VectisSaint

Spurs were never in the non-existent race for Ings.

18 and 32 first team appearances, 21 and 22 years of age. At what point do they become first team players. 32 first team games (and full international cap) is hardly "blooded a little".

It was what was said at the Fans Forum (or reported). Seemed to get overlooked after that, suspect that was because Ralph hoped Lemina might stay. It was always the case that we needed an extra body in CM, two positions, 4 players. Romeu's injury brought this issue into stark perspective.

Strangely bringing in a player like this at CB is probably the best position to use. Progressing CBs through the Academy is notoriously difficult, and it won't block too many youngsters' paths (can see him working well alongside the new lad from Chelsea for example), it is also a position where you are in the heart of what is going on on the pitch, why very often CBs are skippers (along with CMs). It helps too that Lancashire has some affinity with the Club (being "almost local" and a past Academy product, even though he came to us from Palace). I thought Drew Surman might have been a good shout, but think that Lancashire's position may trump Surman's. I wouldn't be averse to seeing another of this type of player, a goalkeeper perhaps where we have no record/history of bringing academy players through. Sometimes you have to look at it objectively and say, why do we bother training players in certain positions when we know pretty well that they are never going to make it, lets concentrate our resources in areas where we have proven to be successful.

FFS, you even hinted at it yourself. This is a discussion forum, not a court of law. Get a life and stop trying (and failing) to be so pedantic.

FFS get a life.

Actually people on here were saying he was going to be in the team, that's why I said what I did. They thought he was a replacement for Vest.

It was surely always the plan to ship out Gunn and one of the others in order that we can bring a new keeper in. That`s why we have offered FF a crap deal, less than Alex, so he gets the idea he needs to shift his arse.

I think they get at least 3 weeks, Denmark went out on 7th, so I would guess he will be back Monday week. At least we don't have any English (or Italian) players, another week for them. Most England players will miss the start of the season be ause they will only have been back a few days.

Debut assist yesterday for Ross Co. https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/19466491.malky-mackay-praises-saints-jake-vokins-debut-delight/

Don't think that is being cynical, it's a tactic. Offer him less than his rival, and he should get the message that he is no longer required. If he accepts it at least we have reduced his wage bill, but he won't, knowing that he is not going to play (regularly). Reckon he will be back at Celtic before long.

The "statement" you referred to was from Fabrizio Romano. Tom Leach has since "confirmed" my thoughts. Who do you believe? Nothing has been reported by Saints, the rest is just tittle tattle, but all logic points to Tom Leach's version, no one is going to put a 19 year old CB with no league experience in the first team (straight away). Like I said. I'm sure he will become a good player, and maybe make an odd appearance for us this coming season - let's hope he grows a bit as well 🤣

Didn't know that the two were mutually exclusive, you seriously think an 19 year old CB is going to be a regular in the 1st team. I'm sure he will train with the 1st team and might be given the odd run out this season, maybe in the Cups, but clearly he is one for the future. Surprised also that no one on here has dismissed him for being too short either, maybe they imagine he will put on a growth spurt.

Sounds to me like this guy is initially for the B team, only 19 clearly one for the future. Can't see this makes any difference to our first team defence, for now.

It's great having so called Saints supporters calling our young players 'pure shite', hope you are proud of yourself. Based on incorrect information. Must make you feel so good. For your information he played 7 times for Brum until Lee Bowyer came in and apparently Valery's tweets about his team mates upset the team. His tweets were accurate but his judgement was poor. Still let's all him 'utter shite'. He is not the greatest, but to be frank the only utter shite are your posts.

I would be surprised if he would even consider Utd given his past associations. I suspect the reality is City or Chelsea, assuming Liverpool are not interested in taking him back. Of course there might be options overseas.

Don't give a monkeys. Preseason friendlies are about the players, getting them ready for the season. It's clear that in general teams have been ad used to stay at home (GB) due to travel restrictions, these are friendlies so not critical to exempt from overseas travel bans.

There is a Women only series but there have never been any successful women GP drivers. Only one has even scored world championship points, and even then it was only 0.5. Strange thing is that women could compete equally in motor racing, indeed they could have an advantage, a bit like jockeys in horse racing.

No one was offering congratulations. We had no LBs at the club, it was critical to having a team that we got one in, and we did. Everywhere else it is about strengthening, we have players to fit the bill initially. In order to do that we had to ship some out and we have done that to a reasonable extent, some still to go of course. It certainly has not been a disaster (yet) but a few more in the next couple of weeks would still be OK.

Think we've done the critical business early. Had to get a LB in and signed Theo as well as shifting several out, which then enables us to bring in some new blood. There are still 6 weeks till the window slams shut and a month before the first game.

As well maybe. This was always the plan starting from when Ralph alternated them to see which to keep. He clearly decided Mccarthy was to be kept, so that a new keeper can be brought in, presumably as No. 1, whether its the Albanian guy is open to question, there have been a few links ((the lad from Accrington Stanley, but probably not as a No. 1 immediately).

Reports that Ethan Ross has left Aberdeen and is having a trial at Saints. Possibly one for the B team as he has hardly made an impact in the SPL but seems to be highly thought of.

Funny that Leeds and West Ham are considered "smaller" clubs. Players have always been picked from West Ham, they are the FA darlings, just think about 1966. Leeds, small club, just because they have been in the doldrums for the last 20 odd years.

As things stand what have we lost so far? Minamino? We all knew that we had to get rid before we could bring in new players and at the moment we seem to have done that. We have replaced Bertrand with Perraud which was the massive hole we had to fill. I would say that right now we are just about exactly where we were at the end of last season, except now we have some players out of the door and wages saved, opening the way for a few to be brought in. There are also still a few to leave, such as Long, Redmond and Forster. Work in progress but basically things seem to be going to plan, just wish we could get a few more in now so that they have an almost full pre-season.

One of them is back, training with the first team after completely disappearing off the radar while he as Brum. So is he good enough now? And what happened to him at Brum?