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Post by spot51 on Aug 24, 2021 7:29:40 GMT
And Djed Spence, right back from Boro?
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Post by jickster on Aug 24, 2021 7:44:03 GMT
I believe we are after a highly rated young left back from Everton who wants to leave for some first team football Yes, Thierry Small. He has left Everton now, might be a free agent but there are stories that we've already got the new deal in place with him to join Saints. But he only turned 17 a few weeks ago, while he might want first team football he can't expect it straight away (although he's apparently ignored teams like Man Utd because there's more of a path at Saints). But he might be good cover for this season if he's as good as reported.
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Post by saintsfan73 on Aug 24, 2021 8:15:46 GMT
We need a babysitter more than a 1st team coach.
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Post by saintsfan73 on Aug 24, 2021 9:39:46 GMT
Financially maybe but not sure it's all that good on the pitch. !.) We've lost Bertrand and replaced with a solid, if unspectacular new LB, who seems to be around the level we were getting from Bertrand last season. 2.) Lost our best CB and not (yet) replaced - and if rumours are true seem to be bringing in a player of lesser ability from Serie A. 3.) Still haven't added a CM player when we only have 3 in the squad. 4.) Added Walcott which is looking to not be a good long-term move. 5.) Lost one of the best strikers in the PL and replaced with one of the best in the league below. 6.) Signed a very good player from the Chelsea academy, the only issue being his chosen position is one of the only ones we already had a very good player. 7.) And added two more kids from the Chelsea academy who will be unlikely to contribute much in the PL this season. 8.) I realise books had to be balanced and some decisions were forced on the club but I can't honestly say this squad is stronger than the very weak one which finished last season. Tino is the one real bright spot but we've lost a lot in the window too (Armstrong seems a decent enough striker but it's a bit fanciful to think he will be battling for the golden boot as Ings was.) We're a week from the end of the window and there's still a lot of work to do. 1.) Bertrand was a busted flush and Perraud is already a step up from that. Thought yesterday that he looked pretty much up to speed already 2.) We replaced Vestergaard before he left. Salisu is already as good and yesterday he was mighty. Still has rough edges to knock off though and we have the fourth CB incoming any moment now. 3.) Agree with that, too many defensive options and not enough of a creative threat. 4.) He does look a bit of a vanity project at the moment. 5.) Although true, Armstrong does seem to bring out the best in Adams. They seem to be a better balanced pairing and the fact that a ManU fan was annoyed enough about him to describe him as like a "fecking rat after a piece of cheese', well, that will do for me as a character reference. 6.) I thought that Livramento looked at home in the wide right forward position that Walcott should have been occupying and the way he went past numerous defenders yesterday (including Shaw), was just damned impressive. 7.) No sign of Broja (the highly rated striker) yet, but I see that Simeu (the CB) has already been promoted to the first team squad. 8.) We were saying yesterday that all of a sudden the team looks better balanced and there are good options available on the bench. So, yes the team is already better than last year and has way more potential. Good as Danny Ings was, he was missing too often. The club has taken the proverbial one step back and two steps forward. I would feel happier if we could find another left back to give us some options other than getting another squad member to play out of position should Perraud be injured/suspended I don't agree re: CBs. It's fanciful to say that Salisu is the JV replacement. He's getting better but him and Bednarek were competing for who should be in the starting line-up last season and this is how it should be this one too. Stephens is fine as 4th choice, Salisu and Bednarek are 2nd/3rd choice which means we are down a 1st choice CB (which is what JV was). I can't see Lynaco being this (and def not this season). Also, I think it's a bit revisionist re: Bertrand. Yes, last season he wasn't the player of 3 or 4 seasons ago, but to describe him as a busted flush is untrue. I can think of numerous bad games and howlers committed by our other defenders last season but I'd be hard pressed to do the same with Bertrand. For his first season in the PL Perraud will do well to match what we got from RB last season.
