Dusic

Don't really see the fuss: - Stephens and Salisu the best pre season pairing - Walcott more of a goal threat than the other #10s which is even more important having lost Ings - Gives a few who have been used to starting every game a bit of a kick - Very strong bench - Livramento obviously impressed and also sends out a good message that Saints will give young players a great pathway to PL football

There is no crystal ball but most on here could see that Clasie and Elyounoussi were too weak and slow within 10mins of their debuts so really they should never have been signed, ditto Carillo. And Im not suggesting we hand out 5yrs to everyone, but as an example Joe Willock just signed a 6yr deal at Newcastle. They will have no pressure to sell him for four years, and based on his loan are obviously confident he won't flop. Saints will never be able to sell Salsiu or Diallo for £40m unless they improve to that level this season and we sell this summer. Not impossible, but even by then they will only have a max of about 50 PL games. Once next season starts their value will begin to drop... If we keep buying lads who need a year to settle on 4 yr contracts then it will be very rare that we actually get a chance to sell big because by the time other want them their value will be dropping. We have to get out of the cycle of buying for £15m and then needing to sell to bigger clubs but only for £15m as that doesn't enable any progression.

Cahill is 36 in December, so would be a very short term option. I wouldn't think we would go for that, but you never know. Considering we have £15m or thereabouts there must be a good option in Europe that we could sign for that, and we offer a platform in the PL which is highly sought after. The timing is a shame as both Guehi and Andersen would have been great signings that would have been affordable I think. Ajer too.

Phillips wouldn't be an exciting signing but having thought about it, we probably need reliable and competent more than exciting at this point, and he does have a few things going for him: - Experience of PL football, no adaptstion time unlike many of our signings - Experience of a similar style at Liverpool and Klopp likes him - Confidence from a really good finish to last season, and I am sure a desire to keep playing games now he had a taste of it - English player where we have lost a couple, also meaning it would be easier to shift him if it didnt work out - Height both defending and attacking set plays

To be really good selling club, you need to sell for as much as you can. That is obvious, and means we could then spend more on better players, or buy more players. If we look at our recent major sales: Hojbjerg - £15m Ings - £30m Vesteragaard - £15m All of these were down to one year left on the contract, and only Ings really generated a profit, albeit we would clearly rather have kept the player. Hojbjerg probably the worst due to his age. I imagine his value now is at least £35m. Whilst clearly a player cannot be forced to sign a new contract, we have to change something to stop these scenarios (Clyne and Wanyama before them) from continually happening again, otherwise we aren't really being effective at our stated aim. Take Salisu and Diallo for example. They signed 4yr contracts last year which was a settling season for both. They have three years left, which is essentially two years as clearly we won't let them leave on a free transfer. To get the best fee we would need to sell them at the end of this season, yet it feels like they have barely played for us. Its quite possible both will be very good players but I think they will need a couple more years of playing regularly to really show that and and maximise their value. Unless we extend their contracts at some stage this season, the most likely scenario is exactly the same as the others, their contracts will get to <18mths they will stall on a new one and then we will sell for less than they are worth to avoid them expiring. I really hope once the window is shut the club tries to have a rethink on what they are trying here. At other teams, players often get a new deal after one season when they have shown their quality. Wonder if we would try similar with someone like KWP, or Salisu if he starts the season well? Especially so the players who join on 4yr deals. Hard to know what the solution is, but we cannot be considered as a good selling club if we continually have to sell our best players for medicore sums because they get into the last year of their contract and we are backed into a corner.

Would imagine we would be looking for a left sided centre back so we retain the balance of two left and two right. Not necessarily left footed but like Vestergaard comfortable on that side. At the bottom of the Mail article it said we were looking at various options in Europe. We had been linked with this guy previously, obvs not for first team. Probably got Simeu instead: https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-medical-booked-as-leeds-united-finalise-seventh-summer-signing-hjelde/#Echobox=1628759585

The chat has been we want a CB who can also play #6. If that is still the same then Phillips is out the question. Personally I would avoid Phillips. He did ok but had low expectations given Liverpool's injuries and he isnt good on the ball. We already have Bednarek and Salisu who are uncomfortable in possession. Annoying timing as Guehi would have been ideal.

They key question is where are these stories being repeatedly driven from? Hard to believe there hasn't been some encouragement from JWP and his reps somewhere along the line... Would be interesting to know whats happening behind the scenes as there is obviously something to it, or at least a/some parties want there to be.

