Dusic

For me Ramsay has been a massive weak link vs both City and Derby. He just isn't ready for PL football. Why lose Cedric for €500k given the position we are in and the lack of suitable cover for Valery? Ramsay could end up playing 10 PL games before now and the end of the season. Madness. Cedric has the most apps out of all our full backs this season and regardless of his long term position, he is a proven PL level player, hence a team like Inter want him. If he was being sold I would agree with it, but for a €500k loan its bizarre. If the squad is too big, send Ramsay back to the U23s to learn his trade...

Quite clearly the issue isn't specifically whether Cedric is good or not. Its that whilst in a relegation battle there is no need to let someone go for 500k who is clearly still a viable option to play, if not always start.

Valery is raw and could suddenly have a dip and Ramsay is nowhere near the level needed now. Risky move to let Cedric go, especially given we hardly need to loan him out for financial reasons. Have to also consider that we have Ross Wilson and Ralph Krueger in charge of our transfer dealings. As far as I am aware, both have been present in our multiple terrible windows of recent years.

http://sportwitness.co.uk/club-contacted-southampton-player-ready-close-deal-theres-positive-signs/ Some differing views from the Italian media about how likely this is. Di Marzio usually the best source though so will be interesting to hear his updates today.

Don't see why Saints would be very keen on a loan: 1. Cedric would need replacing (whereas Hoedt doesn't) and from all the "long term, young player" chat we would have to pay a fee 2. His contract is up in 18 months so value diminishing. Now the optimal time to sell even if for a reduced price. 3. He is a long term signing for someone I think, rather than a short term punt and unlike Darmian would be on affordable wages for a side like Inter.

No Lemina in training pics from today. He really is struggling with his stomach muscle strain (which I believe is genuine btw). Bertrand is there. No Targett.

Not according to the club. He hasnt requested to take any money out. Have to remember, in the case of Hoedt for example that we will probably be paying Lazio for him for another 2 years, regardless of whether he is at the club or not. Likewise Carillo. Likewise Boufal. We have a series of expensive signings that we continue to pay for even though they aren't at the club, a wage bill that is in the top 10 in the PL and three Manager payoffs. It all adds up.

Judging by the Echo article we are waiting for someone to sign Cedric before replacing him (and I thinknwe knew that). The main area we need someone is in attack - we have no cover for Redmond. That said, those type of players cost, so Im not expecting anyrhing this window and agree the summer needa to see a total clearout. Interesting that RH seemed very confident of one signing a week or so back - was that the RB or the attacker I wonder?

Is the Carsten Jancker deal still being ratified?

In a word, no.

Why would it ever be anyone on here's decision? If on that basis it shouldn't be discussed on here then we may as well shut the forum down!

Does he have the physical attributes needed to be a PL centre back?

Now we are out of the cup and just have league games to go, its fairly unlikely that many of the below will get any game time. These aren't 18 year olds like Ramsay, Obafemi or Valery, they are players who need to be playing mens football every week to build their careers. Some players of this age have 150+ pro games under their belts. I expect most of the below will be sent out on loan before the window shuts but soon we need to make longer term decisions. Personally, I don't feel any are good enough to play regularly in the PL. Josh Sims (21) Jake Hesketh (22) Sam Gallagher (23) Alfie Jones (21) Harry Lewis (21) Marcus Barnes (22) On loan: Harrison Reed (24 next week) Next season, a few of these would need to be included in the 25man squad, so need to be brave and decide - if they aren't good enough sell them and include a sell on percentage.

Boufal isn't the answer.

Very, very good. Reminds me a bit of Fonte, quite gangly but manages to extend his foot onto pretty much everything. Great attitude. Where people moan about unlikeable players, this guy is the opposite. An absolute steal at £5m.

I've been a big critic of JWP and felt his Saints career was coming to an end but he has been fantastic since coming back into the team. Much of this is due to increased aggression which has been missing from his game for ages. By not picking him at the start Hasenhuttl has gotten a great reaction. If he can keep it up then fantastic.

Ralph saying he only wants gamechangers. Absolutely right. If we don't sign anyone then unlike the window last year it wouldn't be a disaster. Main area for me if we did get someone would be competition for Redmond and Armstrong as there is currently none.

One media outlet and one journalist Simon Jones, who mostly copies things read from forums/foreign reports.

Clearly going back to a strategy built around signing/developing young players and selling to big clubs. For a team of our size this is the best plan. Like how this window we only want gamechangers. Literally no point getting more average players. Possible based on the above we won't sign anyone, but the summer will be busy in and out and I fully trust Ralph to sort us out. We just need to stay up first.

And we have the same Head of Player Recruitment as we have in the last three years of failed transfer windows.

I thought he looked significantly out of his depth - which is hardly a suprise as he has played very little U23 football. At fault for the disallowed Derby goal, the Waghorn goal and the headed chance Lawrence somehow missed. Barely any forward passes, barely any crisply struck passes. He must be promising to get a game at such a young age, and its an ideal opportunity to give him experience, but he was a clear weak link last night, just as he was vs City. Not knocking him, as you can't expect much more - but anyone who thought he was good I would have to question.

So, just to state the obvious, the only reason we had a chance to win both games versus Derby was because of Redmond. We are so reliant on him from an attacking perspective and that showed last night. Some of his poor decision making was probably alsondriven from the fact he knew he had to go it alone in order for us to progress. Poor penalty, absolutely. But he was head and shoulders above any other player on the pitch in both games and is currently our best player.

Samatta has been heavily linked with Cardiff this week, but their local media say he is a backup target to the Nantes striker Sala, who it seems they are getting despite him appearing reluctant to move there.

1. I don't think we have much money to spend this window. Certainly not big money on another CB 2. I still struggle to see a Wilson/Kruger dream team completing good deals. We have a gap in this area since Reed's departure. 3. Still feel we will be looking at loans with an option, which reduces the pool significantly.

They have been actively trying to get him for 18 months, so doubt they would allow a rival to do a deal behind their back. Even a couple of years ago, Bmth or Saints would be a no brainer for a player, but its a tough decision now, if in fact we have bid. Personally don't see us spending £15m on a CB without getting rid of one (permanently) as that would leave us with 6 CBs all on first team salaries.