Saint Pete

Fair enough and hope you're right. Just think the stuff about Wanyama's attitude is a bit overplayed on here at times. He made some mistakes with a couple of the sending offs (at least one was unlucky as I recall), but overall he still did enough to play an important role in us finishing 6th. And we should have been good enough to beat the mighty Midtylland with or without Big Vic so think there were others at fault for our Europa exit as well!

Ah, the trashing of quality players as soon as they leave Saints - a SWF tradition if ever there was one. If you want to pick on individual Wanyama performances, what about home to Liverpool when he came on at half-time with us 2 down and getting mullered (a game Romeu started) and played huge part in turning it around. A result that played a pretty big part in us finishing ahead of Scousehampton last season. I like Romeu and think he's a wholehearted player who will no doubt get more chances to play this season, but if you you're saying he was as effective as Wanyama last season, you're kidding yourself.

Only time will tell I guess, but if the club's view regarding players who were previously considered as good backup or alternatives is that they are now good enough to be first choice and to keep us progressing as a team, doesn't that feel a little bit complacent? As we know, the Premier League is extremely competitive and arguably becoming more so with the extra TV deal money, so it's vital to keep striving to improve year on year if you are to stand a chance of even maintaining your position in the league. Undoubtedly, the club and management have done that superbly in the last few seasons, and they may well do the same again this season, as there is still time to strengthen the team before the window closes. It just concerns me a bit when some noises coming out of the club seem to suggest we can just promote players who were squad backup or had serious injury concerns last year to replace top class first team regulars like Mane and Wanyama - without any consequence to the strength of the team? That said, I still hope and expect there to be some additions to bolster our options before the end of the window, so that will be the time to make a meaningful assessment of where we are.

I'd say it's a little early for statements like that, but certainly hope you're right! Haven't seen enough of him yet to make any real judgement, but suspect he will be a different type of midfielder with different strengths? I don't see much evidence of a major "meltdown" this summer from saints fans, just a bit of natural concern at this stage that we look weaker as a squad than at the end of the season. As you say, I agree everyone needs to be patient and wait and see what we've got come the end of the window.

Yep, pretty much tallies with my thoughts at this point. I suspect we will sign a backup GK, creative No.10 type and possibly a RB before the window closes. Personally, I think if we added another striking option to that I'd be pretty happy, if still a little worried about loss of power in midfield, but as you say, can't see any more signings in that area. Hopefully the likes of JWP and Clasie will step up more this season given the opportunity.

Great news - nice one Ryan

Think we're all kind of assuming that the club are quite happy to take the offer for Pelle, rather than him demanding a move like some others who have left? Out of interest, does anyone know if the club made any kind of offer to Pelle to extend his Saints contract?

Thanks Graziano and good luck. Had difficult shoes to fill when he joined, but has done a great job over the last 2 seasons. I know he had his critics, but he showed again in the Euros what he can give to a team, so it seems kind of a shame that he won't be doing that in a top league any more - but of course can understand his reasons for moving on when you see the numbers quoted! Still don't feel over comfortable if we are not looking to get another striker to add to squad in his absence, but maybe Austin and/or Jay Rod will get fully fit and find form that they couldn't last season. Seems a bit of a gamble though and may put a lot more pressure on Long, who will need breaks from the first team with the extra Europa games.

Austin was a good signing at £4m but has done precious little since January to have confidence that he will prove an adequate replacement for the contribution that Pelle has given us in the last 2 seasons. He is also a different kind of player who does not link up the team in the way Pelle showed again that he can still do with Italy. I really hope that Austin and Jay get their fitness back and make a real contribution this season, as that is obviously what the club are relying on. Just think this is a gamble given the extra games we will be involved in. Sorry if that makes me a "melt" to those who can't seem to participate in a reasoned discussion.

Anyone who expresses an opinion different from know-it-all Internet forum posters who can't accept other points of view from their own?

So, cashing in on Pelle with no replacement, and relying on 2 unfit strikers to fill the gap. A bit baffling given that we have more games to play this season. Maybe Koeman had a point in terms of lack of ambition after all then?

Yes, in the sense that it was ultimately his choice. He had an offer of a new contract from Saints and an offer from Everton - whatever his reasons were, it was his choice which one he went with.

Yep. Koeman's account pretty much confirms what I thought was probably going on all along. Koeman was happy to see out the final year and then see what offers came in for him at that point, whereas Saints/Les (quite rightly in my opinion) felt that this would be a difficult situation to manage through the season with a manager who was not prepared to commit beyond the end of the season. In the mean time, Everton's interest firmed up and this offered both sides (Koeman and Saints) a way out. Personally, I don't think either Les or Koeman did anything wrong in this situation.

Joe Allen seems a decent player, but very arguable whether he is any/much better than Clasie or Ward-Prowse. We should be focussing on gettting a different type of midfielder, with the strength and stature to replace Big Vic.

That doesn't make sense. If he had a release clause, all 3 clubs would have known they didn't need to go above it to get him. It would be the player that then decides who gets him, not Norwich.

Wouldn't be surprised if there was something in this one, as sounds more of a "Saints type" of manager than either Pelligrini or Klinsmann. New favourite with the bookies by the end of the day?

Not sure why some are so critical of Wanyama in this - it's our decision whether we accept a bid for him surely? £11m a very good value signing for Spurs if true.

This one was even shorter and to the point!..... http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/01072014-adam-lallana-joins-liverpool-1708952.aspx

Who's blaming the club then? Just questioning whether the club really have a right to be as ****ed off with Koeman as they are making out. I think when push comes to shove the club will prefer this outcome to having Koeman still at the club on countdown to leave at the end of the season.

I tend to agree with this. Koeman's line in public for much of last season was that he was happy to stay - to the end of his contract. He never really seemed that keen to extend his contract further than that, so I'm not sure really why the club are so apparently miffed and surprised that he wasn't prepared to commit when offered the extension (unless of course he was saying something different in private). I think the club (quite rightly) wanted him to commit further than just a year, but he wasn't convinced, and then obviously the big offer from Everton came in. At the end of the day, if Koeman wasn't going to extend, I think the club wanted him out rather than having the uncertainty of a manager on only one year left, and all the speculation that would go with that through the season. So, the Everton offer actually suited us in many ways as it got us out of an awkward spot in deciding whether to dismiss Koeman a year early.

All strikers are hit and miss to some extent - look at Lukaku's performance last night... and he's meant to be worth £65m!! Overall, Pelle's done a great job for Saints in the last 2 years and still looks like he's got at least a couple of good years in him. We should only let him go if we can get an equal or better replacement - and that doesn't mean hoping that Austin and/or Rodriguez get fit!

Interesting read and I'm sure a lot of it has some truth, but struggle to believe how if Koeman is such a **** hated by so many at the club that he managed to coax such a great run of results from the players at the end of the season - W7 D1 L1 in last 9 games!

Don't see where the evidence is for this based on the (very little) we have seen from Austin in a Saints shirt so far.

Whatever happens with the final league position it's great to see us put in such a storming finish to the season - excellent stuff! Last 8 games - W6 D1 L1, including wins against Liverpool Man C and Spurs. Great effort.

Wow, nothing for anyone to moan about in that team. I'm worried