eddie

Ah well. I figure if he is a free agent, who cost us no upfront fee (that we know of), I'm fine with higher wages. If he was only on 50k per week for the remaining 20 weeks...we'd save 1 million. Would I pay a million to have him for the rest of the season? Sure.

amazing what difference a year makes. this time last season you'd have been laughed at for a comment like that I like the team sheet but would think about Redmond instead of Long.

Then I retract my earlier statement. PANIC SIGNING

Don't get the criticism. He provides height in the box, experience, calmness at the back and is able to put in a tackle. If he isn't super fit and fast, I think that's not a great concern, I accept a compromise will be made elsewhere, for instance Romeu or else Bertrand/Cedric needing to hang back a bit to avoid getting exposed.

It means exactly the opposite. Means it costs at least 35 million to 'release' him from his contract early. It likely costs a few million more, though.

shame we aren't playing Leicester again this season. the boos when vardy receives the ball would be quite something

So he's going to appear topless?

People keep coming back to how the club, meaning Reed, can't keep hold of top players. My guess is even if we had an expert, hard-ball negotiator, Daniel Levy type figure, instead of Reed, we still wouldn't be able to keep hold of them - Mane, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Alderweireld, etc. Why? There are just so many other factors we as club would need to change before the position of Chairman is going to become remotely influential in a players likelihood of staying: - We need a bigger budget, wage budget to offer higher wages, and financially stable so we aren't ever in the position of needing to sell players. - We need to win things, meaning a higher, proven chance that players stand a chance at winning titles and trophies with us, helping their careers - We need reputation, that kids in Africa and South America have heard of Southampton FC and dream of one day playing for us. Most of our foreign players have probably hoped to play for Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal, City or Chelsea long before they've heard of us or reached the U.K. In other words, to be seen as a "big club" If these things don't happen, players will always see there being further chance of development and success elsewhere. Right now, a nice, friendly club atmosphere, great club facilities, guaranteed play time on the pitch (OK, less under Puel but still)...even good weather...evidently aren't enough to keep a player here. The Chairman plays a key role I would say in bringing players in. And to that end, Reed has done alright. I am pretty chuffed with some of the transfers over the past five years. Some were fairly 'miss' but so with Cortese. However, the Chairman I think does not play such a key role in keeping players. Those are factors quite beyond his control (I actually think it lies with Katrina, dare I say).

I don't understand how there can be "no certainty" about a defender coming in with a few hours to go. The only uncertainty is if he took a wrong direction on the way to Staplewood. Or the Saints social media guy is ill right at the moment they want to hit reveal.

Is that sentence a quote from Tolstoy? Some classic novel writer I believe.

Thank the Lord. A very moussey signing.

It needs a new thread to spotlight my thoughts. That's about all I got to say about that.

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/826110926512386049 My thoughts are: - he is a male human being who is familiar with playing football in attack , that's a plus - his appearance is rather disheveled - he would be our second most expensive signing, warranted? - our last Italian striker was quite good - I'm not really sure of the position he fits in but I trust Puel is cleverer than I - is his arrival an omen that Rodriguez will go or can we finally break the trend of 1 in 1 out and build up the squad? - have we been scouting him a long time? I have never heard of him Thank you please.

I moved my nice post.

I had low expectations of puns on this thread. You lot exceeded them.

http://sfcne.ws/SureSaints Thank God for that. Was hoping for some positive news. Also enjoy how one of our players most unsteady in defence right now (Forster) is the face of their "#NeverMoreSure" campaign which, I quote, is "highlighting how players perform in high pressure moments. "

Surprised about this. The talk of a new contract stalling seems prophetic in hindsight. The history though...great 2-3 last years, captaincy, then contract renewal last season, pushing for the We Are Southampton song in August last year or so....to transfer request in just a few months? Quite fast if you ask me. I wonder whether some of these player/managers feel sentimental about Southampton. My guess is those like Poch, Alderweireld, Lambert, Shaw etc. could be like that. Players and managers like this would happily stay at Southampton for the long term. Nice club, alright history and recent history since relegation an amazing success story, clear direction/the Saints "way", and ambitious with a good atmosphere around the place. But we aren't a top five club, in either money terms or in achievements/size. And so managers and players who succeed here, even though they would be happy to stay, naturally move on to bigger and flashier things. And are sentimental probably about the club after they leave. Think this is just a case of reality hitting home. Rather than wishing Fonte were like us, and that he would forsake the money and esteem of finishing 2 seasons at Utd/Liverpool, I almost wish us fans were as realistic as Fonte, in terms of knowing where Southampton sit in the grand scheme of things, and being fairly content with that. Not always booing and typing long posts on internet when the club has lost to a better team, but giving the energy and loud support that the club and players need even more in times like this to be reminded that it's the fans who make this club, and that winning over us and have us chanting your name is worth just as much as any contract improvement or move to top six club. Not saying I'm happy and all. I'm p issed off last few games with the losses, and with losing to the Israeli team so poorly like season before, but if you let it, every season will turn out to be an emotional rollercoaster for a club like ours, ups, downs, losses, gains, wins, outs, ins etc. As far back as I can remember it's like that. Just needs a bit of balance and perspective. Not saying don't express it, but these tough questions need raised at meet the fans events, not on internet. Or picketing, or walkouts etc. There must be better ways of making change, if that's what is needed, than what we do every week after the games on Saintsweb. Bit out of ideas though.