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Post by saintsfan73 on Aug 24, 2021 10:16:41 GMT
I believe we are after a highly rated young left back from Everton who wants to leave for some first team football Yes, Thierry Small. He has left Everton now, might be a free agent but there are stories that we've already got the new deal in place with him to join Saints. But he only turned 17 a few weeks ago, while he might want first team football he can't expect it straight away (although he's apparently ignored teams like Man Utd because there's more of a path at Saints). But he might be good cover for this season if he's as good as reported. Backup LB.
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Post by jickster on Aug 24, 2021 10:48:25 GMT
Total Saints Podcast had an interesting interview with an Italian journalist who was quite positive about Lyanco. He admitted he hadn't shown his best form for Torino, but put it down to Torino being a bit of a mess themselves. It was also mentioned that his relationship with the fans wasn't great because he celebrated beating Torino while on loan at Bologna! So that's part of why the fans are pleased he's going. He sounds like someone looking for a fresh start and I felt a bit better after listening to the podcast, although I get the impression he'll be cover at least at first.
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Post by saintsfan73 on Aug 24, 2021 10:53:07 GMT
Re: Small (and Simeu) I read on Twitter that the longest contract we can sign an Academy player to is 3 years, meaning if these turn out to be good they will leave with little or no re-sale value which is not The Southampton Way (tm). It seems a bit like we're signing unproven youngsters for the right now which is a bit counter-intuitive but I guess since Reed has spunked all of our actual money then we have no choice other than this.
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Post by jickster on Aug 24, 2021 10:59:57 GMT
1.) Bertrand was a busted flush and Perraud is already a step up from that. Thought yesterday that he looked pretty much up to speed already 2.) We replaced Vestergaard before he left. Salisu is already as good and yesterday he was mighty. Still has rough edges to knock off though and we have the fourth CB incoming any moment now. 3.) Agree with that, too many defensive options and not enough of a creative threat. 4.) He does look a bit of a vanity project at the moment. 5.) Although true, Armstrong does seem to bring out the best in Adams. They seem to be a better balanced pairing and the fact that a ManU fan was annoyed enough about him to describe him as like a "fecking rat after a piece of cheese', well, that will do for me as a character reference. 6.) I thought that Livramento looked at home in the wide right forward position that Walcott should have been occupying and the way he went past numerous defenders yesterday (including Shaw), was just damned impressive. 7.) No sign of Broja (the highly rated striker) yet, but I see that Simeu (the CB) has already been promoted to the first team squad. 8.) We were saying yesterday that all of a sudden the team looks better balanced and there are good options available on the bench. So, yes the team is already better than last year and has way more potential. Good as Danny Ings was, he was missing too often. The club has taken the proverbial one step back and two steps forward. I would feel happier if we could find another left back to give us some options other than getting another squad member to play out of position should Perraud be injured/suspended I don't agree re: CBs. It's fanciful to say that Salisu is the JV replacement. He's getting better but him and Bednarek were competing for who should be in the starting line-up last season and this is how it should be this one too. Stephens is fine as 4th choice, Salisu and Bednarek are 2nd/3rd choice which means we are down a 1st choice CB (which is what JV was). I can't see Lynaco being this (and def not this season). Also, I think it's a bit revisionist re: Bertrand. Yes, last season he wasn't the player of 3 or 4 seasons ago, but to describe him as a busted flush is untrue. I can think of numerous bad games and howlers committed by our other defenders last season but I'd be hard pressed to do the same with Bertrand. For his first season in the PL Perraud will do well to match what we got from RB last season. I agree with some of what you are saying, but I'm still on Channers' side about it being a good window overall. Taking account of the situation the club found themselves, with players who wanted to leave and contracts going or gone, we first of all maximised the money incoming. We also managed to tie down JWP which could have really left us in a hole. The players we've brought in have meant that we've now got cover where there previously wasn't any- I agree that I'd like to have another CM in there, although perhaps we'll see S Armstrong in the centre more often this season? At CB, in the short term yes Salisu probably isn't as good as Vestergaard (certainly his passing isn't anywhere near as good), but he's on an upward trajectory. Likewise Perraud for Bertrand, he'll be ok at first and in a year's time we'll be far happier to have him acclimatised rather than an aging Bertrand. In attack, Ings is on the face of it irreplaceable because he's a 20+ goal striker if he plays the whole season. But actually last season he only got 12 goals because he's injured so much, and 12 goals is quite replaceable- A Armstrong has already got 1 of those. Walcott seems to be going backwards at the moment and looks like a poor use of the wages, but as a free transfer he's ok as an option. I guess things could have gone better if Ings and Vestergaard had just signed new deals, but they wanted out and we've probably handled things as well as we could have done.
