Saint_Ash

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/vine-shane-long-impresses-on-first-day-with-southampton-with-beautiful-control-and-volley-finish-30511064.html

Back to rumours - http://talksport.com/football/reports-southampton-weighing-move-celtic-star-140815107921 Nice to see that maybe our work hasn't been done as of yet.

I think maybe it's better to say if he's involved in a lot of goals then he's justified his price tag, there's more to Long's game than just scoring, hence why we paid a lot for him.

Yeah, either way it looks a decent team, and pretty exciting I reckon, can do damage this season but we need more than a strong starting 11 and think that is where the academy lads can step up when needed, big year for JWP, Isgrove and Reed.

Does look good but I honestly can't see Morgan playing at all and I honestly believe at time Davis runs the midfield behind the strikers with an excellent brain. I would change Morgan for Taider and probably Ramirez for Davis, but having quality like Ramirez on the bench is a decent problem to have when we're being touted for relegation contenders by the pundits. .................Forster Clyne - Fonte - Gardos - Bertrand .........Taider - Wanyama .....Tadic - Davis - Long ..................Pelle

When Adkins didn't know who was going to be his number 1 when we came up it created all sorts of problems, I have no problem with Koeman stating who his number 1 is and sticking by him. Strong management if you ask me.

To be fair we don't know what Koeman has said in private to the keepers. He might have told them that due to the £10m fee the fans want to see Forster fully backed as there have been disgruntled noises with regards to transfers and they won't want to see a £10m player sat on the bench but that thesy will still be competing with the spot. I'm sure Irene will come and tell me I'm incorrect but I'm just surmising. I personally think Forster does have to justifiy his price tag so I'd throw him straight in at Liverpool.

If you read the interview with Kasper Schmeichel the other day he said something like what new goalkeepers want to hear when they join is they are going to be number one, made to feel special. Our future is Fraser Forster, who at 26, could give us easily another 8 years if he likes it here and Liverpool don't fancy him. Boruc was pretty good for us last season but at 34 and prone to stupidity I think we're correct to put all our faith in Forster. Our fans are pretty happy when it comes to wanting new outfield players that we have to sign ones that are better than what we have and go straight in the team , why can't it work for keepers?

Why is it poor?

Their team is weaker without a world class player they haven't replaced. They can strengthen all areas but without Suarez they are weaker.

Bertrand looks decent, I think our attacking threat will trouble Liverpool but could be very vulnerable at the back. I'm hoping for a wanyama motm performance.

This would be my team with the long a bit closer to pelle. On Sunday pelle was winning a lot in the air but no one to feed off him, hopefully long can do that, not that I'm advocating long balls but for set pieces and the like.

Love the divide.

I'm looking forward to deadline day. Koeman has another trick up his smart blue sleeves.

For a team that cries they have no money they can sign 28m players. Why compare us to Everton? Best buying window saints have ever had, and we've cut some poison out.

Like who? What 20 goals a season striker is going to come here for a decent fee and salary within our means?

Exactly, that seems fair and if he helps us in the cups or up in the league then the rest of the money will follow but we would have to hit success anyway so it's not as bad as some are making out or panicking about. The amount of money we've made this summer can quite easily cover it anyway.

Great signing, well happy with that, no worries about learning the prem, can imagine Long to start on Sunday now.

Yeah, especially if we're now in the mood to throw serious cash at players now.

But it's not going to happen is it?

Like the sounds of this kid, could be a bit of a coup. Another one that would be out of the blue. Be nice to get a couple of signings over the line today.

Anyone would think Cork is the best player in the world. He's a decent player yes but not he's hardly going to get a game in our starting 11, he's going to be behind Wanyama for start in the holding midfield role and in midfield in general I'd like to see JWP ahead of him and I think Taider will be ahead of him in the pecking order as well. It's nothing like morgan whoi would be first choice if he wasn't such a pr1ck.

Considering the only facts people on this thread were using to rusbbish Long was his goalscoring record, how does Welbeck's 12, 2, 10 goals and 29 goals in 139 appearances over the last three years stack up against Long's?

I think we should wait and see how we get on with our new players before writing the team off like a lot of you are doing. We are investing the funds we've received but we're not a champs league team and some of the players we've apparently approached want champs league football or/and wages. I think our buying window has been decent for a team of our stature and I for one am looking forward to the start of the season where everyone can whinge about the on field performance instead of the of field antics.