S-Clarke

It's a tricky one isn't it. I don't think we look particularly comfortable in a 3 at the back, and it creates too much space in the flank areas. But by the same token I wouldn't want Moussa in at left back in a flat back 4, equally I wouldn't want to shoe-horn JWP in at RB and KWP at left back in a flat back 4. This is why I find it absurd that we are apparently not looking for full back cover anymore. This sort of situation surely tells us how critical it is to have full backs, as we're kind of wedded to a formation with square pegs until we have players available.

It really does feel like silly season is ramping up now.

Yep, they had 7 loans and then another 4 or so players out of contract. Then they sold a couple as well. My feeling is that they've come up a little too soon, the club recogniuse that, so they're throwing everything at it to raise the standard. It's a risk though without a doubt.

One of the names suggested a few days back. He ticks the boxes we were looking for - a CB with PL experience. The added bonus with Chalobah is that he can also play full back if required. He'll have links to Crooker from his time with the England youth teams over the previous years.

Dennis has signed for £15m. Aouar has agreed terms, they've just got to agree the fee - looking like £15-16m. Maupay, again agreed a £15m fee and just waiting for personal terms to be agreed. That fee for MGW is ludicrous. They are pretty much gambling their immediate future on staying up this year.

Hmm, the ''get by with current squad'' stuff bit us in the arse before. I think it would be mental to go into the season with Moussa as our second left back. Nuts. He is an absolute liability defensively. Seems a good character and works hard and can provide an attacking threat, but he cannot defend. Against the 'big sides' he will be expected to defend the wide players. Look at what kulusevski did to him. Teams will target him for fun.

There is still chatter about us wanting an experienced centre back though, so all I can think is that 'maybe' we'll target a CB who can also play full back if required. *cough* Gomez.

That would be an own goal and would leave us incredibly short. No Tino, Small loaned out, Perraud seemingly still struggling. Hope that doesn't mean we see Moussa as a full back, he quite clearly isn't.

Let's hope this isn't the start of ''we tried so hard, but couldn't get them over the line'' 😆

I don't think we'd ever be expected to fund 100% of his wages. Probably 40-50% at most.

I guess his dad has had a huge influence in that one? (I think he's a coach at Stoke)

I think Everton will need all the CB's they can get with Mina out for 2 months and Godfrey for a few months. Sanchez is an interesting shout though, but he doesn't strike me as the profile of player we're missing (i.e an organiser type)

They must be gutted..! What happened there!

Berahino. Missed out on his big move to Spurs wasn't it? Threw his toys out of the pram, banished to the reserves and never really seen since. Released by Wednesday in the summer, currently floating around as a freebie.

That striker we were linked to earlier (Ramos) plays for Benfica, and they play Dynamo Kyiv tomorrow. I still reckon he'll end up at Wolves Portugal FC though.

He had a horrible injury though, I think I've read some people say he lost all his 'explosive pace' from the back of that killer injury. So he's possibly the lesser player than he was a few years ago, but still more than good enough for clubs like us. He'd be our best number 10 if he came here.

Threw around some names on this the other day, few suggestions from everyone: Rob Holding @ Arsenal Jamal Lasselles @ Newcastle Joe Gomez @ Liverpool (if he wants to be a regular with the world cup coming up) Eric Bailly or Victor Lindelof @ Man Utd? (probably no chance with either, but if you think Varane, Martinez and Maguire are seemingly the first 3...there is an overload there) Chabolah @ Chelsea Tomkins @ Palace Phil Jones @ Utd (hmmm) Or we could push the boat out and sign Vestergaard from Leicester.!!!!!

I think you're referring to Sanagre, he opted for PSV and we got Diallo. Totally different profile of player though which was odd. In all honesty I think we have quite a list of striker targets, some more realistic than others and some which will only come to fruition as the window draws to a close. My hunch is that we're being patient and waiting for the one we really want. We're not going to leave ourselves without a striker, we know that will spell curtains for us.

It's a club without a strategy, you should have an idea about the interests of a player joining and their wage demands before you waste time on it! This is what scouting deps etc do for the months outside of the transfer window, then you start putting in the official bids when you can. Utd just sound like they have done no prep what so ever, same as every transfer window I can remember them having in recent years. Like you said they end up with no one (after chasing De Jong all summer, and Sancho a few years ago) and panic on some crap like Igalho. I reckon we can give them McCarthy, Bednarek and Redmond on the final day for a combined £50m fee and they'd do it.

Casemiro, you have to laugh! They couldn't attract De Jong or seemingly Rabiot, so they have put out the fluff line to appease fans that they're looking at Casemiro. Probably as much chance of them signing Roy Keane back.

Most of the Southampton lads live out Winchester way, or even the Hampshire/Surrey border (I think that's where Bertrand lived anyway). I think the accommodation in Ocean Village is just 'temporary' for either loans or new players who are yet to find a place. Lots of really nice places to live around Southampton to be honest, on the doorstep to lots of things. At least they're not stuck in Manchester.

One I can think of is Michael Owen, his career effectively finished when he was 25/26. He got European Player of the year when he was 19/20, he was going to be a superstar. I'd say injuries finished him though, same as Wiltshire.

Wow, that pretty much finishes him off. I thought he was much older, but he's only 26. He'll be retired by 30 I reckon.

Something about Garner rhyming with 'saga' I think.

Well no, there wouldn't have been uproar because it made sense in the context of the Pompey thread. This makes no sense because our links to garner are speculative at best and it's certainly not gone into the levels of Rudi Skacel! (that was a saga!)