coalman

Fair play. Thanks for the considered response. The way I'd look at is part of the team is 'his' but he's spent a large part of his time in charge here hindered by the decisions of his predecessors and the need to address that within limited constraints. He inherited Lemina, Hoedt, Forster, McCarthy, Redmond, Hojberg, Clasie, Soares, Carillo, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Elyounoussi, Ings, Bertrand, JWP for example. Ings, JWP, Bednarek and Redmond, Bertrand have succeeded to various degrees. Though the latter three of those has also attracted their share of opprobrium. Prior to this window Ralph has bought in some players who haven't worked and some how have - like Danso, Djenepo, Adams, Armstrong, Diallo, KWP, Salisu, Perraud, Livramento, Lyanco, Caballero, Walcott, Broja. Of those many were signed at the end of the window when our first choices weren't available or willing to join us. Among them are some great finds like KWP, Salisu, Livramento. Some arguably good players like Adams, Perraud. And some players who have struggled like Armstrong and Djenepo. But I'd say that in many respects his hand was forced by circumstances. I'm pretty sure players like Caballero or Walcott were brought in because it was the only way he could fill a gap. I remember last summer how upset we were not to be able to target a new 'keeper. This window we've bought in some really exciting players. Bazunu looks like the 'keeper we've been dreaming about since forever. Bella-Kotchap looks like a beast. Lavia already looks decent but will only get better. Aribo looks like he can make the step from Scottish football and Mara has tons of potential. Compare this to other windows and already it's another world. If rumours are correct there are more on the way. So comparatively speaking this looks like far more of "his" team than what he's had before. Yes we're still constrained because we have to gamble more on potential and that may or may not work. But, I'd argue that rather than working with what he's got or can scrounge - Ralph is in a position where he has more of the team he wants than at any point in his Saints career. It's fair to argue whether this is "his" team. Though I'd say it's more "his" team than at any point before. We're also in a position where we can attract more of those players with potential which we weren't necessarily before. I'd say that getting from the first list to a position where we are both in the Premier League and also to attract exciting players is a pretty incredible transformation. That's not to say Ralph's the man to take the next step for us. Even if he's not he's set up his successor in a way he wasn't himself. * for the sake of the forum pedants, neither list is exhaustive

Let me highlight where I disagree with you: - At no point did I say Ralph was the only one who could have kept us up. When discussing something with someone it is generally held to be polite to argue with what they said rather than what you imagined they said. - There have been times over the last few years where we've played some lovely football. I couldn't say the same for our football under Pellegrino or Hughes. We've also been incredibly inconsistent which is indeed frustrating. - The club has not invested to the level it is doing currently for several years (if ever). My point is that this is the first window where the club has really backed Ralph. It's my view that this gives him the opportunity to really show what he's capable of. If that is more of the exciting football I've seen and less of the less exciting football then I'm excited to see it. Of course, it's just my opinion. I could be wrong. I'm sorry that reading a differing opinion on an internet forum bothers you so much. As I said, I'm excited to see what we do this season. As I am every season with Southampton. This season I am more so than I've been in a while.

There's a decent chance Ralph will have the team he wants for the first time this season if we can do the rest of the business we're rumoured to be looking at. I've seen him perform minor miracles with a squad he most probably didn't want over the last few years so I'm excited to see what he can do.

This all reminds me when we were on the verge of signing Harry Kane from Tottenham for £10million when Poch moved to Spurs. The trouble with Saints transfers is the more they are talked about in the press the less likely they are to happen. So this one feels dead in the water to me (sadly).

He hit a couple of peachy through balls as well. That's something that's been missing from our game for a while.

I think if we're going to set up in that formation we need a striker (or strikers) who are able to spin into space so the defence can't push up on us too much. Much (as I hate to admit it) like Broja did at his best last season. Without that space to play in our midfield gets suffocated and winds up playing a lot of sideways and backwards stuff. It's a shame we're waiting so late in the transfer window to bring someone in up front. But I think having different options up there will unlock a lot of the potential in this team. I don't think Ralph has had his strongest side all on the pitch together yet either.

