Chez

Left back is another position that we have below par players. If, after about the fifth go, we can finally sign one that is top notch, you'll have zero complaints from me.

Is he perhaps saying `not super busy' because there won't be players going out.

Obviously it would be good to strengthen quickly, but I'm more worried about who than when.

is he any good? Wolves spent £44m. That's probably why the deal went through so quickly.

This, but if you go direct with a manager you don't like, its `bloody league 1 hoof ball'.

good point, but Villa still need him, so why would thy loan him to us?

I've seen £5m in compensation to Luton reported in the press, but also £2.5m in some sources: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11700/12740854/nathan-jones-southampton-agree-deal-with-luton-boss-after-sacking-ralph-hasenhuttl His wage was supposedly £6m a year, so £9m would align with paying the remaining 18 months left on his contract.

Only 18 months left on his current deal and most likely wants £100k a week. This is something that needed to be sorted last summer. Either a new deal agreed or sold to maximise return on investment. Perhaps if we had signed Ramas/Gapko the deal with Everton would have happened. Without the replacement we then had to stick with Che. I am guessing now.

people underestimate just how good a first touch he has, which allows him to play in the tightest area of the pitch. He is a very good footballer. As always his problem is when he is asked to cover a lot fo ground quickly to prevent opposing attacks from hurting us. Adding legs usually costs you in terms of technical ability and ball retention. We need to add complementary players and more competition.

S Armstrong gets a massive pass on this forum. We all like him, the way he gets his head down and makes bursting runs between the lines, but in all honesty, he hasn't really done much for a long time. He has had his injury problems of course, but considering how shit we have been, if you can't hold down a place then is that not down to him not impressing rather than the two managers ignoring him?

I am guessing you were not one of those on here moaning for the last five years about too much backwards or square passing? I'm normally very keen to see us dominate possession too. However, although we saw far less of the ball and were more direct yesterday, I didn't feel like we were under the cosh too much and it provided the space we needed to cause them a few problems on the break. When we did pass it, and got between the lines, we looked a bit more effective than in recent times. Maybe that says more about the limitations of Fulham though.

can't stand the little rat faced winey twat. It's a beautiful sight seeing Spurs get thumped with him `patrolling the touchline' complaining about not getting that extra £100m to spend.

2 nil up. what could go wrong?

We're not canceling his contract. It's amazing, we had a clean slate in which to construct our team of keepers and we ended up with Bazunu, McCarthy, Willy and Lis.

so hard to assess him. He never touches the ball. I notice that he doesn't just stand still. He does at least look to make runs on the shoulder, but he's never found.

Wondering what the fee might be. He's not getting any younger. £20m feels a lot.

I agree, perfect solution for our current situation, but it's going to be hard to twist their arm for a loan. Not really in their best interest. If they sold him they'd have money for a replacement. A loan doesn't really help them, it just leaves their squad thinner. Realistically, it's just not going to happen.

I see Lis has played one game a Troyes. Why the fuck did we sign him?

I'm with you. In a three, its a no brainer. Lyanco certainly has the ball skills and they should not be ignored, as it allows us to keep the ball and there is less defending to do, but he just does not do that defending properly. He `cheats' a bit. Instead of battling and accepting on occasion that he can't win a ball (he isn't a huge physical specimen, so can't bully all opponents), he chooses to dive in instead. 9 times out of 10 he gets the ball, or even the foul, but he sells himself time after time and a decent forward will wait for that error and then you are done for. If that doesn't happen in a game, he can look pretty good, but to my eye, its like a keeper that drops crosses but doesn't concede as a result. Eventually your luck runs out and those drops should not be overlooked. I think he hides a little bit at set pieces too. Not every player is great in the air or dominant, but centre halves need to be monsters in their own box. He doesn't stick his head in where it hurts. He is too passive and even turns his back on occasions. It has cost us goals IMO. He has some good attributes including his first touch, enthusiasm and drive, bit of nastiness, decent turn of foot...and as a fourth choice he is just fine. He's a Saint and I will support him to the max whenever he plays, but I wonder if he will ever learn and transform (like Fonte did) from being reckless to a tremendous defender. I have my doubts.

DCC is pretty slow. Not sure that matters much in a deep lying five man defence, but it should be noted. I'm surprised he wasn't picked to mark Mitrovic.

Who you referring to DT? CC and S Armstrong?

can you possibly clarify whether Perraud played left back from the off, or did he start further forward before dropping back? There were mixed opinions from earlier posters. Also, there is a lot of criticism about that sub, did you feel at the time that we were on top and needed to go all in or more that that period of `domination' had passed and we needed to regain control somehow? Is their much clamour from Saints away fans to play Mara?

I know that not all our SR summer signings were nippers, but I wonder if their `buy the best affordable talent, even if that means very young and inexperienced' philosophy will continue. Will age and experience be two key criteria for NJ or does `type of player' relate more to their style of play, physical attributes etc.

Soyuncu has been linked with pretty much every big club under the sun over the last year. Milan, Roma, Chelsea, Athletico... But he has been terrible for the last couple of seasons. Maybe his agent is top notch (and it's all bullshit placed stories to drum up interest) or maybe his past form and potential low price are enough to interest that calibre of suitors. He can walk on a free in the summer to ensure he maximises his wages. He might sit tight until then.

Yep and ...now I've swung back round again, it's worse than it was before. Down.