Shandy_Top_89

It has always irked me how people mention Ramirez in the same breath as Osvaldo. At least Gaston has contributed one good season for us, in fact I'd say he was an important player in the first PL season. Unfortunately he hasn't kicked on in the way we would have liked, but I still think he is a decent option for the time being, while he doesn't seem to be able to play over 90 minutes, he has always had a decent impact from the bench. I think the signing of Juanmi was the final nail in Ramirez's Southampton future, but I still think he can bring something in the meantime. It's a shame because I think he is the perfect alternative option to Davis, trading a bit of structure for a bit of creativity when he comes on. The Liverpool game emphasises this, if he could play over 90 minutes as he does over 15 we would have one hell of a player, but that is where he falls down and that will always be a shame .

You just know they will be after Koeman.

Also worth mentioning Chappers scored the winning goal in a Doncaster - Barnsley Derby yesterday. Dany N'Guessan also played for Rovers, while Oscar Gobern didn't make the game.

Doncaster Rovers are my second team, due to family connections. Spent a lot of time there growing up too. The brief period they were a league above us felt a bit odd to say the least. Also have a soft spot for Nuneaton (birth place) and St.Johnstone (family in Perth, been to a few games. Also a member of the Saints-sphere). Keep an eye out for Blackpool results for my gran, a bit of a joyless exercise. She has some good stories of seeing them during the Stanley Matthews era.

I think the lack of youth may be related to the u-21 game against Reading, although Bertrand appeared in that too. Good team, with the right players getting game time too. No Reeves in the MK Dons starting line-up, bit of a shame for him.

To be fair it works both ways, successful managers have been poached within two seasons (admittedly that only applies to Poch and Hoddle in our case)

Nice to see our defensive performance last season reflected in the ratings, last season I got the feeling they just put it all down to Lovren. Issues; why do they continue to set Rodriguez as exclusively left midfield? Caulker over rated, Ramirez over rated, Yoshida rated below Gardos.

Looks like we have a suprise defector. Sky Sports News going through the responses to Shaws injury on Twitter, just said 'from Shaw's former Saints team mate Jose Fonte who now plays for Liverpool'

I think this is a good thing for political choice within the country and I think he is the best candidate to hold the current government to account, however I wouldn't be too keen to actually see him end up as PM. A bit lost as to who I vote for in future as a Pro-EU, Pro-Trident, Pro-electoral reform, Pro-strong economic policy, Pro-refugee support, Anti-education reform voter (well at least the reforms initiated by Gove). Maybe I want too much

Rooney is a very good striker, and this record is an achievement. However, a lot of the media seem to be pushing his case for being known as England's greatest ever striker, which he is far from. As others have pointed out Charlton (as a midfielder), Lineker and Greaves were more prolific. Until he proves himself at a major tournament, most of us wont consider him to be at that level. For what its worth, I think that Rooney is a much better player in a Manchester United shirt and that probably speaks volumes about the national teams collective ability to form a cohesive team over the last 2 decades. I remember him coming on in that FA cup game during Poortvliet's reign and completely changing the game single handedly (although we were a poor outfit at the time, prior to that we were arguably the better side). Id still say Rooney's best season was sat behind Van Persie as a No.10, even if Rooney himself doesn't want to play behind the striker and I would rather see Kane leading the line with Rooney sat behind. Of course this will never happen as the NT appears to cave constantly to club and player pressure.

So by these calculations, Raheem Stirling is NOT in the top 20 overpriced transfers...... (Even if he has started off really well for Citeh).

I wouldn't personally get on his case, I just think he's been badly advised. Although I expect elements of our support will. If Norwich wasn't a freak case, we could have found a new partnership in Romeu - Ward-Prowse. So Wanyama may have to up his game (although personal preference would see Wanyama in more defensive games and Ward-Prowse in more open games)

TIME FOR DRASTIC ACTION! (Removes any trace of Saints from fantasy league team) An improvement in terms of solidity, but another weak effort from Saints today. As the team develops I believe we will get back to a decent level of defence, although possibly slightly weaker than last year. I don't see any signs that we will fix our blunt attack however, which hasn't been firing since about March (barring the day Tim Sherwood decided to field 11 mannequins). We seem to have the right players in place, but are unable to get the best out of them up front. A team in development we will be fine, if a little uninspiring.

If this is to happen id want more than £25m, as thats the value id have on him with a year less on his contract. Either £30m, £25m and Januzaj loan or £20m and Januzaj signed (which may sound ridiculous, but this is a **** take bid from United). Not ideal whatever happens, as we are more than aware he is our best attacking player and it would take longer for our team to gel. The most irritating thing is we only really got the best out of him from December, so that's what we get now.. half a season of a really promising player who isn't at his peak yet. If our better players will leave this quickly we are going to struggle to build a cohesive team again. Wumming aside I get we are doing well business wise, to sell and rebuild with academy products and well scouted players. But we need our better players to give at least two seasons for this to work in the long run IMO.

Was great for us in league one, has to be said that is a brilliant signing for Eastleigh too.

Not looking forward to facing a Lambert - Berahino frontline. Also an aging but interesting WBA spine in Lescott - Fletcher - Lambert, see they are also chasing Marshall. They could have a reasonable season.

Chelsea United Arsenal City -------------- Spores (I think Alderweireld will be crucial for them, unfortunately) Liverpool (Too many strikers, core of midfield and defense still not sufficient for what they want to achieve - Rodgers approaching £300m spunked) Relegated: Watford (Dont think they are making bad signings for a newly promoted side, but expect a slow start off the back of poorly timed management overhaul) Leicester (Ranieri appointment is a QPR-esque move) Bournemouth (Initially thought they could cause a few upsets, but for me their transfer activity so far has been poor) Surprise package: Aston Villa (If Benteke/Delph money is reinvested correctly, for what its worth I think both of the players lost are good, but vastly overrated) Saints: League - 9th FA cup - Quarter finals League cup - Quarter finals Europa league - Round of 32

Whilst still unlikely, his release clause matches the alleged bid size for the unidentified 'right sided center mid'. At slightly over 20 mil, according to one of the ITKs (think it was someone on not606, not here).

As a complete guess maybe they have offered us a slice of the deal to drop potential legal action and Reed is negotiating the amount? Also allegedly Madrid haven't responded to our renewed offer for Alderweireld. Honestly, there is little point trying to make sense of this. Messiest transfer saga I can remember us being involved in.

Guardian just released article stating that Reed is in Madrid regarding compensation, and that Alderweireld to Spurs will be completed once those talks are concluded.

Too lazy to search for it now, but an article last night claimed £11.5m to Spurs on a 45k a week contract. If that is true and the transfer passes it would be massively disappointing. Whilst I believe that we may (speculatively) have been done over by Athletico, we could have matched that if necessary and then chased the legal dispute later. I do accept the situation is clear as mud, and that is just my thought based on the limited info available.

Quite a productive E3, Fallout 4 and the FF7 remake for me (not particularly sure how FF7 will translate to current gen, but will almost certainly acquire Square-Enix my cash).

Property related.

Heard through the most tenuous, daft link that he has now officially left Saints and has signed for another club. Source - Literally someone my mum knows . I don't think this exactly helps my ITK credentials somehow.

Id say it looks better in attack, but slightly weaker in defence (not by a great deal though). Ideal world for me is that team retaining Clyne and Alderweireld. I would also say Schneiderlin, but I think that is too far fetched.