The key to it is two things: 1. Picking when to go forward and timing the run well. 2. Recovery pace and the desire to run backwards. Bertrand was very good at #1 but in the last couple of years less good at #2. Semmens basically said in the forum last night that physically he couldn't do what was needed anymore so they were happy for him to move on. I feel KWP is good at both of these elements. He is extremely fit so can get up and down all game, but the timing (and stealth) of his runs is excellent, meaning he is often unmarked. He also has a good first touch to take down a long pass. If Perraud can do these things in a similar way then great. I am more concerned with a partnership of Salisu and Bednarek that they don't have the technical quality to find them like Vestergaard did on a regular basis.

So sounds from the forum like the following from here til end of window: - CB only if Vestergaard leaves and seems like they will (rightly) sell if we get an offer and he won't extend. Replacement would be a young player to develop i.e another Salisu type - LB more likely to be a B team player who could possibly step up, as Ralph happy with Livramento or Djenepo (or KWP moving across) as backup to Perraud. Clearly they will want to give Livramento games so I reckon KWP moving across and Tino at RB would be first option if Perraud misses games. - No mention of a #6 but previously Ralph said any CB would likely also be able to play there. - Ralph said at #10 we have enough good options, which is certainly true numbers wise so can only see something there is either Moi goes or suddenly something exceptional came up on loan. - No GK. Semmens mentioned a three window strategy, I think GK will be in the third of those when contracts expire. To be honest, numbers and depth wise that all makes sense. Obviously always a desire to add quality but there isnt really one position we are short of options aside from LB, and that is addressed as above.

Times saying Richarlison forgoing holiday and will be in the squad and DCL likely to be fit. Somewhat changes things as they are a good pair and Richarlison always causes us hassle. Seem to recall DCL giving Salisu a torrid time las year.

Would doubt there will be, in part because Chelsea wouldn't really know where to set it. They would have a much better sense of his worth after seeing him play PL football and at his age and with a long contract there is no rush, they could loan him out for two more seasons and he would only be 21. I think we just need to see how he goes but not put too much of a futire view on this one.

Like the look of this lad. Considering there is unlikely to be an option to buy and also that he is unlikely to get a huge amount of starts (you would think), its an intriguing move from Saints but also from the player and Chelsea. Chelsea are probably the best team to be a loan affiliate of, so hopefully it goes well - and even if no option they have a history and of course present reputation of selling good players who just aren't quite good enough or flavour of the month enough for their first team. Adams, Armstrong, Broja and Tella is a promising and varied group of strikers - but well short on top level goals and that will be the big question mark. At least one of Armstrong and Broja will need to come off or it will be a painful season, but positive signs and signings whose profiles make a lot of sense given our style and existing squad.

Lets hope we get it over the line and he doesn't stall and wait to see if anyone else will match our bid. Certainly suits Blackburn to push him our way as the best offer and fact they want Obafemi. Like the fact he can finish well off both feet and he seems a natural goalscorer whereas none of our other forwards really are. Glad to hear Mowbray say that he is suited to a pressing style and he also looks confident on penalties too. In recent years there have been a few Championship top scoring players step up to the PL: Maupay, McBurnie, Watkins, Adams. It will obviously take him time to adjust but if he can get 10 PL goals then that is a good return.

Seems like Broja will happen. Could be a nice bench option as a but different to our other forwards but unless there is an option/obligation to buy it seems a bit odd in that it cannot be too difficult to find a young forward who we feel we can develop but who is actually our own player and one we can increase the value of. On the flipside, if there is one PL club to become a favoured loan club for it is probably Chelsea. With Armstrong, Edouard, Sorloth and Abraham unlikely it will be interesting to see which other names pop up. At this stage it would suggest that we will sign someone as yet unnamed...

Exactly. They would have targets for various scenarios and at various value points. Ralph was still talking about signing a couple even before Ings went so there is obviously some cash about, as the initial bod for Armstrong shows. At the point we knew Ings was going I would hope we started advancing things with our preferred targets. If we havent then its poor planning. Just seen Edouard has picked up an injury in the warm down after Celtic's game.

