Rebel

Ighalo has West Ham signing written all over him :-)

It's the size of our squad and the size of our wage bill that is keeping use from signing new players. We have 27 players over 21 when you can only play 25 of them - so we are paying 2 players we can't even put on the pitch right now. So we need to move some out either on loan or permanently. Which is why Gabbi and a few other will be leaving so that we can add some players where we really need them. The squad has undoubtedly been badly managed - and we have a number of poor or very average players we can't get rid of as we gave them enhanced and extended contracts when we probably should have sold them. We have also signed bad players and put them on good contracts - so we can't shift them either (Clasie, Carillo, Boufal included) That's why we have 4 goalkeepers, 6 strikers over 21 (including Gallagher and Seagar) and 6 centre backs (including Alfie Jones) and only 1 right back over 21, 3 wingers (including Sims) and 2 AMs (including Hesketh). I wouldn't be surprised to see Cedric (replaced by Valery and Ramsey) and McCarthy leave permanently for this reason as they are probably amongst the few we can actually sell - as well as few others leave on loan such as Long, Hoedt and Elyounoussi and a few youngsters go back out on loan as we can't play them (eg Seagar, Rose, Hesketh)

Personally I think we need to move quite a lot of players in an out. Get rid of some of the deadwood - and free up some wages for some new blood. I happily swap Gabbi, Long and Austin for one striker with pace and physicality who can hold the ball up, make the runs and score goals. Sebastian Haller maybe? Or Patrick Schick on loan? Maybe Kaspar Dohlberg? I'd also like to see Bertrand and Cedric replaced with 2 full backs who actually give a sh*te - can defend and put some effort in. They have both been phoning it in for quite a while. We also need to bring in another winger/attacking midfielder with pace and a leader at the back. Pione Sisto? Cahill on loan? Or maybe Andreas Christensen?

That's more or less exactly how I see it Derry. A fact that stands out for me is we sold over £30M worth of right back in Chambers and Clyne and replaced them with Cedric for £3.5M and 2 free transfers in Cuco Martina and Jeremy Pied - and none of them good enough. It kind of sums up exactly where Reed and Co went wrong. Maybe he was too busy patting himself on the back for doing such a great job to really see what he was doing.

I don't know - I think doing nothing is more like a recipe for relegation. Getting rid of the dead weight to free up wages should make sense to anyone. And replacing Bertrand and Cedric with 2 full backs who might actually give a sh*te is another obvious one - as is playing Targett and Stephens at full back to give them some competition in the short term. And bringing in a striker - and someone who can lead the line - and give us something different upfront and score goals is also a bit of a no-brainer. And we have to sell to buy - and pay new players - and we need to do something or we are going down again.

Get rid of Davis, Long and Forster on free transfers. Sell Bertrand and Cedric - play Target and Stephens at full back and bring in 2 new ones who can actually be *rsed to try. Sell Gabbiadini to Italy, Austin to the Championship and bring in a striker with a bit of pace and physicality - even if its on loan. Patrick Schick would do.

How about Ralph Hasenhüttl - the ex-manager of RB Leipzig - he left them in May by mutual consent and he is currently out of a job - partly because he wanted a long term contract. Ralf Rangnick stepped down from Technical Director to manager and Paul Mitchell stepped up as Technical Director - but Julian Nagelsmann will be the manager from next season. Or Roger Scmidt - manager at Beijing Guoan - there was talk of Jardim replacing him there - ex manager of Bayer Leverkusen and Red Bull Salzburg. Both play the pressing football we all loved so much at at 51 our the right age.

We need a second right back to cover Cedric - and hopefully put some pressure on him for first choice. At least one more winger to provide some cover and competition for Moi Elynoussi and Redmond - if not two really. Hopefully a goal scorer with some pace. And unfortunately another centre back - but a good one with some pace. Ideally we should have at least two players for every position more or less - with probably an extra goalkeeper, striker and centreback to make up the 25 players over 21. Oh and some good U21 players pushing for a first team place. But we have 4 keepers over 21, 5 strikers, but only 2 wingers and one right back. It doesn't look very balanced to me which points to a lack of any real squad plan on Reed and Wilson's part.

I didn't say it would make any sense - but when has that stopped us selling players.

I think we are still trying to move Forster out on loan. And it also make sense for McQueen to go on loan to get games if he has Bertrand and Targett in front of him at left back. I would say Hesketh and Sims could also do with games so they could well go on loan as well. Personally I think Long will be leaving for Scotland or the Championship and Gallagher will stay as our 3rd/4th choice striker. I see Gabbiadini as more of a second striker / wide forward but that is another discussion. Same with Davis - off to Scotland or the Championship. Also wouldn't be surprised if Cedric ends up leaving for Europe before the end of the month.

