Rousseau

These names are OK, in the sense that they are established players. But they're just too old, for me.

Decent player, but too old.

I sent myself one: I can remove it by clicking the dismiss 'x' at the top right. Maybe @Frankie can help?

Is that the Sticky note? You remove it by clicking on the little 'x' at the top right.

...but then realising someone else has spent time with Kevin Thomson...

Click "Cancel"...? Oh, I see: I just delete what I've written, then leave it. There's only a cancel button when you want to edit.

Craig seeing the Kevin Thomson interview like...

Yes, his main reason for coming is gone, so I wouldn't be surprised; which is understandable. If we're recouping the money it's not a bad idea to move him on. (It's most definitely 'fools seldom differ'... )

I'm not sure why we're discussing this made-up hypothetical. There's nothing in that article to back up their claim. I'd take Naismith if we're interested, but I'm not fussed either way; he's not the player he was.

Pena wasn't the all-round midfielder we were expecting, but I really don't see how he was a "flop"; his goal-to-game ratio is superb, and his ability to find space in the box likewise. The narrative is quite clear. I'd rather keep Pena. However, if we're able to recoup the money and put it into a better all-rounder, then so be it.

Horrible news. Hope he makes a speedy recovery. Some people really are beyond the pale; disgusting behaviour.

Arsenal were just gubbed 4-2 by Nottingham Forrest! Good, old-fashioned cup-tie that had everything. I thought it interesting that Barrie McKay wasn't trusted to start in this type of game; too much of a luxury to be depended upon to put in a shift.

Excellent! It's a nice wee feature.

The names being passed around Twitter -- for what it's worth -- are rather encouraging. If we can get Cummings, Docherty etc., to go with Murphy, it would be a fantastic window. They arguably all improve the first-team, and at the very least they are all young players with a sell-on value that know what it takes to play in this league. It hints at a more focused scouting approach from Allen.

YES! I move to +8 (We need a table for this!)

*When you see the Community Reputation Score*

I thought of him more as an inside-forward: He plays on the left, but is right-footed.

The magic of the Black Box. It works for players and managers. The magic of the black box The black box might sound like something from a JK Rowling adventure but it is crucial to the club's success. It is a live database, fuelled by six analysts and has records of Saints players at every level, which are audited every six weeks to check whether they are hitting their targets. But it is not just details of current Saints players that are stored in the black box - data is inputted into it from games across every major league. Into it are loaded video clips, performance and statistical data, plus information about the character, personality and injury history of a player. When Reed discusses a potential signing with the manager he has a range of options, all of whom he knows will fit into the style the club wants. "When you are trying to unearth potential that can be turned into excellence, you need lots of information," added Reed. "Scouts can spot a player if they are looking at Gareth Bale - but to find a Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, you need more detail." Saints signed Hojbjerg, a 21-year-old Danish midfielder, from Bayern Munich in the summer on a five-year deal for a fee believed to be in the region of £13m. The data in the black box helped inform them of the player's suitability for Southampton. They knew that Hojbjerg had been through an excellent academy system at Bayern, that he was bright academically and had bundles of skill and potential. "Performance data allows us to say technically if he is what we are looking for," added Reed. "Physical information is not just high-intensity sprints. It is whether they are in high-level competition, how they hold the ball up, what the first touch is like." A good example of how Saints' long-term thinking and attention to detail allowed them to overcome the loss of an important player revolves around the departure of defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama. They signed the Kenya international from Celtic in 2013 and, according to Reed, he had opportunities to sign a new deal for two years. "It was clear he was being advised not to. When those tell-tale signs started happening we began looking in the black box," said Reed. "Potential replacements for Victor had to meet certain athletic and technical requirements. One of them was Oriol Romeu." Southampton had started monitoring Romeu as a 19-year-old when he joined Chelsea from Barcelona. They kept feeding information into his profile during a loan spell at Valencia. As Wanyama's future became uncertain, Southampton took an additional interest when Romeu joined Stuttgart on loan in 2014. Twelve months later, they approached Chelsea themselves, paying £5m for the player who has this season become Wanyama's replacement. It had been the same with Lallana and Dusan Tadic. Tadic was in the system from 2010 because the club understood that Lallana was developing into the sort of player that other clubs might want to buy. When Liverpool bought Lallana for £25m in 2014, Tadic was one of several replacements the Saints had been monitoring for years. When Adam Lallana (centre) left for Liverpool in 2014 the club already had a series of potential replacements in mind Three interviews and a 50-page profile Eight weeks after Southampton won the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in 2010, Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan won the Champions League final to complete the treble. Since 2011, the Italian side have not won a trophy or qualified for the Champions League. At the start of the month, Inter played Saints in the Europa League and lost 2-1. It was a match played just days after they had sacked manager Frank de Boer, who had himself replaced Roberto Mancini after he was dismissed in August. Reed said: "If they go after 80 days, fingers need to be pointed at the people who recruit. "When managers are appointed usually they want lots of changes. They want to bring their own staff, they want money to spend. If you go down that route you are putting everything you have built at risk. "Our manager is a coach. The process is, 'are we the right fit for you, are you the right fit for us?' That is why it goes through several stages." Reed has a dossier of potential coaches that is continually updated - and has been since the appointment of current boss Claude Puel - but he describes it as "very private" and only he has access to it. When the club's Argentine boss Pochettino left for Tottenham in 2014, some thought it would mark the end of Southampton's rise. In fact, they got better, improving their Premier League placing from eighth to seventh and then sixth under Dutchman Koeman. It was the first time they had finished in the top half of the top flight in three successive seasons since 1979-82. Reed did not expect Koeman to leave for Everton this summer - but he had to be ready when it happened. He said: "Succession planning is a major factor in big business. You have to be ready for the surprise. It shouldn't be any different in football yet that is how it appears." One newspaper picked 11 potential replacements for Koeman. Puel was not among them but it was the Frenchman whom Saints eventually appointed on a three-year deal. "Every candidate to replace Ronald was in the system a year before and had a 45- or 50-page document, with a profile. The interview criteria were four pages long. Claude went through three interviews to get the job." http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37954971

What do the little red exclamation points signify?

I'd take Docherty. Seems to be a standout player in the league -- although I've not been paying too much attention -- and a player we could use; box-to-box, creative, and can take the physical side.

I watched bits of it too: he didn't get a sniff of the ball, but he didn't do anything noteworthy; he looks powerful and quick, though. Hopefully he has some of his father's guile!

It's a good deal: We get to try him out, guaranteed to get him at the end of the season if it works out, and we don't have to fork out all the money now. Most importantly, he improves the first-team; very few coming in have actually done that.

"If I profane with my unworthiest hand/This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:"