Stattmeister

I think this is where Lennonn's off the cuff quip came from using that logic... kind of makes sense!

First team football, possibly in the Premier League? Not sure he'd walk into Spurs right now. Everton can't afford him and Newcastle have just spent £10m on a Senegalise forward - yes, that leaves Fulham, but I'm just saying, like. I concede it may well be more of a smokescreen to get the Hooper deal moving however.

They serve beans there?

Surely this is exactly what is speculated - agents trying to get an auction going? It certainly isn't NC's MO to leak stories and I can't believe that has changed all of a sudden...

And the Mail were on the money for the Falque deal (they may have good Spurs link as opposed to Saints). Interesting times indeed! I also thought the West Ham Rhodes offer was less than that?

I seem to remember tha Aiden McGeady was the next big thing, with all sorts of premier league interest. He ended up at Spartak Moscow for £9.5m, but I don't think he's set the world alight there (I may be wrong), although clearly a good player. I know your not, but I don't think we can simply write off all Celtic products. It does validate your point about the need to prove themselves in a stronger league though - whilst I'm no expert on the Russian leagues, I can't believe it's too much different to Scotland in so far as a couple of well financed major players, and the remainder unknowns so i think its fair to say he has failed to live up to expectation - I'm sure the premier league players who considered investing in him aren't regretting it at that price! I prepare myself to be corrected by MLG.

Didn't Redkrapp big up Nigel last season..........? That supports the view he is a fan of the way we play and as others have said that this should benefit the lad. I propose we begin selling Paella in the concourse.

Kind of related - not worthy of a whole new thread, but not sure where else to put it. I'm not suggesting we're in for Fran, but it was the agents comments regarding having "maybe 10/20 players on a list and crossing 19 off" and the little insight it gives us to what goes on behind the scenes... I know we already know there are lots of irons in the fire but I thought it was interesting to hear from that side of the fence. Even with Hooper, Sharp, Rodriguez, Sordell, Lukas I guess we're still a long way from options 19 and 20! http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16577875.stm

It was like watching a tanker turn in Southampton Water up at Marchwood.

Cripes - looks like he's melting a la Raiders of the Lost Ark!

I agree - breakthrough in those clubs is not easy... Wiki claims that record was Villareal B, but I'm not sure what the equivalent level is here. Notheless an exciting signing for me!

Yep, our OS not too clear - Spurs confirm they have signed him, and immediately loaned to us...

That sir is brilliant, thanks. I just had a genuine "laugh out loud" moment! I'm pinching it too!

Didn't the P'boro chairman, whom I admit is a bit of a character, say we bid £675k for CMS, when all the talk in the media was of much bigger prices? I do hope you're wrong but the little snippets we hear does make it sound like we're a difficult club to work with. Time will tell... I'd still like to think that with cash+puncheon we'll land a target before the window's out, as many have said this could be a history changing fortnight.

Already linked

It took less than 3hrs from impact to sinking? I didn't realise that... all jokes aside, that's got to be quicker than the Dicaprio film? I kind of agree with Alpine - a third of the victims were from Southampton (even if they were Liverpudlians!), so can see the possible relevance. Similarly there is quite a bit going on in the City (organised by the city, not the club) so it's not like "Southampton" will be ignoring it. Difficult one.

Dani Rodrigues was pretty grotty if I remember correctly...

This.

Cripes. Wish him a speedy recovery...

And there was me thinking it's because they were writing a narrative on "seeing new Saints signing Jay Rodriguez returning to his former club..."!

Phillips and McCann?

This is more like it! Sounds like he is of a good calibre, even if I've never heard of him! Young'un too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A9dric_Mongongu

I agree, although I guess what he is sayig (and it is commendable), is that it'll have to be one heck of a good deal for him to leave his hometown club. I wonder if his contract there was agreed a couple of years ago, and as such he has a Premier League legacy salary? Over to you MLG.

Sorry to ressurect - yes it's not a position we (understand) are desperate to strengthen, but if the opportunity to improve the squad arises as it would do if we were to get Clyne, I think we'd go for it.

Lukas J scored again today... I'd be dead happy with taking advantage of the situation at Cov assume had said. Has ability, I suspect he'd fit NA's "team" concept, and certainly NC's financial criteria... Not bring ripped off!