SNSUN

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.

You've suggested something similar... Personally I'd be watching Saints vs Barcelona in the Champions League Final in 2065 (I'll be 84, a fair age IMO), ironically held at the now 90,000 capacity St Mary's which was chosen due to it's new drone-delivered alcohol system, of which I've partaken of a few too many, and of it's new invisible wee-tubes which negates the need to go to the toilet mid-game. My wife, daughter, any other kids I may one day have and any grandchildren I may one day have are sat around me, all roaring Saints on (including my Norwich supporting wife who has long since succumbed to the glory of supporting Saints over lower-league Norwich). It is the 93rd minute, injury time, and Saints have just scored the 5th and final goal, a hattrick goal for my grandson, Mikey SNSUN, who came through the famed Southampton academy. While jumping up and down in celebration, I lose my balance and fall face first into the ample cleavage of the woman in front of me, which suffocates me to death. Too far fetched? Sod it... balls deep in Alicia Silverstone from the mid-90s after perfecting my time-travel pogo stick.

With defence, I'd argue it's a question of experience. Valery/Cedric is stronger than Valery/Ramsay, so long as Cedric is content playing second fiddle and puts the performances in when required of him. No disrespect to Ramsay of course who may go on to become a good player, but Cedric has the experience. Whether Bertrand/Vokins is stronger than Bertrand/Targett remains to be seen, although Targett did have a fairly decent season last year when covering for Bertrand, hence the transfer fee received. That said, with Cedric back (and eventually McQueen if he gets fit and ends up taking a squad place) we do seem to have more cover for left back than we had last season if Vokins does fail to make the step up successfully. (Although we all hope he's the next Luke Shaw/Wayne Bridge!) Playing a back 3 as we were/currently are, then Yoshida, Vestergaard, Stephens and Bednarek was/are not a good enough amount of centre backs. Hoedt adds depth and experience, but like Stephens is prone to mistakes and lapses in concentration, and in a perfect world both would be shipped off and we'd bring in a complete, quality centre back and switch to Ralph's preferred back 4... but this is far from a perfect world. As it stands, if we continue with 3 at the back, then arguably we ARE stronger than last season because of the addition of the more experienced Hoedt over, say, Alfie Jones who was effectively our 5th choice CB last season, or Klarer this season. Still, we do have more quantity than quality in defensive areas, and time is running out to sort it out. Fingers crossed for the next 5 days.

How will it look? There’s still time for it to change, but I’d say it’s initially looking like... GK: Gunn, McCarthy, Lewis* RB: Cedric. LB: Bertrand. CB: Yoshida, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Stephens, Hoedt. CM: Romeu, Hojbjerg, JWP, Armstrong, Reed. AM: Redmond, Djenepo*, Elyounoussi, Boufal, Sims. Str: Adams, Ings, Long. That’s 23 as it stands (assuming we are keeping the re-integrated Boufal, Cedric And Hoedt), But not including Forster, Carillo, Lemina, McQueen, Austin, Hesketh, Barnes, or Youth players like Valery, Vokins, Klarer, Slattery, Obafemi and all the others. Who else makes the cut/do you think will be missing? *Are Djenepo and Lewis classed as under-age players?

It just goes to show that there is good talent in the lower leagues if you’re willing to take a chance on it. Leicester and Liverpool both raided Hull for Maguire and Robertson, whom they had picked up the players from lesser leagues themselves, and they’re now regarded as two of the best players in the world. It’s why I think signing Bowen from Hull now would be a no brainer, 22, left footed right winger, looked impressive on the odd occasion I’ve seen him, has a decent goal scoring record and even for £20 million, if he’s successful (and the analysis in the link below says he’s Premier League quality) you’ll get far more money back if he’s sold. It’s just a shame it appears we can’t afford him/have too many players right now. https://totalfootballanalysis.com/player-analysis/jarrod-bowen-player-analysis-hull-city-statistics

I still think we’re stronger in attack last season with Adams, not to mention an unpredictable Djenepo that seems to have all the right assets. I think this is key to breaking down the weaker teams in the league that often pack their midfields, this is where our extra points will come from this season. I do think if Boufal leaves we have room for another attacking player, especially as Moi can’t be trusted to deliver after last season, but I think what we have will have to suffice even if Boufal leaves. There’s always January. Defensively we’re still a worry, but with Hoedt and Cedric brought back on board, maybe the club feels that is that, especially financially and perhaps with a lack of decent affordable players in the market. Definitely quantity over quality at centre back. Then, if we start with Gunn and McCarthy in goal, we look pretty strong there IMO, and suddenly not being able to sell McCarthy becomes a decent thing for us. As for the deadwood? Who knows. Austin, Carillo, Forster and Lemina. We can only hope someone panics and signs them.

1) Where will we finish in the league? 12th/13th. Possibly higher if we can sign a CB and DM. (2) Which round we will reach in the Mickey Mouse Cup? Semis. Potent attacking will get us there in high scoring games. (3) Which round in the FA cup? 4th. Knocked out against Premier League opposition. (4) Leading Goalscorer? Got to be Adams. (5) Our player of the season? Adams (6) Which player will surprise you most? Ings, staying injury free for the most part with a decent goal return. (7) How do you think our great neighbors will get on down the M27? Don’t care, upper mid-table perhaps. As long as they stay down. Ultimately I think we will be involved in a few high scoring games. Adams, Ings, Long and Obafemi looks a good attack, with Redmond, Djenepo, JWP, Sims and maybe even Boufal supporting them (ahem and er Moi), we shouldn’t have any worry about scoring goals.

In: A CB, Jarrod Bowen. (2) Outs: Carillo, Austin, Hesketh, Lemina. (4) I think Cedric, Hoedt, Boufal, Reed and both back keepers will all stay and be a part of the squad, although if we do bring in a centre back I think Hoedt may be loaned out again. Both keepers we will be unable to offload so they’ll still be here. I think Cedric, Reed and Boufal would make good back up choices for their first team counterparts. What we don’t want to be doing is weakening the squad after our window is closed by selling or loaning players to Europe.

I thought of a song a while back to the tune of Ride on Time by Black Box but it’s not for a new player... Cos it’s Redmond time, Redmond time R-R-Redmond time etc He just Walks it in, w-w-walks it in etc Full lyrics to be disclosed during rehearsals, 8-10pm Tuesdays and Thursdays through the season in The Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis.

Newcastle now favourites to sign Jarrod Bowen from Hull, whatever that means. Ashley splashing the cash to appease the fans? I still think he’d be a decent signing for us based on stats, potential price and age. It’s more important to strengthen other areas of the team first though.

The reasons are there, Hasenhuttl, regular first team football, but it would be a huge signing. A guaranteed money earner in a year or two too.

He has the physique of a 17 year old virgin on his first foreign holiday to Magaluf. He was never built for this league. GOOd luck though.

He’d only have to fart and he’s earned himself £2. A tenner for a really long fart. It’s crazy money and Bale would be crazy not to accept it. We’re more likely to see McGoldrick come home than miraculously signing Bale! Sadly. Nice dream though.