WALK DMC

The best deals (i.e. value for money) are often done much closer to the window end as the market becomes more fluid and clubs are more willing to take offers. Waiting 1-2 weeks might be frustrating, but in reality it will only mean the new player missing 2 premier games. Sometimes it pays to wait - of course there are dangers - last minute deals fall through, key targets go elsewhere before we are ready to move, but I believe that this is the right strategy. So far the window appears to have been well managed although I remain concerned that our team is currently weaker than last season - so getting the right replacements in the next few weeks is critical - I still think that we need a CB (starter), DM (competing for starting place), LB (backup). We'll see.

I'm really unimpressed by Ralph's comments that we are only after a single further transfer to replace Vestergaard. Apparently we will recruit somebody who is young and with future sale value. It is also clear that our transfer incomings fees are substantially higher than our current outgoings even with the other transfer costs included, so there is an opportunity to get a much better quality of player. The best deals are done at the end of the transfer window when clubs are desperate to shift players and will take a lower offer. I am keeping my fingers crossed that our strategy is to wait until the end and try and get (at least) two decent, experienced players who will take us forward. This assumes that Ralph is being economical with the truth with his press briefings which would be fair enough at this time of the year. Lastly, as others have pointed out, we have so far bought two starters to our team who are both rather short (Perraud, Armstrong) and in parallel got rid of some of taller players Vest/Bertie/Ings - we weren't the tallest or most physical (e.g. KWP, Tella, Diallo) to begin with, but it really could cause us issues in a long season. We really do need some height and strength to be added in defence and midfield.

I agree with your sentiments, but I would add that we have looked very flat in both games this week coupled with the sudden departure of Ings, the continued absence of depth/strength in key areas (Defensive midfield, centre halves, striker ) is certainly a worry. We need some fresh blood to lively up the team, but realistically that isn't going to happen for a few more weeks i.e. by the time we have agreed price/negotiate/integrate into team will all take time. I still think a point next week is possible and would be a decent start - but I remain worried that momentum isn't with us and a few bad results could quickly knock our confidence and mean our season consists of one long dog fight. Let's see how we get on with the real footy starting next Saturday.

The bookies seem to think that he is going to Villa - or there has been a whole load of money speculated on it happening. He is 2/1 on to go: James Ward-Prowse Club After Summer Transfer Window Betting Odds | Football | Oddschecker

It is a negotiation, in any potential business transaction it is good practice not to show your hand. I wouldn't believe very much that comes from Ralph's mouth while the transfer window is open and I am fairly relaxed about that. I would be less relaxed about letting JWP go for a unacceptable amount.

The highlights clip had him almost exclusively playing on the right. Maybe he just doesn't have any highlights when he plays on the left !

I agree that he has the quality, leadership, flexibility to add to our team. He was in the England squad just 3 years ago so is of decent quality. But if his wages are £100k per week for the next 2 years that equates to £10m (ish) - of course he may be prepared to take cut or Man U might subsidise like Theo. But his injury record is horrendous - over a longer period worse than Danny Ings when he joined. Based on his record even in a "good" season he would only be available 20+ games per season and who knows if the most recent injuries have caused long term impact to his capabilities. It is a risk - we could be lucky and he could be injury free for much of the next 2 seasons or his injury could flair up in the first game and we don't see his again for 2 years. Assuming that a very thorough medical doesn't show anything up I 'd probably suggest that this could be a potential option - but if we do, I suggest we all keep our fingers crossed every time he goes into a tackle. It's a risk -

I think it is a fair argument. Where I do think that there is some shafting going on, is where a player on their last year has been tapped up and insists on only joining a single club - it means the negotiation abilities of the selling club is virtually zero. This seemed to be the case last year where Hojberg rejected the overtures of Everton and was only interested in going to Tottenham. I am assuming this is why there appears to remain some bad blood between the clubs. It wouldn't surprise me that something similar happens with Vestergaard, although I hope that Ings can aim higher ...... We'll see.

