Pwoite

I think JRod has probably burnt too many bridges within the club and equally the black box has undoubtedly revealed another young, cheap, foreign starlet who we will be attempting to bring in. Let's hope he isn't another Boufal.

As this has come up again, it is either sloppy reporting or one of those slow burners like Gabiadini, where it took ages of rumour but still finally happened. What is happening with Caceres,though? We have yet to play him which either suggests Puel doesn't rate him, he isn't yet fit or Puel would prefer to see the current pairing get more game time. Is the Sakho rumour simply putting him back into the shop window, and his agent is trying to earn his corn, or are we really continuing to harbour a real interest? Will there be a Caceres/Sakho auction this summer where we play one club off against the other?

So, in summary, we haven't a clue about negotiations or a possible buy out or anything else, though there are rumours of Katerina saying the interests of the club are paramount in any decision. For any potential investor, what are they looking to achieve? Certainly not a return on their investment, as that simply isn't what happens in football, unless they can grow their business and sell it on. In truth, that is unlikely. They might be looking to use us as a means of increasing brand awareness in the UK but there are many cheaper and more rewarding means of doing that rather than the high risk of football. Alternatively it could be a vanity project, as so many club purchases appear to be with hindsight, but would a major financial institution indulge in such things? Generally unlikely. And what would be the intentions of any purchaser beyond financial or marketing gain? Do they see real reflected glory through a mid table team, or are they prepared to invest. And if they do invest, is that in players, infrastructure or both? To significantly improve the squad would require cash investment similar to the money talked about to buy it. Is anyone mad enough to do that, when the return would be minimal on the gate, in the ground, in TV rights or merchandise? Sure, success following investment could create a potentially massive Chinese marketing opportunity, but with the game in that country growing rapidly eyes will turn to domestic teams rather than European ones only 0.01% of he Chinese population will ever have heard of. So, much as I'd like to see more money for new players, development of the ground and surrounding area, better facilities on match day and so on I cannot make any financial case for why serious investment over the long term, which is critical, is going to come our way. In Katerina we trust!

Look at Taylor's career record on Wikipaedia. He is 35 or something but has hardly played for all the clubs he has joined. Always a bench warmer. Very sad in some ways. Guess we as paying him absolute peanuts compared to Theresa of the squad, but if we don't plan to play him ever, what's the point.

As much as Puel got it wrong in Europe, he got it right against Liverpool. He delivered, as, of course, did a team missing three or four key components. No one can take the Wembley appearance off his CV now, or out of the history of Saints. Without Puel and his rotation we could not have had the strength in depth or experience to win the semi. Koeman wouldn't have tested and brought through Sims, Stephens, McQueen and the others that made last night possible. How much more could or would we be doing with someone better able to take chances in the box? Whilst Puel will never be the media or fans darling like Klopp, and he doesn't have the ability or possibly want to be a great public speaker, he is clearly doing something with his squad and results. It isn't always pretty, it doesn't always work, but he has only had six months and in that time look at the difference in Yoshida, Romeu and now even Redmond, never mind the youngsters. Keep the faith. We are Saints.

Thought he had a really poor game in the Capital One against Sunderland

Sturbridge on loan ticks many boxes for all involved.

All time Saints legend. Does that make him the first non English legend, not that it matters? What a story. What a season for also ranks, no hopers and johnies come lately. Eat your heart out so called superstars, the ordinary guy is gonna mug yer!

I'm liking this more and more. Saints appear to have done it again, so well done the black box. Must have had this lined up for a while, hence the easy release on Victor, okay we've known for a year, and the bluff of no replacement planned. Great. Also, from the comments above, sounds as though this man can pass, which Victor always struggled with that side of his game. Might also mean fewer cards, so less hanging on in case of another reckless tackle. Maybe we let Big Sam have Harry Reed for next season on loan, to develop him, rather than Matty Targett!

Excellent news, but is he good enough to drop straight into the first team, or one for the future? Guess he needs to be better than Classe or Romeu to get a start, or maybe just needs to wait till the first red card! Either way, sounds like someone we can develop and then sell on just after the kids have managed to spell his name correctly to go on their replica shirts, for a large profit!

