Dusic

Sounds like Fulham in for Targett again - £12m offer apparently which must be getting close to acceptable? For me he is miles better than McQueen but nowhere near Bertrand. Kind of makes sense to let him go, assuming Bertrand stays and signs a new contract. If Bertrand leaves next summer and we have sold Targett this summer then its less sensible.

14 PL goals in two and a half years. Thats not particularly impressive IMO. Average of about 6 a season and he hasnt scored a lot of goals in a season for about 4 years now.

IMO Burnley comparisons are irrelevant, because we would be unable to setup like they do. We don't have the same squad profile, Manager, ground, location, fanbase that would approve of that style of football etc. Our lineup is quite lacking in quality. What Burnley's lineup is or was does not change that at all.

I would say there aren't too many decisions to be made except from: 1. Will Cedric and Yoshida be up to speed in time as realistically will only have one friendly before the first game? We have no reasonable options instead of Cedric so hopefully he plays, but perhaps Yoshida will be given time to get up to speed again? 2. Which two start from Redmond, Armstrong and Moi? On this I think Moi will start on the bench, he has only had 2 x 45mins in pre season so far, so seems like they are easing him in. ---------------------McCarthy------------------ -----Bednarek--Vestergaard--Hoedt---- Cedric------Romeu-----Lemina------Bertrand ----------Redmond-------------Armstrong----- --------------------------Austin----------------------- Overall it looks a bottom 8 lineup to me, especially at CB and in the attacking three positions, which won't scare many teams. Hell of a lot resting on Austin's fitness and Armstrong and Moi being able to score regularly in a far better league than they are used to.

Hopefully will hear some more serious attacking links soon. We are still very much short in this area of the pitch with basically two selectable strikers and two genuine attacking wide players. Not enough quality to scare PL sides.

Not doubting that, obviously Saints haven't been what he signed up for i.e a team challenging for Europe but i.) He has been very inconsistent and ii.) He wasn't a sub today so why would he sit with them?

There is literally no reason we would sell Lemina, unless offered something like £50m. We have already made close to £100m from sales in the last 12 months (Jay, VVD, Tadic) or so, not like we need the cash.

Are we at 25 now with the current squad? Obviously you can leave people out but thats far from ideal, and no way you would want to name four GKs.

Likes of Bournemouth and Brighton will end up spending a lot considering they haven't/won't sell anyone of value.

Probably not the best sign that we are weak in both areas, but which do people see as our biggest problem area? Defence - where we have a number of bang average centre backs and seemingly have to play with 3 to cover for their ineptitude? Attack - where we have one striker who scores but is always injured, another who was good for two months a year and a half ago and a third whose best attribute is running, mixed with a series of goal shy midfielders? Tough one for me, but feel our attack is what holds us back most and puts more pressure on an already fragile defence. What do you think?

His style of play is exciting because he looks to run at the opposition. Whether he is truely effective is another thing. I feel he could develop into a player that gets regular PL game time, but that he isn't ready to start 15 PL games just now - his ball retention, final ball, composure etc isnt of the level needed now to have more than just fleeting moments. For his development it would be better to play 35 games at a lower level, than 8 games at ours.

Personally feel Sims is quite rough around the edges and probably a good loan move woild be great for him. He isn't ready to be a regular starter at PL level and playing a bit part role with some drossy U23 games thrown in won't help him. See how he does in the Championship until January.

Whereas Cedric, after a poor season, now has even less competition than last year.

Aside from Palace all the teams above us in that table have better squads. Would take 12th if offered right now. A few years ago we had better players than the likes of West Ham, Leicester, Brighton, Bournemouth etc but we have regressed and others invested. After the top 6 is Everton, Leicester and possibly WHam and maybe Wolves then everyone else is much the same. We are in that section IMO.

So...with just over two weeks remaining of the window, who is going to take Forster off our hands on a hugely subsidised season long loan to spare us the shame of our 3rd choice GK probably being the top earner at the club? United and now Chelsea have signed clear 3rd choices in Grant and Green, whilst the other top PL sides already have a solid 3rs choice. Surely Championship teams couldn't afford even half his wages, so possibly a move abroad like Joe Hart? Has to be a fair chance we will be stuck with him at least til January when maybe injuries mean someone is on the lookout?

Lemina definitely travelled but nothing seen of him since. Maybe carrying a knock.

Thats spot on. If you go through the squad list it just looks so average and dull across all positions aside from GK and first choice full backs. It used to be vibrant and full of quality, especially in the first XI. If Elyounoussi doesn't flourish then our attacking options are quite frankly dreadful and we will be bang in trouble as there aren't enough goals in the side - going back to when we sold Pelle and Mane without replacing their output at all. How are we going into yet another season with Long (utterly ****e) and Austin (non league fitness) as the go to striker options? We all know that come October we will have recalled Long to the lineup after Austin gets injured and Gabbi floats out of form. All whilst its entirely possible our highest paid player will be our 3rd choice GK, who we will struggle to shift for the next 4 years!

Doubt we would sell Lemina now because there is no logic. When on form he makes a huge, huge difference to the team as has attributes none of our other midfielders have. If we sell, we would be massively harming ourselves and needing to sign a replica player which would cost a lot. Besides, if he has a more consistent season than last year when he was still settling in, he will be worth double next summer.

When I look through that list there are so few players of genuine quality. Quite amazing how many average players we have spent quite a lot of money on.

Amazed how many feel we will be bang in the middle. Have you not seen our defence and strikers?

Jahanbakhsh a great signing for Brighton. They have had a quietly good window and aren't really in danger of losing anyone. Certainly don't see them going down. Hughton is canny, good CB pairing and they have added some quality.

Pretty clear that Saints think Gallagher is decent, and possibly will be a late bloomer and therefore are scared of discarding him to soon should be then develop into a quality player. But at some stage, as with the likes of Reed and McQueen you have to admit that they just aren't quite good enough and let them go. Not like these lads are 18 or 19.

Has never really been a regular at those top clubs though. Feel his attributes would get more from the likes of Redmond and Moi than our static strikers.

Welbeck (when fit) would be an ideal player for us, gives an ability to hold up the ball a bit but also run in behind and could also play out wide if needed. Should be targetting that more rounded profile of player for sure.

Still need a lot of work needed in the attacking area. Need a striker to start and another wide player now Boufal has gone.