Dusic

Hopefully under SR we can become a bit better with contracts. The amount of players who have signed 4 year contracts and then we get long running sagas with is quite extensive: Clyne, Wanyama, Hojbjerg, Ings, Vestergaard, and now Salisu. Aside from Ings, we pretty much got our money back or a small profit when we sold as we lost all leverage once they have a year to go. With Salisu, he took a year to adapt where he barely played, so he effectively had a two year contract. I know its not always possible, but other clubs seem to manage to extend contracts much earlier, often after a year or so once its clear the player is decent. Recent example being Alexis MacAllister signing a 4 year deal with Brighton just before the WC. I'm sure Saints would just have been comfortable with the two years he had left. Brighton now know they will get £50m+ for him whereas without that it would be £25m. Doesn't mean they will stay longer but does mean their value is protected, and Saints are supposedly all about value.

Having watched the Semenyo video Chez posted: - Would be amazed if he is actually 5'8, seems a but taller and is quite strong. Actually quite similar to Adams in some of his strength on the ball. - Nice finishes with both feet - Good weight of pass on both fit with many assists - Telling actions from both right and left side of the pitch Not saying we should sign him, but he looks like a good player and one that could combine well with other players. More of an Adams competition/cover rather than replacement.

It certainly shows that they didn't have anything lined up specifically for Jnauary which is disappointing but equally our league position, form and managerial uncertainty and sunsequent change probably aided that. Ings is quality and proven here, wouldnt have a concern with taking him. However....under Jones we have mostly played with one central striker and that is certainly not Ings best role, he is much better in a pair. Seeing as we see to have settled on a midfield 3 with JWP in the advanced role I am not sure how Ings would fit that. Jackson is a wide forward who can play up front but isn't going to suddenly come in and take Adams place and bang in 7 or 8 goals. Semenyo I don't know much about but he has often been a sub for Bristol City. Might be a player of potential but again he wouldn't come in and threaten Adams' place. Overall it doesn't scream well organised recruitment to me, these 3 are all very different players. Personally I think we will end up with a wide forward type, preferably someone who can play from the right.

Would be a shame if our top striker target ends up at a relegation rival rather than staying in France. But appears West Ham going big for him. As said yesterday, I think we will get a wide forward rather than no9.

Why? On huge wages and in massive decline. Sounds like pretty much the opposite of a Saints transfer to me. Nicolas Jackson has been pushed by Jacob Tanswell since the start of the window, he is the most likely attacking addition IMO.

Wonder if we might not get a central striker now and instead maybe a wide right attacker. Not saying its the right thing but logic is that we are playing with one central striker and there is no point signing a no9 type if they are not better than Adams (allround game not just goals) and that will cost a lot, for example Moffi seemingly was our no1 choice and is out of our price range. We need to add goal threat certainly, but that can come in different forms and is why the Orsic signing is potentially so useful as we totally lack goals from the wide attackers we have. There really isn't any point in signing a striker for the sake of it who isn't going to be a key player if we could sign a different type of attacker who might be. Again, not saying this is what I would do but it might be what happens and there is some logic, even more so after Jones' recent comments.

Players obviously like him and are playing for him. I like that he has a bit of fight and character. He has just won 3 games in 7 days against PL teams. Defensively more solid. Scored twice in 3 games in a row. Excellent work from NJ who looks a great fit for what we need.

Moffi and Maeda both scoring today.

Is Maeda the Japanese Shane Long? Not meant in a derogatory way but seems like his best attributes are physical rather than technical? Anyone seen much of James Bree? Has good stats for chance creation (think he is on set pieces) and would possibly be a good cover player for a cheap fee given we possibly hadnt anticipated spending on a RB before Tino's setback. Will be interesting to see if he plays for Luton today or not. Tanswell has been pretty on the money this window so if he says he is a target then I'm sure he is.

Elyounoussi is a tactically aware player who can play multiple positions, has high availability and seems like a good pro. Managers like these kind of players. Squads need these kind of players.

https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2023/nice-submit-e18m-offer-for-lorients-terem-moffi/ Says Moffi wants to stay in France and Nice have made an offer. Hopefully we have moved on to other targets if its not going to happen.

Moffi now being linked with Newcastle. Think it will be hard to get him and if we somehow do it will be right near the end of the window. Interesting comments from Jones that its not necessarily a no9 that we want. Ankersen was away yesterday so potentially was at the Lorient game the other day.

Nearly every question he gets asked is negative so the reason he comes across as defensive is because he is defending himself. I don't mind it, shows he has some balls and belief in himself. He has been hugely and disrespectfully slagged off by lots of Saints fans and the media. He has a right of reply and is using it. End of story and hopefully everyone can move on as he just managed our best performance for a long time.

Speaking to the club media after the game yesterday he was very clear that more will happen, and it didnt sound like only one. He said he had asked the owners for support (on transfers) and they were providing the requested support and that the rest of January will be very important.