Yes, we all like Ron, and we all want Ron to stay, but there is another angle. Koeman has a year to run on his contract. As it stands he is a lame duck manager, leaving in twelve months time, moving on to the promised 'bigger job'. The club has to avoid this last twelve months running down, in the same way it does with a player, though for differing reasons. So, either sign him up for a longer term contract, to keep him longer term or at least make it look that way, and thereby eliminating the 'lame duck', or move him on now. So, we've offered the apparently longer contract, but Everton have come along and gazumped us. We get some compensation if he goes, and we don't have a lame duck. We bring in a new manager when we are on the crest of the wave, sixth and Europe, whereas in twelve months we might be crashing and burning, with the manager, Koeman, moving out and players not committed. A new manager in today's position is coming in when we can bargain high stakes, but in a year our hand might be so much weaker that we cannot attract the same level of candidate. So, has Les Reed played a good hand here? Only he and a few others really know the possibility of Ron staying on for more than another year, but if Les reckons Koeman would be gone this time next year, then maybe he is playing a blinder. So, yes, he will come out with the PR speak, but, TBH, what else can he do or say?

How many of those mentioned will still he here next season? How many contracts expire and won't be renewed or even on contracts will be sold on or released? Not sure when our retained list will be published, but I can see quite a few disappearing club, especially if the general view is that our youngsters really aren't that good a generation.

E Apart from JWP and Targett, where or when will our much vaunted youths ever get a look in? There is Martina and Caulker to consider, as well, so what hope Seager, McQueen, Hesketh, Gape, Sims or anyone else? How good do they have to be to break in. Even Harry Reed is now about sixth in the peeking order. Whilst on one level this is great, we have strength in depth, on the other, aren't we supposed to have one of the top three academies in the country?

An excellent result but to what extent was it our performance that was better or the opposition that was worse? Whatever, we seized the opportunity, but overnight the failings of our back four cannot have disappeared. Midfield, Prowsie was better, but again, how come we can suddenly up his game after years of not quite being there? Up front a suspect the players had a real opportunity to play to their skills, but they were given that much more time. The question for me is whether the performance yesterday is a foundation to build on, or a flash in the pan against weak ten man opposition? Can the players produce that form against a Swansea or Spurs, never mind an Arsenal or Man City? I remain to be convinced, but it certainly feels a better place to be after that match than it had after Thursday's.

Total rollicking, but with a 'B'

Every time we bring another 'filler' in, it pushes back the opportunity for one of the kids. And Koeman was supposed to be pro youth! Sadly, it seems less like happening, perhaps there aren't any consider good enough.

We would have to buy three good players or keep Morgan and buy two to set eighth, especially with Europe looming. Suspect 14th is more likely.

Someone wake me up or take the mushrooms away. We keep going from strength to strength. Someone, somewhere has got something right!!

Having played some of the last two games, it would appear that Cork is ahead of both Reed and Taider at present. Okay, we may bring someone else in, though the clock is ticking, but Koeman is either getting more impressed by Jack, or very determined to shop window him. As he gave the man forty five minutes of a game we wanted to win, and brought him on as a strategic change, one has to think Jack's star is back on the ascendency.

Just re quoting previous comments from the Forum....lol Find you, I've still yet to find anyone playing for us that is good enough for the team in everyone's eyes - except perhaps Gastos, as he hasn't played so can't be slagged off yet!

Bit dangerous saying Lovren was made to look good by those around him last season, whilst saying Shaw is far from the finished item, Fonte is not really Prem material and Chambers was not a regular first team pick. I have to presume it must have been down to Jack Cork to bring out the best in them all. Or, perhaps, having Guly on the bench!!!

Interestingly money has bought us players that look as though they might be a team. Maybe it's the bigger the deal, the bigger the ego.

Interestingly money has bought us players that look as though they might be a team. Maybe it's the bigger the deal, the bigger the ego.

Whilst one game is too early to make too many assumptions, but here goes.... We should be comfortable this season The squad is probably as good as last season's was, overall We have more depth this season We might be too lightweight in front of goal Not many other PL teams look like overtaking us this season Can we therefore finish eighth again? And, if we do, can we then push on from there or will we go into meltdown again next summer with another generation tapped up by the top six? Will the top clubs have to always dismantle potential challengers to ensure their own status is preserved?

Whilst one game is too early to make too many assumptions, but here goes.... We should be comfortable this season The squad is probably as good as last season's was, overall We have more depth this season We might be too lightweight in front of goal Not many other PL teams look like overtaking us this season Can we therefore finish eighth again? And, if we do, can we then push on from there or will we go into meltdown again next summer with another generation tapped up by the top six? Will the top clubs have to always dismantle potential challengers to ensure their own status is preserved?