Saint86

I always assumed that was Obafemi's role? I think if we buy Armstrong, it is to replace Ings. I am fairly comfortable with the prospect of Armstrong and Che upfront, with Obafemi as a pace option.

We'll sell ings i think - There is no other legitimate reason we'd be sniffing around Armstrong otherwise (not with our finances). Personally, i'll be happy with that trade off as I think Armstrong is a great prospect and younger. Vestergard is also seemingly off as well? (based on the total absence of any noise re a contract extension and him entering his final year) - although given that, you'd hope we're signing 2 wing/full backs and a CB as a minimum.

Agreed.

I don't think many of the current issues are on Gao, he let's the club get on with running itself by and large. The issues like with the awful transfer policy that saw us destroy our team, saddle us with debts, and sign players like lemina, hoedt, Ely, carillo, etc. For tens of millions and on long contracts. Not only that, but offering long high wage contracts to players like forster, and appointing awful managers like puel and mope. As far as I am concerned, gao's tenureship got rid of the cancer that was Les Reed, Krueger etc, and has somehow kept us in the prem. We were an utter train wreck of a club in recent seasons thanks to that cabal of utter morons. And being relatively stable in the prem is no small achievement. There are worse things. Expecting a rich billionaire to come in, buy a struggling debt laden Premier league team, and poor tens of millions of their own money into it, just isn't realistic. I'm the grand scheme of things, there are far far far worse owners than Gao out there!

When is black joining?

Any word on the away kit? I was looking at the store and noticed this on the infant / baby page: https://www.southamptonfc.com/store/clothing/baby-infant/saints-away-kit-babygrow/c-1/c-266/p-1592 Fairly sure there was no yellow / blue kit babygrow there for last season 🤔

You'd need all of those signings to pay off immediately or be staring at relegation.

He'd be a steal at £15m and I'd bite their hand off for a player of his level for that much. Sod the contract situation.... If he is available for £15m we should just pay it and run before someone else comes in! There aren't many players like him in that price bracket, miss him and who else are we signing.

Don't forget Smallbone who Ralph has mentioned in numerous pressers as someone he's missing!

If anything he is too tall - which will impact negatively on his balance and agility. Fortunately our forum's black spot experts have already demonstrated 5'10 is the required height for top class full backs.

Seriously poor decision. We have Macca and Forster who are a similar standard and certainly not much better than Gunn - both of which are getting on and will need replacing.

BLM is significantly divisive. And people behaving like this is point in case.

She isn't a nice bit of work lets be honest 🤷‍♂️, but then she's also not unique in that regard when it comes to extreme political activists. Who knows, maybe she'll be lucky enough to make a fully recovery, adjust her outlook to become less angry and intolerant. What was a good gesture was all the clubs etc boycotting social media to make a point about social networks harbouring racists. That wasn't politically aligned, it was stronger communal action by the football community, and its didn't draw any negative fan pressures. Funny that. Like it or not, the issue here is BLM UK perceived messaging in football, and by attachment, kneeling down and raising a fist. That and people's inability to have a respectful conversation with those of a different outlook rather than insulting each other.

I agree. But to add to the recruitment at older ages part - this doesn't change the fact that a given 12year old player would have been recruited into a poorer youth setup re coaching quality, facilities, and youth player quality/ability wise. There is no way an 12year old coached at a poorer level for the first few years has the same chance of reaching an equivalent level as one who gets top quality coaching since the get go. This is where we have been coming from in all reality. And yes, the club don't openly say that, but there have been signs that they know it an acknowledge it for a few years now. Not least by the way we have been picking up older players that don't make the grade elsewhere. I think the fans have to be realistic about this. It simply isn't a reasonable expectation that a club that went through administration and time spent in league 1 and the championship is going to keep churning out youth players with the same success we had previously. But it is the club ethos to develop young players, and hopefully that is where we get back to.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hpaOEA-4l0-37iiJjt3DXpgkTel6VGOU/view Ranks in the lowest 10% of full backs (from the big 5 leagues) with regards to attackers dribbling past him. Quality. Although he is good at dispossessing players during a pressing action and comes top 6% for tackles per game. I guess this is fine provided we are always attacking and pressing the opposition and he never has a skilful winger running at him in a defensive position..... ^_^ Weakest 8% of full backs for aerial duels - no surprise there. Dribble success rate in the bottom 35%, but does gets a lot of crosses in Reading that, he's basically a winger with a some semblance of defensive play ^_^ Almost like a good valery 🤪

A lot of the academy set up got poached or wasn't as well supported. Kids join the club at 8years old, so 12 years on that's the 20year olds - of which fans oft like to remind us "they aren't very good". But we got back to the prem about 10years ago now, which will have given us the draw, funding and stability to both recruit better prospects and train them better - so i personally would expect to start seeing some good 18year olds coming through soon.

No we couldn't. And in a summer where we stand a good chance to lose Vestergard and Ings, we don't go and sell our club captain who happens to be one of our best and most consistent performers.

Current market is fairly irrelevant to saints unless the owner decides to try and force a sale. He's on a 5year contract so we've got a year or two unless JWP himself kicks off🤷‍♀️ - which i think is unlikely.

He has very good all round stats for both defensive and attacking play whilst playing a predominantly central/defensive role. It is not his fault he doesn't get into goal scoring positions when he is playing his part in a very strict tactical setup. And as for killer balls, he sits joint 16th for key passes per game, which is level with players like Maddison who are far more attacking and playing in better sides. Or did you expect him to be above players like KDB, Mount, Salah etc? 🧐 He's our 3rd highest scorer (with 8 goals) and most creative player (with 7 assists) - both stats from the league. On top of that he is one of the best set piece specialists in world football and extremely fit and reliable. And he manages all that playing in a relatively poor side. Not sure what else you expect, he's turning into a very complete central midfielder.

Yes it can. People shouldn't be surprised that we have "league 1 level output" 10years on from being in administration and sitting in the 3rd tier. And after our academy setup was picked apart during our slide down the leagues. Its like stating the bleedin obvious... And the club acknowledged indirectly with all that stuff about picking over released players looking for hidden attributes and trying to sign some for the academy. Prime example being Tella.

Henderson has already embarrassed himself with his antics last night and his arrogant interview afterwards. Can imagine there are a lot players in the squad who are wondering why he's there. DCL for one must think he's a right pillock.

Ben White it is then, absolute error from Southgate after last night especially. Every time England get a free kick or corner, large parts of the fanbase will be calling for JWP - and when England eventually get knocked out after a lacklustre performance vs a better side, Southgate will have absolutely nowhere to hide from his selection cock ups. There is a silver lining in all this. JWP gets a rest and hopefully he doesn't feel he needs to leave to get international recognition. And hopefully England do absolutely awful, because there is no way Southgate can be the man to take us into 2022.

Yup, we're going to play either a 4-5-1 or 5 at the back, and play counter attacking hit and run football. As with the world cup, this will work vs the poorer sides, but as soon as we come up against a Belgium / France etc they will simply out play us and win. If we aren't going to win the euros (which we won't barring a tactical miracle happening in Southgate's head),we actually need England to do badly enough for GS to get sacked. He cannot be allowed to take England into the world cup his current performances as a manager. We're entering a new golden generation - please don't let us waste it with Southgate.

She does look related to him.... but not sure how the apples have fallen like they have 🤣 https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-reactions-evra-brings-up-wilfried-zahas-alleged-fling-with-moyes-daughter-20200919

Except he was banging moyes' daughter at United... (allegedly).