Dusic

Imagine we will go pretty strong for this, essentially first choice team - leading into the Brighton game. No real issue with fixture spacing over the end of Dec period.

Perhaps Crocker will turn up at Newcastle? They are looking to revamp their academy setup and he has worked under Ashworth at The FA. Statement makes it sound more like Crocker's choice than SR's.

New owners wanting to bring in their own people I would assume. As is their right.

Probably makes sense not to give too much away in terms of likely formation and style ahead of our upcoming games. Will be interesting to see if the Lincoln team is essentially the same that faces Brighton or if he decides to share minutes around.

Wood hasn't been linked I don't think. Not sure why Newcastle would loan him out anyway as Wilson is so injury prone. No way we would buy an expensive player at his age. Ryan Fraser still the strongest link we have seen. Not a fan myself but clear we need something in that kind of position. Whether he is any better than Armstrong, Elyounoussi etc, I am not convinced. Has to be a question on who is actually leading recruitment now Shields has gone and obviously Glover too, plus Ralph who clearly had an input. Rasmus is the Chairman of Goztepe so wouldn't have time to do it to the level needed. As much as Ralph played down Shields' role its clearly bad to go into a massive transfer window without a head of first team recruitment.

All do what? Its not exactly a hot-take that football fans are happier when their team wins more often. The last few years we haven't won very often but the few years before that in the PL we did and to my knowledge most people loved it. As we are all well aware as Saints fans, there are cycles and we are currently in a bad one, but those make the highs feel better than for the top clubs who can't even be arsed to watch an FA Cup trophy presentation these days because it happens so often. I'm sure if we were to start winning a few more games then people would enjoy it more and thats the challenge the club has to try and be more competitive at this level. We and others have had spells doing it before, like someone like Brighton are now. Our spell under Adkins was quite a specific combination of circumstances. If we went down this season there would certainly be a big difference to the atmosphere around the club, squad and fanbase next year than the season we got promoted under Adkins when it felt like the team and the whole club were on the up. In some ways it comes down to your view of what is more important, the feeling of winning which isn't guarenteed at any level or the overall health, wealth and context of the club. Personally I wouldn't see too many positives coming from relegation - there are more impacts than just playing a different league and having a better chance of winning games.

Guessing you found it enjoyable when we were winning more often in the PL, and were pushing for European places?

I think a lot of it comes down to semantics and most of us not really knowing how the mechanics of a transfer work. There is clearly a difference between personal terms being agreed (usually done by the agent and could occur with multiple teams) and then a player finally agreeing to move to a particular club. The decision for the latter may not be due to being unhappy with the terms offered, it might be to move to a different/better/bigger club, to decide to wait before leaving a club incase of better future offers or to specifically stay somewhere. For the kind of players we go for I'm sure financial terms arent that much of an issue. We are usually buying from poorer leagues and often from non-top clubs in those leagues, so financially we are powerful in comparison. Equally we seem quite happy to be open that we will let players leave when bigger clubs come in for them, which is likely a factor for our transfer targets. That said, the hardest bit is getting someone to actually sign, when likely they have multiple offers and we are nearly always under threat of relegation. Our biggest selling points are i.) Giving players a chance to play first team PL football and ii.) Letting them go once better things are available. Sometimes that won't be enough.

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/23168818.southampton-keen-deal-newcastle-united-midfielder-ryan-fraser/ Early Jan move mentioned here. Seeing as he moved on a free his wages must be ridiculous and at 28 isnt really a player with huge sell on. Hopefully if he did move for him it would be a loan with an option and not an expensive permanent move.

Considering ABK and Sali to come back in its a decent looking squad until you get to the attacking section. Not sure Ryan Fraser would change my mind on that either!

This is stupid. Adams especially is a good player. If we are going to escape relegation he will be massively key. Perhaps Ballard or Morgan will have a cameo role to play but to suddenly place any actual expectation on them would be ridiculous. The PL is a huge step up from what they are used to. They might get sub minutes in the Lincoln game but would expect Jones will start his league team or as close to it as possible. Certainly if either of them is thought about for the league it will be with the "waste of space" Adams rather than in place of him.

Will be interesting to see if Lavia is in the squad that goes to Spain. Whilst they said it was cramp when he went off at Anfield I reckon it was injury. He hasnt been in any training pics/videos and has just put up a back soon style IG post. If he is out then its critical KWP is back for the late Dec games as AMN will be needed in midfield.

The best young players were playing the youth cup yesterday hence the B team being so young. Therefore everything suggests it would have been our available first team squad.

Losing 1-0. From the Cov Twitter it sounds like they have battered us. Edit: equalised! Presume would go to ET and pens?

Maybe on loan he would be ok but not overly convinced he is much better than what we have. Definitely a need in that position but would hope for something better, a player who is a certain starter. Has done nothing at Newcastle and was spineless in the way he left Bournemouth, after what they gave him.

Still no sign of Lavia in any of the pictures. Wonder if it was more than just cramp he was suffering from at Liverpool. At the time it looked more like a recurrence of his injury.

He was going to pick Leeds ahead of us anyway.

Unfortunately without a couple of new players I'm not sure this group can be completely different. Opportunities defensively and in midfield for certain but in attack the players try hard enough they just aren't in most cases of the quality needed. Players like Elyounoussi and Adam Armstrong will never worry defences at this level (and part of the problem is that I think they know it).

No friendlies or trip abroad currently confirmed. Players back training today. From the pics I didn't spot KWP, Tino, Lavia or Stu. Massively important to get KWP back for the start of Jan otherwise I would sign a full back on loan as soon as the window opens as we can't go much of this winnable run with Lyanco or Elyounoussi playing out there, its too important. Hopefully Lavia is ok. They said after the Liverpool game it was just cramp...we will need AMN to share minutes with him anyway as he isn't going to play 90mins every game and stay fit. Good to see Morgan involved.

"Nathan was clear he only wanted to add if it was really needed as he believes in the group here and in Harry Cornick there is player he has worked with before and really thinks can operate at this level, so we were pleased to bring him in from Luton. He had other options but was really clear about wanting to come here so that speaks volumes for what we are doing."

Anyone know the status of the legal action?

https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/football-news/southampton-cult-hero-transfer-decision-7863724

We are also at the stage where they need to consider what happens if we do go down, so a loan with an option or obligation perhaps if we stay up? Also a player who will have a market to grt our money back if we do drop, or who woukd be happy to stay for a season in the Championship (which is going to be a hard sell). If it was hard to find someone in the summer (when there was also the carrot of the PL shop window before the WC) it will be doubly as hard now. At least Lavia and ABK's progress will have been firmly noted by players and agents.

First time we have actually heard from Ankersen and Kraft in any detail so a good exclusive for The Athletic and not quite sure what people expected (Tanswell mentioned a big piece was coming this week on Monday so it clearly wasn't going to be some kind of breaking news). Reading it my main reaction is it all sounds very sensible, and as clued up people I am sure they realiae that for their whole model to work Saints staying in the PL is absolutely integral. Also its going to be beneficial to us that Goztepe get promoted too so they can attract some of the young talents we can't get because of the absolute clusterfuck that is Brexit. Article also validates the stories that Ralph had been on his way out for a few weeks, Semmens almost admits that it had been agreed to part ways during the WC break.

I think its an interview rather than news as such. What would be considered monster? Ralph? Ankersen? Papa Waigo?