VectisSaint

I have some posts again, so First, hope we can stop all these references to £100m being paid. Yes it was the amount quoted "initially" when the story broke, the vehicle for the story was the Sun, but not clear who gave the story to the Sun, but in the course of yesterday afternoon the article, which was quoted earlier in this thread, was updated to show the figure was £150m. I haven't seen or heard anyone actually quote the figure (Semmens for instance) and of course I have absolutely no idea how much was paid, but i am inclined to believe 150m is more likely than 100m. If you add the loan to this (which may or may not have been paid, or which is still with the club) then the amout Gao could get could be 200-220m, which would at least see him recouping his initial outlay. Sky would almost certainly have got their information from the Sun, or at least the same source (the link being Murdoch). https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/17216890/southampton-takeover-dragan-solak-jisheng/ We also should be focusing at least as much on Kraft (and Rasmussion) as on Dragan. We have been purchased by Sport Republic. Dragan is of course a chief investor in SR. It is most likely that it is Kraft we will see at games and who will have a hands-on role, I read that he will become the CE for the Football Club. I see this as bing more in the Cortese role. All the bollox being written about Broja and Dragan being at odds because Dragan is Serb is complete bollox, Broja may have a problem with Kraft (I've no idea why he would) but a lad brought up in Slough is not going to be concerned about a 41 year old guy who is putting money into Sport Republic any more than he would have a problem with the Russian oligarch at Chelsea (Albanians and Russians are not exactly best of chums). The troubles in the Balkans would have taken place when Dragan was a young boy/in his teens, he is more likely to have been a "victim" of the atrocities than someone who could be associated with them, he also seem rather anti-establishment in Serbia as far as i can see. I think he was interested in Southampton because of JWP's golf swing goal celebration 🙂 I'm quite well pleased with what I am seeing, I would have preferred it if Ms Liebherr had gone as well, but I guess nothing is perfect. Hopefully we can bring in a couple of youngsters in the Jan window, along the lines of Livramento/Small, though I am not sure I can get excited about Liam Rory Delap (sorry, I'm sure he is a great player). No news on the rearranged Newcastle game yet, was reasonably sure the new date would be announced this week.

JWP is suspended as well? 😉 The "Essential Information for players 2021/22" document issued by the FA says that a player who receives a red card (for 2 yellows in the same match) in the Premier League, EFL Leagues or National League is suspended for 1 match in (a) the relevant League in which the Player's Club competes, (b) FA Cup and (c) the EFL Cup (it also includes the Women's Leagues but that just muddies the water). From that it seems the Premier League [age is incorrect and that Salisu's suspension should be served in the Swansea match, not Brentford. The only other explanation I can see for the Premier League site saying what they are would be if Salisu was actually given a straight red, but I am reasonably sure I saw the ref brandish a (2nd) yellow first before the red was shown (Salisu won't know because he had his back to the ref). https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/discipline/player-essentials There is no question about KWP's suspension, it applies to the next PL match (Brentford).

Sorry didn't come back on this sooner, had used my 3 posts up. You are of course right that his appearance was in the FA Cup, serves me right for relying on memory rather than checking the data. But FA Cup does seem to be considered top level capable so it doesn't change the situation. But the point I needed to make about your comment is that it is not the OS Squad that you need to look at, that reflects nothing in particular. It is the Premier league Squad list that is the reference, the (25 man) squad and the associated list of u21 players. Small may be on the OS list but he is not in the PL Squad (because he is u21). Anyway, all a moot point now, as I said before my post was largely tongue in cheek anyway, but there is no reason not to play Small.

Note that the Sun article got updated to show the value of the investment by Dragan for 80% was changed to £150m, which seems more like it. So Kraft will be the new Cortese with backup from Angerson. From what I can see this all looks like good news, someone ba King the Club with some interest in improving it, rather than just what he can take out. Would have preferred to see KL go as well, but maybe that will happen once the new team have got their feet under the table and she is happy that her Father's legacy is in good hands. Also this might explain why we didn't really pursue our.complaint to the PL about the Newcastle postponement with this going through the new new owners process at the PL, this is the first takeover under the new rules, didn't want to upset the applecart at such a delicate moment. So who can we buy now before the Newcastle game to counteract Kieran Trippier 🙄

I think otherwise, what they are avoiding is players that have played in the Football League Trophy or PL2 or that have played for other teams in the EFL, maybe even the League Cup. My comment was largely tongue in cheek anyway, I don't think Saints would play these "games" especially as they have complained about others doing so. Thinking about it of course Small would not be an issue anyway as he has already played in the PL (for Everton).

