Dan83

I'm in Aberdeen these days.... if anyone fancies a meet up for a televised Saints game at some point then give me a shout

Any Saints in Aberdeen?

Samaras has gone to West Brom http://www.wba.co.uk/news/article/samaras-joins-baggies-1858487.aspx

Nope.... he's left it up on Twitter. Don't understand how the club can't get a grip on it by fining the **** out of him

We already more than recouped that cash from last year's prize money - those accounts didn't include the prize money from what I recall. Just wool brought down over our eyes at the end of last season!

Apologies if already posted. Boruc to Bayern?? Suppose it's a possibility if Forster and/or Butland arrives. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/southampton/11007085/Southampton-goalkeeper-Artur-Boruc-an-unlikely-target-for-German-champions-Bayern-Munich.html#disqus_thread

Got to be building this team around Osvaldo

Very attacking starting line up for Man Utd! Fletcher's gonna have a busy day!

I'm getting pretty annoyed at the negative spin in the press about our supposed "big debts"... As I explained in a previous thread on our latest financial reports, these "debts" will easily be cleared by our elevated position in the league this season (along with the greater payments being dished out this year, compared to last). We really should still be in a position to invest just as well as we did last year. It is pretty worrying that the club continues to allow this sort of nonsense to be peddled by the press. It's beginning to sound a little like paving the way for some sales this summer. I, for one, hope it ends with Luke Shaw.... I honestly would not begrudge him a big move elsewhere for £30m+, and I think he will end up at Man Utd/City/Chelsea (highest bidder). It is beginning to sound like the club are allowing our financial position to be spun into something that is worse than it actually is.... strange.

"Forgive my maths - been a long day! Should've said an increase in prize-money of around £40m! Easily swallows this £27m liability." Good to see the Echo basically regurgitating my post http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/11118914.Saints_on_brink_of___80m_jackpot/?ref=mry

Forgive my maths - been a long day! Should've said an increase in prize-money of around £40m! Easily swallows this £27m liability.

Ok.... so I've only had a brief skim through the thread so forgive me if this has been covered. But it seems obvious to me! So we have £27m in transfer fee liabilities right now. I'm not sure if it is easy to find precise figures for 2013/2014 Premier League prize-money, but I read at the end of last season there was to be a huge increase in TV money this year compared to last. Given that we earned £46.9m in broadcasting rights for 2012/13, and the team finishing 20TH in 2013/2014 is expected to receive £63m this season (source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/10072297/New-Premier-League-TV-deal-promises-100m-prize-money-for-next-seasons-title-winners.html), then if we come 8th/9th we should expect TV/prize money revenue to go up to £83m - £85m (an increase of around £20m on last year). This increase, plus the operating profit (which I assume we'll be able to make again - at least) eliminates the entire £27m. I'm no accountant. But sounds to me like we're entirely well-positioned financially. The BBC article is way OTT, and I'm slightly disappointed with the tone taken by Hans Hoffsteter in his comments. It may be that he is accentuating the negatives now to (1) have a dig at the previous regime and (2) make it look like the new regime has done a better job down the line, but I really can't see any reason why we can't invest again in the summer!

So angry about that today. Great chance to get through to the quarters and we throw it away..... the blame is squarely with MP on this i'm afraid. His whole attitude around cup competitions is abject, so it's no surprise the players then put in a lacklustre performance. I don't think the fact his assistant deals with all the media for cup games helps either. Sends a message straight away that Southampton don't take cups seriously. The position we're in in the league.... this game should have been number 1 priority. Instead we get Kelvin booting it off for a throw in every time he gets the ball, and the rest forgetting how to pass from A to B.

Done

I'll assume your stats are right - that's pretty phenomenal. Also, re Lescott loan to Everton, I'm pretty sure there are rules on number of loans from English clubs (I think, maximum is 2) and they've already got Lukaku (Chelsea) and Barry (Man City). They're also supposed to be getting Lamina Traore on loan from Monaco. Surely there must be a limit!! Prem teams loaning so many players is ridiculous.

Slightly worried Osvaldo seems to be getting into a battle with Terry - really think Osvaldo has a red card in him! Also, think we can safely say Ramirez is off in January. No place on the bench, despite us having Hooived AND Yoshida there!

After how many games.... if we're still in the top 4.... would you then start considering us contenders to finish there? I think if we take 2 or 4 points from the next two games then I think optimism will start to grow of a top 4 finish. Even 1 point would mean we've gone to ANOTHER big team and gotten something. They've all got to come to St Mary's yet remember. As it stands, we're the most "under the radar while under everyone's noses" team ever to grace the Premier League.

Anyone actually considered what the World Cup 23 would be? It's suddenly gotten quite competitive, other than at CB. I can't see Clyne getting in. Johnson and Walker are shoe-ins, and if one gets injured then it's more likely they'll use Smalling/Jones as cover than have another specialist RB in my opinion. As for Shaw, Baines and Cole are in, and then there are Gibbs and Bertrand who will probably come into consideration ahead of Shaw for this World Cup. Not saying Gibbs or Bertrand are better players though! As for Lambert, I really think he is the closest thing to Rooney we have so I think he will go. Defoe won't go... unless he moves on in January to somewhere he'll be playing every week. Just don't think he fits with modern day formations - unless he learns to play wide.

He's either made it up to substantiate his point (possible) or he's gotten the South Coast derby mixed up with another (more likely). I was actually wondering if it might have been Newcastle-Sunderland, but don't think they've player yet this season! It's just the fact he couldn't be any more wrong and Saints have actually been in the media a lot lately as bastions for bringing through English talent! Wouldn't have minded a "recent" South Coast derby though! Would rather play them every season than see them rot in League 2, to be honest.

Fraser Nelson (editor of The Spectator) on ITV's The Agenda this week: Discussing National Identity, Fraser (very posh Scottish bloke) came out with this: "Recently Southampton played Portsmouth, not a single British born player on the starting line, and the crowds only cared about the quality of football." What?! https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/the-agenda Watch from 21:10 if interested....

Another idiotic OP. Far too frequent on this forum lately.

Anyone considered that we might have tried to push Morgan ahead a bit more and play Cork and VW behind? I honestly didn't see us leaving Jack Cork out this season! Certainly what I was expecting away from home. With his fiery temperament (lucky not to get red on debut) and track record meaning i'm slightly concerned about his impact on the squad, I'd have liked to see Osvaldo have to wait a bit before getting into the team to show him he's part of a team set-up here. SRL deserves to keep his place until someone truly earns it and GRABS their chance. My team would be: Boruc Clyne - Yoshida - Lovren - Shaw Cork VW - Schneiderlin Ramirez - Rodriguez Lambert Subs: K.Davis, Fonte, Fox, Lallana, Osvaldo, Ward-Prowse, Guly

Good point.

I thought there were rules about publicizing interest in players under contract at other clubs?? Aren't Saints in breach of this with today's press conference?

Schneiderlin's top dog in interceptions by a long long way! http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11096/8671431/PFA-Alternative-XI