Baird of the land

I did see this article recently on the campaign to increase representation in the women's game and wondered if on the same criteria they should be launching a white campaign for the men's team based on their levels of representation in the national team. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62009679

Don't think Aribo is a terrible player but don't think he is what we need at 10.

I remember there being vocal unhappiness any time he went to take a throw in, which was funny as Pulis showed what a weapon it could be.

Good player for us during his peak. Goals really dried up post koeman but still a useful player 2 have round. Kept him 2 yrs too long really and it's definite right to part ways. Curious to see if he plays on. Wonder if he might head to Irish league for season like duff did.

I don't think 2 10's is very feasible. That would mean finding homes for 3 of our existing ones, who aren't likely to be very appealing to people.

Yeah i can understand it, money now and a good chance(with the current climate) that someone will pay big money for you if you don't make the immediate breakthrough at the big club. Very depressing though like so much about Premier league.

In midfield we aren’t short of experience so I don’t really have much issue taking a pot shot on a high promise youngster. at the back i’m a bit more concerned about the balance in that regard.

Sounds promising. If we can get the right young player, we've got a season in which to transition from Romeu to them.

Would be disappointed to see him go. Thought there was definitely something in there. Wasn't consistent but there were definitely impressive games too.

As long as we get A DM, a 10 and a striker and sort some sort of temporary fullback cover anything else is a bonus.

I'd prefer him to stay. Getting rid of him would leave us very short up front with just Adams and Tella currently.(hope this nonsense about bringing back Long doesn't happen) We'd need to bring in a minimum of 2 more proper strikers. Only way i could see a loan working is if there's some obligation to buy included.

I assume Tella would move up front for initial friendlies.

I don't really have an issue with them striking but wouldn't really say i support them either. They are never going to get scale of increase they are asking for but i can understand why they'd want to try and get more than 3%. Equally i can see why network rail etc would want to get agreement to some element of modernisation alongside a higher than cap increase.

Just like you don’t want to buy just any 20 yr old, you want to buy player with right sort of experience/leadership qualities. we signed Fonte when he was 26/27 and I don’t see what’s crazy about looking for a player with that sort of profile. Actually I think it would likely benefit younger players development, certainly bednarek’s hasn’t been helped by saints shambolic defenses.

That's sort of nonsense. We signed bednarek when he was (21?), Redmond (23?), Shane long was a good experienced player we signed(under Koeman) who we have then kept way too long. Yes we can sign good younf players. No one is suggesting a team full of 30 yr olds but more of a balance. Stuart Armstrong & Danny ings were both 27 when we signned them and both have been/were very good for us. Ok, sign a 20 yr old keeper but maybe get a CB with a little more experience/know how to complement that rather than a 22 yr old.

Hmm disappointed but hardly surpised that we're being linked to a 22 yr old CB rather than someone with proper experience.

Welcome. While i've got some concerns he does clearly have talent, let's hope we can get him to fulfill it.

As long as we aren't signing Carrillo back.

Horrid start to the season for Saints. Beating Leeds in our first league game might be needed to get us going,

Not the experience profile of gk I was hoping for. Clearly he's got some talent so if he does sign hopefully he can maximise it and we can help him in signing a more experienced leader at cb and a new screen at dm.

Reminds me of Kevin Davies situation. Get a great fee from Blackburn, then feel guilty and bring him back.

I know nothing about him but was a bit put off by description of him when his name was first linked.

Not sure i see that Russia wanting to come back for more given the losses they've suffered. Seems to me likely they are more focusing on rushing to get minimum acceptable goal domestically and then just holding it.

His assist for Parrott's goal was fantastic too. It'll be interesting to see how he does next season given he has had such a hot 2nd half of the season. I really hope saints have a sell on clause included.

Annoying how good Obafemi is looking