Lallana's Left Peg

Depends if they are torn, strained, bruised, tweaked, whatever. As a general rule of thumb though it would be a minimum three weeks best case, if his ligaments really have been damaged in the 'best' of ways.

Not sure if anyone else caught it on the SaintsPlayer commentary but Adam Blackmore of BBC Solent Sport said that he has been told that 'two out of three' first choice targets have been secured transfer wise and that we should expect at least one, maybe more signings before the end of the window. The maybe signing was alluded to be an attacking midfielder, whilst we all know the priority signing is a striker. No names suggested.

The market seems pretty tangled up right now, based on nothing but inclination I can't see Saints getting anything done until the last week of the window (unless they are holding something up their sleeves for tonight or tomorrow). If we don't spend big on a striker it will be interesting to see who we do end up going for - I'm pretty sure we won't be going into the new season with just three senior strikers in the squad, one of which is 30+, one unproven and looks uncomfortable up top on his own, and another who appears guarantee to start deeper on the left (Rodriguez).

He has been fighting a hip injury at the latter end of every season ever since the League 1 promotion campaign. Attempting to carry it and compensate for it this season has also caused some back injuries. He isn't alone at the club or within football in general in terms of players who have to nurse recurring injuries at the end of long seasons. Fox and Lallana with their groins for example spring to mind.

I'm very interested in the use of statistics in football and my general position is that I like them to assess teams but not to assess players. In football I think more meaningful stats need to be found that take into account circumstance, but even then they have a long way to go as you need to work out the difference between a habit a player has and what he has been asked to do. There are so many variables in football that affect what a player does (habit, ability, form, tactics, fitness, game circumstance, and other players just for starters) that I think it would be very easy to mislead people based on only being able to measure end results without knowing the full circumstance of why something happened. But in terms of teams, I find statistics to have slightly more value right now. However I still think nothing can beat the naked eye for being able to conclude more appropriately. Best leave it there before I bore everyone.

What category do I fall into then? I like our squad, like our signings, am genuinely happy and proud that we're giving youth team players a chance etc. however I've heard and read players and Staff talk about Europe and think we're a mile away from that. Can I both be happy with the squad and yet underwhelmed if I am to take noise about European football seriously? If they said European football in five years I doubt we'd have any of this concern but it has been mentioned too many times for this season to go un-noticed by fans. Their fault, they volunteered this - the fans did not put words in their mouths. I appreciate there is a month to go in the transfer window and that perhaps the majority of deals for players are done in this time, but right now we're on course for a mid-table finish in my opinion (something I would be happy about) however that isn't European qualification. Unless someone wants to genuinely state the current squad is good enough for a Top 6 finish? A single striker won't make a massive difference either. I'd rather we slowly build up the club now (in all respects) however if the club are going to talk about European football then they either perceive the quality of the existing squad differently to me or they need to start showing some more intent in the market.

But it is also worth noting that Pochettino had different pressures at Espanyol. His accelerated blooding of kids and the revolving door of players was done through financial necessity. It was pretty much an annual thing of selling the better players and replacing them with 'moneyball' type signings and kids from the Academy. It worked very well for a while however there are now new pressures at Saints - no players sold and an expectation that we improve each year. Where there is some confusion is what the club has a realistic ambition for and in what timescales. Publicly, from players and staff I've read Top Half and Top 6. It's a mixed message and even if something like Top 6 was said to show ambition it can mislead and set expectations - so what happens is when people are assessing our transfer business they do so with what they interpret the club has stated as the ambition. Therefore I think it is perfectly understandable that when fans read Top 6 coming out of the mouths of the club they seem to think we've not done enough in the transfer market (thus far) to justify that. I don't think we have the depth or know-how to achieve that personally. However, if you were to remove those stated objectives from the criteria for assessing the transfer business then we've had a good summer thus far and ignoring European football etc., I'm happy as a fan. But people are absolutely right to question transfer business if the club are going to come out with statements that they believe they can improve 10 league positions in one season.