Utter madness if we agreed to the Ings sale and weren't actually far down the line with any replacements. Very concerning that the issue with Edouard would be the fee, seeing as has one yr left and we just received £30m. How does a PL club get into such a mess with just 3 weeks left of the transfer window? It seems extremely unlikely now that our 1st XI will be stronger than last year.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/19498868.blackburn-rovers-boss-sends-message-adam-armstrong-suitors/ Mowbray basically telling PL sides to just get on with it. If you want him you know how much he will cost. We obviously like him as have bid before, but do we like him enough to pay what they want? Big decision as if we don't it seems a direct rival will. Interesting Nixon report about Nketiah as thought Brighton seemed nailed to get Edouard. He will certsinly leave Celtic this window as like with Ings they can't afford to lose him for free. Don't see anything in Nat Phillips. He certainly isnt good enough on the ball to play as a no6 as well and if Vestergaard goes we won't replace with a starter IMO as Salisu will (has) obviously come in.

This current team will be relegated because allied to being poor defensively there just aren't enough goalscorers. There are also too many players who seem like they will play a part despite the Manager having already and rightly IMO written them off as PL players: Long, Obafemi, Valery and Elyounoussi. When he said we would have a deeper squad I never imagined it meant these players. As ever, we havent (yet) done enough in the transfer market to improve our team. The only positice is we must have a bit of cash and there are still three weeks to go. I don't think it is overly dramatic to say the next three weeks will largely define if we can stay up or not as without a good goalscorer we don't stand a chance sadly because we know we will concede a lot still.

Armstrong not in the Blackburn squad...clearly his move will be sorted in the next couple of days, with Palace looking likely at this point. Surely when we sold Ings the club knew exactly what they were going to do, and which targets were gettable both in terms of fee and wages. Re Sorloth, clearly the Palace spell didnt work out, but watching his highlights from Turkey and Leipzig he clearly knows how to finish. Interesting that it was Dan Sheldon who first mentioned him...quite a left field name to mention unless it came from a good source... Edouard I don't see happening as he has been linked with Brighton all summer and in the last couple of days multiple reports suggest they have put in their first proper bid. Surely if we had been in for him we would have had a stronger link before now as the club knew Ings would be going this summer. For all those mentioned so far, I reckon Sorloth is most likely. Kind of strange that these are all very different types of striker too...surely we know what we want?

Aside from goals, Ings was an absolute pressing machine. Would image that ability is high up on the list of required attributes, and not all strikers are capable of it. Will certainly be interesting to see the links that will surely emerge in the next week or so. Still have both loan spots free too...

The names that have been mentioned are all so underwhelming aside from maybe Armstrong, but he seems very highly priced. The Greek lad has a stack of red flags - massive avoid signals there. Personally at the prices we could stretch to Edouard would most fit the bill and probably be the least risky - but seems he is off to Brighton (if he does well I think they will push top 10). Really hope they have something as yet seen up their sleeve otherwise its hard to see anything but a monumental struggle to stay up. Last season we conceded way too many but did have a goal threat. This year we could well be shit at both ends.

I don't think there is a better time to play Everton. They won't have Richarlison, DCL not long back training, no Sigurdsson, no major signings as yet and fans unsure on Benitez. Not saying we will win, but nothing to scare us IMO. Aside from GK, team picks itself: GK KWP, Bednarek, Salisu, Perraud Armstrong, Romeu, Diallo, Redmond Adams, Tella

https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1423359692475142146 Open and honest communication from Villa CEO Purslow. Very good use of a release clause, good forward planning knowing that it was likely to be activated. Why does it only seem to be Saints that are unable to replace a player before we sell them? Surely with a player of Ings' importance the club know right now who they are moving for and a well in the process of doing so? They would clearly have known at the start of the summer what the budget was with Ings staying and that if he went it would be for a fee in the £20m-£30m range. So no excuse for being caught on the hop by it and therefore can only assume we haven't been. Clearly there is no point massively overpaying for a player but if we felt Armstrong was a good signing earlier in the summer, enough so that we made an official bid for him then I am sure having extra cash makes it extremely possible to sign him if we want him and if he wants to move down south, and if its going to happen then it will do so quickly. If they think he is that good then to not get him would be a shame but would be compounded by a rival at the bottom of the league signing him instead. We have had a year of knowing Ings was likely to go this summer so I am sure they know what they want to do.

I assume this is why Ralph keeps saying about needing a CB. If Vestergaard were to stay then numbers wise we have four plus Simeu which is fine. I think they are factoring in that he will go - and thats the right decision as no point missing out on £15m+ and our other left sided CB Salisu wasn't signed to be a back up for his whole contract!