We have to go to 4 at the back - we can't seem to get it right with 3 at the back - and a defensive midfielder to shield them. I 'd pick the following as the starting 11: --------------------------- McCarthy ---------------------------- Stephens -------- Vestergaard -------- Yoshida --------- Bertrand ----------------------------- Romeu ------------------------------ -------------- Hojberg-------------------- Armstrong ------------ ------ Gabbiadini ----------- Austin ------------ Elyounoussi --- but bring Ings, JWP and Targett on at some point.

Reed and Stephens can play there - but the fact neither one of them played there throughout pre-season (Reed once I think) doesn't suggest a coherent plan. But I believe that has become our Plan C - use them as back-up to Cedric in case he gets injured. McQueen needs to go on loan to the Championship to get a full season under his belt as a first choice - or at least 30 plus games.

I am hopeful of a better transfer window next season with some money to spend and some space on the wage bill. But first we need to make sure we survive this season. The Squad is pretty much the same in terms of quality and strength as last season - maybe a little bit stronger in some areas - but hopefully Hughes and his team can make a difference by motivating the players and giving them a plan. Davis' contract comes to an end next summer and hopefully Boufal and Carillo will have done enough in Spain to be coveted by other clubs (and with a year less on their contracts as well easier to shift) so we can actually sell them - and free up some wages and maybe generate some cash. And Clasie with a year left on his contract will be easier to sell to Feyenoord or some other Dutch club. Same with Shane Long and a few others such such as Cedric and Yoshida who will also only have a year left and probably be easier to move on if we want to do so. I would also expect Gabbiadini to make a return to Italy and possibly one big sale like Lemina if he comes good. (To be honest we probably should be selling Cedric this summer with 2 years left on his contract - and replacing him - but I just don't think anyone wants him.) Unfortunately I think we are back where we are with Lowe and Co - where it was about staying in the premier league (in other words standing still) to count the TV cash - and we all know where that ended up eventually. But maybe a bit worse because its also going to be about China and the Saints brand and not about the football or the club and its supporters.

I would be disappointed if Wellbeck turns out to be Reed and Wilson's answer to our goal scoring problems. He just a younger version of Long - has great pace and energy, but a bad first touch and not a great football brain. He's only highly rated by some as he came through the ranks at Man Utd and then never played for Arsenal. He'd never have played for England if he'd come through at a lesser club. His stats are actually pretty bad. And at his age he is not really going to get any better - probably worse as he gets slower. If he really is on £100K plus a week we are only going to get stuck with another highly paid player that just not good enough. Lets hope its just season long loan at worst. The only advantage as I see it is he is one of those cr*p strikers that always seem to score against us. I'd prefer we took a risk on a player like Moussa Dembele at Celtic - who at 22 has a lot of potential to get better.

Lets abandon the comedy of errors that is 3 at the back and 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 formation and go back to 4-3-3 or a variant of it with a a back 4 and Romeu as a the holding midfielder shielding the defence. I think Yoshida and Verstergaard will actually make a good partnership. Cedric will either be gone or at least not ready to play so its Jack Stephens at right back for me - and its probably his best position anyway. Armstrong can provide the creativity in midfield - and hopefully some goals - and Hojberg the energy and running. Long to provide the pace and movement up front we need - creating the space for Gabbi to make the intelligent runs and find the holes to pop up in and score. Moi to provide pace and creativity as well as some width. ------------------- Macca ------------------ Stephens - Vestegaard - Yoshida - Bertrand ------ ---------- Romeu ----------------- ------Armstrong ------Hojberg---------- Gabbi --------------------- Elyanoussi ------------- ---- Long ----------------

Unfortunately Austin is a good Championship striker now - nothing more now - even if he ever was. He lacks the pace, movement off the ball and the stamina needed for Premier League football. He is very static when he doesn't have the ball and doesn't really link play. Yes - he is good in the box but he needs the chance on a plate - he doesn't make goals for himself or contribute much else. But he will score goals in the box if he is given the service. Gabbi has excellent movement off the ball - but lacks the physicality to lead the line as a centre forward, hold the ball or win balls in the air. He can link play with his clever passing and movement but is better as a second striker or inside forward than as the main striker. Long has the physicality and the pace and movement - but is not a natural goalscorer - he has a bad first touch and often makes the wrong decision with the ball at his feet. He will cause the opposition defence problems with his running but he won'r score goals. Gallagher - has the physicality and the movement going on past games - and can play as an inside forward - but we haven't really seen enough of him yet to really say if he is up to it. I was hoping we would sell 2 or 3 of our current strikers over the summer and sign a goalscorer with pace and movement.