Thing is what rules are followed for the FA Cup with regards potential postponements. We have heard a lot from the PL and the EFL about what constitutes grounds for psotponement, but what guidelines will the FA use, when they have to consider the differences between the clubs from the PL and EFL? It does sound from Swansea that they expect to go ahead, but it could be that Saints have an outbreak. Earliest I see any announcement would be Thursday.

Not at all, nothing to say games have to be rearranged in the order they should have been played. Bear in mind Everton have 2 games that were called off before their Newcastle one (Leicester and Burnley). PL usually just try and get them rescheduled as quickly as possible to avoid further problems down the road. Reckon we will be told new date this week and it will be in January.

Best not to play Small, Simeu or any other B team debutants, we don't need any more players confirmed as PL capable in case of a covid/injury crisis in the next few weeks.

Smallbone is injured

Very sad ending to what was a very promising career. Would hope that he might be able to continue in the game, no reason he couldn't do his coaching badges and work with the youth teams, what a lot he could give them based on his experience. Best of luck Sam.

See Brentford have already brought in a new keeper, ready for our match next week, Jonas Lossl from Midtjylland. Doing a Newcastle.

Problem is players go both ways in the transfer window. FA Cup rules on replays used to be that you couldn't play if you were not eligible for the initial match, don't know for sure if that is still the case. I imagine that this game will be rearranged very soon, there are currently midweek slots during January, it is unrealistic to think Toon will sign many players before the end of January, and even if they do they take a while to bed in. We will still beat them anyway, but it does leave a bad taste.

Agreed, was just looking for a positive. Will still probably go wrong anyway when Swansea game inevitably gets called off.

At least we have Salisu back for Wolves (unless Swansea gets postponed as well). Just to be clear I know he would have been back for Wolves anyway, but now he shouldn't miss a League game.

Doubt they will call the game off until at least tomorrow, maybe even Saturday.

maybe, and new covid cases appear because of the highly infectious nature of omicron and the fact that the players were in a bubble with the infected ones. Covid infections are not discrete events. Likely we will have more cases by Sunday as well.

He was good yesterday, not brilliant but sound. He is a better defender than Tino (as is KWP) but not as good attacking (though his crosses are on par). If he can get the attacking side of his game right then we have a very good left sided full back.

They also had 2 keepers on the bench, so they had 15 outfield. Lost 2 to injury so that would be 13 (yes I know Hayden will be back) so to be fair to them they are pretty close to the limit, only needs a couple more Covids. Not saying it's right, just pointing out where they appear to be at.

Great defensive display to hang on for the point (which no one expected). Credit to KWP and Forster (never thought I'd say that), Bednarek and JWP. Thought Broja was going to nick it at the death. Now only bad side is KWP and Salisu out for Newcastle, what a silly boy Salisu was (though his first yellow was a mistake), complete la k of professionalism when you are already down to the bare bones at the back, let's hope Jack and Lyanco shake of Covid.

Their first he was at fault, completely lost the ball in flight. I don't always blame people for goals but his actions for the first goal were a fucking joke.

On the other hand shows that we were well shot of him. Last season indicated he was past his best.

Thought Tella was out with Covid, if he was out yesterday unlikely to be back tomorrow. You have to wonder who else will be out as well, Ralph giving nothing away in the Presser, but assume Jack and Lyanco will also still be out. Djenepo wasn't mentioned as out because of Covid, but wasn't in the squad. Reckon it could be quite random tomorrow who is available and who isn't.

Stuey involved and we win 🤔 Do we get 4 points in the points dropped from a winning position league? Nice win, thought when Antonio came on we were shagged, but didn't work out that way.

Frustrating isn't it. There really is nothing to be gained keeping these secrets these days, even assuming the opposition plans for our players availability or otherwise.

That's fine to say, but who would you have started instead, given the absences from the squad (assuming Armstrong is not fully back up to speed) WTH is going on with Stephens and now Lyanco, Covid? Having to put Simeu on the bench illustrates how we are once again stretched at CB.