I don't see Austin as Pelle's successor so this would be interesting.

Is it just me or do Palace seem to be lively at the moment?

I am sorry, but may be I am missing something, but I am not getting this argument that somehow Austin and Rodriguez are sufficient cover for Pelle or anyone else for that matter. Having a consistent and reliable scorer is almost essential if you want any chance of modicum of success, otherwise you are relying heavily on your defence and midfield, the former of which, you are asking a lot, not to mistake or at least a game changing mistake.

Austin was cheap for a reason and he has done nothing yet to suggest that he is cover for anyone. A good buy potentially, but he clearly has had or still has medical issues which probably means regular spells of not being available or being able to see a whole game out.

Rodriguez we all know about. Hopefully he will return to what he was, but based on last season he still has a long way to go and he is vulnerable and there little or no evidence yet that he will be what he was before that injury. Great if he does, but we would be foolhardy to rely on that or for that matter Austin.

Not saying that this latest rumour has any validity or is the answer, but equally relying on Austin and Rodriguez is a risky strategy given their recent history.

On a separate but related issue. Tired of hearing that we are possibly interested in X player but competing with others and not likely to meet the asking price or get into a bidding war. The truth is, if we are half hearted about someone, when others are competing we may as well forget it. It is clear that Southampton as a product in their own right is not an attraction, and that to convince players that are also being touted by others we need to show serious conviction or we stick to recruiting players that are not attracting some of the larger teams with bigger pockets.

I am not really sure what our strategy and vision is any more other than at the end of each season to let players go that want to and reap as much money for them as possible and then spend as little of it as possible.

Read an article on 442 yesterday on the truth behind the transfer rumours. There is a rule of 3 when it comes to naming clubs that are interested in a player:
1. The club who has made a bid/enquiry
2. The club the player/agent wants to go to
3. The club that is not interested at all but is named to boost the price

I would say Saints and Everton are 2 and 3. Not sure which is which.

Sounds interesting. Looks a bargain by his stats. See what happens.. Would still prefer Bas Dost.

I certainly don't think we can rely on JR and CA. One of them might be fit for the season but both of them? History suggest either or both will have lengthy time out.
And of course there is the possibility that Shane Long could get injured, he's not bullet proof, then where would we be ?
Another striker is definitely needed. English would be expensive, so I would guess someone from the Dutch or French league as there seems to be some value.

A1079. Such a long comment deserves reply, firstly yes I would like to see another striker in too, but we do have Austin and Rodriguez both able to play the role and likewise Shane Long who filled the role in the second half of the season, so we have options, I think the club are playing down their need for another striker so they dont get caught in an auction.

With regard to being interested in players, we are always going to be linked, sometimes with good reason sometimes not, if we fail in getting a player we are always going to spin it that his transfer fee was too high or that his wage demands were too high that is football.

I disagree with your opinion that we have no strategy or vision, in fact it is quite the opposite, perhaps for the first time we have a clear strategy and vision and that involves knowing a players worth to the side and when to sell him, sometimes that is out of our control and players are driven by wages, the reality is we cannot compete with around half a dozen clubs in this respect, you might not like that but it is fact and never going to change.

That being the case we have to take them on, on our terms and that means continually looking to bring in players with potential and then when the time is right move them on, yes it relys on getting it right, but then again there s no guarantee that if you pay a big transfer fee and wages for a player that you will get success either.

In each of the last two summers we have re invested as much as we have taken in, this summer we have spent big to sign up the likes of Forster, VVD and Bertrand to long term deals, that has not come cheaply and that money will not be covered by gate money alone, we cannot pay these players big wages unless we have the income.

Two years ago we had no strategy or vision, our ex Chairman who had just left talked big but had no actual strategy, now we do and that has been shown in what we have achieved so far

A1079, Austin was so cheap because his contract had 6 months to run and it was clear that QPR were not going to get promoted. If him and jay manage 23 league goals between them then they will have out scored pelle and mane. Numbers aren't everything of course but every player runs the risk of injury at any time. I'm sure the medical staff know their onions. Have confidence, there are lots of goals in this squad although another quick young centre forward would be a welcome addition, hopefully this can come from the youth team.

We all know that SFC have never got involved in bidding wars for players, or for that matter we rarely seem to sign players that we are linked with ( I admit we were linked with Redmond, but very few of us had heard of Hojbjerg!). Also I think that the ginger clogman has got to make a big signing soon, as I understand that the Everton fans are already getting restless and muttering about him and lack of signings. Sadly, the big problem in football these days- a new owner waving his millions around and fans expect immediate signings of big names and even quicker success. I think I prefer the SFC way!

Norwich City looked at this guy last year and decided no thanks, so sounds like agent wish talk to me, I thought we were going head to head with Everton for a Feyenoord defender???? that "story" hasn't materialized into much yet!

A1079 you are not missing anything-you are supposed to believe that J-Rod and Austin are sufficient cover!

And if they score more than ten goals by Christmas, they will be sold in the winter window to whatever team is closest to us in the standings as part of our "strategy". No worries as the tea lady will be then touted as "sufficient cover" (although I think she has lost a step over the last two seasons).

Saintnick and others, thankyou for your considered and balanced responses. Whatever the rest of this summer holds, lets hope that the season ahead is at least an exciting one to watch for all Saints fans.