VectisSaint

Hard luck, none of them are playing. Only 3 even on the bench. What a strange preseason game, you would expect them to want to integrate the new guys as much as possible.

I don't think Delap is done, we are clearly negotiating, you don't go in with an improved bid unless you get some sort of positive vibes from the initial one. Perhaps Will Smallbone will have a word in Rory's ear at Stoke and oil the wheels 😉

He won't be the next PM. That will be dimwit Mis Trust. He is what he is because he married a multi millionaire, Akshata Murty, reputed to be more wealthy than the Queen.

Ralph: "He is a young guy who will need time to adapt to a new country and a new league, but we are excited about his potential and what he can become in the future". So should we look to see him around Christmas time?

Given that we had a previous bid turned down (if that was true), this sounds like a new bid based on what City have hinted would be acceptable, or close to it. You don't just go putting new bids in unless you have some inkling that it will be accepted. We seem to be on good terms with City, so I imagine talks over the original bid were constructive, rather than laughed at.

If we can play him in MF as well, then that might be OK 🤣

I don't think the Academy is finished either, and I didn't even hint at that. It would still have a worthwhile function even if no players graduated to the First team as regulars, young players always need somewhere to develop, a good many will at least make a decent career in the lower leagues even if not the PL, but it is clear that it is very difficult now for a home grown academy player to make it at Southampton. The three you mention, I understood Dibling has gone to Chelsea, Edwards came from Reading, so Dom Ballard is the only one that is relevant (I think he has always been with Saints). The point is though that Smallbone has been on the fringes for a while, has looked good at least at times, got good reviews for Ireland u21 during the summer and was the only bright spark against RB Leipzig? We need competition in CM and Smallbone can provide that, providing we get rid of Redmond and Djenepo (at least). Can't see how going to Stoke is really going to make him more likely to get into our 1st team, if he is not considered good enough now, then surely its better to let him go than offer him a new deal and send him out to the wastelands. Is Michael O'Neill really seen as a great coach for young players, don't get me wrong I think Michael did a brilliant job for Norn Iron, just don't see how Smallbone and Michael O'Neill are made for each other. I think also that this argument that we couldn't attract the best kids when we were out of the PL is tenuous and beginning to wear a bit thin, the only years this may have been the case were the final Lowe years which is now what 14/15 years ago, once Markus Liebherr bought us were were seen as one of the best Academies in the country until the money started talking and the likes of Chelsea and Man City started hoovering up the talent when the rules were relaxed about the geographical location of academy catchment areas. Anyway, I think its a mistake.

Agreed, it's becoming very apparent that the pathway from our Academy to first team really no longer exists but pathway from other academies to our first team is the way. Smallbone really should be in our squad for this season fighting for a place.

Charlie plays for Brisbane Roar so would not have had much say.

Haven't we just recruited Joe Shields?

Adrian Heath getting one over his old team. Apparently Minnesota are known as The Loons 🤣

Still worth taking as one of two new strikers we need if we could get him.

I'm not sure why everyone has written off Delap, have I missed something? We reportedly had a bid turned down, but that says to me that we need to up the bid. I'm sure Rory will point his lad in the right direction.

Sounds like he has what it takes to be a CB at Southampton.

Pretty obvious we won't be doing 4141 or 4222, when you stock up with CBs ( I count 7 including Valery and Simeu) and CMs it's bleedin obvious Ralph is planning 352/532 which was always his preferred formation before he joined us. Of course it requires 2/3 attackers to make it work, what we have up front at the mo is woeful.

Well from what I saw (last 20 or so), given who we are playin (apparently topmflight Austria Bundesliga) and that we are clearly playing our 2nd string (with Romeu and Adams) thought it actually looked half decent. Neat and tidy in possession mostly, a couple of chances ,bar hit and I understand Smallbone hit post earlier, didn't see it though). Decent enough workout for these hopefuls. Some good signs from Smallbone and Edwards. Interesting to see what happens 2nd half.

Anyone considered Bazunu may have a knock or something? Some of the reactions on here are bizarre for a pre season friendly against a 2nd (3rd?) Tier Austrian team. But nothing compared to the fuckwits on Twitter. Funny no one seems bothered that Willy is not on the bench either.

So Ralph says striker is not the hardest to get just the most expensive (paraphrasing), so don't be surprised if there is at least one biggish spend to come. Clearly we need 3 attackers (2 strikers, one #10), reading between the lines that is what Ralph thinks as well.

If Winks is brought in to strengthen our CM then I am fine with that, we were painfully shortn last year with Rom, JWP and Diablo, if were to end up with Rom, JWP, Romeo, Diallo.and Winks with Small one also available I would be OK with that, would allow us to go 3 in the middle with bench options. Still need a no 10 and 2 strikers (and ditch Walcott, Redmond and Djenepo). To be honest without 2 strikers everything else we do is just noise.

Time for Levi to get back to his roots.

Perraud was injured tail end of season, thought they said he was hoping to be ok for start of this. The other two, on their way hopefully, no amount of fitness work will make them good enough for another season at Saints

This, as I said before if he goes to Chelsea there is a decent chance we will get him back. If he had gone to the hot bed of youth football that is Newcastle he would have just been lost.

He played 26 times that season, so don't think there is much doubt about that. With only 1.sub allowed 26/42 with a loan period must have been about as regular as it could be. Odd thing is I have no recollection of Ken whatsoever.

Because some 'journos' are tiddly.

26 appearances in our most successful ever season (83-84). Went to to Birmingham and then on to Walsall where he broke his ankle in first ever training session and never played again. RIP Ken.