tajjuk

Sky speaks to representative of fans group (one guy) and suddenly we are doing a mass protest with white hankies at the game. They also spoke to him outside SMS before the Everton games and he was still saying the same thing, SSN continued to report we were going to do a mass protest with white hankies. It never happened. Good enough example? No football club is also 'contractually' obliged to let sky do interviews with anyone they want. What are you on?

Well this 'piece of journalism' exists despite the fact sky clearly interviewed a half dozen fans just outside the stadium. Plus you could go anywhere in the city and interview a Saints fan. I don't see this as an issue because it's a non-story. SSN spent all day before the Everton game talking about a fans protest with white hankies that never happened because they talked to one representative of a supporters group which was then repeated in several papers.

Is this really a big deal? Fans are known for having outlandish or stupid opinions that don't necassarily reflect general views or even the truth. Interview the wrong fan and the media get a crazy story to run with.

Indeed, Messi is not only one of the world's greatest footballers but at 5' 7" and a slight frame he has shown that skill and ability are more important than physical attributes. More strict refereeing also helps the smaller players. Getting the balance right in terms of muscle is something where there isn't a one rule fits all policy, different players need to train different ways.

Not always as more muscle mass can decrease your flexibilty and agility, meaning you can't turn as quickly or easily which would effect dribbling. Also extra upper body muscle mass could decrease acceleration and put more strain on your legs thus more injuries. Look at someone like Rooney, pretty stocky fellow, isn't axactly known for his jinking runs and when not 100% fit an look laboured and slow in possesion. Or say the difference between Bale and Silva. Silva is slight and short so can jink his was through tights spaces with quick feet, goot balance and agility. Bale who is taller and stronger, uses power and pace to blast past opponents, rather than jink past them.

I'm surprised to read that as well, maybe the hair makes him look taller. Quite possibly, it's not really an issue for me, as both make up for it with pace and agility, but some people will criticise him for it so you might as well get it out there. I'm sure most prem defenders will be able to muscle him off the ball at times but they'll have to get near him to do it. Plus at 20 he's still maturing physical so will become naturally stronger as he gets older, look at Ronaldo he was quite wiry looking when he first came to the premiership.

Yes to an extent the Inter coaches have apparently been working on him to put on more muscle but he's still quite small as you can see from the picture. Only 5' 8'' as well.

He's only 20 so any young player is a risk as they aren't the finished product. But then if we was finishing better, producing more end product and less raw he would be a key player for Inter and wanted by europe's top clubs. There is a reason we have a chance of buying him.

Watched him a few times last year for Espanyol. Essentially like Lallana with more pace, right footed (but decent with left) cutting in from the right. A bit raw at times and can be a bit frustrating. End product not always there. Pros - Fast Techincally good Good dribbler versatile Cons - Maybe tries too much. needs to work on finishing. leightweight. Has previously and has this season played on the left, right, behind the striker and up front for Inter. Would suit our formation.

Maybe he didn't edit?

That article says - He then played the follwing game against Wolves, and the one after that against Huddersfield, and the one after that against Borugh, and the one after that against Hull, and the one after that against Fulham, and the one after that against Charlton, and the one after that against Fulham, and finally their most recent game against Cardiff last week. He didn't even get subbed off in any of those games Quite a lot of game time for someone "out with Hamstring Injury in the run up to the Festive Season ". *Insert Mr Wrong picutre here*

No. But as MLG says we don't really know anything, so many contrasting reports. What's putting me off is the rumours about the player himself not interested. Whilst the Ramirez saga rumbled on it was pretty clear all along that Ramirez was more than happy to move. What hold it up was fees and third parties etc. Coutinho doesn't seem interested, or at the least he's only a bit interested. I suppose this is understandable when the guy is at a massive club like Inter and another big club like Liverpool are interested. Bolgona to Saints with a pay rise is a much of muchness I would think for a player. Same with Calgiari to Saints (Astori deal which I don't think is completely dead) but Inter to Saints, not so sure.

