VectisSaint

Looks a lot fitter as well, appears to have worked hard on his physique, he no longer looks like a rugby prop forward.

Actually 12 months ago he wasn't. 18 months ago I would completely agree. Bu the fall of in form and goalscoring in 2021 was alarming (covid and other factors). I was all for keeping him, but in hindsight I think we did well to offload him when we did. 7 goals in 30 apps for Villa suggests this drop off was not temporary, he really struggled to make an impact at Villa, hence why they are happy to move him on now. I like Danny Ings, and he was great for us for a couple of years but he is well past his best I'm afraid.

Not only the defence generally, but also the set-play set-up, which was previously covered by our former goalkeeping coach (Watson). Does seem Ralph has learned some lessons, and is seeking to improve in our weak areas. Bear in mind though that this is what Ruben said when he joined Copenhagen, and seems at odds with what was said when his joining us was announced (seemed more emphasis on attacking), perhaps his role developed during his Copenhagen time, who knows, but he does seem sound.

Saints have probably contacted his agent. I did wonder whether he was going to be kept as the new Olly Lancashire (for the B Team) but then noticed that Lancashire has been retained. Maybe there is some sort of coaching deal, though personally don't see Long as a potential coach type (bit like Walcott).

Oh Oh Shane, now you're in trouble, not telling the trouble and strife about your new contract negotiations. What's the deal with Stephens then, McCarthy's new contract showed up on some official site somewhere, but not Jack's, why don't they now at least announce what the new deals were. This is not a post about whether he deserved a new contract or not, but why don't the club announce it.

Minor rib fracture according to this: https://www.balls.ie/football/stephen-kenny-will-smallbone-ireland-512713

Young Walcott was a quality signing.

WE don't know, but it was reported last summer in one of the Scottish newspapers (Sun?) that he had turned down the contract offered. Just because a newspaper reported it doesn't make it true, but the Scottish rag (whichever it was) have/had a much closer relationship with Forster than their English counterparts because he was a Celtic player and was still wanted by them back then. It all made sense at the time, both keepers were offered new contracts, one declined and one accepted. The one that declined clearly knew that he had a better chance of being offered something elsewhere. Of course things at the Club changed massively since then, but I would guess that Forster was quite categorical in his refusal to sign a new contract and probably had already agreed a move n principle before Sport Republic took over and before his brief run of good form happened after McCarthy's injury. Bottom line, Saints did not "let him go", Forster decided to leave. I'm confident that we will sign a new #1 for the coming season, and McCarthy will do as a backup. He was actually doing well before the Norwich game and then the game where he was injured.

To be honest all or CBs could be called Calamity at times, so he would fit in well.

Does anyone know for certain whether Jack is still on the books (or will be come the end of the month)? No sign of a renewed contract (unlike McCarthy who it was rumoured signed one last Summer and so it proved). His absence from squads late in the season suggested perhaps that he was being let go, but then he suddenly appeared again out of the blue. Thought the Retained List would have been published by now.

Why not sign him directly to Goztepe? I can't yet see the point of signing him for Saints and then loaning him to a partner club. Hopefully someone can explain.

At Ajax. My point and the discussion that lead to it was based on his time AT SOUTHAMPTON. Sorry if that's a little hard for you to understand. Ajax clearly got more out of him than Saints ever did.

That's because when we had Tadic he showed no leadership qualities of any sort. Model pro, my arse.

People in Reading know as much about Long as we do, don't think you need to worry. He scored more goals for them in less appearances than he ever has or will for us. Not sure he is good enough for Reading, he was not too brilliant at Boscombe last season in the same division.

Hoddle without Gormley.

Actually it says 10 arrivals and departures, and immediately after talks about Davis, Watson and Fleming, implying they count as departures.

Bollocks, looks like I was sounding like MLG.

If he is average, then there must be equally as many worse than him as there are better (hope I am not sounding like MLG but when you spout bollocks you deserve to be pulled up for it).

Thought it was due to be resolved tomorrow.

Nope, these are relatively junior employees certainly not senior management, Crocker is their boss, seems perfectly sensible course of action to me. Bear in mind Watson and Kelvin were not recruited by Ralph, they came with the job (and IIRC pre Crocker), Fleming was a slightly different case in that he was promoted during Ralph's tenure, presumably with Ralp[h's agreement. N

Yep, got that wrong. But it looks like the majority of the teams in the Championship are "full-time" not semi-pro. It is probably true that teams need to be full-time if they want to be successful, if success is measured by promotion to the WSL. Southampton were always aiming for the WSL, and to get there you have to be full-time, it is a requirement. So going full-time was always in the plan. But you also need to look at what "full-time" means. The definition appears to be a minimum of 16 hours pw paid employment, that's a very low definition, of course we have no idea how much our players will get (hours-wise) or how many of them (presumably the entire 1st team squad). Semi-pro definition is 8 hours by the way. As I said before, I'm not knocking it, but it is not as big a deal as it appears, many of the players work a lot of hours for the Saints Foundation, and many are in full-time education. I don't believe there is enough money in the game at this level where players can have a lucrative career, and many would earn more in other jobs, especially if they are only being paid for a 16 hour week - that is part time in any other walk of life. I imagine a few will not take the step up to the Championship, but I hope they all do.

No it isn't. Why would the owners be involved. Crocker and HR, that's how business works.

Is it? You have to be full pro in the Championship. Would have been planned all along. Most of the first team players are I believe already full time, in that they work for the Foundation, they are not amateurs. Don't get me wrong, not knocking it, just being down to earth, had to happen and isn't a huge change.

Well, if it was Nigel Adkins that would be fine by me.

More to do with defending set pieces (corners) from what I understood. You don't have a coach telling JWP how to strike a ball. Considering how bad we are at corners it's a wonder Watson lasted as long as he did.