Dusic

Rodriguez is quality on the ball but shocking off it, and doesn't track back a huge amount. Bertrand could exploit that a few times. A good game to see where we are at. No Intl break excuses, a week to prepare and will face a team that will play to win and will give us space.

Ralph was bigging up Salisu as recently as Thursday saying we will see him soon. He has been in the training pics for a good while now. When we signed him he had missed the last few games of Valladolid's season with injury. I imagine that as he is a young player, with limited experience, and adapting to a new culture and style of football - they are being careful to introduce him at the right time. Would think our exit in the League Cup hasnt helped him.

Best player from the B team so far this season has just moved to L1 on loan, which is telling. There is nobody in this team who is going to make the step to the first team anytime soon.

We have definitely messed up the keeper situation. As it stands we will have 3 senior keepers still at the club til at least January. Highly likely that we have pissed off Gunn (who may have a longer term future at Saints) to reintegrate Forster (who most certainly won't). Lewis has obviously been given a contract extension as was OOC in the summer - but is miles and miles off ever being a PL keeper. Once he had the season playing games in Scotland he needed to keep being loaned out and getting real football, and the next two seasons messing around in the U23s probably harmed his career long term. Tommy Scott was signed from Yeovil seemingly to make up the numbers in the U23s after two others were signed in similar circumstances in recent seasons - Jack Rose and Kingsley Latham - both of whom have been released. Hopefully there is a good one in the Academy because for about the last 3 years the U23s have played with one who had approximately 0% chance of making the step up at Saints. Bizarre.

More to the point, if he was injured vs WBA as Hasenhuttl said, why was he allowed to go on Intl duty? I don't think he actually played for Mali either - so essentially missed two week rehab time. He is a good player and definitely worth persevering with, just needs to find some consistent availability - as he usually makes an impact when he plays.

The only reason we would be interested in another striker would be if two of ours were long term injured - and presently, that is not the case. We won't be signing Deeney, or any forward.

He was suspended I believe. Accumulation of yellow cards.

Neil Danns is a free agent after leaving Tranmere last season, so he could be a good midfield cover option, and could sign outside of the window. Aside from Dannzy I can't see anyone else worth looking at.

Armstrong must be a doubt as would be quarentined in Scotland til Friday if report are accurate. Would imagine Walcott, Salisu and Diallo will all be bench. Chelsea set to have a few back to fitness for this which is a shame.

Not sure why the other thread was closed so had to create a new one to post this. https://www.spreaker.com/user/12250300/mata-offered-man-utd-exit From about 37mins, Duncan Castles suggests DaGrosa has basically agreed the finance to takeover and its being discussed at PL level. The biggest backer is a NYC based private equity firm but there are question marks as they also want to get involved in funding transfer deals for other PL clubs (and gain interest on repayment). This company would be one of a number of investors and wouldn't have a majority share, but clearly for the PL this is a bit murky to say the least. It also suggests the financing of the deal means a return in the short/medium term would be required - which must be a concern as no PL clubs make a profit and let alone if the owner allegedly wants to buy up other clubs as well, based on the CFG model which is funded by extreme wealth. Doesn't have the sound of a great deal and the PL may reject it anyway. If the above is accurate of course. DaGrosa sounds like an absolute jerk from the other interviews.

Saints had the lowest amount of TV games last season, so it will affect our fans more than most, assuming that stays the same.

Both IMO. I mentioned before, Brighton have signed a number of players for their U23s specifically and it helps to improve the quality generally which then helps the one or two that really have a chance of being first team players. We rarely do that and seem to have a mix of players who should have left ages ago, and U18 players who are still a million miles off the first team. I mean, the win rates for U23 and U18 over the last 2 or 3 years must be less than 30%. There are no Saints in the Eng U16 to 21 squads. Totally trading off our past reputation.

Quite a few in that side with first team experience so thats a shocking performance. Something not right at U23 and U18 level - our record over the past 2 or 3 years has been awful.

Considering the spending and quality of some of the teams outside the traditional top six (Everton, Leicester, Wolves), a top half finish would be a really fantastic achievement. The middle portion of the league is far stronger than when we had the flurry of 7th and 8th finishes. I think we will have our moments, both good and bad runs but ultimately we don't have enough quality or depth in certain positions to be top half. 11th - 13th IMO.

On paper, our first good window for a long time. Also not impossible we get full back cover from an EFL team before that deadline.

So with Walcott in thats a decent window IMO. The absolute needs were RB, CB and CM. All done with young, promising players who we own rathrr than have loaned. Attacker a bonus and its a low risk one. Have only lost one starting player, when we have a couple of others that would interest other teams. If we could get full back cover to enable Vokins or Valery to be loaned out then even better, but it seems unlikely at this stage.

Linked with a loan move for Yedlin at Newcastle now. Decent player, out of favour there so would be good cover here. Vokins and Valery need game time, and as the U23 games are now mostly at weekends, they can't really play in them so end up getting no football. Signing a FB on loan and then loaning one or both of them out makes a lot of sense. ----------- Re Theo, Im suprised at the reaction. If we are only paying half his wages then he becomes a good option who can play wide or as a striker. Is only 31, with something to prove and has always been a decent finisher. Its his off the ball work that doesn't appear to suit. If Redmond, Djenepo, Obafemi, Long, Adams or Walcott were running through 1v1 with the keeper, I would back Walcott to score over the others.

Williams is decent but will be relegated to 3rd choice when Telles signs. Loan for Vokins makes a lot of sense.

One of the Arsenal lads, Nelson or Smith-Rowe would be my guess. Don't see why we would want Theo given how pathetic he is off the ball.

Reports suggested we wanted it all sorted before the game today, preaumably because of his Intl duty.

U18s lost to Brighton too. Poor start for both teams this year. With also no players in the Eng U16 to U21 squads its a pretty poor showing from what is supposedly one of the top Academies in the country. Interestingly Brighton have signed 5 or 6 players from around Europe this summer (and in the last 2 or 3 years) specifically to start in their U23s. We rarely ever do this, perhaps a missed opportunity?

Agree. JWP will play every game so one of those, or Romeu would barely play.

With this type of player, i.e one who would be unlikely to start lots of games this season, it only makes sense as a permanent signing or loan with a strong option to buy. On those terms it would be an interesting signing. Otherwise I don't see the point.

Ralph said in the presser that Sangare didnt get a WP because he wasn't expensive enough. Did say we have liked players who have ended up elsewhere and that its hard to improve our team on our budget. Eventually it will cause him to leave I reckon. He did refer to us needing players, plaural though, so maybe one more could happen but I doubt Ntcham. Think more likely a Boufal replacement.

As was mentioned, nothing with this one can be that close as he played (very well) last night. Good player, 24, used to pressing style. Liverpool fans rate him. A threat from set pieces too.