Sow is an absolute beast of a player in terms of presence and power, I don't know how attainable he is though - they pay players a lot in Turkey due to favourable tax laws. Actually, just found this: Either way he'll need paying a lot even if he can be purchased for 'just' £15m - and then he needs to be interested in joining us from a Champions League club.

I can't help but feel that if the club hadn't been making noises about European football that our perspective would be greatly different. Personally I am happy with our activity, and pragmatically I know where are quite some way from European football. Now we're back in the Premier League I am quite happy to give this current side some time to grow until we know what the limits are, as well as continuing to see young players being given a chance. It's everything I wanted this time four years ago. However, with players and Management talking about Europe publicly (their fault, no-one forced them) then it shifts expectations. Certainly the immediate response is that it would take a lot of money to get there (more than spent) so that creates one stream of panic. The other one it creates is an alternative view that maybe the powers that be think the current squad is up to it - I'm all for positivity but you've got to be pragmatic. I just hope whatever striker we end up buying by the end of the month is one who is better than we've got and a primary target, not some £5m+ fallback target who won't get games and will be a waste of time.

From what I've seen of Mayuka, he needs a lot of seasoning and he won't get much of that training with Saints and not playing. There is only so much work you can do with a player on the training ground - perhaps improving his tactical awareness and mentality, but he really needs a lot of game time to progress at this stage I think. If we are to let him go on loan, then I think we'd be buying another striker one way or another. I just hope it is a genuine target rather than a £5m+ 'stop gap' signing.

We know we're in the market for another striker, just have to hope one comes along before the end of the deadline. If we had a bit more incisiveness in the final third that would have gone down as a great performance. Players are looking fit and hopefully it comes together in the next couple of weeks. This game was definitely a step back to when Pochettino first arrived with regards the pressure and hunting in packs. The back four was very high up the pitch. Nearly got caught out a few times but not enough to stop doing it against Vigo, especially as we won the ball back in some dangerous positions too.

Did your contact give you a feel for the move in terms of confidence? I can't help but feel regardless of our level of interest that Spurs may be back in the game with the Bale cash available.

Two points: 1. Aside from the Reading goal, I'll somewhat fondly remember him for being so keen to impress when he came on you can guarantee he'll over commit to tracking down the player with the ball then when they push it past him he'll blatantly foul them to gain the easiest yellow card the Ref would have to give in any game. 2. Just speculating, but are we seeing a softening from Cortese when it comes to dealing with players who no longer have a future at the club? Last year we had loads of players who didn't have a sniff of first team football yet we hung onto them all amid suggestions that we either insisted on a transfer fee for them or wanted their wages paid in full in any loan arrangement. This summer in addition to the release of several players out of contract Chaplow and now De Ridder have left the club despite having a year left on their contract. Chaplow's was done as he requested a fresh start after a family circumstance, but the De Ridder one now as well suggests to me we may well be attempting to get rid of more salary - maybe in a bid to release space for another big signing?

