Saint Charlie

It was the same scenario last season and we wouldn't have signed Stekelenburg if Forster hadn't got injured. Last season if our no 1 keeper got injured we have Davis or Gazzaniga and its the same this year. Neither Stek nor Forster can be counted as a no2 because Forster probably won't be fit for the majority of the season. We obviously seem content with it and I do think Gazza could develop into a decent keeper but there is no doubting that for a league game the whole ground goes "oh ****" whenever you realise the no1 is injured. I actually think Gazza is much better than Davis. He is more the issue playing wise because he takes up a squad slot, has probably prevented Gazza from being loaned out and isn't anywhere near the level needed now. At least he is a club legend and counts as a HG player.

Lots of people say this but then the likes of Stoke and Crystal Palace have second (and even third) keepers with far more pedigree than Gazzaniga or Kelvin Davis. Even Bournemouth have a better second choice keeper than we do, so its not like Gazzaniga is the best you can hope for. He has looked better in pre season, but they arent real games and he seems to crumble under pressure. As for Davis, brilliant servant and great L1 and CCC keeper but no way should he be about to enter his 4th PL year with us. He was dropped early in his first (rightly so) and has probably declined since then.

Ideally would be good to get someone who stays more than one season otherwise it just keeps putting pressure on the scouting staff to find another gem, and Fonte to keep building new partnerships. The fact a player of the potential of van Dijk has a similar asking price to James Chester is just mad.

http://m.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/13498116.Jose_Fonte__The_signings_Southampton_still_need/?ref=rss New quotes. Absolutely spot on IMO. Midfield would be too lightweight if Vic got injured, Clasie nowhere near as mobile as Morgan. Could do with cover there plus obviously 1 CB minimum. Hopefully we get them in, there has to be some cash as have made transfer profits the last two seasons plus huge TV riches.

He surely won't be second choice and Maya is third, so its probably BS.

Would we pay that for a 4th choice? Unlikely IMO.

Would be a decent 4th CB for £4-5m or so, not a bad player. But £8-10 when Toby only cost a little more and is a similar age is just utterly mental! Imagine its an agent link as he will be gagging to get out of Hull.

£10m. LOL no chance.

Cheers Davie. Definitely worth making the distinction. Just like the Italian players under Don Cortese.

Of course they will and he may turn out to be a class player. But just as equally people expect every young player who plays a first team game for Southampton to be a long term option. The reality is many just won't be good enough to make an impact in the "best league in the world" but will have a great career in football like Billy Sharp or Richard Chaplow have. The amount people slate Pelle, yet he is miles and miles ahead of Gallagher unless he transforms his game in about 2 years. The hype comes from the success of the likes of Shaw who came into the team aged 18 and was one of the best players in his position in the entire league.

Maybe for their U21s.

Bit odd the club havent mentioned anything online about this reserve game seeing as we won 2-1 and Jay Rod scored again.

He doesn't have the pace nor agility of Jay Rod. He is a centre forward who was playing wide because Seager was scoring every week and we only played one up top in the U21s to mirror the first team. In the rest of that U21 final he was one of the poorer players IMO. Which is fine as he was coming back from a serious injury.

Agree with this. Loan spell exactly what he needs. Not good enough to make an impact at PL level at the moment.

Same starting XI as the Feyenoord game I reckon. Under 4k tickets left so should be a cracker and any lead would be great to take over there. 8.05 KO and on BT Sport for anyone not going.

He is a good player but is nowhere near Toby or Lovren level so would be a step down from the last two seasons. Ideal 3rd CB.

Imagine Jay Rod getting some more mins in the reserve game.

Our "reserves" are playing Feyenoord's today. Starting shortly apparently.

He would probably do pretty well playing every week.

The 4th choice CB will play quite a number of games over the season, especially if we play in Europe. Remember when Hooiveld was fourth choice and we lost pretty much every time he played? If Koeman thinks Stephens is good enough to play PL matches in a key position and not be targeted as a weak link then brilliant, great to have another young player in the team. But if he thinks he isn't ready for that then we need two CBs.

After Lovren and Alderweireld I would hope we could get someone better than Shawcross. Especially for the money they would want for him (if he was even bothered).

Koeman will know more than anyone what his current capability is. He looks a great prospect but being rushed into PL football, especially in such a key position as centre back, could ruin him if he isn't ready. I'm sure Saints will do the right thing but CB isn't a position for rookies IMO. There are barely any 20 year old PL CBs who are decent, probably Stones the only one. We obviously need at least one CB, preferably someone to start alongside Fonte. If that is van Dijk then hopefully we can sort something pretty quick. Spurs have 5 senior CBs (and thats discounting Chiriches who is leaving) yet we have only two so its the one area we are weak and ill-prepared currently for a long season of hopefully many games.

But it was also a great game for us ahead of Vitesse. Far better than playing some Malaysian Presidents All-Stars XI or Singapore.

From what I saw I would agree. Feyenoord didn't have anything in attack and were missing players at centre back. Good competitive game but I expected Saints to win as our lineup was far superior. Our defenders will have far tough tests against pretty much every PL side.

With Europa League and if we want to give the cups a good go then I agree. Stephens as fifth CB.