Dusic

Would only be viable if Ings goes, and likely Edouard would have already moved elsewhere by then as the Ings situation will rumble on for most of the summer IMO.

Defending is difficult to quantify stats wise I think, especially for a full back and in the case of Perraud all the reports I had read suggest that Brest used him very high up on the left as their main attacking threat on that side. It appears he is very effective at pressing, which is clearly a need in a Ralph team. Seems he is more of an attacking full back which is good, and hopefully they feel his defensive deficits are coachable - thats the market we are in. Certainly seems a highly rated player in France and has just played a full season as a key player which is a good sign.

With the backup full back, who can ideally cover both sides, I really don't see the value to anyone of that being a loan signing, unless it is with a clear option to buy. The team loaning the player out don't really gain as they won't have any certainty that he will get minutes. If the player is being loaned for experience he may not get much. If we can't/don't sign the player permanently then we have exactly the same problem again next summer of needed full back cover (would be about 3 seasons in a row by then). Surely a PL club can't have only two full backs on permanent contracts?!

Alao highlights the difference that spending makes to league position. In 5 transfers windows Ralph has signed 5 players on permanent deals: Djenepo, Adams, KWP, Salisu and Diallo In the last 4 windows Smith has been able to sign 14 on permanent deals: Douglas Luiz, Mings, Wesley, Targett, Konsa, Nakamba, Samatta, Trezeguet, El Ghazi, Cash, Watkins, Traore, Sanson and Martinez Villa, within 3 windows basically changed the whole of their team and improved from it, especially after the second summer where the success rate was higher. Just shows that Ralph has certainly been hindered in trying to really change the fortunes of a team that struggled before he arrived. If you really want to dramatically change fortunes then you need to sign good players.

Genuinely staggering that some think we should entertain offers of £30-£40m for our most important player, in his prime years and with a long contract. If all of a sudden they chuck around £50m plus then it should be considered, but I don't see that happening as it wouldn't really represent value for them.

Understandable given how weak we are at CB and the fact he can play RB and CM too. Would personally start White over Mings or Coady. JWP very unlucky in the end, but he would have been 5th choice CM so his set plays wouldn't be overly useful in that context. Three ex Academy players in the squad, with only one making it pro at Saints - interesting!

As ever, it will come down to what the player wants to do. And if JWP is going to move then he is probably at his peak about now. I would think £40m or so would make the club think...but it would be an awful message for the fans to sell him to a non top 6 club.

How do you define whether it is helping or not?

FF and AMc are out of contract next summer and I think the club knows the best case for either would be a season long loan with wages covered. Gunn it may be possible to sell but loan with a view to buy surely more realistic. Surely we see that next summer we would need to buy a #1 and arent going to have sold a keeper to fund that? Therefore potentially we could go for a keeper this summer if a good opportunity came up but we would need to loan out Gunn and one of the others. Given Dragovic is a starting GK in Serie A then surely the fee needed would be too high for us. Overall I just don't see it. GK revolution surely coming next summer.

Thanks, promising then. Good profile, good price and then French league is closer in style to the PL than some where we have signed players who have failed to adapt. The scout report on this link is quite an interesting read:

Pretty sure Perraud was also linked in Jan or last summer. L'Equipe are usually quite on the ball but would be good to read the original as that Saints Extra account doesn't always accurately report what the source says.

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?