Chez

not in line up tonight. Injured?

No JRod in line up tonight. Is he injured? I saw he was hobbling a bit at Anfield, but thought he'd be back for this game.

It will be that little skate that undoes us.

Boufal back, but JWP injured so Classie keeps his place. I've given the latter some stick this week on here. Hopefully that means he will have a stormer. COYR

Good point. We have lots of central midfielders, but not sure any are worthy of a place in a DM role. Let's hope Romeu can stay fit and then come the summer we need an squad rebalancing.

they still have championship level **** like Ward on their books. If he is earning more than me then they are being robbed.

If I was seen to be worth £18m, I think I'd want to sign for someone other than Bournemouth...or is £18m actually not all that much these days?

Or Paddington, via Reading. Either way he sounds as lost as he looks on a football pitch to me

Genuine question. Can a new signing play in the league cup final? I presume so, but who knows what you can and cant do these days.

if he is genuinely going to be out for three weeks (who knows if that is accurate) then he only misses 2 Prem games (ignoring tonights' game in which a new signing today wouldn't be able to play anyway).

The News reports that there is deadline excitement with the Skates looking likely to swoop ahead of Bolton for the signing of Preston North End's striker Eoin Doyle, on loan. Yeah, I know, gripping stuff, especially as Bolton's interest is non-existent with their expected signings of strikers Chris Wood and Adam LeFondre. But then again you never know what deadline day might bring...my F5 finger is getting a blister.

getting out of bed, pace or just in general?

Good move. Puel has little confidence in Taylor and Lewis doesn't look ready yet. We needed to sort out the reserve keeper situation and hopefully this lad will impress if called upon.

Pulis said yesterday that there wouldn't be any more permanent signings done in this window by WBA.

If we are signing Manalo what's the pecking order? In the end someone is going to have to leave and perhaps we will get the best fee if we allow them to go now rather than the summer.

thats the pull of the premiership for you. Best league in the world.

Good point. Maybe I should have stipulated other than Chelsea. As Dr Zeus says, someone comfortable with the ball is preferable and I'd say that was essential within our current framework. That makes me wonder if there is any interest at all from us.

Interesting link this as he's 20 and not first choice at Brum, so is one for the future for them never mind us. He's very raw, but quick. Brum play 3 CBs and wing backs, so it must be tricky for Saints scouts to evaluate how he would fit into our rigid four at the back system. In the games I have seen him play he crossed a half decent ball and perhaps reminded me of a very young Clyne, although that might be stretching things. They let Caddis go recently, so he might get more chances, although I think Spectre is ahead of him and new signing Nsue might jump to the front of the right back queue.

That's how I feel. When the big clubs discard players like this do they ever come good when they join another Premiership side?

based entirely on this report: http://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2017/southampton-lokomotiv-moscow-remain-in-contact-for-mamadou-sakho/. Does that site have any credibility at all?

login to the tickets, then select `my account' (second to bottom tab on left hand side), then click friends and family and a form will appear to fill in.

Good point. Although largely down to bad luck, we have brought a little on ourselves. Austin was a very, very strange signing in my book. The fee might not have been big, but the wage certainly will be. I don't know who pushed that transfer through, but it must have caused a few ripples. I wonder if it was RK? If the decision wasn't universally supported, when he got injured soon after joining, there must have been some tension created there. You have to question the Boufal move a little as well. Making an injured player your record signing is bold to say the least. Perhaps its easy to say why not wait and sign him in January as you may lose out, the selling club may only want to sell in the summer or the price may go up, but do you really break your transfer record on someone that won't play for a while. Its tough to move clubs and move abroad, but to then have to start your Saints career from the injury table must have been very difficult. I forgot about Classie being injured. I can't believe we signed him, never mind signed him injured. In his case was he really the only/best choice out there. RK or whoever must have thought he was worth the wait. They were wrong. You could also point to offering JRod a five year deal before he had even started making his way back from his serious injury. Very brave decision that hasn't worked out yet, although could the club really risk him leaving on a free? They have paid him handsomely for very little return, hoping that he will come good and that investment would pay off. It hasn't yet, but if the WBA £15m move is even remotely true then it would have been the right decision. We will see. Returning to your point, we say our transfer dealings involve extremely comprehensive research about character etc., yet we do seem to overlook the obvious - are they fit? There will be counter arguments I am sure, but availability is the best type of ability.

No better club to go to as a striker to improve your reputation. You are right going to Chelsea would seem a strange move whist Costa is there. We would actually be the ideal choice as he could effectively be first choice right from the off.

I don't know what is going on behind the scenes, but there seems very little interest from Premiership sides. The likes of Sunderland and Palace seem desperate to sign new players yet they don't seem to be linked with him. Maybe its his wages or maybe they just don't think he's not worth the risk.

that is a lot of wedge. You'd need to be very sure he is the real deal before spending that kind of money on a player plying his trade in Scotland. That kind of money counts us out.