the saint in winchester

If dressing gowns ever become de rigeur at SMS, he'd fit right in. Until then, he can stay away.

If we're going to be making a decision on our keepers this month - and as Ralph has said either Gunn or Forster will be going out on loan, we clearly are - then I'd like to see Gunn and Forster get at least one game to prove themselves. At the moment, we have Macca playing, Fraser on the bench and Gunn at home. I know it could be horrible, but we need to give them all games, and then it will be evident who is best. Like a scene from The Hunger Games, I know.

We've known for some time that we are waiting for shakedown in the food chain. Hoping some quality players become available and at a price we can afford. Spurs already putting some in the shop window. We're going to see reports of players we are interested in as media outlets have to write stuff. Hold your nerve, guys, we are waiting for Transfer Deadline Days buys and loans. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12028475/transfer-window-deadline-day-key-dates-and-times-for-summer-2020

So that's the question I wanted an answer to as well, so waited for Ralph's interview just now. He described the defending as "stupid" so I guess that means he is absolving himself of responsibility for that. So he suggests it's the players that are going for this high line. Whoever decided to have the defenders group in the center circle and have a foot race with Son and co, please step forward and prepare for criticism. It was suicidal. It's not about getting more players in, or better players in, it's about tactics. We're not good enough for "we can score more than you can, just see". Defenders, you need to defend. And Macca, stay in goal. We don't need a sweeper keeper. 40 minutes of being the better team was undone by 50 minutes of stupid defending

That's pretty much my thought too. Keep Adams up front with Ings, and add Long either RM or LM to deputise for Armstrong or Redmond.

Spurs fan in the office says his impending joining 'noise' is largely to kick their other players up the jacksy to up their game. Alli likely on his way out as Jose doesn't like his attitude.

Yes, that was the point of my question. I should have made that clearer. For whatever reason, Ralph doesn't seem to want to use Valery, so an experienced old hand to challenge KWP may be useful. Of course, he'd have to accept our wage structure, but I'm sure a few years on Liverpool's wage level would have bloated his bank account.

Like you all, I'm trying to understand what has happened. It seems that Ralph had the players keep fit and sharp through lockdown on the basis the season is still ongoing, just paused. Maybe other clubs said to their players "look on this time as a good time to rest". Then when Project Restart commenced, we were fit and ready to go, when other teams weren't. That's why we did well. However when the season finally finished, maybe our players told Ralph it was holiday time. Then returned out of condition. Ings, WP and Army went on international duty, and the others are still not ready for the season. So now we are paying for that lack of pre-season conditioning. When's the next international break? Tell our international players they can forget representing their countries, and be ready for double-training sessions with the club. We need to catch up quick.

Shouldn't we be looking at old boy Nathaniel Clyne, available as a free agent? Now supposedly going to train with Crystal Palace to keep fit.

Iwobi - yeah, you're right. I thought it was £17M, but google confirms your figure. Suggested that Everton will be discarding a few players and Iwobi is named. Offer £15M and see it we catch a fish? Walcott - is so fast he's a sprinter, and that inhibits his ball-playing skills. To play to his strengths, you have to pass it ten yards ahead of him and make him run onto it. There's still a player in there, but I don't think Arsenal or Everton have played to his strength.

If we are only going to get £2M (or even €2M) for him, then I'd rather keep him and 'play the joker'(*) every now and then from the bench. * as in, playing the unexpected card, not a comment on his personality If we could sell for £20M, I would probably be more keen to sell, but not if we can only get peanuts

Origi would be great, either deputising for Ings, or playing alongside him. Alex Iwobi would be useful, deputising for Armstrong, although Walcott could play both RM and out and out ST, however he's over 30 now. Other observations : Villa paying a £20M deal for an Arsenal reserve keeper - wow. Doumbia - read the reports of him, but also that he couldn't get a UK work permit. Still think Jefferson Lerma is the one we should go for.

Page 4 should be in The Lounge. Tiss, Charlie and Thommo anyone?

I don't think any Bournemouth players impressed last season. But the chance to play in a decent Saints side under an expressive manager may invigorate Lerma's game. Although, he could be another Lemina, I don't know. Just would rather have a player that has experience in the EPL than an overseas league player.

According to Spotrac, he's on £50k. Any chance Bmth put in relegation wage clauses? Could we go to £50k? I think we could. My googling suggests we were paying PEH £50k.

What do we think to Jefferson Lerma of the parish of Boscombe? At least he has Premier League experience.

Like many of you, I think we'll start with the same side that finished last season. The likes of Djenepo, Boufal, SallySue, Forster, Smallbone. Long and a plus one will likely be on the bench, waiting for their chance to impress.

I did that a couple of weeks ago when it started to go rogue. It hasn't helped. This is the first time in like a week I have accessed the site. Bookmarking hasn't seemed to help, from my experience this week.

A Swansea fan commented on a Saints Instagram account that we played their reserve/youth team and that it was a meaningless result. They put out a Swansea XI.

That "passes into final 3rd" stat is worrying. We thought Hojberg passed back too much, yet his passes forward are higher than this guy McKennie!

Yes.

Yes, it's the Daily Mirror, but confirms they were prepared to pay £26M in January, but would offer less now. https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/leicester-still-interested-signing-southamptons-22183673

Didn't Leicester offer us £24M for JV in January? And we turned that down? Hoping Brendan still has our number in his phone for an offer of that size.

IIRC and IMHO, the fans had gone right off Pelegrino and we wanted him out. The directors, however, wanted to stand by their man and hoped that bringing in the striker he nominated would improve results and so get the fans back onside. But … he didn't score in first few games and the clamour for Pelegrino got too much and the Board finally gave him his P45. Now we had no manager and a misfiring striker. It was a £19M gamble and it backfired.

If we continue our form from last season, we should rejoice at starting away from home. Good chance to get off the mark with another away win!