VectisSaint

Now you're being silly 😂

Presumably there are no LBs even in the u18s, considering Small is technically an u17. Wonder why it has all gone so wrong for this position in the Academy, it used to be our strength, Bridge, Bale, Shaw, Targett, McQueen.

I did say 'if' anyone is to blame, and that it was quite reasonable for him to decide to stay. Can't really blame him at all, I'm sure I would have done the same, but there's no doubt he is largely the cause of the issue, maybe that's a better description rather than fault.

No. We haven't really addressed two of our biggest problems, cover for DM (Romeu) and Goalkeeper. Everything else is fine (would have been happier to see Redmond and Long go but there you go). Maybe Lyanco can cover Romeu, but then he's not available for CB so it's not really a solution.

Missed the Sunderland game then?

There is no way Saints were going to let contracts for all 3 keepers expire in 2022 (includes Lewis), you can't go into a situation of potentially having no pro keepers on your books. The strategy (in my view) was to get rid of Forster this window (more expensive of the two and in Ralph's opinion the more expendable), but Forster decided (quite reasonably) that he was better off financially seeing out his ridiculous contract than going somewhere else, no-one being apparently willing to take on his huge wage requirements for this year, when they could get him for nowt next summer. So Saints are stuck with FF, and without him off the wage bill cannot bring in the replacement/new keeper that they had planned. I still hold out a (very) feint hope that Forster might go this window but whether we have replacement locked in to come at very short notice is the problem (probably not). If anyone is to blame for this situation with the GKs its Les and FF, for stupid contract extension and FF deciding (quite justifiably) that he is better off sitting on the bench (and getting run outs in the Cups like tonight). Whatever anyone thinks of McCarthy, Forster is not the answer.

Vestegaard picked up a minor knee injury in training. Not thought to be serious.

You didn't read/translate the tweet did you. It is in Portuguese by the way. 🙄

What happened to him flying in at the weekend as previously reported?

Any sign of the Gorilla in the stands?

I'm sure that we were planning on bringing in a new (first choice) keeper, offered McCarthy extension which he looks like he will sign (if he hasn't already), offered Forster an extension that he was hardly likely to accept, in the expectation that someone would come in for him, but it didn't happen, or else Forster said no to the move (Celtic supposedly). So it turns out we are stuck with both, Ralph prefers McCarthy (mostly because he will be a better #2) and with FF not willing to sign the contract that was offered he will be backup for this season before leaving on a free next summer. Bit of a silly situation we have got ourselves into, but unless something comes up in the next week looks like we have to live with it. Interesting to note that the Accrington keeper that we were apparently linked with (Toby Savin) has been benched so far this season, not too promising to be after Stanley's #2. Haven't heard what has happened to the Greek Albanian that were linked with. Personally don't think Forster is any better than McCarthy, much of a muchness, but clearly Alex is the club's preferred player for the longer term. Can't fathom what is going to happen to Harry Lewis.

Any chance we could get this lad into the first team, after all he is about the same age as Theo was when he broke through. Surely a better option than Shane Long. Hadn't realised SKD's son was playing for the u18s (Sonnie).

Shouldn't the u18s have a separate thread. This thread is about the B team.

Plays in Serie A. Anyway, I hear he can also drive a lorry.

Only if you take my comment completely out of context, as you clearly have. Ironic really when you complain bitterly to others who wind you up that your quotes are taken out of context. The context was that it was being said that JWP has now committed to us until 2026. Maybe that's what the contract extension says, but we all know that is bollocks. It just means that we have given him a pay rise and will continue to pay him for 5 years. If an offer comes in and he wants to go the length of the contract is immaterial to whether he goes or not. I don't think he will go, any more than I thought he would go before, no one came in with a serious offer, and none of the big clubs seemed seriously interested at all, Prowsey has done well to get a pay rise out of Saints on the back of that, good luck to him. If he has a stellar season this year and Liverpool or City come in for him next summer, you probably won't see him for dust, but at least Saints will get more for him. So, just in case you find any holes in my comments above and they do not measure up to your exacting standards of argument, nit picking or pedantry, you can quite frankly stuff it where the sun doesn't shine mush.

Didn't stop him leaving though. Contract extensions are meaningless, that's all I'm saying. Just means we might get more for him. If someone comes in for him in the future and offers big money then he would go. Hypothetical of course.

Naive, means nothing. cf van Dijk.

New 5 year deal. Off next Summer then. 🙄

3 points against Burley. The new New Forest derby.

Did I miss Perraud leaving?

Reports this morning that Jones is not leaving Man U, OGS has plans for him as 5th choice CB.

Ralph says he isn't ready yet, suggests it might be some time before he will be, needs to understand the way we play. Does make you wonder why we have brought him in if its going to be a while till he is ready.

Simeu & Lancashire.

Could help with all the Chelsea kids we have recently signed as well.

Stuey I can sort of understand (late coming back to training from Euros?), but no KWP, must be an injury or something (no offence to Tino). Otherwise much as (I) expected, though I would have started Tella over Djenepo. Still at least we have a resonably strong bench, with Broja still to come.