Dusic

Stephens is a good 4th choice CB for the following reasons: - He doesn't seem to mind large spells out of the team - He is totally used to how we play - Good communicator and definitely cares - Can be capable of good performances at times - Usually always fit and available - Counts as homegrown for the quotas The problem IMO is that he shouldn't be higher than a 4th choice. If Bednarek and Lyanco were not able to play then there isnt much else that could have been done as he is the next in line. My bigger issue is that instead of signing Lyanco - an unknown quantity who would need time to settle etc - we should have tried to sign someone who would genuinely compete with Bednarek for a starting spot. We all know why we didn't: money. Thats just an example of Ralph's "we know our limits" line.

Only summary of that game can be that we played well and two bad mistakes from our CBs killed us. They are too good to gift 2 goals and think you have a chance. Until the penalty it was a tough game for them. Love the fact that Ralph always plays 2 strikers and gives it a go against them.

I would imagine it means any fees (even loan) cannot be seen to go into the club and as they would also not be able to buy anyone I would assume that it means the chances of Broja being anywhere but Chelsea next season are almost none. Unless somehow the sanctions are lifted in the near future. Anyway, Chelsea would be out of their minds if they didnt have Broja in their squad next season regardless of this.

When we sell him it has to be for mega money as he is so good. Assuming he won't sign an extension is it better to get £50m this summer or £20m in summer 2023? Business wise it would be a no-brainer to sell him this summer. Obviously best outcome is an extension with a promise we won't hold him back next summer.

Looks another good signing. Really tenacious player, gets tight to people and is solid on the ball. Only thing we haven't seen is an ability to beat his man in the final third and cross, but his off the ball running is good.

Again, if Chelsea decide to sell Broja they are absolutely mental. Top player who has potential to be a superstar. What a loan signing, considering few of us had even heard of him.

Not suprised, just proves that the cup is always a lower priority for Managers and Clubs than the league. Not saying that is right, but its certainly true.

Its pretty obvious that he will rotate because no matter what, for clubs and managers the league is always a higher priority than the cup games. We have a big squad that he has to try to keep happy and a few players, Stuart Armstrong being one, that has to be managed carefully to keep him fit. Anyone who is suprised when they see the team tomorrow and we have made a few changes shouldn't be suprised and equally it doesnt mean we have no chance of winning.

Imagine there will be quite a fee changes for both teams. West Ham have looked tired for a few weeks now and Saints have players who really need game time, Armstrong, Diallo, Stephens etc

Easily overlooked because of Broja but Adams is developing really well and is a miles better player than when we first signed him. Good instinctive finisher (still misses too many more straightforward ones), works really hard and is nearly always available. If we paid 15m, he must be worth £25m now. Hopefully he gets the new contract he has earned.

If Chelsea were to sell him to anyone it would be a spectacular fail on their part.

He obviously meant Thomas Frank considering the comments and style of play employed by Brentford vs say Lage who is very pragmatic.

Would say our chances of a permanent signing are less than 1% and a second loan probably looking less likely by each game. Chelsea will surely use him next season and if they were to sell we will have no chance of competing with the big clubs that will want him. Great loan from a Saints, Chelsea and Broja perspective - just a shame we couldn't have bought him last summer.

So much better this season and in the last two games especially has been really good. But...the conundrum...with 18months left on his contract, what do we do this summer? A.) Sell for whatever we can and buy someone else B.) New contract, assuming a 3 year extension (should he be open to it of course) C.) Do nothing, keep him next season and then allow him to leave on a free at the end of the season I would say C is poor business, still not sure B is really the right thing unless he is fantastic for the rest of the season, so would still say A is the favourite at this point, but B not ruled out. Productivity wise, #10 is still our weakest area and if we make a good signing there then I think two of the current options need to go. Walcott and Djenepo probably most likely, so if that happens maybe we could keep Moi and still add there.

Did Ralph say if Bednarek's substitution was injury related? Down to only two fit CBs if so, with nobody obvious to cover that position.

Professional, robust, available for almost every game, improving and capable of high class moments. As Ralph would say, seems like a good package.

Had earned a contract extension IMO.

I think he is generally quite open and honest with the media and I would take that everyday of the week over Managers like Nuno, Benitez etc who give the same answer to any question. In fact, I think one of the key reasons fans took to Ralph so quickly after Puel and Pellegrino was exactly because he spoke to the fans and explained things in a way people could relate to. By all means criticise then we are poor or he makes odd selections but the stuff you have picked out above is IMO a bit OTT especially when in all those cases he is just responding to questions and giving his view.

Don't see the issue with this at all and its hardly some kind of 'announcement'. As he says, to stay at a PL club for over five years would be a huge amount of time and a great achievement. I actually see it as being good for Saints that he is committed to the club, enough to say that essentially what he is getting from the job is satisfying him enough as a coach to feel his coaching career will be done once he is finished here. Also good stuff re the new owners and their plans and the fact he is keen to stay shows he believes in them, and if he does then so should we.

https://www.transfermarkt.de/hasenhuttl-will-2024-aufhoren-ndash-southampton-nach-rb-oder-man-city-system-aufbauen/view/news/399826

Team picks itself if everyone is fit: Forster KWP---Bednarek---Salisu---Perraud Stu--JWP---Romeu--Redmond Broja----Adams If, as is most likely Broja is out then either Armstrong up front with Adams or Redmond up there with Elyounoussi coming in.

Why? Aside from today in a heavily changed lineup he has barely involved him for ages, including not even being in the squad, so suggests to me that Ralph knows.

Good to hear. He, like other young players, obviously is in contact with TSS - a really good account to follow on Twitter.

Pics don't look great and sure it will swell even if just a heavy kick so fingers crossed he doesn't miss too many games as quite clearly is our biggest threat by a considerable margin.

Just looking at some lineups from this kind of time last year in the B team and noticeable how only 2 or 3 players remain now, lots have left, and we recruited a few in the summer so its almost a new team. Likewise the U18s is a very different lineup this year and the brightest talents like Ballard and Doyle moved very quickly to playing for the B team too. Clearly there were some fairly substantial changes to how the teams are coached but the actual makeup of the teams is very different. They don't tend to publicise the results but does anyone know how the U16s (which are now the 18s mostly) did in the last couple of seasons? Would imagine better than the U18s and B's did...