Bwanamakubwa

All it will mean is they are a little less gung ho I imagine

I think its as simple as them not being available on the terms we are prepared to work with. I'm ok with our loans policy as long as we do everything to sign up the ones that have proved themselves. Bertrand the first one of those, you'd imagine elia and djuricic. Toby maybe more difficult. Also our previous policy gave us expensive flops like Ramirez who we now can't shift, and osvaldo... Christ knows what you do with him. My guess is the club feel they've wasted (and are still wasting) lots of money on them and want to reduce the risk of it happening again

My two penneth... I actually thought Tadic had a decent first half, he was always an outball to feet and was strong against his full back - sometimes though its as if he waits for something to happen rather go out there and make it happen. He got Clyne away a few times. Re the crossing - I actually dont think they were good enough, particularly when we had a bit of time. This I put down to both Elia and Tadic being on their weaker foot when crossing first time (i.e. without cutting inside), they are just content with getting the ball over rather than picking someone out. Significant that the JWP chance was Clyne, a naturally right footed player, putting in the cross. I was surprised not to see Elia and Tadic switch wings when the crossing repeatedly was dealt with far too easily. Pelle needs some help. He is getting some abuse where I sit and I can see why, however I have sympathy for him. On his knockdowns there is no one close enough to him and he has played up top, on his own, almost the whole season and thats a tough ask for anyone - I too wish we were in for another striker like Demba Ba as some have mentioned.

It will just be classed as excessive force, which being subjective is very tough to over turn

Unwillingness to travel back in time is the clearest indication yet she wants to sell

Yeates is high brow compared to "the victory" I ended up in on boxing day at palace. Good cheese rolls though

Is excellent at what he does, integral member of the squad and first team who sit currently in third. Happy with him in the side. Could attribute that to anyone at saints right now. In this case its on the Steven Davis thread.

Reading back through the original thread, it amazes me how some people write statements of absolute fact that clearly aren't.

Turks, when you don't play or retire, you move up one notch on the smirks noodle scale. This applies from Billy Sharp to Maldini

Creating an atmosphere is not only about generating as much noise as possible. It is also about making the fans feel they are part of an event and giving them an experience they could not get by watching it on television at home. That is not a common enough phenomenon at premier league grounds as the television coverage is so good, it almost feels like you are there. The sound inside grounds is very localised. I've had season tickets in quite a few places and there will be a lot of atmosphere in those areas, but you just won't hear it down at the other end. Acoustics is about geometry, noise travels by line of sight. There are parts where you can't hear what's going on in other parts. This gets emphasised on tv when microphones are placed near away fans - friends have stated how loud the away fans are when watching tv yet I have been in the ground and barely heard a peep. Improving the atmosphere in an existing stadium is obviously different to building it up from scratch. You could curve and tilt the roof so it retains the noise and reflects it onto the field of play. You'd get long reverberations and people would respond. I've seen all the games over the Xmas period, and the atmosphere has been fine where I am, home and away. So much so I have not felt the need to ask my fellow saints fans whether they attended university, what they or their parents did for a job, where they lived, what they earnt, or whether they had a fondness of prawn sandwiches. I'll sign off by saying I think that noise levels are influenced by a number of things, and while demographic has changed, many many other things have too to influence atmosphere changes.

This is what I mean. The atmosphere was good against arsenal, nervous against Chelsea before that. Stamford bridge had a car park behind it. It wasn't too special then. I dont think they have taken a dip, they are just different and I'd put this more down to the theatre like feel of sitting down than demographics owing to ticket pricing. Atmosphere is not just about noise, it's about the emotions you feel at the stadium. I think you're focussing on demographic rather than the rather rapid evolution of the premier league that will inevitably bring about change

They are not at £70 (yet) at Saints. I see what you are trying to say but I dont understand why you believe that a)if cheaper tickets are available the people who go will create a better atmosphere and b) given that it was a full house yesterday, and the atmosphere wasnt up to your requirements, why would reducing the ticket prices mean those people there yesterday are less likely to buy a ticket. I also recall many times in the 80's standing at the Archers Road end in a sparsely populated crowd against teams like Luton. Prices were low then. In Germany they suffered hugely for a number of years with dwindling attendances and effectively went bust. Then they reduced their prices. At present the Premier league particularly sells well at the prices that are set. My main concern about reduced ticket prices is not for clubs like Southampton but for ones like Eastleigh, Salisbury etc. If you can go and watch Arsenal vs Saints for £15, how much can they charge? They are clubs that rely far more on ticket sales revenue.

I'm agreeing smirks. Its fine margins but important ones. A couple of goals yesterday, and a bit more clinical in December and he'd be up around the Costa/aguero in terms of goals. He's very close to it

Tough job leading the line in almost every game. As posted above, we seem to require a scapegoat and since Victor is now considered good, Mane has scored a few goals and Forster had a decent game vs Arsenal we are running out of options hence Pelle, Tadic even Davis being touted as possibles.

The answer is becoming clear as I read this thread, a better atmosphere is guaranteed by - cheaper tickets for working class, price out the families who also arent allowed to buy tickets for cup games, and the middle class well, they can pay as much as we want them to pay.

He works very very hard, can't fault him on that. Agree with both smirks points, he hooks the ball on and that's a high risk pass. I do however believe that Koeman encourages that - we try things more under Koeman, high risk passes, back heels etc etc

Could do. Welcome to the premier league, now stop Edin Hazard

Like the fact while he prefers to come in on his right foot, his pace means he can go the other way too which is what would make mane more productive

I think we are agreeing. Almost. I've suggested babacar or bamford on here, both of which I'd prefer to a Lambert return.

To put it another way: I really hope pelle doesn't get injured as, aside from Gallagher who hasn't been seen in months, we have no direct back up. J rod was never comfortable as a lone front man. Long I prefer as a wider option or as part of two. What you get with Lambert is what we got from him last year, lack of mobility but a talisman, creative player who brings others in, and given a chance can finish. He has not changed in those few months. I'm happy to get someone in who is better than Lambert, so long as it's not no one!

This idea is growing on me. Lambert would be excellent back up to pelle still and we don't have that. He'd have to be like Kelvin Davis - sit on the bench, accept he isn't first choice, he may even be third choice. Who knows after that, he can strike a ball better than most, and is a very intelligent footballer. Could have a sheringham at west ham role for saints

I hadnt considered that problem. IF he does sign and is good who becomes the boo boy? Had some having a pop at Pelle for not trying hard enough vs Everton - could he be in with a shout? Or Forster for not coming off his line? Its been decided that Victor only passes sideways or to the opposition so he'd be an option. We wont be short of options on the bench either.

Having mane on the bench will be useful, maybe he will improve its easy to forget how young he is.

Agreed. He is likely to be lambasted by some if he doesn't try to dribble at players and goes sideways, and others if he doesn't beat his man over and over. If he arrives he gets the benefit of the doubt and encouragement from me. (It worked with j-rod, I don't mind admitting I lost faith in Gaston after a year or so!)

Agreed verbal. It won't happen as we have a fixed system, but I'd be tempted with a midfield three of Toby, reed, jwp. With mane just in the hole in front and mayuka with long up top. Ok there's no width but it might give them something to think about