Dusic

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.

From a quick google Valencia are keen but he wants to stay at Genk til end of the season.

Would be absolute astonished if anyone signs Forster permanently in this window.

New deal an absolute no brainer for Saints - protects his increasing value and ties him down for longer. In todays market and if he continues his form then he is worth over £30m easily. He has earned it with his performances and few players ever turn around a situation once it goes sour at a club so fair play to him. Personally for him, its a bit tougher IMO. He presumably likes working with RH and can see he is improving and so are the team. With RH in charge it could be a good next 18 months or so. Flip side - I don't think he will ever forgive the section of fans that went too far in their abuse of him, and he might think he has restored and then improved his reputation by the end of the season and might be keen to take a next step. Player of the Season so far by an absolute country mile. Hopefully he continues his form, wins that award and signs a new deal.

Priority one surely is an attacking player to provide competition with Armstrong and Redmond.

Redmond surely will be rested. Has played almost every game and is so crucial.

Interesting it says we are looking to buy British players - sensible.

Mepham is a good, young CB and has good experience in a competitive league for a 21yo. Both Bournemouth and Leicester tried to get him in the summer. Perhaps a sign of the change of direction in transfer policy?

He is good in a back 3, less so in a four. Composed and calm alongside more aggressive players. Was very good today, as were all the defenders.

Agree. Wans't his best game but was key in our counter attacking in the first half that they couldn't really deal with. Brilliant defending 2nd half, all 5 defenders and Romeu excellent in particular. Redmond (first half) showed he is maturing into one of the best PL players outside the top 6 in his position. Big win - need at least 4 pts from the two home games now. (Bench showed we do need attacking reinforcements in the window).

Maybe someone will just be unlucky and be left out of the squad even though they are still at the club. No reason why that cannot happen. For next season it certainly shows that we need to make decisions on some players who would need to be included but are not really first teamers i.e Hesketh, Barnes, Sims etc

Paid over 3 years, according to Di Marzio. Which is pretty much like any deal. Thats what makes it so complicated to sell players. We likely haven't finished paying for the fees of Hoedt, Boufal, Carillo etc.