29 Jul 2016 14:59:08
So let's look at how our matchday squad fills up as the squad is right now.

Gk- forster
Rb- cedric
Cb- fonte
Cb- van dijk
Lb- bertrand
Cdm- romeu
Cm- clasie
Cm- ward-prowse
Rw- redmond
Lw- tadic
St- long

Leaves a bench of
Gazza (mccarthy if happens)
Yoshi (leaves out gardos, stephens and turnbull)
Targett or martina (one will miss out on squad)
Hojberg
Davis (with these two reed doesn't get in squad)
Rodriguez
Austin
This is just how I've pieced a team together as I haven't seen hojberg play he may oust jwp though i'd like to see him step up this year.
So a lot of our talented youngsters miss out as is if we sign tello, semedo who leaves? I guess reed could go out on loan I really rate him same as with turnbull and stephens. So everyone worrying about being too reliant on austin and jrod we are far from being reliant on any 1 player coyr looks good to getting eccited now can't wait to see the boys back against espanyol and athletic.

1.) 29 Jul 2016
29 Jul 2016 15:16:54
Looks ok on paper Saintdan but can't see many goals coming out of that team. No height in the forward players on your team sheet or real strength apart from Shane.

2.) 29 Jul 2016
29 Jul 2016 16:46:15
I think that saintdan's matchday squad including bench looks a very good team. Foster and the back four doesn't need discussing. Midfield and front three look useful as well . On the bench Davis, Martina, Hojbjerg, Rodrigues and Austin would probably be favourites as subs to bring on if needed. My guess is Davis would start in the opening line up with Martina dropping to bench. As for height, strength and not many goals I would disagree. Up front Redmond, Long Rodrigues and Austin are not exactly midgets and very capable of goals as are the rest of the outfield players. I'm sure that Claude is working on that. If fast attacking football is played to feet then height is of no importance. We have the height for free kicks, corners etc. open for discussion as this is only my thoughts. COYR's.

3.) 29 Jul 2016
29 Jul 2016 17:06:55
Chris if you're going to try and pick holes at least come up with something remotely true. strength? Austin is strong, romeu is strong, hojberg isn't exactly small. Van dijk and fonte are strong. lack of height? . pelle is 6"4.Austin 6"2. obviously a HUGE difference there! Wanyama 6"2.hojberg 6"1.perhaps we need to change our nickname from the saints to the midgets? As for goals? . Austin scored 18 for a crap team that went down. j-rod if fully fit WILL score goals. yes pelle and mane have gone, but they weren't 20 goal a season players! What we've got is either a like for like OR an improvement AND we've still got players to come in!

4.) 29 Jul 2016
29 Jul 2016 17:20:47
Here's another thought for discussion. How's about getting in Bastian Schweinsteiger who is reportedly up for grabs as not in Mourinhos plans. 31yrs I'd and a great midfielder with vast experience to offer. Wages could be the stumbling block but Saints are in a very healthy financial position. The only snag is Bayern Munich who are interested. What do you think lads (and ladies of course) We March On.

5.) 29 Jul 2016
29 Jul 2016 17:25:29
Read the post again Milky I am talking about the forwards not the team . We need someone with muscle up front apart from Shane.

6.) 29 Jul 2016
29 Jul 2016 17:28:51
By the way I was reacting to the starting team that Saintdan would put out not the whole squad, in other words you would have to start with Charlie Austin as he is the only target man we have. Give Charlie a chance I feel he could fill Grazianos boots very well if he stays fit.

7.) 29 Jul 2016
29 Jul 2016 17:38:49
Just one more thing and I will shut up, how could you not start without Steve Davis? He would be the first name on my team sheet week in week out.

8.) 29 Jul 2016
29 Jul 2016 17:52:44
No need to shut up Chris you have every right to you opinions. I for one agree about Charlie staying fit as when he is he is a great replacement for Pelle. Totally agree again about Davis . But fair play to Milky Saint he is more or less saying what our big lads do every game- they come up from midfield and defence adding height to the attack and strength. This is what discussions are all about . One persons views are not always someone else's views. What we all share and agree on is once more we will move forward as a very capable squad. Come the new season we will surprise everybody again.

9.) 29 Jul 2016
29 Jul 2016 18:39:55
Yes I agree but that is only at set pieces we need strength and muscle up front in open play, we can't rely on corners and free kicks to get the majority of our goals.

10.) 29 Jul 2016
29 Jul 2016 19:05:34
Some of the beat strikers in the league are not what you would call physical preaence ie aguero, vardy etc just saying.

11.) 29 Jul 2016
29 Jul 2016 19:20:54
They won't Chris. When we line up on August 13th we I'll have the firepower from all on the pitch. From defence to attack and midfield chipping in we will be ok. You don't have to be all muscle and strength to put the goals away. Yes it's handy to have a 6ft 4 in striker built like the proverbial toilet wall but guile and speed on the ground I'll take any day. That's why I stand back and absolutely adore watching Messi an absolute genius. The best striker I had the pleasure of watching a few years back was a player called Ron Davies. The best header of a ball (leather as well ) and a hell of a leap and seemed to hang in the air. He wasn't all muscle and strength . Trust in our new manager and squad. Goals will come and hopefully we'll be strong in defence again. COYR's.

