coalman

So far. Bazunu looks class. Has caught a couple of shots rather than palm them out, great distribution and commanded his area. KWP is KWP. So glad we have kept him (so far) Djenepo has got in some great positions. Had one wobble at the back but doesn't look bad. Salisu has been solid. Bednarek has been solid. Bella-Kotchap has looked solid and made a couple of great interceptions. Lavia started slow and gave the ball away a few times but has grown into it. JWP has been tidy without doing much else. StuArmstrong has made a coupe of darting runs Aribo has showed good close control and a willingness to get into the box. AdamArmstrong has looked anonymous. When he'd had the ball he's been knocked off it easily. Neither side has really threatened but Saints finished the half stronger.

Starting to see some better interplay. Lavia and Aribo are growing into this.

Not just your eyes

Champions: Man City Relegated: Everton, Leeds, Bournemouth Saints: 9th Now Southampton are adopting my old Championship Manager strategy I can see no way it can go wrong. Am seriously excited about some of the players we're bringing in. This is the window I've been most excited about for years and I think (hope) we'll look back on it like Koeman's first transfer window. That being said I can see it exploding in our faces but I'm an optimist.

If we look at West Ham and their pursuit then it makes sense to put bids in for multiple strikers. If Man City or Chelsea is looking to drive up the price then they also have to be aware that we have other options. If a potentially selling club thinks they are our only option then it gives them a stronger negotiating position. From Saints' perspective it would be great if we got either Broja or Delap. It would also make sense to have other targets because we may struggle to get either.

What we miss out in Maitland-Miles we make up in Harry Winks links. Tottenham seem really desperate to offload him to us.

Not only has the selfish mofo not said thanks but he wants him too.

My West Ham supporting mate is salivating over the prospect of signing Broja and how he'll fit into their system.

There were points last season where he was unplayable. The pace and strength to shrug off good defenders was astonishing for a 19 year old. Yes he also went missing but he wasn't alone there and you'd expect greater consistency as he gets older.

Delap Broja Colwill Hudson-Odoi Palmer (loan)

It's almost like they know they can hold out for more money. Then sell as late in the window as possible to clubs in the same league. Downside for them is I can see this stopping current academy players signing long contracts in future. Unless they're big bucks.

Yeah. Well paying 20 year olds £100k a week isn't likely to lead to a balanced human.

The CHO story is really illustrative of how the big clubs' academies work. Rather than let him leave for Bayern they offered him mega money to stay then never gave him a proper run. Yes he was injured but this hoarding of players is one of the less savoury elements of the massive financial disparity in the game.

Broja had two season long loans before he got to that point and was prepared to sign a long Chelsea contract last summer. That being said I think it's increasingly clear to players in City and Chelsea's academies that their path to first team football is likely to be through a permanent move. I really hope Delap sees it this way too and we can sign him up.

I just hope we get a couple of seasons out of him.

City may think a season on loan ups his value by 10-20m in the same way it did for Broja at Chelsea. For City and Chelsea the academy is a money making thing.

Agree with all that. Seems like we're at that point where we need some outgoings. 2 from 3 of Valery, Stephens and Bednarek (or all three if we get Colwill) A large chunk of our attacking midfielders. Yesterday our play was crisp until we got near the opposing box. On their day, Redmond, Djenepo and Tella can all stretch the defence. I just wish that day was more often. And for the rest I've lost track of the number of times I see an overlapping fullback who is ignored to stop and pass backward. I don't know if it's an awareness or a coaching thing. I'm happier with our defence and centre mid than I've been in years though.

They're probably giving Eddie Howe a chance to stabilise first. Then either get in a Pep-like manager or splash once they have confidence they're a top half side.

I'd like to apologise to everyone I doubted over the last couple of years when they highlighted our weakness at 'keeper every transfer window.

Judging by the first few minutes of extra time maybe not even that.

Lucky our attack is so incisive.

If we combined the best team from both halves we'd be ok

I keep thinking we've signed Pierluigi Collina's younger brother then I remember Smallbone has given up on hair.

Lovely header

Maybe there's a £50m defender inside Bednarek. It's just he gets ruthlessly punished for any slip by his own keeper.