Saint Matty 76

Puel had just inherited a squad which came 6th in fairness.

Aribo with a decent chance to lob the keeper on the volley, lovely ball from Stu.

Shame we haven't managed to land a full-back on loan if Perraud's out for a while. It's definitely a failure if we're having to start the season with Djenepo at LWB, irrespective of all the other good we've done.

I think it's fair to say Smallbone, whilst having a really unlucky run at it, has had enough chances to prove his worth as a squad player for us. It absolutely makes sense for his next move to be a Championship loan, to either gain value on his sale or prove he's good enough to step up.

I'd absolutely love Ings back to be fair. Would have to swallow the pride a little (as would he I suppose) but I'd be 99% confident we stay up with him back.

I assumed we'd take a punt on one of the (hopefully) two attackers we bought, this definitely seems that option. Wouldn't be surprised to see us end the window with a winger similar to Karlsson and a full-back on loan, with an additional CB if we manage to shift Bednarek.

Yeah they apparently want the same as they paid roughly for Sarr (£30-£32m) and he's not proved anywhere near worth that.

Meghoma was rumoured to have been on his way to United about a month ago so interested to know what happened there.

Just the bloke above saying he’d be surprised if we didn’t get him. We’re working on scraps this week fella.

Interesting link and definitely the kind of winger I'd hope we'd be going for. 17g & 13a in the league last year in his second season in Holland. Only our mate Dusan had more G&A (32) in the entire league. Passes the Youtube tricky winger test.

Delap strikes me as the kind of player I'd love to sign alongside a more established striker/winger, but I'm not sure if we do that.

I don't mind McNeil as a player but 38 games with 0 goals and 1 assist last year seems pretty much like the exact opposite to what we need. Forest linked with Dennis now, he's one of the few names going around recently I'd hope we're in for.

It does make me laugh seeing these lads on Twitter freaking out about our lack of attacking signings and then saying we should be all over Dwight McNeil and Ross Barkley.

Lots of Saints fans on Twitter saying we should be in for him, forgetting he's 29 and likely getting more money than Prowse.

I think striker, winger & full-back cover at a minimum. Although I do understand winger probably has some weight on if we can shift any of the high-earnings useless ones we currently have. It also depends somewhat on what system we look to play as well.

I mean we'd die for any one of Olise, Zaha or Eze. Cheikh Doucoure is meant to be really highly rated as well. I don't think Palace are one to be worried. Leeds who've lost their best two players and made a load of punts, Brentford who have lost their best player who turned their form around and Everton who lost their top goalscorer and haven't yet been able to replace him who should be more concerned. Alongside us and the three promoted teams, of course.

Salisu, KWP and Lavia the good players in the second half. Smallbone at a push in the first. Not really anything else to mention individual wise, definitely a few who remain not good enough.

Not wrong there! Just thinking that if we do play that 5-3-2, there isn't really room for another player? It'd be Aribo & Che as the forwards with Perraud/KWP wing-backs and the midfield 3 mentioned. I can't see us not having an additional attacker involved, to be honest.

I don't think I disagree with you there. I do worry about our ability to score goals with this system though.

Lavia won't be sitting on the bench for long.

Oh ffs.

I do like Lavia, and A. Armstrong is looking more comfortable.

Yeah, not a fan of this formation.

Thierry Small could be terrible you know.

Nice start. Good turn and pass from Che into Smallbone who hits the post.