Convict Colony

Why does everyone think Redmond was meant to replace Mane, he isn't his replacement he is a improved squad depth (Juanmi replacement) if anything Boufal is the new "mane".

Finally something is happening in the transfer window

apparently started very well but the coach started putting him on the bench and he is grumpy about that.

just rewatching it now, absolute wizard, looks more AM that Bouf

A rumour !!!!! Nicolae Stanciu - 10mil is a AM/Winger with Anderlecht nickname the little maestro - werent we linked in the summer ? he hasnt settled in belgium. https://www.anderlecht-online.be/es/article/150276

I know I couldn't believe it, at least I'll get to watch him on the 29th v Den haag Will be supporting Morrocco for sure but hope they get knocked out.

Double post

Whilst I understand we defo need a striker, the service to our strikers is pretty naff at present, surely the formation or personal in midfield needs ot change to create more for the front men.

Whats Marcelino up to at the moment, similar sort of project. Left Villareal after disagreement before the season after leading them into Europe and 4th in la liga after improving them every season. http://en.as.com/en/2016/08/10/football/1470866058_859588.html Rated above Conte and Poch according to 4-4-2 mag as the 14th best coach in the world. http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwos-50-best-football-managers-world-2016-no14-marcelino?utm_m_medium=t His tactics: http://www.thetacticsroom.com/articles/2016/4/27/marcelinos-magic-at-el-madrigal-continues-to-guide-villarreal-to-glory

Trying to make a deal for Ben Arfa on loan, not hopeful. http://www.football.fr/transferts/articles/ben-arfa-a-la-relance-en-angleterre-861304/ http://www.butfootballclub.fr/ligue-1/psg/psg-mercato-ben-arfa-relance-par-puel-a-southampton/

Cheers bud that was super interesting, Cruyff is awesome.

No news about today but here is a good scouting report on Sebastian Haller for those interested. http://outsideoftheboot.com/2016/09/28/scout-report-sebastien-haller-utrecht-gifted-striker/ "Haller can be compared to Olivier Giroud in many respects (for those of who you have not seen much of him). Where Haller surpasses the aforementioned French stalwart is in technical ability and his efficiency in the box when presented with a scoring chance." Just what we need.

Well played yesterday

After a decent sleep I have reflected that the 1st half of our season "could" be an unfair representation of how our team and manager could perform. Manager in a new league, lots of Europa games, playing more total games than we have every had to and having to rotate like it is going out of fashion has meant our quality has erroded over time by fatigue/unbalanced teams to lead to us becoming a poor pedestrian team. If I step back to how we played in Aug/Sept before we really started to get the fixture pile ups (but we were playing claudes style) we were creating a lot of chances and were just frustrated that we needed so many chances to scored the below are our first 6 EPL games (yes I know shots isnt the best metric given what a "shot" can constitute). V Watford - 24 shots (most) v (A) Man U - 13 shots (most) v Sunderland - 16 shots (most) v (A) Arsenal - 11 shots V Swansea - 19 shots (most) v (A) West ham - 18 shots (most) Average - 16.8 per game Now the below for comparision are our last 3 EPL games v Spurs - 9 shots v WBA - 10 shots (most) v (A) Everton - 12 shots Average shots - 10.3 per game So what do I hope happens now. With no Europa and getting back to weekly games Claude reverts back to a more agressive approach to playing football as we no longer need to manage games with a possession based style of football. He starts with a perferred team and manages the workload of the key players and limits the changes to normal game subs/injuries and our tempo of game play increases significantly. If we do that then I think we have a good chance to go on a run but if we continue down the same path of the 1st half of the season then I think we will drop down the table and lurk around the bottom half for the rest of the season.

skill difference between them, they could do those goals and he had trouble adjusting to head a ball from the penalty spot on goal

Shout out to Giroud and Mhiki

A couple of good interviews I found in the parisian today which shows a bit more insight into Claude/how he was recruited and if we will go for Ben Arfa this winter. At Southampton: http://www.leparisien.fr/sports/sa-nouvelle-vie-a-southampton-02-01-2017-6514626.php On Nice & French coaches and Nice/Ben Arfa this season http://www.leparisien.fr/sports/claude-puel-en-france-on-se-fait-hara-kiri-02-01-2017-6514623.php Cliffs: Works 10hr days to try and achieve success We are a well structured family club which acts as a stepping stone for certain players to go higher still. Doesn't take English lessons as he just doesn't have time at present. His interview process consisted of a 3hr meeting with the board and then a follow up 2nd meeting for 2hrs with the chairman in Zurich. He has no life outside of football and hasn't had a chance to know anything about Southampton. His wife is having it harder as she has no social circle but is learning english. He lives in ocean village and it reminds him of Monaco Hatem Ben Arfa is off budget for us in Jan but he rates him up there with Ibra interms of what he can do, he just needs support.

Great thread Dutchie how have I just found this

This goal is everything we are not. http://arsenalist.com/f/2016-17/arsenal-vs-crystal-palace/goaaal-what-a-goal-olivier-giroud-1-0.html

Being linked on the FC Utrecht fan site http://www.fcutrecht.net/nieuws/sebastien-haller-opnieuw-in-de-belangstelling-van-southampton~6437 This is a Spanish website linking us with him on the 30th Dec. https://www.vavel.com/es/futbol-internacional/holanda/737647-el-southampton-interesado-en-sebastien-haller.html

they are just reporting what you mentioned that someone reckoned they saw him. http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/hull-city-transfer-rumours-dutch-defender-hans-hateboer-and-france-striker-sebastien-haller-linked/story-30021861-detail/story.html His agent "We are ready to pick a better project than Utrecht's. Anything can happen in January," Haller's agent Loic Gustan last month told calciomercato. "No he hasn't (any preference). He can play in every club, doesn't matter if it's in Premier League or Serie A.

How much money do we really have to spend on transfers

Our style is to try and not lose and still lose rather than trying to win and lose

From ESPN's report on the Tottenham game: GK Fraser Forster, 3 -- His distribution was nothing short of appalling and he could have done better with at least two of the four goals.

Without sounding too MLG there are 20 teams in the league, 90% is 18 so you would rather have forster in goal than potential De Gea, Courtois, Cech, Foster, Heaton, Pickford, Lloris etc etc. At this moment in time I'd rather have McCarthey in goal than Forster, he just does not inspire confidence.