Saint Pete

How depressing yet predictable. So we expect to get shot of some more players today or before other windows close but don't expect any incomings. I'm sure Ralph will be delighted. I don't understand the line from Leitch about overseas targets being unlikely because their window remains open. Seems like another excuse for our inability or unwillingness to do what it takes to get deals over the line. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

With the 2 signings we have made and the return of Boufal (hopefully to stay), was hard to see Sims getting much game time, so another loan always on the cards. Hopefully this will be a good experience for him. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Just watched the highlights from the weekend. I really can't stand or understand how it's become the norm that professional players take penalties with these stupid stuttering run-ups designed to make the keeper move first. A penalty is a free shot from 12 yards out with the keeper stuck on his line. Any half decent striker of the ball should be able to beat the keeper in this situation without all that ****! For me, the way Ings took both his pens betrays a lack of confidence in his own ability to strike the ball cleanly and accurately enough to score from 12 yards. I don't understand why JWP wasn't taking them anyway as he is by far our best penalty taker at present. Hopefully he will be out on duty again for the prem games. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Going to be a cliffhanger late in the window I reckon. We've got to hope someone out there is desperate enough to take Hoedt or Stephens off our hands so we can clear a space for someone decent. On balance think it's unlikely to happen. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

It's hard to know the reasoning without knowing what the player's own attitude is though. You are assuming that Boufal wants to be given another shot at Saints, but that may not be the case. Maybe he has talked to Ralph and stated that he prefers to move on? We know that Ralph made a point of talking to all of our players in detail when he arrived and made plans on basis of that, so maybe he has done the same with Boufal following end of his loan and that discussion has driven the decision to sell. All speculation of course but don't think we can automatically assume it is just the club driving this.

I reckon the ones who will be sold will probably be Austin, Gallagher, Lemina and Cedric. As you say, best that can be hoped with Hoedt, Carrillo and Forster is probably loans. Boufal could still go either way, depends on his attitude and what Ralph thinks of him. If all of those do go one way or the other, we would then need incomings at RB, CB, a midfielder to replace Lemina and a No 10 type player I think. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Seems like a sensible move all round. We need to generate cash for signings in other areas and Targett needs first team place. I would imagine we will try to push them up a bit from the 8m quoted though. Would rather we move Targett on than Bertrand. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Yes, on balance it seems we are doing the right thing here, but realistically it means we will have to wait till later in the window to get it done because Brum are unlikely to cave in at this stage if their valuation not met. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

The trouble is, this early in the window, Birmingham are always going to hold out for a higher offer if they think other clubs are interested. If we want to get deals done early, we may need to pay a bit of a premium to do that. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

It's the kind of muddled thinking that has become commonplace in the club over the last few seasons though. The "logic" is:- - Top player coming towards age 30, need to "maximise his value" by selling before he gets any older. - We have younger players in that position who haven't been given enough chances in first team yet. Need to give them more opportunity to come through by freeing up 1st choice place. This rigid view ignores completely the relative qualities of the "ageing" player who the club want to sell vs the young players they want to bring through. And the impact this loss of quality will likely have on the first team and results. If we are serious about wanting to move up the table next season we need better as first choice than Targett, so we will likely end up having to move him on anyway at some point and replace. Makes far more sense for Targett to be sold at this point and there should be enough interest from championship teams or promoted clubs to get a fairly decent fee, close to that being talked about for Bertrand. Hopefully the Mail story is garbage, but it shouldn't surprise anyone if it's not as this type of move is pretty typical of the kind of thing we've come to expect. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

We need to be adding quality not selling one of our only quality players left. I don't care how much older Bertrand is than Targett, he is still a massive upgrade on him. Targett should be the one to be moved on, and if we are only likely to get around £10m for Bertrand, then we would likely get close to that for Targett anyway given that he is younger and has more contract left? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

There's a reason Ralph has played 3 centre backs nearly all the time so far. It's not because he wants to tactically, it's because he knows our centre backs are not solid or quick enough to play in a back 4 in the prem. If he wants to move to 4 at the back (which I think he does) then the club need to get him a better quality CB to go with one of the ones we've got. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Yep, these last few games have underlined what a painfully average set of players we have at the moment and also what a great job Ralph has managed to do in the second half of the season to drag us out of the mire. The positive thing is nobody at the club should be under any illusions now about the amount of work that needs doing to the squad if we want to become a decent top half prem side again. I have faith in Ralph but he will need good support from above in the summer if we are to progress much next season.

This is it. Ralph knows he is unlikely to be able to shift Forster in the summer with the contract he is on, so he will use these couple of games to gauge whether he can be relied upon sufficiently to be No2 to Gunn next season. If he thinks he can, it would help Ralph as could potentially get some cash in from McCarthy that can be reinvested elsewhere without needing another keeper. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Enjoyable. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

That Messi's not bad. Reminiscent of JWP [emoji3] Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Yep Liverpool need a goal tonight now. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Indeed. Bearing in mind he is still improving we would be mad to sell in my opinion unless price was ridiculous. As some have said on this thread finding a prem class midfielder who has scored the goals JWP has this season isn't that easy - unless you are champions league with the cash to match. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Liverpool may regret missing that chance. All the chances seem to be going to Milner[emoji3] Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Nobody would argue that Long should be a regular starter for us, but I think there is a case for keeping him on as an alternative off the bench as he has attributes to suit that role and does also fit Ralph's way of playing with his hard chasing style. I can't see us signing several strikers in the summer (we certainly need to sign one to replace Austin though) as to be honest we desperately need to prioritise improving the defence as Saturdays game showed clearly yet again. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

In addition to those the other ones who may attract interest are Bertrand and McCarthy. I hope Bertrand stays on as he is a class above Targett but wouldn't shock me that much if he fancied a move at this point. And McCarthy, having lost his No 1 spot may also be open to offers? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Agree, thought Ings had a decent game to be honest! In fact, attack wise everyone was pretty good. Yes there was the usual Shane Long open goal miss but we scored 3 and could have had several more. It's at the other end we need to focus most attention on in terms of improving in the summer (although accept we also need another striker due to Ings injury concerns). Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

It certainly would have helped if Long hadn't missed an open goal in the first half but the primary problem is how fragile we are defensively and how easily teams can open us up. We scored 3 times yesterday at home which should be enough to get the 3 points. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

This. It really is not a fitness issue, definitely more to do with mentality and the basic defensive abilities of our players. It will only be fixed by recruiting better quality and more mentally tough players in the key defensive positions. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Only other thing we could have done is play Bertrand in a back 3 and put Targett in, which may have made us more solid? Let's hope Bednarek and Stephens have a good day! Should be goals in this one anyway. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk