Dusic

Ralph seemed to suggest South America might be a future option but that at the moment we don't have a good scouting presence there, so I don't expect anything soon. UK market below PL will surely be a focus area.

Embargoed section of Ralph presser quite interesting. Seems confident on transfers and said the backup players haven't been good enough this season and it has really hurt us, specifically mentioning full back. Confirmed that we are looking around the £10m mark and aren't going to be buying players for £20-30m. Refefenced Diallo and Salisu as good buys around that price and that there are good talents available that we can afford and develop. Said Brexit driven work permit issues are frustrating as if you find good cheap talents its almost like they are considered not worthy of a WP because they are cheap. But other markets are more open to us. Suggested we dont need to sell key players to buy as have others who will generate cash to lower clubs. Overall it sounds like he has been promised a decent amount of activity.

Vestergaard has improved more than anyone I think. JWP always had technical ability but hadnt got the physicality or a clear position. Romeu has been up and down but good when settled in the side. Vestergaard was previously a liability in our defence, a weak link amongst a poor back four. He now looks not just competent but quality. A massive turnaround. Fair play to him and also to Ralph for coaxing that level out of him as I don't think any fans thought he had it in him. Bednarek I think is more limited technically, but is durable, available and tends to do the basics well. He has also been a very good signing from Reed at £5m.

If Bertrand does go then that would be two left backs required otherwise we are in the same situation as this season where one injury cripples us. If Vokins has essentially been unselectable in the PL this season then I don't see why he becomes a viable option for next. That said, I am fairly sure we will still end up a full back light next season. Bertrand would make a fantastic free transfer for a team like Leicester where they would also be able to manage his minutes and freshness much better than we are able to.

Fantastic result for the U18s today with a 2-2 draw versus Arsenal. Only the 5th league game of the season that hasn't been a loss, so quite notable. https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2021/04/06/recent-signing-kaleel-green-set-to-be-part-of-arsenals-next-scholarship-intake-after-joining-from-southampton/ Sounds like Arsenal have poached this kid from us. Will be interesting to see if he makes it.

Ideally we would have a new #1 for next season, but doubt we could shift either FF or AMC. Forster good at reflex stops but still not convinced by him with longer range efforts, nor with the ball at his feet. Good today at crosses close to him, but still doesnt command for a player of his size.

That was a great save from Pope.

To be fair, we know little to nothing of what happens behind the scenes and at Staplewood. He obviously put in a transfer request - and players don't do that for no reason - so clearly his relationship with the club is not great. He then got a chance and made a horrendous mistake. Yes he is young, but this is the top level of pro football and his error contributed to a team and manager being humiliated. I am sure Ralph has his reasons for not selecting him again. It would be nice if he was asked about them so we could hear, but to describe not bringing him on as a sub as being "piss poor" is a stretch because you don't know those reasons. It may be very clear that he is leaving in the summer, in which case no point playing him. It may be that Ralph doesn't feel he can trust him at all, it may be that Ralph felt he would have rather given those minutes to Nathan Tella who was unlucky not to start and has shown a great, committed attitude. It may be that Ralph doesn't actually think he is that good.

Was interesting too that Diallo was left out of the France U21 squad. Wonder if Saints applied a bit of pressure given he is one of only two fit centre mids who Ralph uses and was recently back from injury. Sensible really.

Funnily enough, in the list of agent related transactions released by the FA today, Jack Stephens is listed as 'updated registration'. The only other Saints players listed are either new signings (KWP, Salisu etc) or players who have signed new deals (Bednarek, JWP etc). I think Stephens signed one and for whatever reason it wasnt announced. In hindsight considering he was a starter when he signed, I wonder if they would do the same if they had the chance again? MLG, feel free to claim as an exclusive on your Twitter.

Disagree - I would say Armstrong is quick and direct and the problem with Djenepo and Redmond is that they aren't direct enough - when they are they are a big threat. Agree we could use a more cultured, technical player at times - but would put full back, striker, centre mid and GK above no10 as a priority - assuming we sign Walcott.

Vokins and Valery haven't even been on the bench for Sunderland or Birmingham in the last couple of games. Two full backs are surely the primary target, alongside an Ings replacement.

Not having that. All clubs are dealing with the same issues and if the players are going to make it in the PL they will be regulars in the U23s aged 17 and 18 anyway in the majority of cases. Agree this season has been a challenge but its not a key factor in the awful results, and those have been happening for longer anyway.

KWP by a mile for me. If he hadnt got injured our season would have been different.

And ultimately the quality of the recruitment and players, as across the 18s and 23s the results have been shocking for 2 years, so its a multi dimensional failing. We signed the forward Ramello Mitchell from Birmingham to quite a bit of fanfare and he has something like 3 goals in 2 years. Dread to think how much is invested in the academy compared to a team like Burton. Crocker is clearly making changes, and those will take time to gave an effect - but we certainly don't have a good academy at the moment, at least not in the older age groups. JWP is 26 I think and its not since his age group that we have had a good crop really.

Its a shame as a fanbase that we have become so accepting of losing our best players so easily, but totqlly understandable. Obviously all different cases but Bournemouth gave Callum Wilson something like 4 new contracts in 5 years to keep him until they went down. Brighton have done similar with Lewis Dunk. The likes of Palace and Leicester have fought off interest in Zaha and Vardy pretty well. Grealish also on a LT contract to protect value. I am totally onboard with our business model and general transfer approach, but we surely have to stop players entering their final year otherwise we are executing the buy low/sell high strategy quite awfully. The same will happen with Vestergaard and in two years time it will be Salisu probably. Ings case it will be particularly galling to get a paltry fee for a player who has been such a difference maker. Hopefully he at least goes to someone like City or Chelsea and not West Ham or Leicester.

I doubt it will make a huge difference. Teams know how good he is, another 10 games won't really add or take away from that really. His motivation will be on making the Euros squad, what a shame for Saints fans that its in these circumstances i.e when on the verge of leaving.

Since Ings has been at Saints his injury record hasn't really been a problem. Yes he gets injuries but he is also being played for usually 90mins in every game he is available for. For a top club he would be an excellent squad option. Cheap, English, highly professional, great character and an excellent player. I don't begrudge him a good move, but is extremely frustrating that despite how much his form and reputation has increased during his time at Saints we will likely just get our £20m back or thereabouts. For teams in the bottom half a striker like Ings is golddust. We will get quoted 30m for a decent Championship option.

Louis Carey is an ex Bristol City player, made hundreds of apps for them until mids 2010s. Horseman is also ex Bristol City so maybe that is the link. One thing for sure - a shakeup of coaches and players is needed because the season win % of the U23s and U18s combined must be about 10%. Surely an Academy like ours shoukd be able to attract some proven youth coaches who are well versed in coaching a pressing style? Update: seems Carey has been the assistant coach for at least 6 months.

Brighton won't go down, competent side and now adding more goals. Also have finally got Lallana and Welbeck fit and that will see them get another couple of wins at least. Burnley also too canny, so Fulham or Newcastle surely?

No better way to answer the keyboard warriors than by bringing your best in a match many have said is the most important of the season. Scored in the Liverpool LC Semi final. Scored away at Pompey. Scored in an FA Cup QF. Not a bad record. Yes he hasnt been at his best this season, but he can do it, and IMO always works hard for the team. Not sure why he gets the stick he does, maybe because we all know he is actually quite capable but doesnt show it enough. Anyway, leta hope he can have a good end to the season, he has been a good signing.

I am firmly in the Ralph-in camp, but as a choice in the future I can imagine Jose Fonte might make a good Manager. Big character, good professional, commands respect, has worked under a series of very good Managers and knows how successful teams operate.

Those that talk in public are probably not the serious contenders. If indeed there are any serious contenders.

The U18s and U23s have been shit for long before the playbook. These things take time and care to implement and ultimately need good players and the right coaches - I don't think we have either at these levels. Matt Crocker has a big job on his hands, but he knows what success looks like so I have faith he will sort it out.

I'm just going with the stats, from last season. They show he was: 1st in the PL for no of possessions won in the middle third. 14th in the PL for no of possessions won in the defensive third. 11th in the PL for no of final third entries. Seeing as the stat in question was relating to the drop off in producing a goalscoring chance soon after winning the ball in your own half then maybe the guy with excellent stats for winning the ball in his own half and passing it into the final third who was at the club when we did this and is no longer at the club when we don't, might be a factor in that drop off? £15m for him was a nice deal for Spurs. Source: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11675/12046253/pierre-emile-hojbjerg-tottenham-complete-signing-of-southampton-midfielder