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Post by jickster on Aug 24, 2021 11:03:12 GMT
I also reckon we might make a more exciting Walcott/Minamino type loan deal on deadline day to take a fringe player from a top 6 club. Not basing this on any particular rumour, just a hunch.
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Post by choixkoix on Aug 24, 2021 12:37:49 GMT
I think the word 'good' misdescribes our window. It's been necessary and we've handled that quite well. You play the cards you have: Ings wanted to stay and then it seems he played the club into a corner. Vestergaard was not a key player until the point when the natural time to attempt a contract extension had passed.
The club seems to be reacting to us leaving the EU and a sense of shock where they are digesting the fact that good signings hold all the cards on us by wanting to run their contracts down and leave rather than become a legend in the Southampton project. We are now primarily targeting raw young stars from top clubs who want a first team pathway, and cut price continentals who we think have a reasonable chance in increasing in value without risking being a Carillo/Lemina/Elynoussi drain on finances if they fail.
So in that sense, we've done a reasonably good job. The problem is that Ralph's playing style requires players to learn the system and the responsibilities and act in concert - look how Adams took time to learn it, Ings too even. And these players are young, almost entirely untested at this level, more about where they could be in 2 years time than now. Lord give us 17th this season.
Livramento looks good, but what a pity he and KWP are in the same position.. Have we picked teams for these first 2 messages that try to force KWP to the exit door?
Salisu was bought as a potential Vestergaard understudy. It looks like he's come on, but Vestergaard was so important to our attacks (yes!) with his vertical passing making us effective in transition and his diagonal long balls being a weapon. So even if Salisu has a good season and is defensively solid, we are -1 in offence.
Stuart Armstrong is massively underrated. I'd be distraught if we are trying to flog him while we have a resale value. He dovetails with JWP well and has an end product in fast transitions and creating chances. JWP is not an AM..who else is an AMC in our squad?
Perraud will need time.
Djnepro playing regularly ... he doesn't really have end product very often. He's far better as an impact substitute against tired legs.
A. Armstrong looks good but I wish he was playing in a team where goals from midfield could be counted on.
I thought Walcott would be a weak signing. I fear he is...
We have the two weakest GKs in the league. I thought Gunn was the only one with a question mark over room for improvement, so in letting him go (for the money) we have kept very known weak quantities. We had one of the weakest defences in the league last season. We've bolstered that by losing Vestergaard and the CL winning Bertrand...pph... that's brave and could be pulled off..if we had a good keeper..but we don't. McCarthy was very weak for Greenwood's equaliser.
The plus point in all this is we have no European football and no Covid compression on our fixture list, so Ralph has time to mould the newbies into a good unit.
Would love to see Livramento and KWP doubled up on the right with Walcott benched, if that's possible (both seem to offer more attacking coherence than Walcott does). Hoping Perraud works out. Hoping Lyanco is the 2nd coming of Jesus...we are taking a huge risk there that this defence can be more solid than last season's. We again continue to look like a team who doesn't create many chances in our first two fixtures.
I'd take 17th in a heartbeat this season.