It was a good achievement to get to the final, we shouldn't diminish it. However, I remain in the camp that it was despite Southgate rather than because of it. I agree with your point that we have weaknesses in the squad/team - midfield being the obvious one, but player for player I feel with compare with the likes of Italy and Belgium (although I still think France are a step ahead). Look at Belgium's defence - are you telling me that the aging Vertonghen & Alderweirld compare to Maguire & Stones ? All teams need to adapt - I just feel that people like Roberto Mancini who managed multiple teams to multiple league titles in Italy & England is a far better Manager than Southgate (13th & 19th with Middlesbrough) in using their available resources. Ultimately at the last two major tournaments England have beaten Sweden, Czech Republic, Germany & Croatia, demolished Panama and Ukraine, struggled past Denmark & Tunisia (with late/disputed goals) and effectively drawing (ignoring penalties) with Scotland, Columbia and Italy. They've lost to Belgium twice and Croatia in the semi. Those aren't bad results - but they are only par for the course. I still believe (nice phrase 🙂 ) that we will never achieve what we are capable of with Southgate in charge. He isn't an awful Manager, but I doubt anyone in the Premiership would employ him based on his achievements in the last 10 years. I do accept that managing in a league is different to international football, but not to the extent that it is only possible to be good at international level. Either way, it is clear that he will lead the team to Qatar, so we need to get behind him and the team and hope that he will adopt a more risk averse approach going forward, otherwise if the draw isn't as favourable as the last two tournaments, it could be a much shorter stay.

Che's video of his last championship season with Birmingham had plenty of shots from the edge of the box i.e. not tap-ins. The issue was that every goal was scored with his right foot. He didn't seem to have the ability to score with his head or left foot. This has continued with Saints. Armstrong's video shows someone who has pace and can finish with both feet and contribute a few headers too. One of the other posters noted a resemblance with Ings' style which I can also see. Of course, looking good in the Championship is very different from the premiership (or even the French Ligue 1 as Perraud may find out too), but as clips go I found it encouraging.

Unlike some of the more optimistic posters on here I don't believe that if he isn't going to sign an extension that there is a chance in hell that he will stay for 12 months until his contract runs down. I'm pretty sure it is us stating our negotiating position so that other teams don't think that they can get him for a give away price, but the reality of the situation is that £20m+ is a huge sum of money for a club like Saints and we'll accept what we can get - I think the question will be whether he leaves soon, or right at the end of this window when other teams (plus us) become more desperate to bring someone in. I hope sooner rather than later, but you don't always get what you want .....

Totally agree. I think that the only bargaining power that we may have is that there does appear to be a number of clubs interested in him which could drive the price up. Hojberg went cheap because it seems that he made it clear that he only wanted to go to Spurs - hopefully that can be avoided this time. I'd certainly bite the hand of anyone offering close to £25m.

As someone else pointed out this may just be a Twitter "rumour", so shouldn't be given too much credibility. But if there are crumbs of truth in it, I don't think it is so absurd. Both Forster and McCarthy contracts are up in 1 year, and assuming that we don't replace Gunn this summer that would mean we would have to recruit two new keepers next year. I don't rate either keeper but actually keeping one as a backup would make sense as we probably don't have the cash for buying two keepers. Maybe Forster has already told Saints he is off or won't reduce his current salary. There is so much we don't know, but somebody has to do some long term planning. My preferred option would be to get a new Keeper this summer who is a clear number 1 (and get rid of Forster or McC), but we all know that funds are stretched so maybe this will wait another year. I absolutely hate the idea of alternating keepers, but again not sure that the Twitter stating that Ralph will do next year was based on an actual clear statement.

Brady is very good with free kicks, but not a role that we are lacking in .....

Brian Clough used to refer to them as "thugs" as referenced in the link below. I don't believe he was completely clueless, and certainly saw them play. Quote unquote: Clough, Leeds, dustbins and cheats - Football365 BTW - I actually agree with your general comment that we need stronger leaders/winners in the current team. There is certainly a lack of mental strength regularly displayed.

