Dusic

The original article that broke the news (ESPN) did say that Stoke were hoping to hijack the move. Imagine we will find out soon enough but hope we get him as looks exactly what we need.

From the friendlies it looks like the current preference order of Pellegrino will be: Gabbi, Austin, Long, Gallagher. I think this makes sense. Clearly Gabbi is the best and hopefully has a great season. Austin will score goals but not offer the allround play. What should we do with the other two? Long is a handy sub to have and you know will give 100% but equally he has been used out wide a few times in pre season and IMO is terrible there. Personally I would sell if we got a fair offer for him and I think he might get frustrated at another season of limited playing time. Gallagher hasn't really been given a chance in the friendlies and has been linked with Wolves on loan. He obviously won't want to go back to the sterile U23 football after the best season of his career so perhaps a loan makes sense? Equally he must have been told he will get some opportunities otherwise wouldn't have signed the new contract. We have been linked with a few forwards across the summer so wonder if we do expect some movement as no need to have five plus Redmond? Also worth noting there are no young strikers anywhere near the first in the U23s as Seager and Olomola are both out on loan. Barnes probably next in line but little else.

Agree. Only Boufal who might come into contention. The others just haven't showed enough. Poor attacking sub options to change a game at present.

Good that Cedric is back. None of this Pied nonsense in the PL.

Good lad, local lad, but hasn't earned this contract through performances on the pitch. Has some good attributes but also some huge weaknesses that he will need to sort if he ever wants to be a PL regular. Jury is out at PL level.

If we sell now, why not just sell in May or early June and avoid the whole start to the season being overshadowed, plus having sub standard CB partnerships in the winnable first few games? Would make little sense, hence having never sold a key player in August. Don't really see that the identify of the buyer changes that.

Wouldn't say Watford and Newcastle were "important clubs" but who knows? Only positive interpretation in that is hopefully the players we have been after are quality i.e would be nailed on starters here, and have just gone to better teams. Still maintain we only need one quality central midfielder with mobility and one quality centre back. However, make that two if VVD goes. Plus a pacy attacker would be a bonus. Between 2-4 signings depending on VVD. Not much to ask at the start of the season but unlikely at this stage. Also no movement on getting shot of the deadwood like Gardos, Clasie, Long although thats probably easier said than done. Perhaps the lack of good Academy players near the first team squad is also having an impact. Whereas the likes of JWP and Targett used to be classed as underage, I imagine they count in the 25 now so we have less wiggle room. Hard to see any teenage academy players getting PL minutes this season as there seems to be a gap and then some promising U18s who will take a bit of time to develop.

We have replaced nailed on starters like Fonte, Schneiderlin, Mane etc with players who aren't good enough to be auto picks, hence more games for the likes of Yoshida who was previously our 3rd CB and is currently our 1st. Too many squad fillers (partly like Caceres due to bad sucession planning) and not enough signings who immediately lift the first XI, like Gabbiadini did. A couple of years ago our best midfield 3 was Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Davis. That is miles ahead of what we have now. Partly because signings like Clasie and Hojbjerg haven't been good enough to replace those players in the team every week. Yoshida has always been a third choice centre back yet now is our first choice of those available. Why did we sign Bednarek who is clearly one for the future rather than someone earmarked to play every week?

Bednarek Hassen Caceres Gabbiadini Boufal Hojbjerg Redmond McCarthy Pied Taylor If that doesn't sum up where we are(and the direction we are going) then what does? Max of three of those make our best XI. Only one good, young British player. Too many obvious squad fillers. Out of interest, last 10 sales for a fee are: Jay Rod Mane Pelle Wanyama Fonte Juanmi Schneiderlin Clyne Cork (Then all the Meltdown summer exits)

Players we didn't properly replace: Fonte Schneiderlin Wanyama Mane Spine of a team and it shows.

Matter of time before he joins Liverpool IMO. If he does, then Liverpool will have played a blinder really and their underhand tactics will have worked, with their no1 target and a fantastic player signed up. Saints will have taken a stand and then gone back on that and also be left with a short amount of time to spend the money to create a first XI of the quality we had under Koeman. That said, I wouldn't really blame Reed. We think about it conceptually. He has to deal with the reality of his best player doing pretty much everything he can to leave the club. How could VVD really stay after this? Its on another level to Schneiderlin or Wanyama.

