VectisSaint

What happened to him flying in at the weekend as previously reported?

Any sign of the Gorilla in the stands?

I'm sure that we were planning on bringing in a new (first choice) keeper, offered McCarthy extension which he looks like he will sign (if he hasn't already), offered Forster an extension that he was hardly likely to accept, in the expectation that someone would come in for him, but it didn't happen, or else Forster said no to the move (Celtic supposedly). So it turns out we are stuck with both, Ralph prefers McCarthy (mostly because he will be a better #2) and with FF not willing to sign the contract that was offered he will be backup for this season before leaving on a free next summer. Bit of a silly situation we have got ourselves into, but unless something comes up in the next week looks like we have to live with it. Interesting to note that the Accrington keeper that we were apparently linked with (Toby Savin) has been benched so far this season, not too promising to be after Stanley's #2. Haven't heard what has happened to the Greek Albanian that were linked with. Personally don't think Forster is any better than McCarthy, much of a muchness, but clearly Alex is the club's preferred player for the longer term. Can't fathom what is going to happen to Harry Lewis.

Any chance we could get this lad into the first team, after all he is about the same age as Theo was when he broke through. Surely a better option than Shane Long. Hadn't realised SKD's son was playing for the u18s (Sonnie).

Shouldn't the u18s have a separate thread. This thread is about the B team.

Plays in Serie A. Anyway, I hear he can also drive a lorry.

Only if you take my comment completely out of context, as you clearly have. Ironic really when you complain bitterly to others who wind you up that your quotes are taken out of context. The context was that it was being said that JWP has now committed to us until 2026. Maybe that's what the contract extension says, but we all know that is bollocks. It just means that we have given him a pay rise and will continue to pay him for 5 years. If an offer comes in and he wants to go the length of the contract is immaterial to whether he goes or not. I don't think he will go, any more than I thought he would go before, no one came in with a serious offer, and none of the big clubs seemed seriously interested at all, Prowsey has done well to get a pay rise out of Saints on the back of that, good luck to him. If he has a stellar season this year and Liverpool or City come in for him next summer, you probably won't see him for dust, but at least Saints will get more for him. So, just in case you find any holes in my comments above and they do not measure up to your exacting standards of argument, nit picking or pedantry, you can quite frankly stuff it where the sun doesn't shine mush.

Didn't stop him leaving though. Contract extensions are meaningless, that's all I'm saying. Just means we might get more for him. If someone comes in for him in the future and offers big money then he would go. Hypothetical of course.

Naive, means nothing. cf van Dijk.

New 5 year deal. Off next Summer then. 🙄

3 points against Burley. The new New Forest derby.

Did I miss Perraud leaving?

Reports this morning that Jones is not leaving Man U, OGS has plans for him as 5th choice CB.

Ralph says he isn't ready yet, suggests it might be some time before he will be, needs to understand the way we play. Does make you wonder why we have brought him in if its going to be a while till he is ready.

Simeu & Lancashire.

Could help with all the Chelsea kids we have recently signed as well.

Stuey I can sort of understand (late coming back to training from Euros?), but no KWP, must be an injury or something (no offence to Tino). Otherwise much as (I) expected, though I would have started Tella over Djenepo. Still at least we have a resonably strong bench, with Broja still to come.

No, it wasn't meant like that, as I said my reaction was to the comments on Social Media.

He's a contracted player, why wouldn't he get a number. Its actually great to see Saints standing by the lad who has had a tough time recovering from a bad injury. Ralph said if he played again it would be a miracle, but they are giving him the opportunity to prove he can do it. Some of the negative comments I just read on Social Media by so called Saints fans are a fucking disgrace. Best of luck Sam, miracles can happen, usually because of hard work, dedication and self belief (not through divine intervention).

You forgot that we also lost Minamino. So that's an improvement to our quality.

Dier AND Winks and £40m might be worth considering.

But that's exactly what it does mean, with age (or at least playing years) comes experience and wisdom. Balotelli was just a nutjob, and also he wasn't a CB, hardly an example for what we need. Jannik was actually not all that experienced in relative terms, but what we really don't need at the moment is another inexperienced youngster, doesn't matter how skilful they are. Bednarek, Stephens and Salisu are just not the basis for a solid defence, we are already short in terms of height without Vestergaard, we are simply going to get bullied even more that we did in both penalty areas.

We replaced our goalkeeping coachin 2019, Andrew Sparkes is highly regarded. Don't think you can blame him for the previous years, but have to admit the jury remains out as to whether there is a marked improvement since Dave Watson was replaced. We have never, ever developed a goalkeeper in the academy; when the two best ever academy keeper graduates appear to be Michael Poke and Scott Bevan you know that there is a more fundamental issue than simply bringing in a new goalkeeper coach. My personal view is that the Academy system is not suitable for development of goalkeepers. The number of goalkeepers to have come through the Academies of Premier League teams can be counted on the fingers of one gloved hand (I'm sure MLG will prove me wrong of course). Its about time we recognised that and relied on signing keepers from elsewhere, including having an overage keeper for the B team.

We didn't stick with it rigidly toward the end of last season. Several times we played a different formation, people argued it wasn't 3 or 5 at the back (fair enough to an extent), but it was a flexible formation with 5 at the back without the ball and 4 with the ball, one of the FBs getting forward when we were attacking and the rest of the back line shuffling over. We were definitely play 3 CBs, but you could argue that they weren't operating as CBs all of the time (Salisu and Stephens specifically). It is why I am very sceptical of the stuff coming out of the Forum that we are done in the transfer market, whether Vest leaves or not I'm sure that Ralph wants the flexibility to play this way again this season and not the rigid 4222. Incidentally if Vest leaves people seem to be missing an important point, without him we are a team of (relative) midgets, I am not his greatest fan, but he gives us an awful lot in the opposition's area when we are attacking (set pieces). Bednarek, Salisu and Stephens are not that big and have no overwhelming presence when up for corners/free kicks. We will certainly need to replace Vest, and I think another CB is needed as well, but it is no good getting a young inexperienced CB in for this, we need an experienced, big man.

Harry Lewis