SNSUN

It was a lighthearted jest as per my previous posts. (Except the ones about Harrison Reed leaving, I'm really surprised we're now left with one recognised defensive midfielder in Romeu in the squad! Well 2 if you count Danso but still, I thought this could have been Reed's breakthrough season.)

So now we've got to wait until the morning? This club! Will that be the latest unveiling after a deadline day ever? How will I sleep? I need beer. Thankfully only 10 more minutes of work left...

My shift finishes at half ten. Any chance of an unveiling before then? Otherwise the car ride home listening to the Sports Bar will be excruciating.

I'd say it isn't happening but no news is good news and we still have silence from Saints... ...It's 20:23 in 8 minutes, perfect if he signs a 4 year contract...

A surprise double announcement? :poundit::poundit::poundit::poundit:

TBF there were a lot of deal sheets put in more important than ours...

When was Ings announced last year? I was working then too.

IF we don’t get him, I’m going to be extremely ****ed off about not signing a player I’d never heard of until two hours ago...

Has the fax machine broken since the deal sheet went in? .

Danso would be a youngster would he not?

What a joke. Hojbjerg and Romeu are the two senior central midfielders. Or JWP or Armstrong who are better suited further forward. So weak in midfield. A lot of faith is being put in the youth, Slattery will see a lot of game time IMO. Really was hoping that wasn't going to come off today... We bloody better get Danso now!

Announce it FFS! I can’t concentrate at Work!

When it's confirmed, IF it's confirmed, I'll rejoice. Not before...

No disrespect to Austin because he scored some important goals for us, but he's dropped to the right level. I hope he does well at WBA, and more importantly for us, his wages have been removed AND we got his transfer fee back for an older, injury prone player. That's two good bits of business for Saints today, please God let there be a couple more...

A DM and I would pump this window up to a 7/10 Two would be even better. If he pulls off the signing of a DM and CB, I think my willy would have grown a few centimetres too. Talk about leaving it late though! Granted it was probably a lot to do with Austin leaving but I'll still be delighted if we even bring one DM in. Still, All it will take is for Boufal or Cedric or Hoedt to suddenly decide they actually don't want to be here between tomorrow and the end of August, throw a paddy and refuse to play demanding to be sold, and the squad will go back to looking very thin again.

If we get rid of Harrison Reed, one of two of the true defensive midfielders in the squad, we might as well resort to long ball if Romeu gets suspended or injured. It’d be madness. Central midfield is weak enough as it is without losing another one, especially with Lemina on his way. We will concede goals galore. I really can’t see any incomings now with under 4 hours to go.

Surely after a couple of decent seasons we are giving him a go. I’m nervous enough about midfield personnel as it is without shipping any more out! Good news about Redmond though. One positive from this summer has been the ability to hold on to the likes of Redmond, Bertrand and JWP.

Central Midfield is especially worrying for me. Hojbjerg and Romeu, backed up by Reed and Slattery. And that’s if they don’t go out on loan. If Lemina is going, especially after the window closes to Europe, we need another midfielder today. JWP can play there but is better suited further forward. After that we’re looking at youngsters or playing someone out of position. Very worrying. At least at centre back we have quantity even if the quality isn’t all there. Central midfield is very thin. Another player still on the books is Hesketh. Loaned out surely? Or with Sims gone, does he have a future here?

Sky running it now. Really hope this happens!

This team for me with Long on the bench for Obafemi. Probably our strongest line up if we have to play 3 at the back. We really are being hamstrung by not having a top centre back though, I’d rather an extra attacker than that third centre back. As much as this fixture would be a must win later in the season, I have it as an opening day draw, 1-1.

30 odd hours to go and it’d be nice to get a huge rumour incoming! Anything? I think we’re OK up front and in goal (if we keep McCarthy as back up to Gunn) but we’re light in midfield and defence as anyone can see. I assume this is why Hoedt, Cedric and Reed have been retained this season. There’s still time for a miracle but it’s not currently looking promising. It seems inability to shift the deadwood has cost us this summer. I only hope we can keep Ralph through next summer so he can continue to re-shape the squad.

Ouch, with Moi also going that leaves us Redmond, Djenepo and Boufal as the attacking midfielders with Armstrong and JWP pushing forward if need be. Who’s the next youth through in attacking midfield? Tella? Either way I like Sims and I think he’s a useful squad addition but maybe first team football is wise.

Charlie Austin this summer is your stereotypical deadline day signing by a Championship team that suddenly realises they don't have the attacking options they thought they did. (Relegated Premier clubs from the last couple of years like WBA, Stoke and Swansea, I'm looking at you.) The problem is it will probably be a loan where we still pay a lot of his wages. Still anything is better than something. I'm with Northam Soul above in that I'm starting to think a CM signing is more priority than a CB signing. Yes we'll concede a few with our current centre backs, but we have enough of them with Hoedt involved. If Hojbjerg or Romeu get a long term injury we're suddenly looking at Reed, Slattery, JWP, Armstong or even Stephens to fill the gap, and none of those fill me with confidence as defensive shield types, although I am looking forward to seeing if Reed can offer something this season after his successful Championship stints. All that said, I'm still there's a lot of cogs turning behind the scenes. Lemina, Austin and Hesketh are the three I think we'll see go out before the window shuts, with Carillo leaving before the end of August abroad. All loans. Ins? God knows. It'd be nice! (Waits with bated breath...)

That's a few attacking players/forwards that have been signed up by Premier League clubs from the Championship - Adams, Maupay, JRod, McBurnie, Ayew, Robinson, Jota, Freeman...it'll be interesting to see who does the best out of them all. I still think we got good value for Adams considering the transfer fees for Maupay and McBurnie.