Chez

He is, but he's about to join Leicester.

He deserved to be dropped when he was. It has been up to him to show (in training and in the substitute cameos) that he is worthy of another shot (run of starts). In a couple of those cameos he had the same problem that led to him being dropped - getting the ball stuck under his feet, not having the confidence to shoot on sight. In the Newcastle game he looked busy, and maybe he ought to get more cameos off the bench. I certainly am not happy with us starting Shane Long.

I don't doubt that report. McCarthy was given a new contract when he was our number 1, to be our number 1. We'll sign a younger and cheaper keeper. Let's hope that he does a better job of replacing McCarthy than Gunn did.

If, as someone posted on the Broja thread, we are offering Long a contract, that says a lot about our finances. If we don't have money available to upgrade on a striker that offers nothing, then you know things are going to be a little tight. If we have to pay £12-14m to Ralph if we sack him, that is going to seriously effect incomings this summer. Not necessarily a reason to keep him, but it is a factor. Survival this and next season, is the number one priority of our owner I suspect. Ralph has kept us up and I guess they will trust him to do the same next season too.

What do you mean by destroyed?

I thought the first goal was saveable and actually one of those saves that Forster usually makes (close to him) extremely well (he made one in the first half at the near post), but on this occasion didn't. A little disappointing, but not a complete fuck up. Not seen the second from a decent angle. Low and hit the post. Not sure he could be blamed for that one, although it seemed to take an age to get there. Agree with other posts that his kicking was woeful.

Doesn't surprise me to hear the contract has been offered. That's a sign of how little money there is to spend this summer. I think its a poor decision. I don't think he offers anything. Armstrong has struggled, but I'd still prefer to see him start. I thought Long did nothing yesterday. Won nothing in the air, caused zero problems, created nothing, didn't think he worked all that hard, and he ran out of steam.

I've said this several times, I can see him getting another year. Funds will be short, there is no guarantee that we can get Broja back, and Ralph's words and actions suggest he thinks he can do a job for us. Depressing.

I certainly wont complain about a set piece goal. Thank god we get so many of those, as we are creating absolutely nothing. Players and tactics need to change in the summer. If the 4-2-2-2 has been hiding our deficiencies, we need to do something about those deficiencies and find a new plan as this one does not see t be working. Not sure Ralph is willing to adapt though. He seems tied to it.

Went to the game and went out in town to drown my sorrows, so have not read the tread. I am sure its been mentioned, but I don't think I've seen us offer so little in terms of creativity, attacking threat and chances created against a middling team like Palace. A one two and Armstrong shot apart, did we create a single shooting chance in the whole game? Woeful. You can put some of that down to player performance, the absolutely terrible display by Tella - who was total waste of a shirt, the nothingness offered by Adam and Long (why on earth are we giving him starts ahead of Broja?) and the minimal threat of Redmond, but the formation and tactics must have a bearing too. Why did we not try a different formation a some point in the game?

whatever your view, there is no mistaking how much Ralph rates him. Without question he wants him back next year, if possible, but clearly there a whole host of obstacles. https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/20103917.southampton-boss-not-given-hope-armando-broja-transfer/

Armstrong started brightly, and looked like he might be Ings mark II. I still see talent, but confidence has dropped, as was the case with Adams in his first season. I really don't know if he can blossom. Not been a good buy, yet, but he could turn it around. Was there a better option? I wanted Daka, but we didn't have the funds, especially at the start of window before Ings sale. Perraud looked limited at the start and I didn't think he was a good signing, but he has improved with every game, works hard and gives us balance. He lacks genuine pace and top class ability on the ball, but he offers us some stuff that we need. I prefer him to Target, who is technically better. He's a solid signing, but not a `great' signing. Put it this way, I doubt we will sell him for more than we paid. Lyanco looks like the defender people were worried we were signing. Good on the ball, but reckless, a bit limited in the air, but wholehearted. I am hoping he cuts out the diving in, like Fonte did and becomes a proper defender, but not convinced he will. We had no money, so options were limited. We got what we paid for, maybe a bit more actually as £6m gets you fuck all. Livramento was much better than we imagined, offering composure, skill on the ball and an attacking threat, although defensively he is suspect and he faded in the second half of the season. Long road back from that injury. Real shame. Good buy. Walcott held an end up last season, working up and down the line. When asked to provide pace and threat this season, he couldn't do it. He will see his contract out here, but hard to see a final season flourish. Not worked out at all, so a poor signing. Many predicted it. Not me. I thought he would help us. He hasn't. Broja was a revelation and made us forget Ings, for a while, but a lack of end product against the likes of Norwich, not being able to reignite the early season form after being dropped and then failing to impact in recent games has taken the gloss off what looked a sparkling season. Still a talent and well worth bringing back if possible. I still think he has been a great signing a he filled the Ings void and helped us secure points we needed. Cabellero looked about 50 years old in his first game, but quickly got up to speed and was a great cover signing. If funds permit, would be a very decent third keeper next season. Great signing.

He's only 18, so possibly will strengthen, or do you think he's lightweight full stop?

if we are thinking of signing another right back, Calvin Ramsay at Aberdeen looks like he can pay. Leeds currently in talks with him.

linked with a loan back to Palace today in The Athletic

fuck yes. Beautiful subtle design.

Broja may not return. Long may not get a new contract. That leaves Adams and Armstrong as our two strikers and we don't have a lot of funds available to bring another striker in. I really don't think we will be loaning him out next season. He will get another season to try and force his way into our starting eleven.

I meant, as fans, we want our management to say stuff like, "our best players are not for sale". Its the least we expect to hear. All we can ask is that our board try to play hard ball. Not sure we can expect them to turn down £100m offers for JWP though, can we? The reality of course is that these words (even if they said them) its just bluster and we will sell if the price is right. However, just by saying stuff like, "don't bother asking", we are at least trying to make it look like we want to keep them, progress as a team and aren't just here to sell players.

they walloped Wolves, Everton and Arsenal (and drew with City) and since then have lost to Newcastle, Leicester, Chelsea and drawn 0-0 against Leeds. Have the lost their way or have they been unlucky in recent games?

who is the next Chelsea right back on their conveyor belt of youth talent, is it Richard Olise?

Everyone knows we (as a mid size club) have a price. Nothing wrong with using these bold words to maybe re-enforce how much we value our player (they then feel good). I agree, I don't think teams will spend £80m on him. Its too much money for not enough additional improvement they will get from signing him.

Didn't Stephens get an `unannounced' new contract, like McCarthy, back in 2020? https://theathletic.com/news/exclusive-jack-stephens-agrees-new-long-term-southampton-contract/bo8LfBeiblPj/

Absolutely. We will continue to run in the same manner - books balanced, spent what we bring in. The new owners will just make sure an early window transfer is not scuppered by a lack of cash flow.

good point. Selling players you don't want doesn't happen much these days. If they are shit, you are stuck with them. Salisu is a prime candidate to be `made available' unless he signs a contract in May/June. We need to be thinking about offering KWP a new long term deal soon too, as he must have caught scouts eyes this season. I wonder if, after the nightmare with COVID, the club might turn a profit this financial year, and that provide some cash flow

...we don't have a choice in the matter - he said `no' to our contract offer (which people are speculating as to it being lower than he was on, but might easily have been higher - but he wanted out having been dropped and loaned out previously), we gave McCarthy one instead (again people are speculating who was offered what and in what order) and Forster will seemingly now depart on a free.