beatlesaint

Bloody hell for a player who only got a regular place back in February because of injury and no cover Stephens is certainly being bigged up on here. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, I think a fair few have missed him in the past couple of months. I hope I'm wrong but to me he looks a very good Championship player and decent enough cover for a Prem team, no more or no less. He does some things well, equally there are areas of his game that don't look too hot, positional play and heading are quite important at centre back and they aren't his strengths. I agree that he could be a very good holding midfield player or the sweeper role in a three man centre back partnership. If Jack Stephens is really the answer to our centre back problems then we will struggle this season.

Absolutely this.

No point us going for any player that is better than we have if we use the logic you are employing here. "I'm sorry Gareth, we know you want to come back to Southampton but you are younger than Tadic and if we signed you it would upset him so the deal is off"

Sounds very much as if Cedric will be ready for the first match Saturday week, fitness wise at least.

the other knee is lined up for early March 2018 just in case

No you aren't alone

Nice to see two midfield players making an effort to get into the penalty area for that second goal......even better for one of them to score it !

He's a better player than some experts on here say he is.

Well there are a few players like that who need a run to get going. Rickie was a case in point as has been demonstrated even more since he left Saints. Dont know enough about this Wimmer to know if hes any good or not tbh

Actually thats very true, certainly the offended by everything bit. A non football related example - a few years back Ringo Starr was asked if he would ever consider living in Liverpool again which he answered with a firm NO ! Bloody hell did they get upset with that, took them about 3 years to get over it, and thats with one of their own

Totally this.

can we go with deluded ****s then, that way they can't link it with any tragedy and get upset.

Well that hardly makes you unique but thanks for that anyway

I think if he goes to Liverpool we look like idiots regardless of price !

If you are referring to this http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/15435813.Should_Saints_sell_van_Dijk_or_try_to_repeat_previous_transfer_delays_/ then I'm not sure how you reach that conclusion. I read it as quite the opposite.

absolutely right, he didn't have to sign. I know a lot of footballers aren't the sharpest pencils in the box but he must have known signing a six year deal would mean the club would expect him to stay longer than 12 months ! No regard for the 6 months bringing him back to fitness either. He really has shown himself to be a bit of an asshole.

Not just every other player at Southampton. This would be the catalyst for players everywhere.

im sure he does......might end up disappointed tho. Putting stuff like this out would, if I was on the board of SFC make me even more determined that he isn't leaving or if he does it's not to them ! its disgraceful the way this is being carried out.

According to Sky Chelsea are interested......but they are also interested in VVD and Cedric. We might as well just pack up now.......

Sorry i missed this - hes not injured again is he ? WTF ?

yes according to Adam Blackmore back at the time too. Old Nivea boy had a right hissy fit cos he was captain and the board should have had the Bat Phone manned at all times for when he called demanding a move

So on one hand you are saying it's only a pre season friendly and the result etc is irrelevant which is correct of course. Then on the other hand you are basing on that performance the confidence that Stephens is good enough and will be first choice this season ? Dont get me wrong, I don't dislike Stephens but he showed a fair degree of inexperience at key moments last season and still has plenty to learn. He isn't particularly dominant in the air either. I'm sorry but I still see him as back up and not the replacement for Fonte and nowhere near replacement for VVD. If we are happy with Stephens as a first choice player then we are going to be happy with surviving in the league and little else,

Bednarek hasnt been bought as a first team regular this season though has he ? He will likely play some U23 games then go out on loan. Considering he only played less than 50 games for his Polish club side he hasnt come here for Prem League football just yet.

Thats a shame.

he had a slight hamstring injury last week. Given his misfortunes in pre-season the past two years perhaps they aren't taking any chances. He could have played the behind closed doors game Wednesday of course.