Don't get why Tadic isn't a better option here. Long and Redmond are much of a muchness if they are playing as a striker. As wingers, Redmond is creative and Long just pace. But if you are playing with Redmond/Long up front, both of them will just be making runs behind. In that sense I prefer to stick with Redmond (he is on/off but you've always got the bench if he's having a stinker) and use Tadic, because Redmond brings something Long doesn't in terms of beating people 1v1. If our approach now is slick attacking passing the ball etc there is little point having a Long. He is useful for example against Man City when we are playing the counter attack. He won't 'unlock' defenses like others will. Bournemouth are rather good at home of late and I suggest the only way we will win isn't to have this approach where we hit top gear by minute 75. Against compact defensive teams we will suffer because a) we can't use the pace of Long/Boufal/Redmond/Cedric, as there is no space behind and b) because we have no centre forward target man to exploit the height, a la Pelle So if we let it get to that stage, with Bournemouth playing it tight after going 1-0 up, we will never equalise. We need to be on the front foot from the beginning, open the game up and exploit the attacking knowhow, and killer passes, of Boufal, Tadic, Hojbjerg and the fullbacks.

Hello. Looking forward to this mid week game. What are your thoughts, given the absence of Austin, of a Liverpool like front line. No target man, just creativity and attacking flair to get some goals. ------------Forster-------------- Cedric--Fonte--VVD--Bertrand -------------Romeu------------ --Hojbjerg------------JWP------ Redmond---Boufal---Tadic----- Too light?

JWP made some cracking efforts on goal that were saved by handanovic as if he suddenly got a good shot on him VVD, Forster, Bertrand, Tadic, Austin, Redmond, Romeu are all on form and excellent - it makes room for players like Martina, McQueen, JWP, Clasie and Hojbjerg to show what they are capable of, get experience, knowing that they are in a team with 8 v solid players. There's room for some bad games for individual players. I hope the same can be true of Reed, Gallagher (eventually) and Gardos..!

Wow. gutted I can't join you all for the match thursday. Should be right good.

your expectations are absurd one higher league place every year from bottom to winning the league in 20 successive seasons? success and going forwards isn't measured in terms of beating the best complete team in the league right now (liverpool also) we've had some good results already this season, but better still is the fact our team has quality youth players, tries to play against the opponent (unlike Puel's predecessor, who wasn't a risk taker; setting up for the counter attack, playing 5 at the back even, balls into the big CF Pelle - not exactly the beautiful game is it...) the club is financially better off than it has been in previous decades, and the club structure is such that we lose our head of recruitment and still manage to make some excellent buys two years later (granted they may have been on the map by Mitchell but anyway). we lose our 'best manager for years' and a new one seems to have found his feet already. we lose our best player Mane to a 'rival' (Saints are clearly the second favourites to the title), but redmond's excellent form, Tadic newfound creativity (for club and country) and a boufal goal of the season two hours of game time into his Saints career have given us more than hope that things can look up. or are you saying that having players that would rather be elsewhere (mane, vw), who are driven by money (to china), with a manager that has no care for youth and prefers defensive football, is somehow a step up? if all you care about is league position then saints isn't the club for you. but, as it happens, we will still have some great results this season, the kind that are talked about the whole week after at work and in the pub. we are playing inter milan at home this wk, as southampton. I feel more a part of the club now than I did 5-10 years ago, it has the balls to stick to its principles amid a culture of monetisation and the rest of it. good football, 9th in the league in a competitive table. we march on

MOTW

Hello, Just got back from a trip to Israel last wk. Thought I'd give some bullet points for those travelling: - you'll get questioned about stamps in the passport from Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and maybe Egypt. - it's not uncommon for frequent travellers to be questioned. I got questioned upon leaving, asking my activities, who I had met, where I had stayed. Stay friendly and relaxed and keep info to a minimum. Don't just drop in the name of the bloke you met in the pub in Beer Sheva. They are really asking about whether you have significant links to the country. - when arriving you will NOT get an Israeli stamp in the passport, instead you receive a credit card sized 'ticket' as your visa. As you may know, Israeli stamps prevent you travelling to other middle east countries so it is now standard practice not to stamp the actual book. - Israel isn't as cheap as you might think, probably similar to London/UK prices. From airport to Tel Aviv centre is 30 GBP, for example (150 shekels). Hiring a car for two days cost us 500 shekels (100 GBP), not including gas and capped at 500km distance. - Israel is very hot right now. 30+ deg all the time I was there. - on that, Israel is more liberal and westernised that you might expect. Tel Aviv and other beach towns, lots of people dress in beach clothes and it's pretty normal. Feels like Spain. - To get to Beer Sheva, train or bus. Please know that several train/tram stations in Tel Aviv (where you might fly into) are closed for construction/improvement at the moment. Don't plan on paper how to get around, be flexible. The reality is that some of these works might not be announced. From their website it seems most trains are running from Ha Hagana station to Beer Sheva. - Israel's weekend starts Friday and ends Saturday, the Sabbath (they pronounce it "sabbat"). - As a general rule nothing is open on Sabbath, including buses, cafes, shops. Some buses do run, these are special ones and you'll need to ask around. E.g. a selection of Jerusalem-Tel Aviv buses run on sabbath. - The sabbath begins Friday night around 6pm and ends Saturday 6pm. - Israeli's love football even if the quality isn't great. - common sense as with every travel is required, but know that Israeli's are friendly - everyone speaks English. Really. I went all over and hardly met someone that didn't speak English. beer Sheva has a big university so anyone youngish will definitely speak English. Hope it helps. Get in touch if you've got more Qs about the country...

One of the commentators explained it well. Puel most likely wanted Austin as the poacher, with the attacks coming down the right hand side. If Austin was in the centre, he would have the two centre halves marking him. As it was, on the left he only has their right back to deal with. That's exactly where the goal came from. Free at the back post.