12.) 29 Jul 2016
29 Jul 2016 19:48:22
I don't think we have anything anywhere near the likes of Aguero or even Vardy with his lightning pace . I think we have a great squad but we need someone up front to lead the line especially not having Mane anymore, him Pelle and Davis linked up so well . We will sign somebody of that I am sure.

13.) 29 Jul 2016
29 Jul 2016 19:58:00
Ron Davies "a few years back?! " That's a real blast from the past!

14.) 29 Jul 2016
29 Jul 2016 20:52:01
might be a blast from the past but I'm sure if he was playing up front today he would score plenty of goals and guarantee you of 20+ goals a season. The best player though was Le God and never got the England caps he fully deserved. An extremely talented player who stayed loyal to the club. I've been lucky to have witnessed incredible goals scored by Le God that will go down in history. Hopefully I'll witness another Ron Davies or Le God again before I go to the great stadium in the sky. Any ways any thoughts of the best players you have seen at the Dell or St Mary's?

15.) 29 Jul 2016
29 Jul 2016 20:56:00
42 goals in one season, amazing!

16.) 30 Jul 2016
30 Jul 2016 10:49:46
Too many best players to mention but if I had to pick just one ( and it would be close decision ) I would pick Mike Channon . He was a tremendous player .

17.) 30 Jul 2016
30 Jul 2016 16:15:49
Matt le Tissier (Le God) was a midfielder so I'll say now that he was the best I've seen in that position. I still maintain tha Ron Davies was the best striker I've seen though it's very hard to separate him from Mick Channon so I'll say it's a draw both were brilliant.

18.) 30 Jul 2016
30 Jul 2016 18:08:57
I knew Ron a little bit by doing some work for him when he lived in Wilton Road, quiet man and liked his Brandy . Great header of the ball but he would never have scored all those goals but for the Councillor himself, the legendary Terry Paine.

19.) 31 Jul 2016
31 Jul 2016 07:13:33
Don't forget John Sydenham on the left wing. Terry and John were very quick and delivered pin point crosses. No striker will score goals without assistance from players like these. Never knew Big Ron lived in Wilton Road which I believe was part of Shirley, Southampton. My partner was born in Millbrook and went to Wimpson Junior then onto Richard Tauntons Just off the Avenue. Whist at this latter school (in the sixties) he had trials for Southampton schoolboys. He never made it but his mate Paul Bennett later went on play for Southampton and was on the bench at the 1976 Cup Final . This is where I got my interest in football from. Never looked back since. COYR's.

20.) 31 Jul 2016
31 Jul 2016 08:21:11
We tend not to mention Paul Bennett however, he was from Portsmouth 😱.

21.) 31 Jul 2016
31 Jul 2016 08:52:10
You must somehow have confused the Paul Bennett that my partner knew and went to school with . He was about 4 months younger than my partner and was definitely born in Southampton. What the Devil is Portsmouth got to do with it. Never played for them either in later life. Boy have you got this one wrong. Still we all make mistakes. One of Pauls first job when signed on professional was to mark Martin Chivers who I believe was playing for Spurs. Martin Chivers had also been educated at Richard Tauntons in Southampton. Not the same years as my partner and Paul Bennett I may add.

22.) 31 Jul 2016
31 Jul 2016 13:41:44
Chris and Welsh - get a room will you?

23.) 31 Jul 2016
31 Jul 2016 14:18:52
Oh hi Jim you do realise that this a "banter site" and I hope that Chris understand I mean no harm. Have you got any rumours or past memories of players you admired or admire that played for Southampton? Do you follow saints? Were you born in Southampton? Who would you like to see us sign?

24.) 01 Aug 2016
01 Aug 2016 07:55:43
Yes, born in Shirley, luv! Saw my first match at the dell aged 9.

I was just being cheeky - from what I was reading people could be confused that you two were on a trip down the Southampton FC tunnel of love!

I admire any player who has played for the saints - including that Ali Dia fella in 1996, he may have been a complete bag of sh! te, but he's spent more time on a football field than I have.

I don't really think who we want to see is relevant - as I have faith in the board to make the correct signings that fit our club, although a fully fit and firing striker would be top of my list for sure.

25.) 01 Aug 2016
01 Aug 2016 15:45:04
Hi Jim like I said my partner was born in Millbrook - Cheviot Road. He knew Shirley very well and loved going to the Dell -Milton Road said it was packed with atmosphere. Very close to the pitch and says he remembers the "chocolate boxes" apparently another small standing area above the Milton Road end. Accept your cheek as I am a great believer in life is too short to hold grudges or anger. Don't you have any individual player past or present that stands out. Agree that another striker is needed another "Rickie Lambert " would be brilliant.