itchen_dan

or Wijnaldum. I think Wijnaldum is the closest we will get to a younger / improvement over Steven Davis. Can play AM, CM and even DM at a push. Very versatile and thinks and plays like a true no. 10. Sigurdsson is a genius with the ball. More of a sit in the hole type of player which I'm not sure Koeman likes hence the continued use of Steven Davis. If Sigurdsson could develop his game to be a bit more versatile and "box-to-box", he'd be a terrific signing.

This. He'll be our next boss.

Totally with you on this. He came in during a time we needed a striker with experience, someone RK could rely on and be a focal point for the team. He knew Pelle and knew he could trust him. We had just lost Lambert, someone who had dragged the club through the divisions with his goals and ability over the 5 years so needed a replacement who could deal with a bit of pressure to succeed. Pelle hasnt set the world alight but he's proven to be a solid PL player, however I've got the feeling that even RK has now realised how much more the team is suited to a mobile front man as has proven with Long over the last few weeks. The signing of Austin only reinforces this. Pelle's lack of movement and more often than not, slightly poor hold up play I feel has stifled us over the last couple of seasons. Long's pace and movement has improved players like Steven Davis as he now has more space to work in and has plenty of options when he has the ball - he can chip it to Long, play it in the channel, drop the ball over the top. Austin and Jay Rod will only add more quality and movement in the final third. When Pelle leaves, all the best to him. Joined in a time of need, got us some important goals to kick-start both seasons, yet you always feel he has that dry spell in him as has proven in both of his seasons here. When the going gets tough, he seems to get wound up easily and appears to lose focus. However, with his PL and now international experience, he'll for sure be a better striker in Italy now than he was many years ago.

I can feel a "Golden Thread coming on here..

Jonjo Shelvey. Make a bid I say. Has terrific passing ability IMO. Could replace Schneiderlin in that sense. Loves a tackle also. I think he'd be a solid addition to the team, not just squad. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35284347

Any specific country VPN? I presume NZ?

Demarai Gray signs for Leicester and won't go back on loan. Straight into the first team setup. Huge opportunity missed by Saints in my opinion. http://mobile.lcfc.com/news/article/demarai-gray-signs-for-leicester-city-2883996.aspx

We don't just buy success, we breed it.

Here's the player faces for those interested. Some of them including Pelle and Tadic look awesome.

I personally think this is the strongest and more importantly most balanced side we could use. More than good enough for another top 8 finish in my opinion.

From FC Groningen's GM on Twitter... jdnijland: Krijg zojuist een leuk berichtje van Ronald Koeman... jdnijland: Get just a nice message from Ronald Koeman ... jdnijland: Wij feliciteren Virgil van Dijk van harte met zijn overgang naar Southampton. Een zeer mooie en verdiende transfer! jdnijland: Congratulations to Virgil van Dijk wholeheartedly with his transfer to Southampton. A very nice and deserved transfer! jdnijland: Inmiddels een hoog FC Groningen-gehalte bij Southampton met de gebroeders Koeman, Tadic en nu ook Virgil van Dijk. Mooi! jdnijland: Meanwhile a high level at Southampton FC Groningen with the brothers Koeman, Tadic and now Virgil van Dijk. Beautiful!

@garyjacob: Wanyama, Tottenham target, trained yesterday but has been left out of Southampton squad for Norwich City today. More @TimesSport

That my friend is VERY bold. I'd LOVE to see Gaston in this side. Players like Mane, Juanmi etc should suit his style.

They've completed the signing of Tyler Blackett. @celticfc: BREAKING NEWS: Delight as Tyler Blackett signs for the hoops, http://t.co/6KHby5u2lk (SC) http://t.co/7ptv0PYFVm

Lucky bastards.

Think it's QPR.

Koeman's son just RT'd this.

Man Utd's press photographer... CraigNorwood: Morgan Schneiderlin arrived into Carrington five-minutes after Bastian Schweinsteiger this evening. Medical done, now a #MUFC player.

Don't forget the sleeve tattoo.

Well that worked well... ill try again.

Bournemouth...

52 pages now. Has this surpassed the Ramirez saga thread yet?

This one instantly springs to mind... 2009-2010 away

Would've been a HUGE U turn if so considering everything that came out from all sources, including RK, NC, Les Reed and K Billy. Something must've whooshed his head back in the other direction pretty sharpish?