The Good The JPT final - it was my birthday - I'd never thought I see Saints play at Wembley let alone win something there The climb up the leagues and promotion from League 1 and the Championship Watching the football under Pochettino Lambert and his Goal for England! The League Cup Final Beating Liverpool in the Semi final with Long's goal Inter Milan away trip Beating Inter Milan at home The Bad Selling players but not replacing them Reed and his spin Having Chinese owners Ross Wilson Krueger Fraser Forster Our defence Our attack Lovren's head Carillo's signing The Ugly Katherine Liebher selling the club down the river for a massive profit Pelligrino's tenure Boufal's signing Lovren Lallana's arrogane Liverpool and Rodgers arrogance Liverpool and Klopp's arrogance Klopp's manic grin Liverpool supporters the big six

I think the squad will end up looking like this: GK: McCarthy, Gunn, Rose (Lewis will be the U23 keeper) CB: Vestergaard, Bednarek, Hoedt, Stephens, New Signing RWB: Cédric, Reed LWB: Bertand, Targett CM: Romeu, Hojbjerg, JWP, Armstrong, Davis AM: Elyounoussi, Redmond, Sims, New Signing FW: Gabbiadini, Austin, Long OUTS: Tadic, Clasie, Carillo, Boufal, Gallagher, Yoshida, McQueen (loan), Hesketh (loan), Forster (loan), Lemina I just have a feeling Yoshida will head back to Japan this summer as he's one the few we can probably move on to save some wages. And if he does we might just bring in another defender - Gibson maybe. Lemina will go as I don't think he wants to be here - and he will be our big summer sale to raise some much needed cash. Armstrong will become the replacement we've cleverly already bought. Gallagher will go when someone meets his valuation as I don't think we believe has will come good - and we can't shift Long so he will go in his place. McQueen will go on loan to see if he can step up as Targett is more highly rated and Bertand doesn't look to be going anywhere this summer. Hesketh needs game time so we will send him on loan. And we'll end up paying more than 50% of Forsters wages when he finally goes on loan in the hope he will do OK and someone buys him next summer. I think we'll bring in one more Attacking Midfielder/Winger - probably Kostic as he will be cheap since Hamburg got relegated (as did Hoffenheim before that). I'd prefer we went for Pione Sisto or Patrick Roberts - both younger and with more potential. Personally I'd like to see us shift a few more out and bring a few more in - be a bit more radical with the squad overhaul as it needs it: - sell Cedric and Reed and bring in a first choice right back who can attack and defend and is little bit taller and move Jack Stephens over to right back as cover. - bring in another centreback - Mawson maybe. - send Sims out on loan to get game time and bring in new 2 attacking midfielder/wingers, not one. Sisto and Roberts maybe. - get rid of Davis and add another defensive midfielder - shift Long and bring in another striker - Maxi Gomez, Mitrovic, Moussa Dembele (Celtic) or someone like that. But that's easy sat here from behind a keyboard - not so easy in reality. But the squad does need a lot more of an overhaul than its had so far if we are to turn things around.

For a bit of balance I think Tadic, Bertrand, Romeu, Alderweireld, Van Dijk and Mane were all good signings - but I think they were all Mitchell’s picks - or at least identified before he left. It all started to go wrong when Reed was left in charge - the failure to sign Alderweireld permanently, the failure to replace Chambers when he left, the failure to offer Cork a contract in time to keep him from leaving and the failure to replace the goals of Pelle and Mane were all early signs of big Les Reed’s incompetence and delusion. And his decisions have only got worse since. The mistake in appointing Puel was compounded by not backing him with the players he needed - and then sacking him when we should have backed him again. Martina and Clasie! Boufal - why sign an injured player!? The Fonte and Van Dijk fiascos - made worse by not replacing them. The extended and overpriced contracts for a host of very average players! Pelligrino! Pelligrino! Pelligrino! Carillo!!!!!! The worry is these decisions almost led to relegation last season and will probably see us continue our rapid decline. I can see Forster becoming our Jack Rodwell. The worst thing is all the rubbish they spouted - with all their delusion and arrogance that they couldn’t be wrong. We had a golden opportunity to win something and cement a place in the top 10 but we blew it big time! The one hope is Reed is on his way out - and he needs to go to rebuild the trust with the fans - and whoever is in charge now can make enough right decisions to keep our heads above water long enough for us to rebuild the squad.

