VectisSaint

Bit odd, what qualifies someone to have a valid political opinion? Recording artists (usually known as musicians or composers) often have very valid political opinions/views. Probably more so than journalists or lawyers or the like. Some footballers have very well thought through political views, others are just twats. You should not tar people with a brush based on their background.

Nor was I to be fair, just looked it up 😉 Before my time (just)

Unless of course they see it as a retro from 1954-55. when they won the Football League Division 3 (South).

He has been playing top flight football in Poland and Turkey for the last 3 seasons (Turkey last season, Poland the two before that). He hasn't played second level since he was on loan in the Czech Republic 4 years ago. Perhaps you are getting confused with Gavin who was playing in a 3rd tier part time league for some crap team last season 😉

Lis doesn't need a work permit if he is going to be loaned out to one of the other SR Clubs

To be fair so far he is the only signing of the season

If Pep was watching England against Hungary and/or Italy he would have crossed Philips off the list. He was complete and utter crap, and got JWP an unwanted yellow into the bargain with his hospital pass in the Italy game.

No worries, thought it a bit odd. The story always was that McCarthy had agreed an extension based on him not being guaranteed #1, and that Forster had turned down a similar contract offer. This was in the Scottish Sun (or some other Scottish red top, which might seem obscure, but the Scottish rags are/were close to Forster due to his Celtic loans). Looks like Bazanu has been told he will be #1 which fits in with what I understood last year. Bit surprised if Bazunu is being offered #1 given his age and experience, was expecting someone "better" but I don't think we would be paying £16m for a backup. It is a bit of a risk, but with McCarthy and Willy as backups, perhaps the risk is somewhat mitigated. Still wouldn't surprise me totally to see McCarthy moved on and replaced, now that we have a new keeper, based on the McCarthy/Ralph fallout in January (Brighton match), just because McCarthy signed a new contract doesn't mean we can't sell him (I know, who would buy him) or loan him out. But I don't have any worries about McCarthy as a backup he was doing perfectly fine up until the Norwich match last season and doubtful that he would have actually been dropped had he not got injured.

Eh? McCarthy did play in the last couple of games.

Looks a lot fitter as well, appears to have worked hard on his physique, he no longer looks like a rugby prop forward.

Actually 12 months ago he wasn't. 18 months ago I would completely agree. Bu the fall of in form and goalscoring in 2021 was alarming (covid and other factors). I was all for keeping him, but in hindsight I think we did well to offload him when we did. 7 goals in 30 apps for Villa suggests this drop off was not temporary, he really struggled to make an impact at Villa, hence why they are happy to move him on now. I like Danny Ings, and he was great for us for a couple of years but he is well past his best I'm afraid.

Not only the defence generally, but also the set-play set-up, which was previously covered by our former goalkeeping coach (Watson). Does seem Ralph has learned some lessons, and is seeking to improve in our weak areas. Bear in mind though that this is what Ruben said when he joined Copenhagen, and seems at odds with what was said when his joining us was announced (seemed more emphasis on attacking), perhaps his role developed during his Copenhagen time, who knows, but he does seem sound.

Saints have probably contacted his agent. I did wonder whether he was going to be kept as the new Olly Lancashire (for the B Team) but then noticed that Lancashire has been retained. Maybe there is some sort of coaching deal, though personally don't see Long as a potential coach type (bit like Walcott).

Oh Oh Shane, now you're in trouble, not telling the trouble and strife about your new contract negotiations. What's the deal with Stephens then, McCarthy's new contract showed up on some official site somewhere, but not Jack's, why don't they now at least announce what the new deals were. This is not a post about whether he deserved a new contract or not, but why don't the club announce it.

Minor rib fracture according to this: https://www.balls.ie/football/stephen-kenny-will-smallbone-ireland-512713

Young Walcott was a quality signing.

WE don't know, but it was reported last summer in one of the Scottish newspapers (Sun?) that he had turned down the contract offered. Just because a newspaper reported it doesn't make it true, but the Scottish rag (whichever it was) have/had a much closer relationship with Forster than their English counterparts because he was a Celtic player and was still wanted by them back then. It all made sense at the time, both keepers were offered new contracts, one declined and one accepted. The one that declined clearly knew that he had a better chance of being offered something elsewhere. Of course things at the Club changed massively since then, but I would guess that Forster was quite categorical in his refusal to sign a new contract and probably had already agreed a move n principle before Sport Republic took over and before his brief run of good form happened after McCarthy's injury. Bottom line, Saints did not "let him go", Forster decided to leave. I'm confident that we will sign a new #1 for the coming season, and McCarthy will do as a backup. He was actually doing well before the Norwich game and then the game where he was injured.

To be honest all or CBs could be called Calamity at times, so he would fit in well.

Does anyone know for certain whether Jack is still on the books (or will be come the end of the month)? No sign of a renewed contract (unlike McCarthy who it was rumoured signed one last Summer and so it proved). His absence from squads late in the season suggested perhaps that he was being let go, but then he suddenly appeared again out of the blue. Thought the Retained List would have been published by now.

Why not sign him directly to Goztepe? I can't yet see the point of signing him for Saints and then loaning him to a partner club. Hopefully someone can explain.

At Ajax. My point and the discussion that lead to it was based on his time AT SOUTHAMPTON. Sorry if that's a little hard for you to understand. Ajax clearly got more out of him than Saints ever did.

That's because when we had Tadic he showed no leadership qualities of any sort. Model pro, my arse.

People in Reading know as much about Long as we do, don't think you need to worry. He scored more goals for them in less appearances than he ever has or will for us. Not sure he is good enough for Reading, he was not too brilliant at Boscombe last season in the same division.

Hoddle without Gormley.

Actually it says 10 arrivals and departures, and immediately after talks about Davis, Watson and Fleming, implying they count as departures.