Saint Fan CaM

Sorry but nah - Alan Smith was gash compared to where JRod was in terms of fitness and goal threat before he injured himself. I am warming to Austin and what he can offer the team, mainly because he can actually hit a ball on target from more than 10 yards out.

I remember similar reservations being bandied around when Davis joined from Sunderland.

LIKE

Professional footballer talks himself up to increase his market value shocker...

Austin and possibly Trippier. Theres a reason why the teams that went down associated themselves with the players that failed them - think about it...its not just about their individual ability.

I would list his attributes as tenacious, honest, fit as a fiddle, courageous and a team player. When he's presented with opportunities he tries his best to take them, but sometimes his accuracy lets him down. However, he is gifted with the ability to learn and improve - key to playing for Koeman IMO. I'm warming to him, however I still see him as a bit of a journeyman player who has little allegiance to Saints - at least so far anyway.

We will need to sign up to 6 players in the window I reckon and that's even if we don't make Europa. GK - With Forster out and Cropper gone, we are desperately light. If Gazza and Davis are to be relied upon we are going to have a 'testing' season. £10m CB - Depends if Toby stays - if not then we need a replacement of his quality to partner Fonte. £7m RB - Depends if Clyne stays - if not then we need a quality replacement. Circa £8m will probably be spent. DMF - Morgan will go, so we need someone like Clasie to replace him or perhaps Reed to step-up. £10m AM/Att - Can't see Elia retained based on his impact this season - although would we get the same quality for the money? And he's happy here on the bench. £3m AM - I think Djuricic will be retained, but if not then we need someone of his emerging ability to be an impact playmaker. £8m If we make Europa, then I expect to see more Academy lads coming through to rotate and integrate into the 1st team, but there might be a need to bring in one more quality striker such as Austin - perhaps £12m. So a potential total of £56m???

Goalkeepers Forster-7 : Best of our limited options Davis-7 : Fantastic servant to the club - yes, he has issues, but for his age he is a top pro Gazzaniga-5 : Little confidence in him unfortunately, although I do believe he has improved Defenders Clyne-7 : A good season Fonte-9 : Great Captain and leader Toby-9 : Need to keep this guy as a priority Yoshida-7 : Has done well when called upon Gardos-5 : Not enough game time to get a grip in the team and not as good as Yoshida Bertrand- 8 : Great season, although his defensive positioning can let him down Targett- 6 : Solid understudy to Bertrand Midfielders Davis-6 : Can do the simple things well, but the harder stuff like shooting on target he is poor - we need an upgrade urgently Wanyama-8 : Great season Reed-7 : Rate this chap higher than Davis...good ball skills, passing...and he can shoot on target when given the opportunity JWP-6 : Has improved latter part of the season, but needs to improve further - not sure what his best position or job is to be honest Morgan-8 : A gifted player no doubt, but seems to pick up more injuries lately - contentious, but I think we can get as good or better (Clasie?) Tadic-6 : Not doing enough to convince me he deserves a regular place - he should be scoring more for his position/role Djuricic-5 : Another Gaston possibly, but might improve with more game time. Not sure if there's better for the money though. Attackers Pelle-7 : Hot and cold - one minute genius and goal threat, next he acts like a statue. If we sign Austin, can see him spending bench time Mane-8 : Great season...most improved player...can only get better...needs fast players to link him to be most effective Long-7 : Tenacious and a threat to defences - starting to gel with Mane and find a place out on the right Elia-3 : Offers little to a side that needed to score more

I do hope we sign a player willing and able to take a shot on goal - it's one of the things that separates us from the teams above us and a top 6 place IMO. That and being extremely predictable in our build-up play, so a goal scoring playmaking central midfielder of utter quality would be the ticket. If we spent £15m it would be well spent.

Davis off, Reed on for me - more dynamic and can strike a ball. Is he even on the bench?

The way City are playing I cannot see us getting more than a draw out of this game unless they collapse dramatically. As good as we are, you can tell the gulf in quality. Shame, but we should not be disappointed in this season whatsoever. Arse for the cup then!

Facebook article with rumour he's coming our way on loan to replace Fraser who will be out all next season - anyone seen anything more concrete on this?

I heard some of it - got a bit fed up with the presenter seemingly continually going back and getting NA to discuss f-ing Pool and Gerrard!

Great show. Top bloke.

We must win this to secure as high a place as possible. It will likely be a draw though ... 1-1.

Fantastic performance by the whole team, however I do have doubts about Gazza still - rooted to the spot for their goal...a top class keeper would have at least attempted a save and its not the first time he's been like a statue. The front three were all great but Mane was the catalyst...his persistence drove the rest of them on. No one can deny we deserve European stage.

I wonder if we're lining Nigel up for a job alongside Ronald ready for when he runs off to Barca at the end of next season? (-;

Perhaps he is the type of player that would improve those types of teams, but does that mean he would be a good fit with us? Actually, I can imagine us stumping up a daft overinflated bid of £12m now someone has gone in at £7m! lol

Comments were somewhat tongue in cheek, however I genuinely am not sure Austin has proven conclusively that he has what we need. I guess he is probably no more of a gamble than any other player in our range of possible signings.

Is Austin really any different to JRod or Long? £10m seems too much to pay for a player from a very poor relegated side IMO and I'm not convinced he would suit our game. But hey he's a Saint fan so he must be a good fit right?

Aspiration suddenly replaced with hard cold reality? Look as someone once said, there is only one way to climb a mountain...you've got to want it and you've got to make the first step, then the second and so on until you cannot go on. Have we reached the final step? Should we give up and turn around now we've come this far? There's a much bigger question looming though...how do we MAINTAIN this seasons performance so we're battling once again for 5th with the confidence of achieving it. And do that alongside Europa league games. That's a big ask in itself for a club of our means.

It will be great news if he is back to his best and if he actually stays for a season or two at least to build some consistency in the front line. Of course if he has a stinker of a game the psyco's on here will be getting their knives sharpened for his blood!

OK so he did not score many, but he was better creatively than Wanyama, Morgan, Davis and JWP IMO and provided a threat when around the box. And he always seemed up for it too. Great player who went about his business quietly and efficiently with few mistakes.

Don't get the comparisons to Morgan and Vic...they're defensive midfielders whereas Cork had some tricks and could move with the ball. He was also a goal scorer...remember what one of those looks like?

This. But we'll still lose 1-2. They will want it more.