good news. We have learned from past mistakes thank goodness.

That's a very bold statement based on what exactly. Bertrand maybe is past his best now but at his peak he was one of the very best. Monsieur Perraud has some way to go to proves merit.

He's probably decided to stay as nobody seems to be interested in him.

Surely he will be one for the future eh Ralph?

Atta boy! Onwards and Upwards.

Like Saints, England only beat very poor teams.... 😂

Agree. Last night the England plan was spot on, starve them of the ball, frustrate them mentally, wear them out physically by chasing shadows then use the creative players to full effect. No complaints at all. I am not a Southgate fan but there are more brains behind England's tatics than his. Sadly the Sweden v Ukraine game was one of the dirtiest of the tournament so far, Sweden lacked real talent so resorted to fouling to stay in it. At least Ukraine tried to play football and will be a different proposition against England.

...but no doubt you are happy seeing Hasenhüttl week in week out making the same atrocious decisions?

Nothing in this world would astonish me short of Messi & Ronaldo signing for Saints at the Potter's Heron on Thursday.

Interesting triumvirate, Saints, Blackburn, Newcastle... A good omen for the new Shearer?

JWP is as much part of the problem at Saints as any other player. It is cnonsense to imply that he is a class above and disdainful of his colleagues and the way we play so wants to move on. .

Pre-season starting on Monday? So where are the new players from our plan to get our business done early so that we have a whole pre-season to bed them in? Just asking

Hands off Leon Crouch, he was a true Saints through and through, not particularly deep pockets but he did what he could financially, his money kept us going at one stage. RIP

Hapless and hopeless, both England and Scotland. Excruciating viewing so I watched Clarkson's Farm instead. Tuesday night will be England's Swansong no doubt about that. Surely Southgate has got to be sacked soon.

Another one bites the dust.

Boring with umpteen millions stashed away for a rainy day? I'd love to be that bored!

I think we should appoint Benitez as a new manager and rotate him and Hasenhüttl on a two match basis. We can then decide at the end of the season which one to keep and which one to bin.

Because some of our young players have been discarded by Saints because they don't suit Hasenhüttl's style of play doesn't mean they are not good players. If things go badly this season and Hasenhüttl is ditched, we might come to regret some of the decisions made about young players recently.

Good players turn these opportunities into goals

Of course he's a decent human being and a very rich one at that. It doesn't have much to do with his football managerial skills