I've looked into it a bit more and unsustainable is probably misleading - perhaps very risky is a better way to put it. Based on some sensible interpretation of the figures that are out there. What we know: 1. The 6-monthly accounts for Saints showed revenue of £33m, a profit of £1m, and a wage to turnover ratio of 59%: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2290117/Southampton-post-900-000-profit-promotion-Premier-League.html What has happened since then: 1. Saints finished 14th in the Premier League and received £43m from the Premier League over the course of the season. Speculating that the half yearly accounts can be extrapolated across the course of the season that would mean a turnover of £66m, a profit of £2m, and a wage bill of £39m. Realistically I don't think we made a profit last season at all but I can only use the 6 monthly figures and extrapolate them across the year. 2. New contracts have been given to Artur Boruc, Rickie Lambert, Kelvin Davis, Morgan Schneiderlin, Luke Shaw, and Jason Puncheon. I think it would be fair to assume that all but Boruc (signed originally on a 1 year deal) and Davis (signed for loyalty and continuity) would be on better terms (vastly so in the case of Schneiderlin and Shaw). I also think it would be fair to assume that many of the younger players (which is the majority of our squad) have wage increases built into their contract as that is quite normal - however, it would be also fair to assume the released players were earning wages which would 'cancel out' that net gain. So conservatively I would suggest our wage bill from that activity alone has a net increase of £100k a week. That would mean an increase in the wage bill of around £5m a year, increasing our wages to £44m. 3. We've also signed Dejan Lovren and Victor Wanyama for a suggested combined fee of £20m. Taking into account their wages (another conservative estimate of £40k a week each) that is another increase of £4.2m a year to the wage bill. That takes wages to £49m a year and in the accounts their transfer fees are spread over the period of their contract so that is £5m a year additional cost that needs to be accounted for. 4. The new TV deal suggest each club on average will receive £25m more. So using the above figures and making assumptions that other revenues and costs stay the same (I've got no fair basis to change them) that leaves us with revenues next season of £90m, costs of £79m (£64m + £5m + £4.2m + £5m), and a profit of £11m. Wage to turnover ratio of 60% again. But then Damiao. If the fee of £22m is correct and I made the assumption he signed a 4 year deal on £60k a week, that is a yearly cost of £8.6m on the accounts. That basically eats all but £2m of the profit from the bumper new TV deal and it is invested in a single player. With no other clear methods for us to increase revenues other than hiking the cost to consumers of existing channels we're placing all our eggs in one basket. Plus as I've already stated I'm concerned that we'd ever be able to sell him for more than we purchased him, and it does leave any money left in the coffers for anything else without moving players around - unless of course we revert back to being a club that is supported from the owners. People can probably pick holes in the above but breaking it down like that shows how we'd be allocating nearly 10% of projected revenue to a single player in our squad and I think that is very dangerous for a club at our level.

If true, it would be a staggering amount of money for us to spend on a player and not one I'd be entirely comfortable with. He'd have to be an absolute home-run smash hit for us to ever be able to sell him for more than we purchased him for, so for that reason be brings lots of risks. Not to mention that €26m is a massively unsustainable figure for us to pay on a single player anyway. Exciting but it is a bit crazy.

Fox can still contribute, he has been a part of some good team performances in the league. Even if he has struggled at times, it isn't through a lack of effort. As a supporter I find it hard to criticise any player if they are putting in the effort - at the end of the day they are only as good as they can be. There may be times when I moan during the game as I get caught up in the moment but ultimately I think it is unfair to tag him as a villain. He has hardly been purposefully detrimental to the team. Plus I remember him battling a groin problem for the last third of the Championship promotion season and soldiering on when it may have been easier to rest. As I grow older I've found a shift in my tolerance and view on players. Just because someone may struggle does not mean they need grief - it is hardly their fault they are put in the position they are. Though it is probably natural for supporters to single out people no matter what the level I suppose.

Valencia fans are saying the Soldado deal will cover their debts for this season, and his replacement is apparently Postiga who won't cost much at all. Valencia are still trying to trim the squad though, so I would still expect to see lots of movement from them in the transfer market. Their fans have reacted to the news that we may bid again with a little bemusement and shock. They feel he is their best player, worth more than €20m, and there would be lots of fan backlash if he went. However, they also feel that if Saints doubled his salary he'd be off and Valencia would just need to get as much as they can for him in that instance. I have no idea how much Banega earns and speculative efforts on the internet suggest a range of figures, however it is fair to say that Valencia don't pay players low wages. On that assumption I don't think we'd be doubling his wages, and if we were going to spend lots of money on another player it should really ought to be a striker.

I'll need to double check with Mark whether or not he is coming, but I'm definitely in as long as I can get a West Brom ticket when they go on general sale (should be ok but with it being the first away game of the season and the new signings on display you never know).

Just checked their official website its stated that he was rested due to muscle pain, so I wouldn't read too much into it yet.