Unfortunately the days when we were the best of the rest - outside of the big six - and big ambitions and ambitious owners and directors are long gone. Lets not forget we finished 4th from bottom last season and that wasn't just by accident or bad luck - a lot of bad decisions on player recruitment, player contracts and manages have got us here - and its probably a fair reflection of where we are right now. West Ham have a much bigger stadium, a slightly bigger support, the London draw, probably a slightly higher revenue - but most importantly much more ambitious owners with money who are willing too spend it. As do Everton and Leicester. Right now they are all 'bigger clubs' than us if players want to play in Europe or win something. I don't mind selling Lemina if we can get good money for him, create some space on the wage bill and replace him with someone with a bit more commitment on the pitch. I'd take Loftus-Cheek on loan. I have a feeling we were expecting him to go this summer which is why we were supposedly interested in players like Uribe. Maybe we will take another look at Stefano Sturaro. Although I wouldn't be surprised if we announce Armstrong is his replacement- and forget quietl about replacing Boufal - that has Reed and Saints written all over it.

Its a combination of wages and only having space officially in the Squad for 25 players over the age of 21. Lets hope we can shift a few more players out to get rid of their wages and free up a squad place or too. We desperately need another good centre back and goal scorer not to mention another winger. But I expect we will have to subsidise the wages of Forster and Clasie wherever they go anyway like I expect we are doing with Carillo and Boufal. Lets hope its easier to get rid of Long and Davis as they haven't got as long to go on their contracts. But I fear we will be stuck with them too - or have to subsidise them as well. I can see us selling Yoshida to a club in Japan just because he will be one of the ones we can move on - same with Gallagher. Question - were any of the players we gave extended and increased contracts too worth it? Reed has left us in a right mess with his signings and enhanced contracts over the last couple of seasons - and I think it will take us quite a while to get out of the mess. Do we have the squad places we need to improve the team right now? No! Do we have the room on the wage bill to add players right now? No! Why? Because Reed made a lot of bad signings and gave a lot of average players big salaries they didn't deserve.

The top 6 will stay the top 6, Citeh will be champions, Man Utd will win one of the cups and and Arsenal will win the other one. Spurs will win nothing again. Everton will finish 7th and Silva will be lauded - despite the fact they spent more money than anyone else outside the top 6. Leicester and Puel will do better than we hope - even without Mahrez - finishing in the top 10. Saints will be in the relegation battle again - as we will still lack a goalscorer and a solid defence - but survive again thanks to there being 4 worse teams. Burnley will do well in the Europa but struggle in the Premier League. Fulham and Wolves will finish above Saints. Bournemouth will finish mid table. West Ham will finally have a good season. Cardiff, Huddersfield, Palace (without Zaha) and Watford will be in the bottom 4.

I think the problem is we gave a lot of our average players longer contracts and much higher wages than we should have done a couple of seasons ago. If Forster really is on £90K per week that is part of the problem. And if players like Stephens are on £40-50K per week as rumoured just imagine what some of the others are on. I also expect we are subsidising the wages of Boufal and Carilli in Spain. As it is I expect we ill have to do the same for Forster. If we can shift Forster, Long, Davis we might have some room to move on the wage bill - but I expect we will have to sell on the the big players - Bertrand, Lemina, Gabbi, Cedric - to raise some money and clear some wages. Reed and co really did lose the plot with for a while with new signings and extended contracts for existing players. The so-called 'change of direction' seems to have been a big mistake. You have to wonder what was relaly going on.

I can see both Davis and Long leaving - for Rangers and Reading maybe. And I am half expecting Yoshida to head back to Japan for his final payday. I am also expecting one or both of Cedric and Bertrand to leave - which is I think why we are looking for another rightback to replace Cedric. Although we could end up playing Stephens, Reed or Valery there next season. If we play 3 at the back and wingbacks or wide midfielders, with two central midfielders and 2 inside forwards JWP or Reed could both do a job out on the right as a wide midfielder. I have a feeling we will see more ins and outs than most people think.

I'm not keen on this 3-5-2 formation - I'd prefer we went back to the 4-3-3 and pressed the opposition which was supposedly the 'Southampton Way' and the tactical style we supposedly bought players for. Although we actually plated 4-2-3-1 more often. At worst I hope we play 3-4-3 over 3-5-2. The fact we bought Elyanoussi seems to suggest we want to play 3 up front though. I have a feeling Cedric will move on this summer and Jack Stephens could end up moving across to right back if we play 4 a the back - it was his original position anyway. Yan Valery could well end up being the back-up right back by the sound of it. If we play with wingbacks it sounds like Harrison Reed could fill that role on the right - and JWP is another one who could play there and it might actually get the best out of him - with Stephens on the right of the back 3. We do need to move on players like Forster, Long, Davis, Yoshida and upgrade to younger better players though.