Dan Johnson

Its a unique situation. I still think Ings, with his injury record and at his age is a risk bigger teams might not want to take at 25-30m. I'm a little surprised we were offering a 4 year contract rather than a 3, it's a big statement to try and make him our highest paid player with the risk of his knee relapsing. He's clearly good enough for a place at a team competing for the top 6, we've been lucky to have him relatively injury free for the last few years. I'm not convinced he'll end up leaving yet, at least this summer

Completely agree, I never understand why there's this obsession with the assumption bigger fee = better player. Transfer fees are utterly subjective, some of the factors that help determine a transfer fee have absolutely nothing to do with how good the player is (contract length for instance)

Never under estimate the importance in having senior players who have played at the highest level and the impact they have on the dressing room. This signing will be as much about his impact off the pitch as it will on it. Theo (in a professional non playing capacity) is representative of everything this club should and does stand for. His contribution in the early part of the season was a massive part of that great run to the top of the premier league, he (like other players) had suffered because of our lack of squad depth and inability to rotate when his form dipped. It's a good signing, he's a solid premier league player and a huge assist off the field.

I think Che is improving consistently. He does need to become more clinical, though. The Ings\Adams partnership is really blossoming, I hope they're our front two for the next 2/3 years as I think they're a 30 goal a season partnership if they stay fit all season.

I'll be sorry to see him go. He's been an exceptional signing and for periods over the last 6 years he's been our best player and I think at times the best Left back in the Premier League, we've been lucky to have him for so long during his peak playing days. I do think that now is probably the right time for him to move on, his performances have steadily declined over the last 2 years and I think the emergence of KWP has only highlighted that fact, he's still been a consistent solid performer however he used to be a consistent exceptional performer. My suspicion is he's been struggling for motivation, I think he's still got the ability to play for a better side and do a great job for them. I suspect over the next 2 years there will be some Saints fans who'll see performances for his new club and think we made a mistake in letting him go however I doubt if we managed to keep him, you'd see that same level of performance. He needs re-invigorating and I think its only a new challenge/move that will allow him to do that. Sincerely I wish him the best of luck, its been an absolute pleasure having him play for this club, signed as a replacement to the most expensive left back ever sold at the time and for the majority of the last 6 years his performance far surpassed those of Shaws Exceptional business, exceptional player. All the best Bertie and thank you.

He Looked more assured than McCarthy whose conceded 16 in his last 4, 2 of which he gifted to the opposition. Deserves a run in my opinion

Looks like he’s got some pace. couple of really well timed and good interceptions. didn’t think it was a penalty although looked sloppy on the ball once or twice. postive overall 👍🏻

Big Fraser for me after tonight, 4 clean sheets in a row, has earned his run. McCarthys been poor of late.

I tend to disagree, I think it’s important to have players like Bertrand around the club. I don’t think 3 years is unreasonable or unrealistic, I’ve seen nothing in his game or fitness to suggest he still wouldn’t be performing at a good level in 2.5/3 years time.

What a signing, he was bought in as Hojbergs replacement, he’s looking like an upgrade right now. Really excited to see him progress.

Yep. given his injury record I’d be tempted to sell and go for Wilson at Newcastle who I think is a very similar player

I’m optimistic, I personally feel like he may sign but with an agreed release clause if a bigger club comes in. Ultimately he’s one of our biggest assets and we’re in allot of debt, whether he signs or not is no guarantee what so ever he’ll stay past the summer, probably the difference of getting an extra £10-£15m though. Enjoy him while you can, if he leaves this summer for £30m he’s been sensational value for money.

Think we need to be realistic here. We've made a massive loss, we're continuing to lose revenue every game we play behind close doors, we're also achieving above expectations, there's no need for us to purchase in January. I expect and indeed hope that we have no in or out goings this month. Here's hoping we achieve something of note this season as I think it's almost inevitable we're going to have to sell in the summer with Ings\Prowse the most likely to leave

I think even when you look at the Utd away game, while they're top of the league they certainly don't look invincible. What has made this season extremely interesting is (apart from the bottom 3 or 4) everyone is capable or has taken points against sides you wouldn't expect them too. As the season progresses and the bottom sides get desperate, they often start getting shock results too, there's a long way to go.

