Dusic

Edson Alvarez (WHU midfielder) picked up an injury for Mexico last night that didn't look great...possibly not ideal re Downes.

Exactly, the Turkish clubs know we will end up giving them Onuachu on loan at the end of the window so pretty sure thats exactly what will happen.

If we target some good value PL experience and know-how e.g free transfers and loan with option etc and it then gives a bit more financial power for 2 or 3 difference makers then I think thats a sensible approach.

I'm not sure you can anymore. It was 10 years ago that we signed Tadic and Pelle. Whilst we are still looking for those £12-15m signings, players of their quality/record cost probably 3 times that now and I don't think we will pay it. In reality we are looking at trying to get players either before they have been hyped or proven (Lavia, Edozie, Sulemana, Bazunu type signings), players who are talented but unwanted (KWP, maybe Downes) or players who are past their best but with something still to offer. Outside of that our best market by a mile is the EFL where we know there is talent and the likes of Wharton, Eze, Watkins etc show that. Scotland unless its a top player from Celtic or Rangers its a no as its such a poor league.

Wouldn't suprise me if Meghoma really pushes ahead of Manning with a good pre season. Agree a starting XI signing there is an absolute must.

Ings best two attributes are movement and finishing ability. Finishing he won't have lost, movement potentially but a lot of it is in his head and as far as I am aware at WH he has been fit and available almost 100% of the time but just not really suited to Moyes style. If we think his fitness is still at PL level then can see why there would be interest - he is about as a proven a PL goalscorer as we would be able to sign. My main concern would be that his best work always seems to be as part of a front two and its unlikely we will operate with that.

Pretty well balanced set of fixtures with no absolute horror runs (on paper). Statistically the 3rd kindest start so need to be picking up points across those first 6 games. Of a quick check of likely bottom third teams wouldnt say anyone has a really bad run in except maybe Bournemouth.

El Hadji Diouf syndrome

Wood is a known quantity as far as RM is concerned, and we could probably get him for less than we offered last season. He has played with THB for England and would likely be content with being mostly a squad player. THB clearly going to be a starter and I think Bednarek has shown at times he can be good at PL level too. With ABK future to be determined too. Would then allow greater spend where it is most needed, GK, LB and attacking areas.

Because he hasnt played there for 5+ years.

Yeah the point being that even if they weren't key players they have seen what it looks like being part of an elite environment. In our current squad there is nobody that comes anywhere close to Lallana from that perspective. THB obviously was at times probably on the fringes of it with City and has some good experience at youth Intl level but otherwise the most success the majority of our players have is probably from this season. Whether or not people feel it makes a difference is fair enough, but clearly at Brighton and within the Eng U21s they have valued his inputs on that side of things. Its easy to google the endorsements from Klopp, Potter and De Zerbi relating to what he brings off the field.

Would imagine its extremely obvious to the ownership that in order to stay up we will need a huge injection of quality, over and above securing THB and possibly Downes. Utterly pointless for the ownership to fight to keep the likes of KWP, Bednarek, Adams last season to go up and then just tamely go back down again. Agree it makes sense to bring in a couple of PL experienced players and personally think people are underestimating the influence Lallana can have - he is widely respected amongst players and De Zerbi really wanted to keep him. Important to train at PL level and Lallana has largely only played in successful PL squads - but not expecting much output from him. Hopefully by doing this we can spend on the areas that are really needed - in attacking areas (where we are set to lose our best central striker for free) and at GK, LB in particular. One thing is certain - don't spend and we simply won't stay up because our squad is easily in the three worst now and others will strengthen too - its a long window.

Not that interesting - its a better academy hence why his Dad did the same with him when offered a chance at Saints.

The talent is not in question with ESR, just the injury record. If fit enough to play regularly then £30m seems a decent price to me. If you want players who have proven themselves capable at PL level yet are still at a young age then thats pretty much the minimum you will need to spend. Our usual £15m will just buy unproven potential or a good track record in a poor league.