I think our only advantage this year is that Hoedt, Lemina Forster are all on their last year. They may be more willing to compromise on their salary - for example, if they get offered a 3-4 year contract it would be worth more security than hanging around Saints and perhaps picking up a big injury. Of course, they will become even more attractive in 12 months time when they will be essentially free and will anticipate a decent signing on fee. Its not going to be fun.

Really surprised by the line-up. There are a number of very odd selections which are hard to explain. Could we have decided to strengthen our midfield by playing a proper 3-5-2 ? Redmond LWB and the middle three of JWP, Armstrong & Diallo. This would leave Minamino and Ings up front. I think that I am just clutching at straws here ...... The Minamino situation is beyond weird; if Harry Rednapp were still Manager I know what people would bee insinuating about his continued appearances.

Excuse me, I didn't explain myself well enough. I wasn't suggesting that they drop JWP, just that we find the right partner for him when he plays at central midfield. However, my main point is that were we to spend money on another centre midfielder, then we might not buy a deputy for KWP because we would have extra cover in midfield so JWP could play RB if KWP was injured. I have no insight on our budget, but I suspect it isn't substantial so we will probably make compromises and having players covering multiple positions might be one way of balancing the books. And yes, I don't like square pegs in round holes, but until we have some proper investment ......

I think we write off Romeu too quickly. We have missed him in his recent absence, so dropping to 4th choice to quickly could be a mistake. He is 29, so not too old and he has never had any pace, so won't decline as quickly as some. I think the key will be to get the right combination. JWP & Diallo just don't seem to work as well together and maybe Diallo needs a bit of physical muscle to complement his pace. If we were to get Thomas Delaney it wouldn't surprise me that JWP just became the new Right Back cover ......

Earlier I suggested that we keep this topic to another place on the forum. People seemed to agree (8 likes so far), but some keep insisting on repeating their views ("my mate in Waitrose" is one of the sillier ones though 🙂 ) Please use the Lounge or a specific thread for exchanging opinions on this topic. It is ruining the run up to the game and the arguments are routine and really only tells us who reads The Daily Mail and who reads the Guardian.

Isn't there somewhere else on this forum for discussions such as this ? Happy for people to state their views, but this is the pre-match thread for a game tomorrow night. In team news, Romeu may be back on the bench and Bednarek has recovered from his heel injury so is also available.

I agree with most of what you say, particularly the organisation, commitment and leadership that he brings to the team. But ......... I think it is the high volume of fundamental mistakes that Jack makes that worries the posters. He was clearly at fault for the goal, and nearly gave Palace a route back into the game on Tuesday with another slip. Everyone makes mistakes, but it is the number and simple type of errors that magnify the problem. From my perspective, Jack is a valuable member of the squad, but unless he can cut out the number of big mistakes he won't be a member of the starting 11 on a regular basis.

I have to bow to you guys ability to assess the potential of a player so quickly. Just to summarise: This was Carvalho's 2nd game and he scored a good goal (ably helped by Jack getting on his wrong side). He is 18 years old. This was Tella's 16th appearance for Saints. He is 22 years old in July. I am not saying that either of you are wrong, just that I admire your skill in making such a snap judgement on such a young player. Impressive.

Ralph has never seemed keen on him, choosing others to start for games such as Shrewsbury. I'm not convinced the tackle at Old Trafford is the only reason for him not playing since. We were desperate for players on that fateful night and I think Ralph just decided to throw him in because other alternatives (Romeu, Diallo & Smallbone) were all injured. With hindsight he could have played Armstrong in defensive midfield but at the time he wasn't considered for that position. I have absolutely no idea whether Ralph just doesn't see a potential Premiership player or there is some sort of attitude problem, but I still don't think that the infamous tackle is the only reason for his continued omission. I suspect that he will disappear at the end of the season to another club (Belgium was mentioned in January), I just hope that it doesn't come back to haunt us. He certainly wasn't pulling up any trees in the U-23 team in 2020, so maybe he just isn't good enough.

Interesting article here on Sean Roughan who we had on trial last week. Analysis of Sean Roughan’s trial with Southampton | The Stacey West