Dusic

Matter of time before he joins Liverpool IMO. If he does, then Liverpool will have played a blinder really and their underhand tactics will have worked, with their no1 target and a fantastic player signed up. Saints will have taken a stand and then gone back on that and also be left with a short amount of time to spend the money to create a first XI of the quality we had under Koeman. That said, I wouldn't really blame Reed. We think about it conceptually. He has to deal with the reality of his best player doing pretty much everything he can to leave the club. How could VVD really stay after this? Its on another level to Schneiderlin or Wanyama.

Simple decision for the club. If they feel VVD at some stage will back down, be professional and that his relationship with the club, staff and players isn't beyomd repair then they should keep him. If any of those things isnt the case then they have no option but to sell. We can't hold a £60m asset that isn't contributing. That said, potentially swapping Fonte and VVD for Bednarek and Hoedt or/Wimmer in 6 months would be terrible management.

Sounds like he isn't giving in as easily as Schneiderlin did. Big risk for Saints to carry a player who isn't going to knuckle down, could be disruptive and yet paid more than everyone else. Still feel he will go to Liverpool, clearly he is very determined to and zero chance he will play the first PL game for us (like Schneiderlin did). Ultimately SFC might "hope" he can be reintegrated but he knows that if he causes trouble he is more likely to get a move that he clearly wants. He holds the cards at least until the end of August. Also whilst he isnt playing for us and we havent got a transfer fee from him then we don't get the benefit of a.) our best player or b.) money to replace him and strengthen the team. Tricky one for the club and if we do sell it has to be in the next 10days IMO to give us long enough to sign a replacement who must be quality.

Just a thought: Pellegrino might be quite happy selling VVD for £70m and being able to sign 3 or 4 players to improve the first XI, especially given our current business completed.

He is coming into his third PL season and joined us as captain of a big European club, so I think most fans expected more than we have seen. You can see he is a decent technical player but he has a massive flaw in his fitness and ability to get around the pitch. Coupled with our other CMs not being the most mobile it means some of the pairings just don't offer enough legs in a key area of the pitch, especially if you want to play with two strikers or an attacking no10 who won't track back much. Even more so if you want to play a pressing style. His physiological weaknesses will always be there so for me it was a no-brainer this summer to look to move him on and replace with a more mobile player. I hope we still do that otherwise we are really lacking in that position and it will be a big mistake.

Unlikely IMO given how much focus they put on the sports science side of things. He would only have 2 weeks of training versus about 5 weeks for Pied.

Not signing a partner for Romeu will be this seasons version of not signing a striker.

I don't think they can play together, especially given our lack of mobility in central midfield. All Gabbi's goals are as a no 9, playing off the shoulder of the defence so I don't agree with suggestions to play him deeper or out wide - it removes his main strength: movement. Both will have a key role but its Gabbi as a starter as he is the better player and has better movement than Austin.

Targett is technically good. He just lacks that yard of pace you need in the PL (same as JWP). Playing as wing back with defensive cover he did well but playing in a back four against a winger with any speed he has really struggled defensively which is why people aren't sure about him. PL is an unforgiving place to learn and IMO he could have done with a season playing every week in the Championship but he might be beyond that now. Interesting to see if we keep Bertrand, Targett and McQueen in the first team squad.

Predictions are largely pointless until the end of the transfer window. The VVD outcome (either way) will make a huge difference for us and the starting XI we have for most of the season. Likewise situations at other sides. That said, it would be a brave pundit to predict top half for us based on our signings and those of teams who were only just behind us lasr season i.e West Ham, Bournemouth. At this stage those sides have significantly improved their starting XI, whereas we haven't.

Totally agree. Central midfield is our weakest area. Too many similar players but none really a level above the others (excluding Romeu). Crying out for more mobility and power in there, its so obvious that surely the club are targetting someone in this area.

Good in the secomd half once Austin went off and JWP came on. JWP such a conundrum. Can't play in the deeper lying two, but also not an ideal no10 - but made a big difference today with a goal and assist so you want to pick him somewhere. IMO we still lack pace in the side, especially in central midfield - need a signing there certainly. Otherwise think we have to pick one from Austin or Gabbi (later for me) as we aren't dominant enough to play with two strikers unless we went much more direct which we won't, and Austin not so mobile. Wonder if Gallagher will go out on loan again? Not been hugely involved yet in pre season and he won't develop with 5min sub appearances and U23 football.

Much better than Van Dijk - Stephens? Wimmer has played 15 games for Spurs in a couple of years and seems to have played less the longer he has been there.

Much better than Yoshida or Stephens? Really?

Not sure Wimmer would add much. Not good enough to replace VVD and for £20m there must be better options available. Most Spurs fans I know think he is ****e.

Since Gareth Rogers left & we no longer have a CEO, do we have anyone running the club from a business perspective who would have the required experience/track record of doing so? Is anyone familiar with any of the names that were recently added to the board or the roles they have? I think off the field it is a pivotal time for us seeing as KL is obviously looking to sell up, and its actually quite hard to know who ultimately runs the business side of the club, which you would imagine is key in terms of attracting new investment. Sure there are Marketing and Finance Directors who each have their areas of responsibility, but doesn't seem to be a business leader from what I can tell, as Ralph is more of a figurehead rather than a person with a background in a multi million pound business. Les obviously manages the football side. Anyone more clued up?

I would. If we sign another CB it will be as a VVD replacement and would need to be a hell of a lot better than Jansson.

Could certainly use a couple of reliable signings who you have a high confidence level will be successful. Arguably only Cedric, Bertrand, Romeu and Davis are consistent performers in our team, the rest have a much bigger variance in their performance. In previous years we had a few more that you knew what you would get from them, including the whole back 5 when Forster was on form.

Does our stance on VVD put off prospective transfer targets from joining? A stepping stone club isn't so attractive if you cannot leave when you wish to step.

From VVD's point of view what would be the point of staying here another season if he knows a team challenging for trophies wants him? He can always leave them in two years for Barcelona, or maybe he just wants to play in England at this stage. What can he really achieve at Saints that he hasn't already done?

Doesn't sound a lot like VVD is thinking of backing down like Schneiderlin did - which is important. Mark Hughes just now on Sky was talking about Arnautovic and said once a player expresses that strong a desire to leave there isn't much option other than to sell for as much as you can. I think that is where we are with VVD and why he will go.

We surely can afford a £25m signing without selling anyone given the PL riches?

Naff is Shane Long, who has never scored in his career what Hernandez managed in a poor season.

Not necessarily Lander but we need something to happen fairly soon as very clear KL hasn't got any new cash to invest. To even stay where we are we will eventually nees to start spending a little more, plus keeping Staplewood up to scratch.

For the first couple of games it will almost certainly be: Pied, Yoshida, Stephens, Bertrand (which is pretty meh) Seen nothing from Pied to suggest he is much better than Martina. Woeful defensively so far.