Saint Garrett

Sorry - I was mainly meaning in defence / midfield, to counter the counter attack. Agree Fraser and Arma have some pace.

There is no way that Macca or Lumley are better than Bazunu, despite Baz's shortcomings...

Would be pretty bonkers to write off about €16m in 9 months! Dreadful buy, for a dreadful manager.

Line up completely depends on condition of the player, but I'd go something like the below: Bazunu KWP Bednarek THB Manning Charles Downes Alcaraz Arma Adams Fraser There is a real lack of pace in the side though with Tella gone. Sulemena could well be the answer to that, but no idea if hes ready, mentally and physically.

If we'd signed him this summer I don't think anyone would be questioning him (yet). But he was pretty awful last season, and he hasn't suddenly got miles better. Watching the goals we've conceded this season so far, a lot of them seem to be a bigger tactical problem with the fullbacks tucking inside, and the wide players not covering fullbacks. The midfield is also not thinking about defending, apart from Charles. Downes was shocking against Sunderland. I don't think anyone would argue with the fact that we needed to get rid of Macca and replace him with someone who can give Baz competition at a minimum, but we seem to have gone and brought in a donkey of a keeper in Lumley, and we know Macca is not the answer, certainly with this way of playing. My hope is that once we sort out a settled side and sorted the tactical element his performances should improve. He made some decent saves at the weekend. We also need to think about how we defend and personnel. We have this obsession with trying to be the lower league Man City, but we need to learn how to defend like them, i.e. breaking up the play at the other end of the pitch, and note they have Walker who bails them out because of his pace. We have no-one that can do that which is a concern. Ultimately, I don't think he's had a great start to the season by any means, but IMO the issues are far bigger than having a shit keeper, and not sure a different keeper makes much of a difference if we carry on defending like we do.

Well, time to get behind him…he’s staying (for now) and if he can get his head right he could be mega for us this season. Same with Che. I understand they wanted their moves but didn’t get them, time to move forward…!

Good move all around, we don’t need him, he gets to play champions league football, and potentially we get a better player next season.

I’m kind of happy he’s going tbh. 5 CBs was too many, and wages… We don’t need ABK now this season, hopefully he can tear it up there this season.

wow! chaos

Still think there is a really good chance he goes, unless something has happened with Stewart deal, or injury is worse than first thought? Great for us though....

We also spent the summer budget in January, knowing we could fund through sales if necessary,

I'm not bothered either way tbh. Think he has something to offer at this level as a squad player, but also, not going to start many games.

I'm hoping he'll be ok with not playing...realistically Charles, Downes and TBH should all be starting. Bednarek won't be happy if he's on the bench, can't imagine Holgate would come here to be backup either. Smallbone will expect to play given him signing a new contract, and can't imagine Alcaraz will be happy on the bench. Nice to have competition for places, rather than trying to find XI that will be the least shit.

Everyone else seems to be reporting it, local journos etc. Great signing on paper, and sounds like a really good fit. Going to be some unhappy players not getting a game this season...!

If we let Adams, Mara and Ballard go, then I’m certain (unless there is a complete fuck up) we’ll bring in Stewart plus another. Could even see 3 in. Maybe club thinks Armstrong or Alcaraz can do a job there, Charly has been pretty ineffective so far as a midfielder. If Kamaldeen stays (which I don’t think will happen) he can also play through the middle. Surely tall Paul leaves….surely….please…

I wouldn’t be surprised if either were the case tbh, think they also rate Awe pretty highly, despite him being initially signed for the 23s. also wouldn’t surprise me if we signed Wood and TB.

Think there is a definitely a chance that Bednarek goes, but (apart from experience) he wouldn’t be a massive miss. Been the same with KWP all summer, he has his fee on his head, and club will accept it if someone gets there, not sure if timeline affects that one, but wouldn’t be surprised at all if he ended up somewhere, no one had come in for him as of yesterday evening though…!

Stupid unnecessary deal to do IMO, but ultimately no one is bigger than the club. And if he doesn’t want to be here then he can fuck off. I doubt he’ll be welcome back, if his loan move goes tits up

Right most of the time.

He's probably too small for WHU. They're the Burnley / Stoke of the league. They're going to be dominated in most games and nick goals with set pieces or on the counter. KWP doesnt fit that way of playing IMO.

Could possibly see a swap deal with KWP, but pretty late for something like that now

Wolves certainly have the money with Nunes off to City...

Wilcox did say at the fans forum recently, that he has agents of young players ringing him up trying to get their players into Southampton as it's a great place for them to learn and grow, especially when they're pretty much guaranteed to play every week. If City want £15m then that seems pretty cheap to me, but I would assume there is a pretty low buy back + sell on % included which teams aren't willing to sign up to. If we can bring him in, and he has another great season where he plays every game, then City can flog him next year for bigger money to a prem side, (possibly us !)

I am sure there is something in there that we probably haven't paid them in full for him yet, as transfers are normally split into installments. Maybe giving him back means we eradicate the need to pay for him.

Absolutely no-one has come in for him yet, but with all players this summer, we have set an asking price (I don't know what that is) and he'll go if a club meets it.