VectisSaint

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

Simeu is not first team (and of course neither is Lancs) so if Vest goes we have Bednarek, Stephens and Simeu. We were looking to get another CB before we knew about Vest, so getting 2 now would be no different. I know we may be looking to get someone in who can play DM and CB, and that would be fine, but if Ralph wants to have the option for 3 at the back then we do need 2 more. Perhaps we could convert Long into a CB (convert from ?).

Smallbone doesn't even appear to be back in training yet, so going to be a long time before he is back up to speed. Putting Djenepo as backup LB is just papreing over the cracks. We are still weal in DM and LB, and if Vest goes at CB, oh and GK where we are even weaker than before now that Gunn has departed. I think attacking wise we are in a better position accepting that Ings has gone, we have more strength in depth.

Leicester looking at Ozan Kabak (Schalke) and Issa Diop (West Ham) (according to Leicester Mercury), doesn't sound much like they are pursuing Jannik. West Ham's interest might be ramped up if Diop goes to Leicester of course. I assume any chance of Delaney to Saints goes out the window if (when) Vest goes elsewhere. If Vest goes we really need 2 CBs, otherwise Ralph will not be able to play 3 at the back like he was to some extent at the end of last season (whether you agree he was playing 3 at the back or whether it was only "against the ball" is irrelevant). Really think we need to bring in an experienced campaigner, our squad is so full of youngsters now, we need an old head in the defensive area (and no I don't mean Ollie Lancashire). Appreciate JWP is 26 or whatever now, but doesn't have the experience or the air of authority we need sometimes. Bertie maybe used to give us this.

Maybe the Albanian guy.

Maybe he's being brought in as a buddy to Strakosa, the Albanian keeper (yes I know Broja comes from Slough, but then Strakosha comes from Athens, they are teammates for Albania). Felt fairly confident a while back that we would be signing a new keeper to replace Lurch but its all gone a bit quiet of late.

We already have his replacement, Ollie Lancashire can make the step up if needed.

Looks like he has signed for RC Lens. Don't worry he has not re-signed for Saints.

Channon and Ball (ideally with Steve Williams alongside Bally)

9m is the bottom price for Delaney, Dortmund are looking for more as there are a few clubs interested.

Villa Hampton? Ings, Targett, Mings, JWP...

To be fair it would be interesting to read anything about JWP instead of MLG and Turkish arguing about the definition of opinion or whatever today's pedantry topic happens to be

Deleted

He is a (short) lifelong Chelsea supporter, it has always been his dream to play for the Blues. I think you can be confident that if he does well and Chelsea activate the buyback option, that he will go back. It is usually at least 2 seasons before a club can activate a Buyback. Seems to me that if Chelsea think he is worth 45m and want to buy him back that he will have had some phenomenal performances for us, so that can only be good.

People seem to be forgetting Ings had COVID in amongst the injuries. His lack of sharpness since might be explained by long covid. I know its not popular among the hipsters, but it is a serious problem, fatigue would go a long way to explain his issues in 2nd half of season.

I reckon we still will. Don't forget we have already offloaded Gunn, Forster going is still a possibility, and we have been linked with keepers. Getting a new keeper in before the season starts is not so critical as outfield players, and what we have is (just about) adequate to start.

I read somewhere that the Simeu deal may have influenced Livramento. Can play either side and CM so seems like a good fit for the squad, backup for Perraud and KWP and with Valery still here as well gives us strength in depth. Much better option than Williams on very expensive loan from Man U. Assuming that unlike Simeu he will go into the first team squad rather than the u23s, even though like Simeu he is yet to make a 1st team appearance, I guess the difference between a FB and a CB in terms of development.

One of the very few sensible posts on here.