Conclusions from today: - Adam Armstrong shouldn't be playing without Che Adams alongside him. He needs service and isn't going to create something from nothing or link up play. - We seemed to be set up not to concede rather than threaten. It never felt like we were going to let one in. Not sure we needed 3 centre backs on the field. None of the centre backs looked dodgy but by keeping so many players behind the ball we lacked threat and invited pressure. We really needed the extra man in midfield as an outlet. - Bazunu did everything he had to well. Some good catches. Great distribution and mixture of short, long and chipped passes. Always available and so so calm. - Bella-Kotchap looks tidy (and quick). - Djenepo got in some great positions. Just hope he stays fit and builds on it. - Aribo shows some good touches. Willing to hold the ball and take on his man. - Lavia didn't look out of place and got stronger as the game went on. The more he plays the better I feel he's going to get. Really quick to spot a forward pass though took a few risks when he held onto it. - KWP is our best outlet for stretching play. - StuArmstrong was quiet but also had a few good moments. Will be great to start the season with him available.

Bazunu is so calm with the ball.

Ooooh. Close from JWP

I still have hopes it's a confidence thing but fear you're right. With him playing there's no threat in behind so the defenders can get tight on him and completely nullify him and compress the space for our whole midfield. Contrast that with Che at his best where he holds the ball and releases people running beyond him.

Balls into him do need to stick somehow. We can't player it in the air because he's not the tallest and he's not going to hold off with his back to goal so if he can spin into space he's not offering an out ball.

This. I think the only risk with Delap is over his injury record as he was out for quite a while. From the player perspective he doesn't really have a path into the City team with Haaland and Alvarez arriving but finds himself tied to a long term contract. I'd have thought it would be in City's and our interests to sell him to us for decent money with sell on clauses and buy back.

So far. Bazunu looks class. Has caught a couple of shots rather than palm them out, great distribution and commanded his area. KWP is KWP. So glad we have kept him (so far) Djenepo has got in some great positions. Had one wobble at the back but doesn't look bad. Salisu has been solid. Bednarek has been solid. Bella-Kotchap has looked solid and made a couple of great interceptions. Lavia started slow and gave the ball away a few times but has grown into it. JWP has been tidy without doing much else. StuArmstrong has made a coupe of darting runs Aribo has showed good close control and a willingness to get into the box. AdamArmstrong has looked anonymous. When he'd had the ball he's been knocked off it easily. Neither side has really threatened but Saints finished the half stronger.

Starting to see some better interplay. Lavia and Aribo are growing into this.

Not just your eyes

Champions: Man City Relegated: Everton, Leeds, Bournemouth Saints: 9th Now Southampton are adopting my old Championship Manager strategy I can see no way it can go wrong. Am seriously excited about some of the players we're bringing in. This is the window I've been most excited about for years and I think (hope) we'll look back on it like Koeman's first transfer window. That being said I can see it exploding in our faces but I'm an optimist.

If we look at West Ham and their pursuit then it makes sense to put bids in for multiple strikers. If Man City or Chelsea is looking to drive up the price then they also have to be aware that we have other options. If a potentially selling club thinks they are our only option then it gives them a stronger negotiating position. From Saints' perspective it would be great if we got either Broja or Delap. It would also make sense to have other targets because we may struggle to get either.

What we miss out in Maitland-Miles we make up in Harry Winks links. Tottenham seem really desperate to offload him to us.

Not only has the selfish mofo not said thanks but he wants him too.

My West Ham supporting mate is salivating over the prospect of signing Broja and how he'll fit into their system.

There were points last season where he was unplayable. The pace and strength to shrug off good defenders was astonishing for a 19 year old. Yes he also went missing but he wasn't alone there and you'd expect greater consistency as he gets older.

Delap Broja Colwill Hudson-Odoi Palmer (loan)

It's almost like they know they can hold out for more money. Then sell as late in the window as possible to clubs in the same league. Downside for them is I can see this stopping current academy players signing long contracts in future. Unless they're big bucks.

Yeah. Well paying 20 year olds £100k a week isn't likely to lead to a balanced human.

The CHO story is really illustrative of how the big clubs' academies work. Rather than let him leave for Bayern they offered him mega money to stay then never gave him a proper run. Yes he was injured but this hoarding of players is one of the less savoury elements of the massive financial disparity in the game.