MarkSFC

We won't be playing against Mbappe anytime soon so no concerns there.

*let him rot (Damn predictive!!)

Time for a quick poll with just a few days left Mods?? Keep him - play him Keep him - let him for Sell him - anyone Sell him - not Liverpool

His major value would be on the training pitch.. ..anyway back to reality!!

It's very clear now that whatever stance Saints take with VVD they won't win in opinion. IF the deal is to Chelsea for 70-80m and Christiansen and Remy come on loan as suggested on this thread then I think that's a very good deal. Having Hoedt in the door before we sell has strengthened our position. Of course VVD and Hoedt / Other is a lot stronger than Yoshida and Stephens but Hoedt plus Stepehens or Yoshida is better. Add Christiansen into that mix and actually it's a really decent group. That solution would then mean a well equipped squad with 70+m in the bank for next summer after 12 months identifying another new CB. In many ways I think I like that solution better than keeping him!!

It does not sat it is definitely done. One day when it suits your agenda perhaps you will be able to read something other than the headline and think for yourself. For me it suggests that we have bid for a player or even players but have not negotiated the deal we want and so are putting it out there that we are cooling. However MP clearly states that if a fantastic deal presents itself we are ready to act. So. Not done. Waiting. Ready to act. At the right price. Good business practice.

Spot on action. Someone (club wise) needs to move some of the power away from the players at some point. Not entirely convinced Ralph and Led have the balls....

If he plays and I think he will he will need to have a great season to attract new suitors next summer, stay in the Dutch team and possibly play in the World Cup and on the basis we are signing Hoedt there is a bit mire competition for him anyway. I think he will sort his head out and deliver a great season.

I would definitely hold on to Cedric for one more year and I would think the club will especially as he was made a special interview upon his return. Plus after the World Cup it's possible he will be a European and World Cup winner. It gives another year too for Valery (or ehatever the kids name is) who seems to have started well for tbe U23s to progress a bit furtger.

Yeah the restraint on trade angle is interesting. I think there is probably basis in this argument and as someone their 40s who remembers the old system of up to end if March window I think it would be best to return to that model but adapt it. I would suggest that clubs can sell a player at anytime and therefore buy at any time, however there should be a sensible point in the season where players can't play for the new club until the following season.

Hope not but 100m the pair plus Christensen will do.

I wonder whether a limit on weekly wage - say £25k - with "any additional weekly salary" placed in trust for when the player retires from football. This would have the effect of evening out to some extent the relative comparative lifestyles of footballers. Someone a bit smarter could work out the formula but for example: Premier base salary......£5k Championship base salary....£3k League 1 base salary....£1.5k League 2 base salary....£750 Then add on for categories like: International.....levels based on number of caps Career appearances...... levels again Loyalty to club....levels for each year.. plus bonuses... goals play clean sheets etc etc After that its up to the club, player, agent to decide on any payments that go into the trust fund. The other side of this is that the money will less impact during their playing career and will possibly help to protect their future, particularly lower level players. Just some thoughts....

For once you speak sense and make the point well. JWP is a decent player and for his age one of the best. Whether he still is in 2-3 years is the question no one can answer just time itself. I like him and his technique is great and hopefully with a bit of freedom given to him agead of Oriel and Lemina he can shine. Thats his best role to mould into.

Interesting update from Tom28 who has been spot on all the way this summer. Its fairly obvious I think that Taylor is in the club only really to be part of the GK training group. He will likely only play in extreme circumstances. McCarthy injury must be a reasonably long one so a loan is sensible so that Gazza can get another season playing, better than warming the bench for a lot of it. Assuming the **** is sold then the CB replacement has to be of decent quality, clearly wont be as good as the **** but that's ok. Stephens will continue to improve and Yoshida is a decent number 3 (first choice replacement) and we will see how Bednarek settles in. Lemina if he does sign looks just like we need alongside Romeu (who I think should be captain) so that's an area in better shape. The loan AM is interesting - Lewis Baker seems to be the most likely, young and English (plus he knows a few of the existing team already). A damp squid of a summer transfer window may yet turn out to be ok. I'm still not convinced by LR for the longer term as I wonder whether complacency is lurking (and the speed at which we seem to work compared to other clubs, drives me up the wall, but that's my problem!!), but if he turns this round, fair enough.

Why at people putting Hoedt in the side.. ...im feeling I have missed something??!!

its his home town team...

YTF have we not signed him...or maybe we actually tried??? doubt it very much though, very disillusioned with the club right now.

Having been convinced for months that he would be here for one more season - he could still be of course - as each day passes and he continues his pathetic childish strop I cant help but think the points has passed by which there is no real return. The only way I could see the majority of Saints fans "forgive him" and for him to become a favourite again is now if he stays longer than even just one more season. That of course is less likely than me winning the lottery jackpot on Saturday! I think we now have to get rid but on our terms, get one or even two decent CBs in - get rid of Gardos, and Bednarek wont count for a season at least unless really desperate. This summer the club have allowed others to catch up and those ahead of us to extend their strength in terms of qulity and quantiy of signings. If we do not see at least one first team CB, a DCM partner for Oriel and a decent Attacker of some sort then I would class this as another failure in the transfer market, 3 on the trot. Lets hope the next 4 weeks prove me wrong...

Are you describing our summer so far.....????

Indeed. Think McQueen would probably benefit mostly from a loan IF Targett is seen as better; I'm not sure there is much between them. Gallagher I would suggest should only go if he gets an opportunity at a team that is challenging for promotion in the Championship to see how he handles more pressure.

I would expect to totally discount those in bold from the named squad and would expect Gazzaniga to gone on loan again assuming McCarthy is fit. This would allow for 3 players, one CB, one DCM and an attacker of some sorts. Unless anyone else leaves that would be a decent looking squad if those brought in are quality rather than potential!

Excellent post.

Grazianno....Would you want....do we need....would he come back....???!!!

Ok, I'll bite....what have you heard today?!

That's not actually tweaking it though, its merely spending more than previously which is going to happen anyway over the next few years because of the market demands. The tweak is spending that amount NOW on an established player with little resale but immense contribution value to the present. It is not a trashing, its a business (and sporting) decision in the here and now. Big difference.