Dusic

https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2022/stephy-mavididi-wants-premier-league-move/

Re JWP reality is that as soon as a club offers him significantly more cash than we can get anywhere near matching, and he wishes to go then its very difficult to keep him - especially when he has given Saints good service and seen lots of others being allowed to go. We also don't know what kind of gentlemens agreements were made as part of his contract. Whether Newcastle are the team to get him away from us, who knows? But if someone seriously does move for him and he wants to go then logic and history tells us he will go.

As ever, money talks. If they double his cash then he will push to go. Saints in a very strong position to name a price so hard to be too concerned as either we keep him or get a whopping fee.

Rasmus Ankersen would surely know him well from the Danish league. Sheldon made a thing of the fact Ralph actually met him before he signed the deal. The fact that was a thing surely shows its a club selection approved by Ralph rather than the other way around. Nothing wrong with that, but interesting nonetheless. Hopefully he and Ralph build a good rapport.

Not one single performance but I remember seeing Neil McCann's first few appearances and quickly realising that he was woefully short of everything needed to play in the PL. Would be suprised if he even got passed the cones in training. Awful cheapo signing when Strachan supposedly wanted Steed Malbranque and Louid Saha and we ended up with McCann and Phillips.

The Athletic Watford Correspondent says Saints are one of the teams who has an interest in Emmanuel Dennis, but that he is just on a list of targets at this stage. Watford would want £20-£25m.

Whats the worst ever performance you have seen from a Saints player? Recency bias, and assuming Jankewitz cameo doesnt even count as a performance but I will start with Charlie Austin away at Fulham in the 3-2 defeat. Have never seen less effort from a pro, was embarassing. Remember some shockers from Gazzaniga too...and Alan Bennett and Olly Lancashire a bit further back.

Assuming his injury is cleared up before pre season starts I wouldn't be at all suprised if he goes straight into the team for the first game. Not going to judge a signing based only on his age. Its his ability and attitude that are more important and if he is turning down a new contract at City to come here for a better chance to play then thats a good start.

I wouldn't be against Minamino either. Certainly more of a goalscorer than any of our #10s. Scored 10 in 800 odd minutes last season and is a known quantity. Could do far worse and sure he will do pretty well wherever he does end up.

Far from being the best player but something to admire about his character and the way he has turned it around for himself when he could have tossed it in at Saints and given up. We clearly need reinforcing in that position but I think Ralph probably likes the fact that you know what you are getting with Elyounoussi, he follows tactical instructions and is quite comfortable playing inside. Certainly more reliable than Walcott, Djenepo and Tella, and with Armstrong's injury prone nature not a bad guy to have in the squad on probably average wages. We aren't going to get rid of everyone.

New contract talks: https://www.tv2.no/sport/14849877/

Funny thinking back to those days that we would sign L1 journeymen and think they would immediately step up to PL level. I guess some like Ormerod and to a lesser extent Evans kind of did. Would never happen now.

Ultimately just not good enough? Or constricted by ill fitting kit?

Very much so. For all the talk of Bale, Jones and Chris Bart-Williams this is exactly the type of signing we look to make. Could probably replace Long and Walcott with one player given how little they featured.

A couple of names to watch out for that would surely suit in the eyes of the SWF traditionalists: Former Brighton manager and current Dagenham assistant Steve Gritt. A left-field one but easy to see what Kevin Steele, defensive coach of the University of Miami would bring.

Regarding Mateusz Lis - it seems Ankersen has had his eye on the relegation battle in Turkey this season so will surely have seen a fair bit of him.

I think you have simultaneously missed and proven my point re Tadic. He clearly had leadership qualities at Saints as I outlined but because of the type of player he is they didnt come across to some fans who only see leaders as being people who smash into opposition players. Its not like he had a personality transplant as part of his move to Ajax that made him captain material for them but someone who possessed zero leadership traits at Saints. Unless you have any evidence to the contrary?

Director of football affairs Marc Overmars added: "It is no secret that Dusan plays a very important role for the team. Both on and off the pitch, he is a real leader. So, it’s fantastic that we can keep him at Ajax even longer. Dusan’s fitness is excellent and he will be of great value to Ajax in the coming years." ------- I'm sure you know better 😆😆😆

If you are clueless then perhaps. Loads of players at the time he said he trained with the most intensity and always wanted to win, demanding the same of his teammates. Physically really looked after himself so nearly always available. Always wanted and took the ball under pressure and demanded high standards of others. To me that is a leader. Ajax clearly agree.

Funny that when we had a player like Dusan Tadic who was very much a leader and model pro he would get slated for moaning at others instead of instilling backbone.

http://sportwitness.co.uk/southampton-make-concrete-proposal-signing-saints-willing-get-serious-player-keen-pl-move/ There is a screenshot here of the article in question...the link isn't made up.

Vince is ill. I've watched all the games so far and whats stands out to me is: - Batting wise we should open with Vince. He can hit the gaps and in the PP you don't need to try and hit the leather off the ball. Donald has really struggled and in the Essex game we went 8 balls in the PP without scoring a run. McDermott can hit boundaries but needs someone with him who has the class to rotate the strike, which Vince does. - No 4/5 is a massive issue. Weatherley and Dawson ok in a low scoring game but if they come in during the PP they aren't aggressive enough. - Whiteley and especially Fuller have been ok at 6/7 but have always been left with far too much to do. - Ellis isnt a no 8, the tail is too long. Bowling: - Horrific. Especially Crane - what has happened to him? You can't succeed in T20 without two good spinners and whilst Dawson is consistent Crane has been genuinely awful - and adds nothing with the bat. - Not enough wicket taking seamers. Overall the only way we have a chance is if McDermott and Vince get us off to an absolute flier or if Whiteley/Fuller come in with 130 on the board with 5 overs to go. With the best teams they are flexible but most games have the same batting order and bowling sequence. We are a shambles. Might as well pick Tom Prest every game from here.

Not sure why you feel its so strange. 25years old for a GK is different to 25 for an outfield player as they tend to peak later. Also, how do you know that he isnt considered to have high potential? I'm sure you have watched zero matches he has played in, whereas Saints scouts if we sign him would clearly have seen a lot of him. We have one senior keeper under contract at the moment. It seems highly likely we will sign a younger keeper to compete with McCarthy, probably Bazunu or Dragowski. Then its also likely Caballero will stay on as third choice. Ralph has been positive about his personality which is crucial for a 3rd GK and also he is clearly capable unlike Lewis (which made it so odd keeping him so long as they clearly didnt fancy him playing a single minute of first team football). Signing Lis on a free is low risk, we can loan him out and then see how he develops with a view to him coming back to the club once Caballero and McCarthy have moved on. If he isn't good enough for us then they can keep loaning him out and will have lost next to nothing. Brighton as an example have signed quite a few players and loaned them straight out. Recently Caicedo has had a big impact since he came back, MacAllister before him. This season they have also done exactly this with Sima, Kozlowski & Mitoma. If Saints haven't done this type of thing before that does not mean they can't and won't start doing it. In many ways its quite sensible.

Ben Mee set to leave Burnley as his contract is expiring. Would be 33 in Sept but good player and strong leader. Would be all over it if he were 30 but considering he is recovering from a fractured leg too I doubt Saints would be in for him.

Why not? He clearly won't be the only GK we sign.