I like the spikiness of the interviews. He is a human, who after presumably being very excited at having earned the best opportunity of his career was being given some brutal and personal stick. If he wasnt affected by that it would be odd. The key for me is that the players seemed to have a genuine connection with him at the end. I think that is hard to fake. We may lose on Saturday, but its clear he will be here to stay so hopefully this win kicks us on, and I'm pleased for him.

On RB, we only have one available RB at the moment, plus AMN. There is surely a big question mark over whether Livramento will play more than a minor part this season and I'm not sure NJ is sold on Perraud either so might be looking to move KWP over to the left perhaps? Also pretty sure Karsdorp was linked in the last window. Equally, the clubs priority I am sure is a striker, its not a linear process where they can only enquire about one player or position at a time. I am sure they want Moffi, but also don't want to pay €25m as they don't think that he is currently worth that and/or paying that would mean not being able to sign another player in a different position. Negotiations are not just one sided, and equally our targets may wish to wait and see which clubs come in for them as the window progresses, we are bottom of the league and likely to get relegated of course. I'm sure we will get a striker, and also if we use Orsic in a good way he should add a significant goal threat too. Based on our other activity so far I think its fair to say they are really trying to make this a good window for us, and obviously it has to be.

This is incorrect. The comment about balance was in the context of transfers and whether our policy has changed or not. NJ was saying that it hasnt overall but that a balance between youth and experience is needed, and that over the next two/three weeks and the signings we make people will see that. I get people don't like the bloke but please be accurate!

Excellent appointment. SR obviously not flavour of the month at the moment but a good sign to be able to make quality off field appointments. Shields was a good move hence he was stolen by Chelsea so soon. Wilcox by all accounts has done a great job with the City academy, albeit well funded. Knows the workings of a successful multi club structure too.

Yes, sensible approach given the model. Jason Wilcox would be a great appointment, he is very highly regarded and well versed in this from the CFG.

Tanswell on TSP said Jackon's injury wouldn't be an issue and seemed to think it was very close, loan with an option. Keane would surely wait til after we have played Everton. Obviously when it first came out about Akpom being of interest it seemed odd, but watching some of his recent goals and assists for Boro he does actually look like a good player (not just a goalscorer). Imagine he is seen as probably a more realistic option to Moffi price wise. Obviously not a signing that screams staying up ambition but wonder if anyone who is slagging him has ever seen anything of him?

Team will be interesting. Specifically, will Lavia be risked ahead of Saturday? Imagine it will be: ----------------Baz----------------- ----Lyanco----DCC----Salisu----- KWP------------------------Perraud ----JWP---Lavia or AMN-----Moi--- ---------Che------Arma---------

FFS, its pretty fucking obvious from that clip that Adams is giving Jones some encouragement after an important win (given the context) rather than slagging him off which would be utterly bizarre anyway, especially at that specific moment. Whether the players rate him or not, I'm sure they feel bad that he is getting pelters from the fans partly (at least) because of their own errors, Adams included. I find some of the chanting against Jones to be pretty classless really. Yes there are massive question marks over him, but the point is valid that he took over a team that was amomgst the very worst of the 92 league clubs in 2022. IMO he will get a chance to show what difference can be made with a few new signings and after being appointed about 5 games ago then really thats the least he deserves. If his appointment turns out to be a big error then that error is on Ankersen and the club, not on Jones himself. Its clear he is an emotional type, which isn't neccessarily a bad thing. I think, as hard as it is, fans should cut him a little slack and see what happens over the next few games. Certainly getting onto him before HT in games we are only a goal down in does nobody any favours. I see a team that is short on confidence (no suprise), makes mistakes (as we have for ages) and short on quality (as we all know). Not one that doesn't run or put any effort in. Jones clearly knows there needs to be massive improvement, lets see if he can deliver it. I think our chances at home especially will only be enhanced by being open minded that it might get better rather than booing at the first misplaced pass from a player either short on quality, confidence or both.

€30m seems very steep but then again we are totally desperate which every club knows. Good strikers are in very short supply (Weghorst supposedly going on loan to Utd proves that). Because we fucked up in the summer we will probably need to overpay in January to get what we want. Orsic should make a big difference but we still badly need a central striker and I am still suprised this hadn't been lined up for 1st Jan. I think in this position it will go deep into January.

Moffi would be ideal. 6'2 but also mobile, used to shouldering goalscoring burden and good underlying stats for the last couple of seasons. Obviously difficult to persuade targets to join given our league position though.

Strong team, sensible to rest KWP and Lavia. Assume its a back 3 with AMN at RWB but could be a back 4 with Lyanco at RB. Lets hope for a marked improvement as I don't think Jones will be sacked regardless. For those slagging off the selection, genuinely why?