mrfahaji

I know what you mean. Although I'm still generating unhealthy levels of hatred every few months thanks to football... I think the biggest frustration is the way football and the Premier League is going, and the most depressing thing is that the club I love is in the best position it has been for many years, certainly in my lifetime, and yet I increasingly feel as though we are nothing more than a dispensable part of a massive, pointless, soulless, circus. And the situation is getting worse each year, as the Premier League build its 'Global Brand' at the expense of sporting integrity and the local support.

Presumably we paid Puel compensation? Even though player & manager contracts are not really comparable, essentially we're comparing "sorry it's not working out but here's a severance package for your trouble" and "I have a contract that I'm not prepared to honour, but I'm not going to make it official by issuing a transfer request because it'll cost me more money than I'm already going to get from moving".

Unfortunately that's exactly the trap we fans fall into. Romeu seems like a decent guy, but I'm going to stop short of thinking he's different to all the rest, it only ends in a sense of betrayal!

Has he handed in a transfer request then? Seems a bit rich (maybe literally) to say you want to leave but not officially make a request forgoing any bonuses or cut of the sale. We probably have enough money to sign a replacement if need be, next year he'll still have 4 (?) years left on his contract, so still worth a lot of money. Given the acceleration of transfer fees, probably not much less than we can get now, especially if a few more clubs end up being interested. Maybe one or two will be desperate in January. When a footballer signs a contract, they have to appreciate that it is essentially a promise to play for the club for that period of time. If we want van Dijk to play for us for the next five years, we should be able to make that happen, because he's agreed to it and is being paid handsomely for that agreement. Football is already, but becoming ever more so f**king vacuous I do wonder what the point is. Gradually the people that football really matters to are being sidelined in favour of those who have it as a hobby.

Muchas* gracias You learn something every day (I should add that is a helpful post, as I plan to get Watford tickets in a couple of weeks. Thanks!)

Ha, I wondered the same! Punching above his weight, perhaps. As to the relevance of the rest of the post, not sure...

Not just for a South American! And let's be honest, most players are nicer than Liverpool...

Are you allowed to say who those two players are? Guessing the incoming ones are a bit more delicate, do you know specific identities or just certain positions?

Don't they have Azpilicueta and Moses who can both play RB/RWB?

you could get a whole set!

This all makes perfect sense and I agree with it. However, I would like to see Clasie replaced by a different midfielder. Reason being: we have four midfielders of a similar ilk, in that they play a 'general' midfield role without standing out in one particular area - Davis, JWP, Clasie & Hojbjerg. Due to Davis' age, I can't see us getting much money for him, and his standing as club captain probably means he stays. Of the other three, none have really stepped up to be an obvious first choice. That means that no matter who plays, there's a potential weakness. Given the age and performances of all three, I think there is less chance of Clasie developing into the obvious first choice than the other two, and therefore I'd prefer to move him on and take a chance with a different player. If that other player doesn't work out, we're not really in a worse position, but if they do our team is starting to look very good. Risk worth taking? I'm not even talking about spending silly money in this silly market, it could just be another young player we've been keeping tabs on from abroad.

If we did (can't see it happening) sign Sigurdsson, it would mean JWP would have even less claim for a place in the side than he currently does, as Sigurdsson is as accomplished, if not more so, as a set piece taker.

They've spelt it Ljundberg. It's a great idea, I like it, but being for charity is irrelevant when it comes to standards. The whole point of something like this is the detail. If I'm going to pay for something, regardless of where the money ends up, I expect the details to be right. They've also spelt Ostenstad wrong on the 6-3 mug while they're at it.

Shame they've spelt Ljungberg wrong.

Don't tell me, double standards again from Southampton?

Funny that you often hear about something being "rekindled", but rarely about the original "kindling".

That's good to hear. Though I think we should all just stick to Pellegrino to avoid any confusion...

How much has anyone seen of Stephens playing DM? I'm ok with the idea of him 'stepping up' from a back three - VVD could do it too - because primarily he's a CB. However, I'm not sure we should be assuming he is good enough to do the job there instead of Clasie, Hojbjerg or JWP. (I realise you are also asking the question rather than advocating it, I just don't think there is enough evidence to warrant it a serious option right now).

Just out of interest, did you go to the game at the San Siro?

Yeah but he played for Aston Villa and they were rubbish so he couldn't possibly have been a good signing

It's a good point but a strange way of presenting it. As Heisenberg as so helpfully pointed out, "London" could also include West Ham, Fulham & Palace. And if we had finished behind them as well it wouldn't be so impressive. Maybe just "Big 6 & Everton", everyone knows who you mean. Perhaps a better way of looking at it, is that over the last four seasons Saints have the 7th best average finishing position. So, basically the best of the rest. Things can change quickly though!

As I already have the Air Florida kit, I'm not sure whether to buy the new shirt, BUT if I were to I'd be tempted to get a number without a name, it looks bl00dy brilliant from those photos!

Yeah but that's like saying we should be happy to play Targett LB because he's better than Danny Fox.

When I read it I did think it was funny that I hadn't heard anything about them ending. How utterly bizarre for a big name journalist, no matter how poor, to come up with something like that!

Delighted with a new (and unnecessary?) contract for Forster and think Ward-Prowse is a star in the making. Interested to know which of our players you don't rate...?!