Stattmeister

I know this is a HCDAJFU thread, but my question is this - where do you think we need reinforcements? I've seen so many names bandied around, and I don't quite know myself. I also keep seeing "we need 5/6 signings".... well where? I think we *need*: GK CB LM RM ST As a minimum as I think we're genuinely short in these positions; clearly Tommy as #2 GK is not a solution. Now Jaidi is confirmed as gone, then Seaborne and Martin are our only two back ups to Jos and Jose. Guly/Puncheon (if he's to feature) I presume will start as RM, but is he the answer? LM is Lallana's spot to lose, but who plays there now if he's crocked and Holmes has gone? We know we're in the market for a ST, with Hooper and Rodriguez continually linked. I think we'll stick with the full backs we have (I know Clyne's name keeps coming up), as Fox, Harding and Shaw will cover LB, and presumably Richardson, Butterfield and Stephens RB (whether they are all of the desired quality I agree is up for discussion). CM could probably do with a revamp - is Deano up for the prem? Who knows. Certainly Cork and Schneiderlin will make a fist of it but as others have pointed out, whilst they're both neat, tidy and busy players, can they unlock a tight door/ break from midfield? Chaplow can break we know, but he can be a little inconsistent. However, in terms of numbers, with those four you could argue again that these aren't a "priority" but I do feel if we were to go for the sixth signing (above and beyond the five positions above), this could be a key position. Apologies for the ramble - almost trying to clear in my own mind where the "evolution" needs to be... all well and true chucking lots of names of released players in, but trying to focus where I think we should invest in the playing squad.

What do the bookies say?

I read earlier that Reading were interested at £2.5m... paper talk I'm sure, but a very realistic suggestion if that is what he is valued at (Given how Holloway was with Charlie Adam, I'd be surprised if it was this low). Good signing mind.

Jordan Sibley‏@jordansibley So it looks like people have moved on from impersonating players on Twitter & are now pretending to be agents. Going to be a long summer!

AMEN! It's getting the balance right about players that will genuinely improve us, not disrupt the balance of the squad and are realistic targets. Rodriguez, Trippier, Trotter all fit that bill as you'd think they'd all be pushing for a starting birth. I think we'll have a better idea of our targetted areas and match those to these names flying around once the retained list is published.

Who mentioned Zak Whitbread? Confirmed today released on a free. Played 20 something games in the prem this season, but the Norwich back line kept what, two clean sheets? Not sure if he was involved in those either! I think like others, he'd be no more than a "back up" player behind Jos and Jose - something we can ill afford to have with the 25 man squad rule. I'd rather someone than can challenge those two for a starting spot please.

I'd forgotten how amusing this time of year is and the hullabaloo about who we are signing "FACT", particularly the football rumours website. Too funny a read to ignore (and I am not suggesting any of these are realistic or viable) but silly season last year is going to be a hundred times worse now we're in the prem; every slimey agent is going to be touting their average players and peddling their wares for a decent pay day in our direction - Cortese is going to be in his element with them... http://www.southamptonrumours.co.uk/

Looking at it objectively - can we finish higher than Reading? Yes. Wigan? Yes. I think both Swansea and Norwich will suffer second season syndrome - certainly with Sigurdsson probably moving on, so I say Yes to both of them. With one of Bolton/QPR, West Brom and one of West Ham/Blackpool in the league as well, I don't aiming our sights toward being above these teams is either over ambitious nor unrealistic. I'd like to think we can finish somewhere 12-16th as others have suggested. 17th would do if it all goes t!ts up and anything about 12th would be a bonus.

Just logged into Fantasy Premier League to see how my team faired this week - to be greeted by a banner by barclays saying "Congratulations on promotion back to the Premier League" with a Saints shirt with the Premier League crest on.... get in!

What about the catering on site, and the beer?

MLG - this is up your street... what is the situation with reserves/development squad now we're promoted? Will we be in a more formal "league" system? Apologies if this is a daft question...

If I recall he "broke" the news that we had made a double bid to a club which turned out to be Jay Rod and Fox? But I agree with the sentiment - as someone said the other day "a broken watch is correct twice a day" so pinch of salt required.

There are 42 player profiles. I think as per badgerx16's enlightening post above, we can expect a fair bit of movement of fringe players... I agree with the sentiment of "now is not the time" but I think it's realistic to expect those barely involved this season (Dickson, Holmes, Jaidi, Forte etc) to be moving on without being disrespectful as they haven't contributed much on the pitch... the likes of Guly, Hammond being discussed as maybe not good enough, I think we should let them enjoy this for a few days before we dish out P45's.

Just out of interest, does anyone know off hand whom is out of contract now this summer anyway? I know we've extended a significant proportion of the first team but wasn't sure if anyone has a definitive list? I still like the idea of Smithies, Davies, Clyne, M Phillips, Hooper, Rodrigues, Rhodes coming in (or a couple of them in any case) but we'll see. Having a squad limit of 25 coupled with seven on the bench does become a quandry to manage successfully. I suspect Nigel and Nicola are going to have a busy few weeks...

So if I got the road to nowhere and not the "finished" screen do I need to do again?!

Hehe!

If we were to be promoted, it would cause havoc for my fantasy football team.

There's an "open the floodgates" gag here somewhere...

+1 You'd like to think so.

I concur... just sayin', like!

http://www.skybluestalk.co.uk/threads/16612-Back-four-for-saturday-! Not sure if posted... their back four is shot to pieces by all accounts with Cranie the main man. You know he'll be keen to impress.

WIFM. Happy Birthday, and thanks again.

It's not Alpine's predictably negative view that annoys me, its the fact that for us unable to hear it to be there, this is the match thread so can we just park opinions and be objective with detailing what's actually happening?? Thanks.

Please don't quote Alpine. Ta.

This - Harding, with Shaw on his heels, are more than enough cover at LB. End of the season I'd imagine we'll be looking at the squad pretty thoroughly depending on where we're at.