Dusic

Which PL owners could actually be described as "good" these days?

Yes, just hope he remembers that until he gets the move he is the captain at Saints. His intentions have been clear for a while, not signing a contract and then changing Agent. Shame that due to his contract and the current circumstances we will probably get the same kind of money we wasted on Vestergaard. Going to be a big next transfer window for us in central midfield, especially if JWP has any interest in him and if Romeu wants to leave to get regular games as was hinted in January.

https://mobil.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/hoejbjerg-om-spurs-rygte-det-er-en-stor-klub/

Would assume for anyone not renewing they will also offer a refund. Would be ridiculous not to

Easy to overlook Jay Rod. In the spell the couple of months before his injury he was absolutely class and looked like developing into a top player. Very different to Tadic so hard to really judge whose top level was superior.

JWP cannot be picked over Schneiderlin on the basis of best PL level IMO.

He would be if you selected him ahead of Armstrong. Redmond would also be a way ahead of Armstrong if you want the same formation.

Would agree with this if based on their PL peak although could make arguments for Shaw and Ings on that criteria. The rest picks itself. Also shows very clearly when our heyday was (of recent years).

https://ekstrabladet.dk/sport/fodbold/udenlandsk_fodbold/international_fodbold/danmarks-mest-ombejlede/8095128 Maehle says Saints interest in him has always been strongest.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08bh5hf He was live on Solent this afternoon. One of the good guys of football.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8256625/Saints-hero-Papa-Waigos-agent-admits-tricked-accepting-2009-St-Marys-loan.html Good investigative journalism brings us a nice story about Papa being duped into signing for Saints. He obviously wasn't one for doing his own research, and judging by the rest of his career - it shows.

Or maybe he is particularly good at the role?

I would say his influence is clear. He would be a massive miss. Not least because our squad is a CM light anyway.

PEH has the most midfield ball wins in the PL this season. About 30 more than 2nd place which Rice & Jorginho tied. Also has the most recoveries in Europe per 90mins of midfielders under 26. Clearly stats don't tell the whole story, but easy to see why big teams would show interest, especially as he will be available at a knock down fee, which will be very welcome in the next window in particular.

I'm pretty sure that across his time here his stats on chances created were the best in the PL aside from the ludicrously good players at the top sides like De Bruyne, Silva, Hazard etc. As you say, infuriating at times, especially when he delayed shooting, but if he was the full package he would have been playing for City or Chelsea. I am in my 30s and of this type of creative player, in my lifetime, I can only think of MLT (obviously) and Lallana who were of a better or similar level, so for me that shows how good he was for Saints and we had him largely in his prime years. Great signing, especially as he was relatively unknown in England when he joined.

Loved watching this guy. To think we signed him for £10m and had a front three of him, Mane and Pelle! Good times. Always seemed like a good guy as well, really motivated and often played his best when it mattered most.

After a goalless spell at Serie D Folgore Caratese, often known as the Solihull Moors of Italy, the elusive Waigo is apparently registered to Masafi Club of the UAE. Not sure what Dean Hammond is doing, will probably pop up as Nigel Adkins' Gardener on one of his morning motivation videos.

https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2020/dayot-upamecano-has-decided-to-leave-rb-leipzig-sport-bild/ Looks like we will finally get our man.

Now on loan at Frome Town. Can't get regular games in the Conference with Yeovil. Shows how hard the transition is from age group Academy football to life down the leagues. He always seemed a natural finisher, if not the most athletic, so suprised he didn't do well at Yeovil.

Nice discussion, uplifting!

We have been linked with him for about 3 years! On a free it could make sense.

He actually said we could "get on top of it" in 12 weeks and then when asked what he meant by that he didn't answer. Bloke is an utter clown and is bored of it already.

Very minor point but seeing as there is no footy to waste posts on...why not have one TSP thread with updates rather than a new thread for each episode?

Definitely £40m +.

To be fair, every PL club will owe money for transfers and I expect the majority will owe a lot more than £90m. Our two main issues are: - An Owner who bought the club to supposedly take us forward yet who doesn't provide any additional investment. - A philosophy that relies on selling players in a market where, as Steele notes, most European clubs are only interested in loaning them. Combined with having fewer quality players to sell this isn't a good combination.