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Post by saintsfan73 on Aug 24, 2021 13:03:04 GMT
I think the word 'good' misdescribes our window. It's been necessary and we've handled that quite well. You play the cards you have: Ings wanted to stay and then it seems he played the club into a corner. Vestergaard was not a key player until the point when the natural time to attempt a contract extension had passed. The club seems to be reacting to us leaving the EU and a sense of shock where they are digesting the fact that good signings hold all the cards on us by wanting to run their contracts down and leave rather than become a legend in the Southampton project. We are now primarily targeting raw young stars from top clubs who want a first team pathway, and cut price continentals who we think have a reasonable chance in increasing in value without risking being a Carillo/Lemina/Elynoussi drain on finances if they fail. So in that sense, we've done a reasonably good job. The problem is that Ralph's playing style requires players to learn the system and the responsibilities and act in concert - look how Adams took time to learn it, Ings too even. And these players are young, almost entirely untested at this level, more about where they could be in 2 years time than now. Lord give us 17th this season. Livramento looks good, but what a pity he and KWP are in the same position.. Have we picked teams for these first 2 messages that try to force KWP to the exit door? Salisu was bought as a potential Vestergaard understudy. It looks like he's come on, but Vestergaard was so important to our attacks (yes!) with his vertical passing making us effective in transition and his diagonal long balls being a weapon. So even if Salisu has a good season and is defensively solid, we are -1 in offence. Stuart Armstrong is massively underrated. I'd be distraught if we are trying to flog him while we have a resale value. He dovetails with JWP well and has an end product in fast transitions and creating chances. JWP is not an AM..who else is an AMC in our squad? Perraud will need time. Djnepro playing regularly ... he doesn't really have end product very often. He's far better as an impact substitute against tired legs. A. Armstrong looks good but I wish he was playing in a team where goals from midfield could be counted on. I thought Walcott would be a weak signing. I fear he is... We have the two weakest GKs in the league. I thought Gunn was the only one with a question mark over room for improvement, so in letting him go (for the money) we have kept very known weak quantities. We had one of the weakest defences in the league last season. We've bolstered that by losing Vestergaard and the CL winning Bertrand...pph... that's brave and could be pulled off..if we had a good keeper..but we don't. McCarthy was very weak for Greenwood's equaliser. The plus point in all this is we have no European football and no Covid compression on our fixture list, so Ralph has time to mould the newbies into a good unit. Would love to see Livramento and KWP doubled up on the right with Walcott benched, if that's possible (both seem to offer more attacking coherence than Walcott does). Hoping Perraud works out. Hoping Lyanco is the 2nd coming of Jesus...we are taking a huge risk there that this defence can be more solid than last season's. We again continue to look like a team who doesn't create many chances in our first two fixtures. I'd take 17th in a heartbeat this season. And so would Semmens which tells you a lot about where the club is. We'd be mad to be trying to push KWP out. It could be very well argued that after only two PL games, in the wacky world of PL football, Tino is already worth the £20m buy back value Chelsea put on him. Obviously they won't trigger that clause this season as he won't be good enough to play for them and they can't sell him on due to UEFA regs, but if he continues to play well this season he'll be worth far in excess of the buy back amount by next Summer so it would make sense for Chelsea to bring him back, even if just to sell on rather that actually play him. You're correct re: Armstrong (S). We have the 3 defensive MF players and then Walcott, Djenepo and Redmond in the wide players with no end product role but only Armstrong who plays the sort of role Steven Davis used to excel at for us. We'd also be mad to let him go. Forget Jesus, I fear Lyneco might be the 2nd coming of (Pedro) Pele!
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Post by saintsfan73 on Aug 25, 2021 10:44:54 GMT
Well we do need CM cover...
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Post by Furry Frank The Combat Wombat on Aug 25, 2021 12:26:42 GMT
I think the word 'good' misdescribes our window. It's been necessary and we've handled that quite well. Yup, we've had an initially disastrous window that they've managed to patch up reasonably well with some potentially good bargains (by PL standards), but if we compound the problem by shipping our Armstrong, we've then lost 4/6 of our key senior players.. at best, it's a massive gamble. Yes, this young team might look ok based on 2/3 of the ManU game and 1/2 the Everton game but if we hit another bad run, where's the leadership to drag us out of it?
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Post by saintsfan73 on Aug 25, 2021 14:14:40 GMT
They did it....
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Post by Furry Frank The Combat Wombat on Aug 25, 2021 15:25:06 GMT
Good-o (please don't be Hoedt2, FFS) I'm gonna stick with calling him Lycanthrope; there's definitely something of the wolf about him
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