Sounds from the interview that he would have signed regardless of the result vs Leeds. Personally I think its a decent move. He is still a class technical player and I'm sure he will make occassional impacts which is what is expected of him. Around the squad he will absolutely make an impact. Clearly respected by other pros and by accounts of very good managers has been a great influence. We lack senior players who have really been there and done it at PL level and he has only really been at clubs that have been successful so knows what it takes. In our last couple of PL seasons we clearly had some bad eggs, players who probably didnt train well, who caused problems etc and I think he is the kind of player who will set standards and lead whilst being comfortsble that he may not be a key player on the pitch. Cheap, low risk move - not much to lose IMO.

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/24386526.james-ward-prowse-opens-heart-break-southampton-exit/?ref=twtrec Thats the way to leave a club (minus the relegation bit). Hope, and assume he would get a brilliant reception next season.

Think its pretty obvious what the situation is. He is a WH guy on a long contract there with likely most of his family living in Essex (think he is from Brentwood). If he has a chance of course he would love to make it there - why wouldn't he? The fact they have a new manager means he has probably a better shot at it than if Moyes stayed (and also would be less threat of being a championship player again in a year). Should it become clear he isnt going to feature enough there for his liking he has a 2nd option here that I am sure he would be keen on, and which is also fairly possible. Nothing will happen until much closer to the start of the season, or possibly after that as of the 3 parties involved, we are the only one that wants it all sorted ASAP and barely anything happens til July anyway as everyone is on holiday now. From his perspective he has two good options so is in a strong position with no need to rush anything or make public statements when he himself doesn't know what will happen.

Poyet got them promoted from L1 to the Championship and Hughton got them promoted to the PL and kept them there initially. Jones was a caretaker for a couple of games so actually 4/6 have done an excellent job which in modern football is a pretty impressive ratio. Their key has been the long term role of CEO Paul Barber who is very experienced in football and has been the constant there since 2012. In that time we have had Reed, Kruger, Rogers, Semmens (and Ankersen) and now Parsons doing that role.

Smallbone? I think he can be a decent PL player, absolutely has the atttibutes. Martin played in the PL for a few years. He isn't going to be naïve about the quality of the league. Stephens loan - I know where you are coming from but I think he is saying you need good characters at the club, whether they are regulars or not. Stephens is clearly committed and a leader. He would certainly have been more useful and more of a positive influence over the season than Caleta-Car or Lyanco for example.

Its Chris Wood btw - and no idea why anyone is talking about him? On a serious topic, seems clear Onuachu will end up moving on a late loan back to Turkey. Supposedly we want upwards of £10m which will never happen. Trabzonspor typically spend a max of about £4m on their most expensive signings so zero chance they go double on a player who is 30! At least we have good SR experience of dealing with Turkish clubs - they seem to be massive time wasters when it comes to transfers!

I think thats the going rate for a young player with high potential who has demonstrated they can trouble defenders at the top level. Joao Pedro was the same and he had done less at the top level. We signed Sulemana for £20m.

Steele is just like Bazunu, his best attribute is ability with his feet which is why RDZ liked him. As an actual goalkeeper he is pretty average and for the majority of his time at Brighton has been a backup. Would definitely fit the style and might even be available on loan, but definitely not better than McCarthy aside from with his feet.

Pretty clear what he could offer from this. Also see here: https://x.com/SaintsSocialite/status/1795382597389828159?s=19

Re Stephens (and to an extent Lallana/Fonte) if this season has shown one thing its that when it counts it pays to have players who are committed to the cause and a good spirit including those who are not playing but might be called upon at any time. It has been evident, especially when it really counted, that Russell Martin has created a good culture and I am sure as Captain that Jack Stephens has contributed significantly to that. You only had to see the celebrations to see that he, and Arma, are leaders in the group. Not saying those players need to play every week or be untouchable (far from it), but why anyone would happily wish someone like that gone is a bit bizarre. We have built back from a fractured squad with more than a few whose interest/commitment could be questioned - and clearly next season will be tough - so the character and culture of the squad will be even more important and the more plauers with leadership qualities the better.

https://sportwitness.co.uk/one-last-dance-portuguese-media-southampton-make-offer-jose-fonte-summer/#google_vignette Portuguese report suggesting he has had an offer to return to Saints in some capacity... Three offers from Portugal, one from England. At the end of the Blackmore interview he suggested his biggest priority is to be able to spend more time with his family and it sounded like they are still based here...