Dusic

Sounds like he will (finally) go out on loan - I reckon to L2 or National League. With Scott and Latham (both odd signings in the first place) released, surely there will be at least one Academy GK signed...an area we always seem weak.

Henderson is training, Phillips is training (and GS clearly thinks he is better than JWP anyway) and Bellingham is class. Rice will obviously start every game so there is only one midfield starting spot available. Add in Mount who could play deeper if needed and its unlikely England would need JWP, which is why he didnt get picked initially. An injury to a right back makes no difference to that. Besides, White can play there too. I would be happy if JWP gets picked and its well deserved for a great pro and consistent performances at Saints but if he doesn't get picked its not some kind of ludicrous decision and either way its fairly irrelevant as whoever it is will likely not play a single minute.

Why is JWP the logical option? His best attribute is his set plays but he isn't going to start games so thats pretty much negated. Surely Ben White is a better shout? He covers CB, RB and CM and as whoever gets the nod likely won't play a minute anyway why not pick a guy who will be in the squad for the next 5 or 6 tournaments? Wonder who made the decision to release him at 16?

Ben White probably the obvious choice: - Can play CB, RB and CM - Used to back 3 or 4 and we look weak at CB with big doubt over Maguire. - Likely to be in the England setup at the WC and for many years so great experience.

I would imagine Jordan Pickford and pretty much every other PL player has better things to do than write posts on "Fesshole".

https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/adam-armstrong-southampton-newcastle-united-20723142 Lancs press saying Saints have no interest in Armstrong. Have yet to see a Tony Banks "Exclusive" in the Express be anything other than wrong.

Suprised MLG has resorted to reporting to Tony Banks and Diario. Maybe time to research sources Matthew as these are known dross.

Ah...Tony Banks from the Express. If there is any truth in this (doubtful) then would be an Ings replacement I would imagine.

Not sure how useful numbers really are in the SPL when judging a player for the PL. Anyone who watched Elyounoussi for us could see that there was no lack of effort or question marks about attitude but physically he doesn't have what is needed to be successful in his position, seeing as he isnt a wonderful technical player in the style of say Tadic. He was easy to defend against. He isn't good enough - absolutely sure on that.

Excellent post. Such a shame that neither FF or AMc are out of contract this summer as we are in dire need of a new #1 that can do more of the things needed in the PL these days. Re KWP, I feel from watching him that the stats don't do him justice. He feels like an attacking threat most games, he just doesnt seem to get the assists numbers because of either final ball or poor finishing. Compared to for example Cedric over a number of years, KWP gets in better attacking positions (especially from the deep runs) and I think just needs a bit more confidence in the final action.

No way Elyounoussi will feature in the first team squad. Ralph gave him a few chances and he was shite hence being twice loaned out and neither season being consistent enough in the Scottish league for Celtic to be banging down the door to sign him permanently. Ralph has rightly said we need change and that isnt bringing back someone who has alteady proven they aren't good enough.

Sorry, what?

Can cross Rico Henry off the LB list.

Whats the dynamic like in the dressing room now?

No thanks. 29yo, with a recent history of big injuries, released by Burnley. If our scouts can't find better then we really are in trouble. Would be amazed if we signed someone like Brady.

I always thought that him not extending at Saints would be due to him wanting a 3 yr deal and us only offering two. But sounds like it will be a short contract at Leicester which makes me wonder if maybe there was more to it? Perhaps we didnt offer anything that was likely to be accepted and maybe wanted him to leave on a free? Or maybe, despite what he said he was actually quite keen to move.

Could do worse than get Dan Harding back. He has kept himself ticking over at Whitehawk and knows the fabric of the club.

Assume that crackpot SKD who seems to have emerged at the same time Always went dark ? They certainly share the trait of being wrong about literally everything! A skill in itself I suppose.

Speculative is one way of describing it. The other is that the actual report comes from a podcast and for all we know was said by Always_SFC or Jeff Le Taxi. I.e file under absolute drivel.

For the kind of money required, why would anyone buy Saints?

I'm not suprised that quite a few are losing faith in Ralph, but as I said in my earlier post, he has made 5 permanent signings across 5 windows and generally, despite all costing mediocre sums by PL standards they have helped us and are certainly better than the spell of recruitment before Ralph arrived. Personally, I still have total faith that signings wise he knows exactly what we need to be better, and all his comments on it I have agreed with. End of the day before he arrived we spent a load of cash on absolute dross and he has largely paid for that as there hasnt been enough churn of the playing squad to make a sizeable difference. A squad that survived because Swansea imploded. Our form declined when we started playing midweek games on a regular basis and needed backup players to start and academy players to make an impact off the bench. The PL finds out weaknesses so fast. You face a tough enough task against the big sides, let alone when your go to attacking sub is Dan N'Lundulu. We haven't recovered from that loss of momentum despite getting players fit. He deserves a chance of a proper summer, hopefully a squad with competent backup full backs and the odd other addition to freshen things up and a full pre season. If he gets those things, we keep Ings and are still poor then fair enough.

I have been a big Ralph fan. I don't think anyone can deny that he united the fanbase and brought some hope back after Pellegrino and Hughes. The way we bouned back from the Leicester game, played really well during lockdown and then started this season - it gave a sense that we had progressed. Since then it has gone wrong - and there are clear reasons why that started - but they havent really been factors towards the end of that run. It shows how much momentum is a factor and difficult that is to turn. My conclusion is that I still feel Ralph has operated with his hands tied behind his back in the transfer market. Since he has joined in 2018, in terms of proper 1st team signings he has made: Goalkeeper - None Right back - KWP (very successful) Left back - None Centre Back - Salisu (needed time but promising) Centre Mid - Diallo (jury is out but clearly has something) No10 - Djenepo (jury out), Walcott (good for what his intended role is), Minamino (no brainer loan, at the time anyway) Striker - Adams (good) By my calculations that is 5 permanent signings over 5 transfer windows, for a team that had struggled for a couple of years before he joined. Some teams in that time have probably signed 12-15 players. Every summer is massive, but they really need to allow him to build a squad he wants because largely he still relies on the players he inherited, the ones who only stayed up because Swansea capitulated. I will judge Ralph in October/November and see where we are then.

As ever, will be as much about whether we can shift Hoedt, Lemina, Elyounoussi, Gunn as who we sign. There will be the usual stuff about there being interest from multiple clubs. The reality is all four will be loaned out again, in some cases with Saints part paying their wages. Might even be able to add Valery and Obafemi to that list.

As you say, we have a limited budget. So no huge need for a new no6 given other positions have a more pressing need.

Interesting player, available on a free and maybe a bit of a wildcard. Obvious talent, technical and left footed but has never really matched the unrealistic hype. Is he better than Minamino? Probably not.