4th & 5th being done at the same time

Absolutely, It's why I gave him my MOTM vote, could have gone to KWP or Stephens, both equally deserving. Really excited to see how Diallo progresses now!

Impeccable tonight, chuffed to bits for him. Huge credit for coming in after a period out of the team and looking match fit/sharpe from the first minute of the first game. shoved a whole lot of “that” in many a pipe over the last few weeks.

With Djenepo, I actually think a percentage of his strength has been coached out of him. Previously his spontaneity and unpredictability caused other teams problems but I don't think he got many games because he left us exposed after he went walk about. This season, he's seemed to be allot more tactically focused which has affected his ability to create somewhat...

Thing is, with players like Gray/Redmond if they were more consistent they’d be playing for Bigger clubs, yes he will frustrate but he’ll also likely win us games

Currently 1pt off champions league and 3pts off second after 15 games and people are moaning ffs 🤦‍♂️ Get a grip, that is an unbelievable return so far with our squad.

Arsenal have so many empty vessel footballers, there's 2 or 3 I could pick out of a line up, the rest are a royal group of misfits and mercenaries. Ex AFTV youtuber Troopz was calling for Cedric to start over Bellerin, that's the level they've fallen to, calling for a player we all regarded as fairly average to start for a side who were once one of the best to watch in Europe. Arsenal HAVE to win, they're playing for the managers career here, so I expect them to start well, there is NO WAY Arsenal could possibly let Arteta continue in his role if they lose. We start well here and get an early goal they'll fold, this could be one of those games were the opposition completely fall to pieces and we end up winning by 3 or 4. To be honest, I'd take a draw though as I expect a reaction from them.

I think the Ings situation is relatively unique. He's going to be 29 in the Summer, which I'd assume will be the earliest we'd let him leave. With a year left on his contract, i'd still expect us to be looking for £30-£35m. Is there a top 6 club who would pay that money, for a 29 year old with a chequered injury record? Will his earlier injuries resurface later in his career? If Tottenham Lost Kane, they'd be the most likely destination. At the moment I'd say it's likely only Man Utd that I could see him moving to. I suspect the delay in contract negotiations is because he wants more than we're willing to pay at the moment, the clubs position may change if we continue our strong season and we manage to unload Lemina\Hoedt\Elyounoussi

Great result. The 3 pts are all that matter. Brighton set out to be hard to break down and hit on the counter with speed, they managed to neutralise our full backs for the majority of the game and almost capitalised a few times by playing out quick, they really lack creativity when not on the break though. When teams set out to be hard to break down, it makes it a difficult watch and you end up relying on set pieces which is what happened tonight. They limited us to two good opportunities from open play I can remember, Walcotts good effort and Redmonds effort he should have done better with. I thought they also coped with the high press pretty well. Dubious (ridiculous) decision for our penalty, I’d have been fuming if that was given against us, I’ll joyfully accept it when it’s for us though 😂 it felt like one of those games were a mistake or VAR intervention would have a big impact. Djenepo had an odd game, looked the most likely to create something in the first half while simultaneously flattering to deceive and looking like he could easily have been sent off! MOTM picks himself, Big Vesty! Literally head and shoulders above everyone tonight. Thought Romeu was exceptional too.

watched them 3 or 4 times this season and think the opposite to be honest, their problem is scoring goals, though their approach play was good and they've some good individual players, they're the kind of team that will get 2 or 3 surprise results against the top teams this season, we definitely shouldn't be taking them lightly, it's going to be a tough game.

They’re good to watch, they’ll give a few teams a good game this season and will be a potential Banana skin in the title race but as you’ve rightly pointed out they don’t really have enough of a threat in the final 3rd, otherwise they’d be comfortable mid table