Cabrone

Hopefully we draw them at Fratton in the cup and get another 4-0. Always nice to do the double.

7 points from last 3 games - 2 away + 1 home to Man U. I'll take that.

Best game of our best ever season. Fantastic memories.

Overall much more positive than last week and we were undone by a couple of good strikes. Ings is getting a bit of stick on here but Adams missed a pretty good chance too, just that it was in the 1st half rather than at the death. Don't just single out Ings, the whole strikeforce need to sharpen up.

Back in Southampton - Gutta Percha & The Balladeers Even mentions Ted Bates and the 76 Cup Win If you want a Southampton band then how about 'Berts Apple Crumble' by the Quik...top tune

Our premier league opening record is bad but the 7 seasons we spent outside the prem were no better. Opening day results were: Wolves(h) 0-0 Derby (a) 2-2 Palace (h) 1-4 Cardiff (a) 1-2 Millwall (h) 1-1 Plymouth (h) 0-1 Leeds (h) 3-1 = 6 points, would equate to 44 points over a 38 game season. This football club seems to have a real problem hitting the ground running.

Obviously the smart money's on a loss but I fully expect at a bare minimum to see a big improvement on Saturday. RH isn't going to put up with standard a second time running. If we go at them with the bit between our teeth I can see a close loss or even with a bit of luck a draw. Bednarek + Yoshida in central defence please. Also if you play Long on his own up front you won't score - Adams & Ings up front for me please.

I wonder if after a full pre-season Ralph wiped last season's performances and selected from friendlies form. Regardless he gave them the opportunity to claim those positions and they ended up costing us the game. Enough IMO, it's time for a change.

If fit I'd have Yoshida and Bednarek in a 4-4-2 setup with the new kid on the bench, ready to be tried out. Vestergaard and Stephens aren't up to it, I think we've seen that enough times now. At least one 'positive' from yesterday is that after just 1 game Ralph should now know that they aren't up to it. I'd be quite surprised if he gave them a 2nd chance.

We never start very well and that performance was far too early to make any real assumptions let alone the reactions on here. Things will improve, RH will ensure it.

For me Friday night is the worst time for a game. Besides the usual transport issues Friday evening is a time to unwind and have a drink after a week's work (or study for the students on here), not to go to a football match. Also when there's a game on a Saturday there's some anticipation\excitement on the Friday for the following day. Friday games kill that for the rest of the w\e. Besides, it's just plain weird to play football on a Friday, there's no tradition whatsoever. Every Friday night game I've ever been to had a strange atmosphere. Saturday > Sunday (4pm) > Midweek > Monday > Sunday (lunchtime) > Friday for me.

Whoever ends up buying Charlie has to play him right and he'll bag the goals. Forget through balls to run onto, get it in the box and he's and excellent weapon up front. I still think 10M is about OK.

Didn't BT get a bit of stick in his early days at SFC?

Welcome aboard Che and with Ralph's coaching I'm already looking forward to a much more exciting forward line this season. I think we'll be seeing far more pace, power and goals (not that it would be too difficult to improve on the last few years).

Maybe I'm in the minority here but that sounds like a fair price to me. If they play him right he'll get goals and £10M will seem like v.good business. They have to play to his strengths though.

He looks a decent player to me, 22 y.o with plenty of speed and power and of course 22 goals. All that plus he's scored heavily in a league that is tough and competitive. What's not to like? I don't see why under Ralph's tutelage he couldn't get 10-15 in the prem. IMO exactly the sort of player the club should be signing. Would they like Shane Long in exchange? He'd probably do very well in the champ....

Would rather he stayed but if he wants out and the club need the cash then so be it, price looks low though.

With Ralph coaching him that could be a very decent signing indeed - assuming it's vaguely true.

Decent exciting football, not that bothered about what league we are in as long as it's entertaining. Our league 1 campaigns were 100 times more fun that the last 2-3 seasons in the prem.

Class act and if we could get 5 years from Ralph IMO he'd become a legend. Sadly don't think we will though......this time next year the sharks will be circling and we'll just need to get the next Ralph.

No wallflower is he. When you've been involved with a thing like that something tells me a fans protest won't bother our chairman Gao......

Apparently we are now to be referred as the 'Southampton Squirrels' soccerball sporting club. Honest......ITK, bloke down pub, Gao told me in confidence in a phone box etc etc. (At least make the squirrel red FFS)

Get a decent goalscorer and those draws turn into wins, we move up the table and fans are happy(ish). Ralph didn't do a good job this season - he did a near miraculous one. We were on the verge of being cut adrift by a long way when he came, 9 points at the half way point was looking quite possible when Hughes was sacked. He steadied the ship very quickly, got us playing with energy and enthusiasm and managed to squeeze a few decent performances from the team. I think next season will be a lot better - as long as Ralph stays + he has a decent kitty to spend.

I like the look of Tammy Abraham but no idea if we could ever get him.

I'm plumping for Spurs, prefer them to Pool but it's a 50:50 game though. TBH I don't really have a grudge against either. If it was PFC, Everton or Leeds then that would be a different matter.........