Dusic

Redmond was used really well as a central player in Ralph's first season, where he won Player of the Year. We obviously can't replace what Ings does, but we do have some options at least, and also sub options in those areas. With Bertrand back after the Intl break and Ings hopefully by Xmas, its not too bad compared to what it may have been.

Ideally change the least amount of players, especially as RH is often referring to automatisms and the partnerships between players. In that sense, is it better to play Valery or Stephens, or even Salisu at LB, rather than moving KWP out of the position where he has played well and is used to playing with Armstrong?

This will be a very tough game now with our injuries. LB will be a problem, and he hasnt got the option of using JWP on either side as Diallo is injured. Likely either Valery or Stephens will play RB with KWP shifting over to LB. I think he will go with Long up front.

IMO the current order of need in our squad would be: Full back Centre mid Striker Goalkeeper Of those, only full back is needed in January.

B team lost to Eastleigh on pens tonight in the Hants cup. Dreadful record this season. Eastleigh mostly fielded their own Academy players.

As a player PL, Ings. No question. But SRL has legendary status that will be hard for Ings to better!

Means very little. VVD walked off the pitch with his ACL.

Can't read anything into that. VVD walked off the pitch vs Everton and then is out for the season. Only the scan will show for sure, but ACL often doesn't cause swelling (RaH said there isnt any) and allows walking. Lets hope its not that.

I think its more about the perception of not being given an opportunity in management or boardroom level rather than being "terrified": https://www.google.com/amp/s/talksport.com/football/716439/jermain-defoe-exclusive-rangers-coaching-career-celtic-title-bid/amp/ Whether there is truth in the lack of opportunity, I simply don't know, and neither does anyone here because we are looking from the outside with no real knowledge on it and have never been in that position. But if that is the perception from people of a minority background who have had successful careers within football then are you saying that they are wrong? From what position of knowledge are you forming that opinion? Because you can name 3 Managers who are black and got jobs in the PL across a period of 30 years? The fact they perceive it shows that there is a problem.

How about within football, where the population of UK professional players who are not white is far higher than 14%, yet the proportion in management, coaching and administrative roles is much less representative, and many suggest they are not considered and/or are put off applying for these roles? Is that an excuse?

Guido Carrillo - Legacy

The best scenario would be to reach the window and not really need to use it. Full back cover is the only obvious one. Anything else would be injury related.

Unchanged from the Everton game, aside from anyone who is unavailable. Obviously.

Good access and questions to Semmens and Steele of late, and gives them a good platform to expand on some pieces in a way they can't in a fans forum. Would be great to get a current player on in this segment.

I said in the build up thread that for all Rodriguez's class on the ball he is poor off it and that Bertrand could capitalise...and he did. RB is a wily player, knows how to win a cheap foul, knows when to make cheap fouls and often has his best games against the best players. Wasn't necesarily MoTM today but he totally nulifed their main creative force and did damage at the other end. You love to see it.

Its Brexit, of course it will be a shit idea.

See Spurs at home as an example of why its bad. But at least we have an option to sub him now.

Last thing we need is an early yellow for Romeu.

No sign of Armstrong in todays training pics.

Theo and Diallo signed right at the end of the window, as in, very recently and have both therefore done recent interviews where this content will be taken from. If you watched Diallo's YT interview it covers the topics stated as being in this prog feature like influences as a player - so its not an additional interview but a transcript of his signing one, which is a big difference given how store you have placed on this! KWP is also a summer recruit and isnt being featured. The Salisu situation was definitely odd to start with, probably due to Covid quarentine etc (club media probably weren't camped out in his hotel room), but it appears to me to be clear given Hasenhuttl's recent comments: he is training, he is close to being an option and RH is pleased with what he has seen. He was obviously injured when he joined, hence not training with the squad. He is now training with the squad and has been in every gallery for about the last month. He is a young player, with little pro experience, who joined injured and is adjusting to a new style of football and life culture. I'm sure Ralph will throw him in soon, but after the clean sheets vs Burnley and WBA did anyone really expect that to be away vs Chelsea? He has been spoken about as a long term option so there is no need to throw him in before he is ready, and I will trust RH on when that is. Besides, we don't need 2 x CBs on the bench just to make people on SWF feel better.

He always seemed to have a good cameo and then when he did get rare starts he was poor. He is quick, and will certainly trouble the kind of defenders he will come up against in L1 but I've never thought he was tidy enough on the ball for PL level and didn't really have much guile about - just pace. He said so himself in his interview at Doncaster, that he has been working on not just relying on pace which worked as a youngster. Lets see how he does over 3 months. If he forces his way into contention here then fair play, but he did nothing on loan at Reading so need to see form over a longer period at L1 level before getting excited by him.

Guess he must either be playing for the U16s or be currently injured then as he hasnt been in any of the U18 or U23 squads, and obviously wasnt deemed worthy of a signing announcement. McQueen there but we have only named 20 so easy to add him. With Latham, Johnson and Lewis in the 20 it shows how they have slimmed the squad down. Very much a British core in this squad.

If, as usual, they list all the Academy players then maybe we will finally see whether we did sign Jay Rod II or not.

There is a Serbian midfielder in the U18s, Goran Babic who has been at Saints for a while, and has also been in England (and Serbia) age group training camps. Has scored a few at the start of the season and from watching the goals of the U18s win vs Leicester last weekend, he looks a player. One to watch.