Just a pre-season game so not worthwhile commenting on individuals in my opinion but a few things to note about the team as a whole: 1. Our distribution from the back still isn't good enough. I don't know if it is a player quality issue (either passing from defenders or movement from midfielders) but it doesn't seem too hard to defend against. 2. I still don't think we move the ball anywhere near quick enough in the final third when we win it back high up the pitch. I don't know if it is a confidence issue or some of the players just aren't quick enough carrying the ball. 3. Our opponents were comfortably our equals today but they tired quickly in the final 20mins and our lads looked like they had plenty left in the tank. I think we made more subs than them but they start their season the same weekend we do and we looked miles fitter than them. Game was quite niggly for a friendly, but always fun to see a bit of aggro on the pitch. Particularly enjoyed Puncheon getting clattered and shoved in his face, only for him to follow it up 2mins later by completely taking out said player. Plus was fun seeing the reaction of the Turkish midfielder when he tried to square up to Wanyama

Not keen on him. Don't think he is particularly better than what we've got and don't see the point buying players on that basis.

Well it might just be me but I am far happier with a slow progress that consists of 2-3 targeted signings each summer complimented with players from our Academy who may be ready to contribute. It feels more sustainable in the long-run (both financially and in terms of making progress that can be maintained) plus I feel strongly we need to retain our identity as a club which not only produces good youngsters but gives them a chance. We've seen what happens when we spend a lot of money on lots of players for short-term progress - we've made a lot of progress but there is a high turnover with players which can bring many issues. It's positive that the club is in such a position now where it feels it can attain primary targets. It would take a massive amount of money to break the Top 6 right now. The only two negatives to this slower approach are there is no way we can be Top 6 this season (so a delta exists between public statements and realistic ambitions) and slower progress leaves us more exposed to losing our best players - but we have to trust Cortese on this one as in the last 6 months we've signed our most prized assets (Schniederlin and Shaw) to 4 and 5 year contracts respectively. Of course it doesn't mean they won't leave, but it does provide ore security than either going into this season with only 12 months left on their contract.

Chambers is a very versatile player. I've seen him play all over the park for the u18's, but more commonly as a right winger. At one stage two seasons ago they were also trialling him as a centre-half and I even think he played a few games next to big Jaidi. It seems it is right-back that is the position he is going to settle on, and he has also shot up in height over the past few years a well. I am glad he is getting promoted, I think it would be good if we promote at least one player per summer to the first team squad. The standard will rise and will always get harder, but I am very happy he will get his chance to be back-up rather than us buy a player for the role.

You could argue that purchasing one makes the need to sign the other less urgent thus it would be very hard to prioritise. But if I had to guess at the way the club is thinking and from all of the transfer rumours, I think it is clear that Pochettino wants one of those fashionable mobile big men up front and I suspect we'll end up with a striker one way or another.

I agree with what by and large what you are saying. For me supporters have a real difficulty distinguishing between what a player / team is capable of in a 'one-off' performance and whether or not it is something that can be maintained over the course of a 10 month season. The vast majority of our players have shown they can play very well at this level. We've had some fantastic performances last season. But the key at this level is consistency, and that is our big weakness. It is also the thing that will most distinguish where you finish in that 8th - 16th area of the table in my opinion. The positive is that at this level we are still learning, and most of our team are young - you'd like to think they'd have a better chance of finding that consistency than teams / players with the opposite characteristics - but it is no guarantee. You look at West Ham and at a talent level you'd never want to swap squads. Not in a million years. But last season they were so comfortable and had so much experience they were always safe. Saints need to marry their talent level with that sort of mentality. I hope it comes with experience and it develops. But there are no guarantees, as I say. We need to accept that all players have areas they can improve, and not be shocked if they can't improve them - if every player improved, it would be a peculiar old game. However, I am positive around the team, and am very excited for the future. But I am very pragmatic and think we need to be aware that getting better at this level is never a guarantee - although I do think we have as a good a chance as any other team of improving for reason already stated.