Simple decision for the club. If they feel VVD at some stage will back down, be professional and that his relationship with the club, staff and players isn't beyomd repair then they should keep him. If any of those things isnt the case then they have no option but to sell. We can't hold a £60m asset that isn't contributing. That said, potentially swapping Fonte and VVD for Bednarek and Hoedt or/Wimmer in 6 months would be terrible management.

Sounds like he isn't giving in as easily as Schneiderlin did. Big risk for Saints to carry a player who isn't going to knuckle down, could be disruptive and yet paid more than everyone else. Still feel he will go to Liverpool, clearly he is very determined to and zero chance he will play the first PL game for us (like Schneiderlin did). Ultimately SFC might "hope" he can be reintegrated but he knows that if he causes trouble he is more likely to get a move that he clearly wants. He holds the cards at least until the end of August. Also whilst he isnt playing for us and we havent got a transfer fee from him then we don't get the benefit of a.) our best player or b.) money to replace him and strengthen the team. Tricky one for the club and if we do sell it has to be in the next 10days IMO to give us long enough to sign a replacement who must be quality.

Just a thought: Pellegrino might be quite happy selling VVD for £70m and being able to sign 3 or 4 players to improve the first XI, especially given our current business completed.

He is coming into his third PL season and joined us as captain of a big European club, so I think most fans expected more than we have seen. You can see he is a decent technical player but he has a massive flaw in his fitness and ability to get around the pitch. Coupled with our other CMs not being the most mobile it means some of the pairings just don't offer enough legs in a key area of the pitch, especially if you want to play with two strikers or an attacking no10 who won't track back much. Even more so if you want to play a pressing style. His physiological weaknesses will always be there so for me it was a no-brainer this summer to look to move him on and replace with a more mobile player. I hope we still do that otherwise we are really lacking in that position and it will be a big mistake.

Unlikely IMO given how much focus they put on the sports science side of things. He would only have 2 weeks of training versus about 5 weeks for Pied.

Not signing a partner for Romeu will be this seasons version of not signing a striker.

I don't think they can play together, especially given our lack of mobility in central midfield. All Gabbi's goals are as a no 9, playing off the shoulder of the defence so I don't agree with suggestions to play him deeper or out wide - it removes his main strength: movement. Both will have a key role but its Gabbi as a starter as he is the better player and has better movement than Austin.

Targett is technically good. He just lacks that yard of pace you need in the PL (same as JWP). Playing as wing back with defensive cover he did well but playing in a back four against a winger with any speed he has really struggled defensively which is why people aren't sure about him. PL is an unforgiving place to learn and IMO he could have done with a season playing every week in the Championship but he might be beyond that now. Interesting to see if we keep Bertrand, Targett and McQueen in the first team squad.

Predictions are largely pointless until the end of the transfer window. The VVD outcome (either way) will make a huge difference for us and the starting XI we have for most of the season. Likewise situations at other sides. That said, it would be a brave pundit to predict top half for us based on our signings and those of teams who were only just behind us lasr season i.e West Ham, Bournemouth. At this stage those sides have significantly improved their starting XI, whereas we haven't.

Totally agree. Central midfield is our weakest area. Too many similar players but none really a level above the others (excluding Romeu). Crying out for more mobility and power in there, its so obvious that surely the club are targetting someone in this area.

Good in the secomd half once Austin went off and JWP came on. JWP such a conundrum. Can't play in the deeper lying two, but also not an ideal no10 - but made a big difference today with a goal and assist so you want to pick him somewhere. IMO we still lack pace in the side, especially in central midfield - need a signing there certainly. Otherwise think we have to pick one from Austin or Gabbi (later for me) as we aren't dominant enough to play with two strikers unless we went much more direct which we won't, and Austin not so mobile. Wonder if Gallagher will go out on loan again? Not been hugely involved yet in pre season and he won't develop with 5min sub appearances and U23 football.

Much better than Van Dijk - Stephens? Wimmer has played 15 games for Spurs in a couple of years and seems to have played less the longer he has been there.

Much better than Yoshida or Stephens? Really?

Not sure Wimmer would add much. Not good enough to replace VVD and for £20m there must be better options available. Most Spurs fans I know think he is ****e.