Chewy

Highlights some really good work done this January so far IMHO. 29 listed by OLAS (my favourite poster), and that was after loaning out Davis so 30 at the start of the window. Now down to 27, and with Cedric and Austin looking imminent that will be 25. Of those, seager is on trial at Bristol rovers, Forster and rose are vying for 4th Keeper spot (I.e. One won't need naming) and two are out injured, we assume for the season. This does allow for up to 4 spaces if we need/want/can find the right players. I do think Cedric going leaves us light there so hope that's covered, possibly same with Austin to a lesser extent. Of course, we won't want to fill all empty spaces given that we have 3 u21 listed players moving up in The summer, 2 injured players to return and a number of loanees also to return (offset by three ending contracts who surely won't be renewed - Davis, falnnigan and seager) Granted a number of these don't have a future but until we know we've moved them on (either for good or on another loan) it would be financially foolish to risk having too many, especially when we can fill some squad gaps with youth players (5 already with match day experience will still count as u21 next season). I think it could be a full 18 months before we've fully completed the required surgery, but think we've made a good start and will complete most of the rest of the task in the summer.

And we all know how tedious it is listening to someone trot out the same line for 5-6 years ... Including players out on loan and u21 players who have been part of a match day 18 this season we started this January with a roster of 42 players. I think we can afford to lose one or two before moaning about the lack of incomings.

In fairness, we do have a really good club twitter feed, plus some lovely signs saying 'We March On' all over the place. I'm much happier that we spend money on pretending to be a big deal than investing on the first team. Bournemouth have got it so wrong.

Agreed. Think the only possible changes are Bertrand for Targett if fit, and jwp for Romeu depending on who's less knackered from Wednesday. Bench will I think be gunn, ramsay, Bertrand, jwp, long, Austin and an other (I'd guess slattery or Johnson, an attacking midfielder/winger and surely can't be elyounoussi?). If bertrands not fit for bench it will be Cedric, and if longs knock is a problem, Gallagher.

if he's got any sense he'll stay there for now - Leeds in prime position to get promoted so he'll be in the Premier League next year. Unless of course a major club come in. Alas, that's not us ... Agreed with what was said above - a forward of some description (striker or wide player) plus a right back if Cedric leaves and that will probably be it. Unless we get lucky with shipping out Hoedt and/or Forster which would free up space in the squad, money for transfers and wages. Think the summer could be quite interesting, mind. There probably is something to the paper talk - scouts being seen here and there - but imagine it's with a view to a rebuild next window, not this.

Yep, really silly to have a career that took him to Man U, Everton and Roma, rather than stay at Saints. I get Everton aren't what they were many moons ago, but combined they're three more impressive teams than us to have on your CV. Plus I think Kante might have shifted him from the international set-up even if he'd stayed here and maintained his form. Apart from Chambers, there aren't many of our 'defectors' who we can rationally say without our saints bias made poor decisions. And that's without even looking at their bank accounts ...

Think Ralph's comments the other day about him playing for the u23 is designed to push this through. Leeds need a keeper, think we have agreed a fee with them but the wage drop is a sticking point - maybe Fraser is hoping we'll continue to pay some wages. Our club view is that we won't pay him anything so simply, yes, you will earn less there and a lot more here, but if you stay here you won't play any football other than u23. Your choice Fraser. I do sympathise if he's had some of the issues mentioned, and no one wants a major pay cut (and it's not his fault we gave him such a ridiculous contract) but if rumours are true, he needs to put his mental health ahead of the money and do what's best for him on that front. Maybe it is hiding and getting more money, but maybe it is getting rehabilitated as a footballer and making a fresh start. Who knows. If he makes the move, it's not as if he's going to be financially struggling, is it.

In all seriousness, feel sorry for them. Like us in that horrific summer (and the next couple) they're doing great, and will be rewarded by being raped for their talent. I'm sure some of them will want to stay until the summer and win the title they're set for, but no doubt us, half the premier league and much of europes elite are going to destroy that team within the next few months. Football really hasn't got a heart these days, has it.

So between the three from Genk (were linked with Trossard back in October) and two from Brentford we have half a new team, right?

Didn't we break our transfer record with an argentine Striker from France this time last year? Let's hope this guys more Carrillo than crespo!

This trolling 8 days a week sure does take some dedication. As you well know, our wantaways go to champions league sides. They have possibly one player rumoured to be of interest to one team, and given they've signed his replacement ...

With hoedt frozen out and Jones and Maya not available I think Ramsay is the only one who's been in the match day squad so could see him I guess? Other option (mentioned above) is Bertrand in the back three which might be a good way to get him some match sharpness? Otherwise could go to back four as per original game. A few options, and for the first time in a couple of seasons I trust the manager to make the right call.

