SaintRobbie

Yes, not going as well as we were led to believe last weekend. Two loanees, no transfer money spent. I wasn't going to go, but curiosity has taken over from my standard preseason optimism!

I think they have to sack Krueger. Appoint someone with ruthless ambition and knock Everton and Spurs off 5-7th place. I for one am not a fan who thinks our Club is a provincial little club. If you start with mediocrity as your ambition you will under achieve at some stage... that means relegation. This is an elite league, success breeds success. Reward those with ambition and replace those who under perform.

Have to say I am more concerned that van Dijk is likely to go to Newcastle.... or not!

Good that - shows at a glance where we look weak - GK, CBs, RB, Strikers

Thats a rather good summary!

Still - looking up its over 9 days since we sold anyone... despite x2 players being very keen to leave.

But he played LB for Argentina. I can help but think Bertrand is a cover man, Targett isn't ready yet (though I may be wrong on Targett and he needs to be given a chance). That said, if he can do Lovren's role AND cover LB it makes him even more versatile and impressive.

Thats fair - but we lost a striker and we need to replace him. We have one decent striker (unproven in the PL mind) to start the campaign with. Gallagher is technically poor and has a long way to go, should be on loan in the Championship really. Billy Sharp is far from his surname. Mayuka and Maya has never been up there. Come to think of it, there are a lot of Championship standard players at Saints we should offload to ease the wage bill.

I agree. But I see our overall priority before the end of the summer transfer window being: 1. CB (x2?) [van Dijk looks likely, but I still think we could do with x2 and if necessary we should offload Gus and/or Yoshida to achieve it - Vlaar and van Dijk would be the best news this summer, about as good as Koeman can hope to attract in] CB is highest priority for me. 2. Striker [ings, maybe - we need someone in who can hit 14-15 goals per season, is he up to it?] Nonetheless, I completely agree with Duncan on this. Can't see Jay Rod even playing for us again at the moment. Striker is a top priority. 3. LB [Rojo works for me] 4. Covering RB [schelotto could work as a cover man if needed, can't help but think theres better out there] 5. GK [Forster looking a cert, and we have the goalkeeping coach for him in place] Thats a minimum of 6 players left we need before 1 Sep and ideally have to BUY.

I agree - love to see Liverpool hit 5th though!!! I'd take this prediction right now. 12th?! That'll do me this season. I think Swansea will go down though and Leicester will survive.

Good point.

I was thinking the same thing! Boruc must feel pretty confident he now has cover! van Dijk is half decent though .... isn't he?

How does the 'Executive Board' work? Anyone any ideas why we need one and what their day to day responsibilities are?

Duncan - I don't think anyone doubts their motivation to do the right thing. But, there are plenty of potential Board members and CEOs out there who may have done a better job in doing the right thing. Cortese wasn't a nice bloke, but he too wanted to do the right thing, indeed he wanted to do even more. I find it hard though to forgive people for making mistakes at this level. Our Boardroom is running a top end sports club, this is no place for amateurs and trainees, the stakes are too high.

Good point Ed.

Rojo does look impressive. I think he'll make a good replacement for Shaw, Bertrand has replaced Fox as cover. If we get Rojo we have LB sewn up.

Lol SOG. I would never dream of representing your opinion old chap. Never.

We do need a couple of impact subs though. Schelotto seems a more logical addition to achieve that, certainly more useful to the squad than Teider, unless Schneiderlin or Wanyama are leaving of course.

My thoughts exactly - just slightly lazier. That's x3 defensive midfielders we have. I guess that's one too many. Scheiderlin is leaving in my opinion.

Let's see what they've achieved by 1 Sep. I hope the indications are positive.

You're probably right. Let's just see what he delivers.

Ok. He said we couldn't rely on KL to invest.

No. That's part of it,and the latter was what our ambition under Cortese was taking us to. We needed 3 players this summer to break into Europe.... And our ambition bubble burst.

Spot on. Refused to state our ends - a refusal to state our ambition, when ambition has been the key question of KL and the Board. Lack of ambition is the reason out best players and good manager have cited for leaving. This interview leaves more questions unanswered than it answers... Please stop this man from talking on behalf of the club. Please. Just shut up and deliver.

It's a myth. There is no Southampton way.