saintant

We've had a tough few seasons and are far from unbeatable so there will be bumps in the road. The first four results were good but also could have been different if things hadn't gone our way at crucial moments. Currently I think it's ok to go into games accepting that we might lose. That's where I see us at the moment but the confidence and winning mentality should build as we utilise the new squad and RM finds out his most trusted starting eleven.

He's still here, RM has shown faith in him, he'll have seen the signings we've made so that should be a huge incentive for him to go out today, play RM's system and work his nuts off to show he's rightfully in the mix.

Would have liked to see Fraser start ahead of Edozie but no real surprises considering it's the day after the transfer window shut.

Potentially a really good signing in a position that needed strengthening. Obviously the hope is that he shows he's fully recovered from the achilles injury which we know is a bad one for sport people. If fit I reckon this guy will score a lot of goals for us and be crucial in our promotion push. Great that we managed to hold on to Che so RS can be eased in gradually and not rushed.

Couldn't get past KWP though 🙂

Fantastic transfer window both in terms of new players and ones we kept. It is great that RM now has plenty of options all over the field so suddenly he has loads of different choices. His job now is to fine tune the starting eleven from a very strong squad of players. Excited to see how we evolve over the next few weeks and months - we've needed the big reset in terms of management, coaches, DoF and players. A big shout out to JW who has clearly worked tirelessly in his efforts to get the club on track to where he and everyone else wants it to be. So far he looks to have been the acquisition who will prove to be the biggest game changer for Southampton FC.

Regards Sulemana his future is in his own hands. He will get out of football what he puts in. If he decides to sulk and avoid the hard graft then clubs he aspires to go to will continue to ignore him. Conversely, if he gives his head a massive wobble and susses out that he will be more likely to get the move he wants by being the hardest working player at the club then his future is bright. The only place he can do his talking is on the football field so his ambition right now should be to get himself in the team and prove he's got what it takes. He should be knocking down RM's door telling him he wants to be playing week in week out. Do that and, strangely enough, there will be a long queue of top clubs seeking his signature. The ball really is in his court because I think he has the talent, it's the focus, drive and commitment that's missing.

Presumably he's gone then?

You mean nobody came in for him? Phew!

Maybe. I notice not long ago Adam Blackmore put out a tweet thanking Pep for the good young players and added a winky emoji.

Is he a member of the famed CoT?

Potentially but only if it's the ABK version we saw when we first signed him. He looked class then but injuries started to pile up and he fell away from what we hoped for. I think if him and Sulemana stay then RM needs to sit down with them and tell them they can be important to the squad but only if they knuckle down and give 100% for the cause. Do that and they will earn game time and, if they still want to move, this will be their opportunity to showcase why clubs should come in for them. Start with a clean slate and let's see what they've got because many of us think both have the potential to be really good players. Time for RM to have a little chat with them if they stay because it would be a waste to have two such good prospects on the books and not do everything to get the best out of them. Let's be honest, there doesn't seem to have been a huge number of clubs clamouring to sign them and only they can change that.

Nil, I thought he was out with a hamstring injury? Maybe he's passed a late medical.

Anyone know if Che is likely to be in the squad tomorrow? I presume he will as, from what I can gather, the Wolves thing was never on the cards and nobody else came in for him so no reason for him not to be ready and willing to face Sunderland. Ok, he'll be disappointed but time to show those who didn't want to sign him what they missed. Go get 'em Che.

If we get Stewart and Roberts over the line I guess that's Tony Mowbray's team talk done 🙂

8 hours for a medical! By my calculations that means all deals that will be done today would have to be agreed by 15.00. Can't believe it.

Think he'll be confident of getting a tune out of him.

Funny, the price wasn't too high when they sold him to us but now it is.

Show us the money and he's your's. My guess is they'll make some half baked offer to get him on the cheap and we'll tell them to do one.

Show us the money and he's your's. My guess is they'll make some half baked offer to get him on the cheap and we'll tell them to do one.

I was thinking the same yesterday. There are obviously some great foreign players around but they can disrupt the group and I think RM is clearly looking to build a squad that is all pulling in the same direction with a strong team ethic. Very sensible in my view.

Just watched his interview on Southampton FC Official site and was very impressed with the way he spoke. This has the potential to be one of our most exciting signings of recent years.

More likely he'll hit the floor walking.

Think if he stays he probably starts tomorrow if Che goes.

KWP gone?