Think the team Ralph wants to put out v Everton will have a lot of bearing on the team selected. Assuming (if fit) he'll play Armstrong, Redmond and Ings in the league I'd imagine none of them will start v Derby, so probably long with two from Gallagher, Ely and maybe Johnson? Possibly hesketh (not sure if fit). Wouldn't expect too many changes elsewhere, though Bertrand may feature if he's ready and needs game time. Romeu might get a rest I suppose but no idea on leminas fitness? I'm going to guess Gunn Stephens bednarek vesti Cedric ward-prowse lemina/slattery Bertrand Ely long Johnson

I have absolutely no issue with signing promising young players, but with Stephens, bednarek, vesti, hoedt (?) p, Jones, Ramsay, o'connor plus a couple of other youth prospects, do we really need another young centre back? Especially if we're going to revert to a back 4 as per Ralph's preferred formation? Not saying we're not, but I'd much rather focus on out wide and up front (and possibly right back if Cedric wants out). And if we do want to improve the defence I think we need experience, both for the here and now, and also to help develop our current crop of youngsters who show varying degrees of promise.

Agreed. And with Gabbi gone that would leave have one space, presumably for a replacement striker? Think we're trying on getting Hoedt out and a replacement CB in, and the Cedric / Lookman rumours would suggest a swap there (numerically, would obviously leave us light at right back - as Cedric is out of contract next summer, if he doesn't want to extend I can see why we'd sell while he's got some value, but impact on first team??). If we can't shift Hoedt it'll surely be a centre back, if we can I'm thinking we add a long-term right back or midfielder? Either way, loads of work to do in the summer. Maya, Long, Classie and Cedric with a year left will be obvious candidates - possibly on freebies (along with any of the youngsters Hasenhuttl doesn't rate - Barnes, Seager and Flannigan will all surely be gone at the very least), though I suspect we'll do the honourable thing for a loyal club servant with Maya as we did with Davis and keep paying him while helping find a replacement club? Does just show what a mess we've made of the last few windows, though. A bloated squad, many on big wages, and beyond PEH (when not s0dding suspended) and Ings (not ours) I'm struggling to think of anyone I rate as definitely good enough for a mid-table premier league side. Bertrand when he can be 4rsed? Redmond on his day?? Really isn't very good, is it.

I'd sell gabbi as he has a year longer on his contract so we can let Austin run out his contract for one season once we've found a proper partner for Ings. While doing so Austin will at least chip in with a few goals off the bench, something I'm not sure gabbi has ever done ... Except at Swansea of course.

Why was the sticky removed from this thread? Such a good reference point, and excellent,y maintained by OLAS. Will be plenty of amendments with the transfer window ahead I'd imagine so can we have the sticky back, please?

Hmm, not sure about that. Definitely one of his better performances, and looks like the coaches have encouraged him to be brave, use his pace and take people on. He will be far more effective for this IMHO. But sadly I doubt he'll ever be a top star. In the first couple of minutes he made a poor decision to retain the ball instead of lay it off to Bertrand, leaving Bertrand stranded and us exposed. We got away with a throw in whereupon he decided to berate Bertrand for his cock up Later in the first half he lost possession by trying to flick the ball behind him onto the left wing ... To s non existent player, clearly forgetting he was the left sided forward at that stage. The nearest player (Bertrand again) was fully 30 yards away. Just two examples I know in an otherwise decent display, but that level of footballing brainlessness, plus his attitude of blaming others will hold him back from ever becoming a truly top player IMHO.

Think some of the pessimism on show here today is a little ott. We were poor for the first 20 mins of the first half and 10 mins or so of the second, reasonable for the rest of the first half, and dominant for the rest of the second. Didn't think anyone had an especially bad game, and thought all of our debutants put in creditable performances. Clearly the Ings change provided the second half impetus and it's fine to criticise the decision to start with 3/5 at the back, but even here there's reason for optimism - at least we have a manager prepared to change things! My marks out of ten McCarthy 7.5 Stephens 6 Vesti 8 Hoedt 6 Cedric 6 Romeu 6 Lamina 6.5 Bertrand 6 Redmond 7 Armstrong 7 Austin 5 Ings 8 Eli 7 Gabbi 6 Mom vesti for me. Ings was head and shoulders the best player on the pitch when he came on, but can't give mom for half an hour. Thought vesti barely put a foot wrong. There will be far tougher tests ahead but thought it was an impressive debut.

Wouldn't take much. He has a distinct lack of pace to go with his terrible arrogance and complacency.

Should add I very much doubt we'd get Evans

Given where we need to strengthen I'd like an experienced centre back, so would go for Evans, Dawson or shaw cross in that order. I'd take shaquiri and he's relatively cheap. Allen in midfield, leroy fer isn't too shabby either. Can't see much else I'd fancy though.

Love this

Play defensively, put out a 541 formation. We might lose but we should be able to avoid shipping more than 3. Assuming lemina is still out and bednarek recovers I'd go McCarthy Cedric Bednarek Yoshida Hoedt Bertrand Ward prowse Hojberg Romeu Tadic Long Subs: forster, McQueen, Stephens, Austin, gabbi, Redmond, pied

Just read the jack butland article on bbc ... Not sure based on that we should be too hopeful of Stoke being up for it on Sunday. Not exactly a unified camp. Also raises some serious questions about how good mark Hughes is? Oh well, we can worry about that after Tuesday I guess.