I think Coutinho is but I also think he's going to be a Liverpool player and seeing as they were the only ones in for Ince he'd be a good bid. Could easily sign him for around £7 million I reckon and it would be a good deal. I have always liked the idea of us signing the young prospects from the lower leagues that we regularly sold over the years like Bale being signed by spurs. Will Hughes would be another one to look at but I think he's going to be more of a no 10. type player.

To be fair this thread is only 15 pages long, the Ramirez one was what 70? This deal is progressing quite rapidly in comparison. I also don't think we need anyone else at this moment. Would be nice maybe to get someone like Biglia but not essential.

Coutinho is 20. 12 June 1992. I don't think Ince is better, Coutinho is the better player now and I think has more potential.However, I think he (Ince) is a decent prospect which could potentially improve our squad, fits what we need (versatile wide man with pace and trickery) and being English will take less time to settle and adapt than Coutinho. I also think he should be cheaper and might be easier (quicker) to acquire as seemingly no one else is after him. I also think he's better than Zaha who Man Utd have jsut paid £15 million for.

Maybe we should just buy Ince.

Really looks very 90's to me with those different shades.

Thanks. "Too many suitors for you Luke, so in between games and training I am literally going to hold onto you"

Probably fair, we've already done tough away trips to City, Liverpool, Everton, Chelsea, Stoke. West Ham have all of these to come. Plus Man Utd and Spurs at home. They could easily loose all 7 of those. After Man Utd away our toughest away trip is Spurs, then Swansea. Everyone else is bottom half. Plenty of opportunity to pick up away points. I'd fancy us picking up points from Wigan, Newcastle, QPR, Norwich, Liverpool, West Ham, Swansea, West Brom, Sunderland and Stoke. Need about 16 points from thosee 10 games. They have fairly easy home games though against Newcastle, Reading, Wigan, West Brom. More than enough games to pick up the bulk of points they will need.

What are the things that look like sports bras the players all wear in training these days?

You did say they are about as likely as Man Utd to be relegated. Every way you look at it, it's still a stupid comment seeing as Man Utd are mathmatically safe.

What a legend -

It's nice but wrong. Even with my Saints bias hat on, if the terms on offer were similar he would go to Liverpool. It would seem the club (saints) are also thinking along those lines as well by trying to price Liverpool out of it. We're not going to QPR it and offer him £80k a week, so the wages on offer will be similar IMO. I don't remember any links in the summer, and the agent has drummed up a lot column inches about it for no interest. Think this position is the priority now. With Forren in and the improvement of Fonte, Yoshida, the growing excellence of Shaw and Clyne and the recovery of Boruc we look as solid defensively as anyone in the bottom half. Even Jos has looked ok in recent weeks and it's likely he will be 4th choice. However without Lallana we look thin on the ground attacking wise and someone that could challenge Puncheon would be helpful. I think we will try and sign another top class centre back in the Summer (possible Astori) as well as full back cover if we stay up but as our only priority is staying up I think our defence is good enough for that. Transfer target priorites for me would be:- Wide man Defensive Mid Top class Centre back Full back cover Replacements for Boruc and Punch if they don't sign contracts. At the same time move on the likes of De Ridder, Richardson, Hooiveld, Chaplow etc.

They will be fine, realistically they are probably only 9pts or so off enough points to stay up this year, as I reckon it will be around the 34 or 35 mark to stay up purely because I think so many teams are very poor this year. However we could still easily overhaul them and that would be pleasing as they seemed very smug and over confident about their survival chances this year after we lost to them at Upton Park. As did the media, proclaiming them to be easily mid table when in reality they had a fairly kind fixture list at the start of the year. Like all Allardyce teams they will be competitive in the league, but I don't see them progressing above anything but lower mid-table, especially with signings like Cole. If they loose Diame to Arsenal for his release clause they will be in more trouble.

Seeing as Barca are kindly letting use their training ground maybe we should 'pay it forward' and let Pompey use staplewood for a few days? give them a nice tour of SMS etc. They are struggling to find somewhere to train. We're getting to use the training facilities at the biggest club in the world and pompey could get a go at the biggest club in Hampshire.