Barsiem

Apparently it's Shields that is driving Chelsea's interest

Main thing that table shows is how much teams waste money! Who on that list would say gave value for money? VVD I would say currently, a few others may turn out to be good value as well if they've recently signed. Puts our b*tching about carillo and onuachu into perspective

If we overspend on GKs to the detriment of other areas that's what we need to do. I was hoping Baz would come good this season (and he still might) but silly mistakes in preseason are making me nervous. A solid gk should be our top priority, and not be able to shift McCarthy shouldn't change that

Deserves its own thread I think. Worked as a scout for Southampton for many many years. I'm not even sure if he had retired? RIP https://twitter.com/SouthamptonFC/status/1683782509710942209?s=20

To think we were all worried about Newcastle buying Salisu for £40m 18 months ago.... Now we'd be delighted with half that

Nice confidence building save from Baz there. He needs a Few more of them

Since the echo appointed Alfie House how would any of you who read both the Echo & Athletic compare the content provided? Seems the echo have copied the Athletics approach and done a good job, but I don't read the athletic so may be wrong

Seems more to me that Newcastle are feeding the press to try and unsettle the player and get the price down. I think he'll stay until Jan at least

Not sure I believe either that we're signing downes or that we're selling livramento. Guess if the telegraph or athletic report it the story will have legs

Brown has a great record tbf - just not this year. Plus he's WK and a good one at that. I think you're being harsh on the coaching staff. Last season we won the T20 and pushed an unstoppable Surrey hard all season, falling away only in the final two games. I think we also got to the semis in the 50 over tourney? This season we're up and down in the Championship certainly, but another finals day (where we were beaten more by the weather than anything) and safe in the CC means we are doing far better than 90% of the counties. Don't you think the coaches deserve a bit of credit for this?

I can't see Chelsea selling Broja tbh. I expect Poch to give him plenty of minutes and given his rep for developing players it'd be good for Broja as well. Ings is looking good in preseason as well so not a given that WH will want to sell him

Can't believe you forgot Bale!!

I remember DCC putting some good performances under Jones, and then Jones said to the press that he was telling DCC he was a defender rather than a footballer. DCC went right off form after that! I think he's potentially a great player for us, as long as his attitude is right

Money. Albeit the 50 over comp is good for counties to blood youngsters at least. Last season Middleton & Turner played and are now first teamers, and the year before was a bit of a breakthrough for Prest. But yeah, there's too much on at once with both comps running parallel

It'll be interesting to see the difference in media coverage between this and the Huw Edwards allegations.

I think it's the runs that need to be tweaked (i.e. Essex should have had a higher chase than 112), but certainly can't forsee a way you can alter the number of wickets the batting team have fairly

I said similar earlier in the season as well. During the game one of the commentators stated the fact it was likely to be a shortened game was a factor in Essex choosing to bowl first, which shows the players think the same! It's been a great system, but needs a tweak I think. That said, we probably would have won if we'd fielded a bit better. A couple of dropped catches, those ridiculous byes McDermott conceded, and then Ellis' slower balls being telegraphed by all & sundry were the difference today

It's disappointing that players couldn't postpone starting in the US tournament in order to play finals day... Albeit Hants aren't affected so suppose it helps us. I wonder if Vince was approached to play in it? Weather looks shocking at edgbaston tomorrow so it's a good bet the games will be played on Sunday

Whilst I have no love for the Sun, Edwards has brought this on himself. It's hardly a good look for a man who is in the public eye and paid a huge amount by license payers to be paying a girl who is young enough to be his granddaughter (and also allegedly a drug addict) for sex pictures. Even before you factor in that he's married with kids. He's another person who thought they could get away with it.

Why would JWP care what they bid??

It's an opening bid - they're always too low. Suspect it'll get to £30m and we'll take it. Tbh I think that's a fair price for him

Our batting is definitely fragile, albeit it's improved slightly as the competition has progressed. Our bowling and Vince are going to be vital next Saturday - from memory I don't think Vince has a great finals day record? We now also have the most final appearances of any county, and could get a couple more records if we win next week - most victories by a single county & first to win back-to-back tournaments. Somerset must be favourites, and maybe Surrey after them, but we're more than capable. Bring it on!

I didn't say it was a success.... We got relegated so it clearly wasn't. But in terms of outlay on players from big academy's they have paid for themselves. Compare that to experienced players we bought like Orsic & Onuachu. And I still disagree re Bazunu. It's all cumulative. If we had a better manager we'd have more points. If we had a proper striker we'd have more points. If we had better centre backs we'd have more points. If we had decent wingers we'd have more points. We failed all over the pitch and on the bench last season, and that's not down to one person alone. For me, the single biggest failing was the person in charge. A better GK would certainly have helped, but a better manager would have helped even more. And a better striker would have helped more than a better GK as well

To look at it another way, the success of one of those imports has meant we basically will get our money back for all 4 by selling that one. Plus the others may still come good. We do need a mix of experience and youth certainly, but I'm not against buying young players from other academy's. I don't agree Bazunu was the reason we got relegated. We finished on 25 points! That's not all down to one position. bazunu was part of the problem certainly, but arguably the biggest was the fact we didn't have a decent manager at any point during the season

Wow good for him! Apparently they are trying to manage his workload due to injuries so the shorter game will suit compared to 50 over games (sadly for Hampshire). If he carries on like this he'll be in international teams soon enough, although I suspect that'll be for SA