doddisalegend

Brendan Rodgers bigging up our new signing.. http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11700/11419539/celtic-boss-brendan-rodgers-backs-stuart-armstrong-to-score-goals-for-southampton

He has had plenty of chances and not really taken them. Under three different managers he hasn't been able to hold down a 1st team spot that doesn't happen if you are playing well, training well and show a good attitude.

I know he is young but that Trent - Alexander kid can't cross to save his life he is no JWP on dead balls either.

Whoops

Normal England service resumed...

Bugger I was hoping to see how our best 11 did against a decent side like Belgium's first 11 to get a better idea of how good England really are ....seems the managers of both teams had other ideas

It might be a case of moving some out before we get in new blood we have a lot of players on the books on good money we hardly want them sitting around drawing a wage and not playing while we pay new players to play in their place. I think this summer might well be aimed at trying to reduce the size of the squad and the wage bill. We can't just bring in lots of players and not get rid of some.

Wasn't it just a bit of paper gossip?

I think in this case the move wasn't about money. Dusan clearly had his heart set on Ajax. It seems he really wanted to go back to the Netherlands in which case I doubt we were going to get a better offer than the one Ajax made. I seem to recall one of ITK, on here, saying the club would honour some promises made to players last summer. I wouldn't be surprised if this was one of those.

Well deserved I don't think its an exaggeration to say his performances in the last few games of the season where the difference between us going down and staying up son absolutely vital saves in those last games.

Telegraph still saying a £15 million deal though it doesn't say what the deal actually is. Interestingly the price for the two new blokes is the same as is being quoted else where ie 7 million for Armstrong. and 16 million for the guy with the name I can't yet spell. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/06/27/southampton-transfer-news-16m-mohamed-elyounoussi-fee-agreed/

be interesting to see what our end say they got for him.

One of my favourite players the last few years best of luck to him. He could go from the sublime to frustrating (often in the same game) but on his day a cracking player.

Jeez he fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down... Still if we are up against Everton we might as well forget it now...

But he has a £15 million release clause.....

Wasn't it Ralph that said we need to sell to buy in his end of season interview? He didn't expand on why though so I think people took it as lack of funds.

Maybe we don't need to sell to buy to raise cash but to stop the squad becoming horribly bloated and keep the wage bill under control. In other words we don't need to sale for the cash but we can only have a 25 man squad so we need to clear some players out to make way for new ones? just a thought.

half decent? Probably not but then most of the PL is **** poor these days. I agree the squad is poor compared to recent seasons and doesn't have enough to be challenging top 8-6 but I think Hughes can get enough out of it to avoid a relegation battle like last season. If the club want more than that then heavy investment is needed.

Does sound promising probably get gazumped by Everton or Leicester now

My guess would be we will see Long and Gabbi leave this summer. I don't think Gallagher is ever going to make it with us either, sadly. Carrillo will stay because no one will want him.

They don't all play the same way though do they? In theory Romeu is a proper holding defensive midfielder, Hoj, Clasie and Lemina and more mobile box to box types, Davies and Armstrong are more advanced link up type guys, JWP is a jack of all trades master of none type and Reed is apparently a better wingback than a holding midfielder. I'd say its pretty clear Clasie, Reed and Davies are going to be the ones to make way as not up to it

I don't think there is any doubt Hughes will improve us, even with the current squad as is, he is a competent enough manager to get the basics right and make us a bit harder to beat and bit more direct in attack which should see us do better than last season. I don't think he or the squad are good enough to be challenging for the best of rest title though which ultimately is what most saints fans want I think.

to who exactly?

Can't we send him some u23s on Loan?

I like the fact they claim he wants to leave for more first team football and then suggest Spurs as if he is going to get a game in their forward line.