Dig Dig

So just Wanyama, Rodriguez, Davis, JWP and Fonte to go and then Koeman will really be able to call it "his team". Mane counts as Koemans team so when he leaves it will be a bit of dent in his team building.

The ball would never stick up top with that forward line up and the inclusion of JWP makes it even more bizarre.

Reed is the best player to have come through our academy according to Uncle Les. Interesting comment to make about a player who is being shown little confidence when it comes to first team opportunities. Always thought that was an interesting yet slightly strange comment.

Was also posted on here yesterday as he was linked to us in the Metro which is an awful source really. Probably on par with sambafoot.

Seems to be fitness and application. Koeman said it's difficult as he is always getting injured and can never get to the levels of the rest of the squad who are all extremely fit.

Comments from those who have watched Clasie most suggest that he a deep sitting CM and is rarely seen in and around the box. Juanmi seems to be the type to play off the shoulder as a second striker, not sure he can fulfill the full remit of that role given the formation we play.

Agree, it's the central position of the 3 behind Pelle which could be looked at. We don't have anyone who is able to drop back and be comfortable in the centre of midfield yet is also comfortable in and around the box. Mane likes coming in more central but he isn't much good at dropping deeper when required as he still tries to take it past 3 players as standard and we know Davis and JWP don't have right instinct and confidence to be an effective no.10.

What are "those sorts of players"?

Re-tweeted by Saints: @btsportfootball: It looks like Sadio Mané is staying at @SouthamptonFC! https://t.co/By8MRDZAWY

Haha, you seemed to get more worked up by what people write on a forum than those who might be concerned that Mane could be off. Utd want our best attacking player. It's going to be talked about and the prospect of it happening won't be well recieved by many. Get used to it. If he does go, you'll just revert to telling everyone to calm down and wait to see who we bring in as a replacement.

He's got a lot of pent up anger and frustration which he likes to take out over the internet. Can't wait for the next naughty swear word he comes up with.

Who says anyone is to blame? The fact is that we lost a good player. He wasn't one of the ones who has gone on to a huge side but by all accounts he was pretty miffed at the time it took to sort his contract offer out whilst the likes of Davis were being sorted with theirs. People can be dissapointed about someone leaving, even if it doesn't fit in with your evolving rule book on what people should and shouldn't comment on.

Just "noise" isn't it?

I really don't think many people actually are. I think most understand that we will sell players to bigger teams. But, we need to maintain some sense of stability throughout the side to be successful in our own right. That doesn't including flogging whoever has been a reasonable success at the first opportunity. Hopefully the club won't sell him this time around.

Plus, I'd be more than happy with a few decent seasons, just not one with the likes of Chambers, Shaw and Lovren.

Of course, I was just resonding to Alpines ridiculous comment amount the clubs not doing enough to stop the advances and the speculation. Words are empty. The real proof will be whether or not Mane is here after the close of the transfer window.

Calm down, by all accounts the latest in the press is that we're not interested in selling. Doesn't mean it won't happen but the club can't really do much to stop the advances and the speculation.

The alternative is to sell players at the right time and at the right price and balance it with the overall stability and cohesion on of the team. Not just to sell straight away when the first offer comes in, especially when that happens to be 2 weeks away from the end of the window and player has 3 years on their contract left to run.

None of that accounts for team cohesion and stability which is massively important. Koeman today was talkjng about how difficult it is when you lose 5 players who were key to how the team defends, even if the individual replacements are good players, it can take time. Can we realistically keep doing that? And to what end? Put the pom poms away and just admit that it would be dissapointing to see another good player for us leave.

Celtic can do it as they play in a **** poor league and can still comfortably achieve their objectives whilst losing a good player every couple of seasons

Well it didn't look that way for Schneiderlin, not at first. Stroppy tweet, missed training and had to he given the weekend off so missed a pre-season game. Hardly professional BUT he ended up playing and playing well because it's as much in their interest to do so than anyone else.

One thing is for sure. Ralph isn't scared and feels complimented.

We've got him to another 3 years and Les and co should be doing everything to support the manager towards achieving our objectives. Yes, we will and do sell players to bigger clubs but you have to balance it with the continuity and balance of the team first and foremost. We drew a line at Schneiderlin last summer so clearly it can be done.

Well, everytime it is hinted that another team is interested, they typically go. Rodriguez is the only exception, overarched with his injury otherwise that could have been a different outcome altogether.

Well the 60M Muller story should be enough!