Saint Pete

Short memories some Saints fans. Have you forgotten McCarthy was fans player of the season the season before last? If it wasn't for his performances that season we would be a Championship club (or worse) now. In my view, having paid quite big money for him, Saints have clearly decided that Gunn is the future, but that doesn't mean McCarthy has suddenly become a **** keeper in my opinion. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Can't recall that any offers have been reported for Redmond whereas Bournemouth have received and rejected lucrative offers for some of those players this summer. My point was that Bournemouth seem genuinely interested in pushing forward and keeping their best whereas we always seemed more interested in maximising sale values of our players. Not convinced that has changed under current ownership, just that we don't have players that any of the richer clubs are bothered with currently. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Agree with most of your comments, especially regarding Bournemouth. With the four players you mention, it is an impressive feat that they have managed to hold on to all of them and it's hard to imagine the same would have happened if Saints had 4 young players of that quality. With Leicester, the question mark will be how much they are weakened at the back from losing Maguire. As for Brighton, much will depend on how their late signings from the championship fare, especially Maupay. They need more goals to stay up this year and can't rely on Glenn Murray for much longer. As for us, I think we have definitely improved our options and flexibility going forward which I think will give Ralph more tools to work with than last year. The worry is still at the other end. We have got Danso in which is good, but not sure we can expect a young and inexperienced CB to solve all our problems there. And with Lemina seemingly out of the picture, we do look light in centre mid, particularly if we get a couple of injuries. Overall, with the Ralph factor, I'm still pretty hopeful we can move up a few places this year though. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Good news! I’m encouraged by the reports about his pace, which is obviously something we lack in defence currently. He’s early in his career so we shouldn’t expect miracles from him however. You would think this will mean Hoedt going out on loan again (or permanently if can be done!) before euro windows close. No point in having 6 CBs on the books surely.

The fact that he can't get in Spurs team doesn't necessarily mean he isn't significantly better than the limited options we have in that position currently. I get why we aren't normally keen on loans, but in our current situation, a couple of loans of experienced players in key positions until we can afford perm signings could make a big difference to us in my opinion. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

I actually think it seems more likely that if we sign anyone today it would be a CM rather than a CB on the basis that Lemina seems nailed on to leave over next couple of weeks, and also rumours of Reed going out on loan? That would surely leave a space for a signing of some sort at CM even if only a loan. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Misunderstood, thought he was referring to us being interested in overseas players. Who we would need to sign today. Apologies. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Ah yes see that now! Forgot the focus was 100% on getting players out the door band 0% on improving squad. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

How depressing yet predictable. So we expect to get shot of some more players today or before other windows close but don't expect any incomings. I'm sure Ralph will be delighted. I don't understand the line from Leitch about overseas targets being unlikely because their window remains open. Seems like another excuse for our inability or unwillingness to do what it takes to get deals over the line. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

With the 2 signings we have made and the return of Boufal (hopefully to stay), was hard to see Sims getting much game time, so another loan always on the cards. Hopefully this will be a good experience for him. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Just watched the highlights from the weekend. I really can't stand or understand how it's become the norm that professional players take penalties with these stupid stuttering run-ups designed to make the keeper move first. A penalty is a free shot from 12 yards out with the keeper stuck on his line. Any half decent striker of the ball should be able to beat the keeper in this situation without all that ****! For me, the way Ings took both his pens betrays a lack of confidence in his own ability to strike the ball cleanly and accurately enough to score from 12 yards. I don't understand why JWP wasn't taking them anyway as he is by far our best penalty taker at present. Hopefully he will be out on duty again for the prem games. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Going to be a cliffhanger late in the window I reckon. We've got to hope someone out there is desperate enough to take Hoedt or Stephens off our hands so we can clear a space for someone decent. On balance think it's unlikely to happen. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

It's hard to know the reasoning without knowing what the player's own attitude is though. You are assuming that Boufal wants to be given another shot at Saints, but that may not be the case. Maybe he has talked to Ralph and stated that he prefers to move on? We know that Ralph made a point of talking to all of our players in detail when he arrived and made plans on basis of that, so maybe he has done the same with Boufal following end of his loan and that discussion has driven the decision to sell. All speculation of course but don't think we can automatically assume it is just the club driving this.

I reckon the ones who will be sold will probably be Austin, Gallagher, Lemina and Cedric. As you say, best that can be hoped with Hoedt, Carrillo and Forster is probably loans. Boufal could still go either way, depends on his attitude and what Ralph thinks of him. If all of those do go one way or the other, we would then need incomings at RB, CB, a midfielder to replace Lemina and a No 10 type player I think. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Seems like a sensible move all round. We need to generate cash for signings in other areas and Targett needs first team place. I would imagine we will try to push them up a bit from the 8m quoted though. Would rather we move Targett on than Bertrand. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Yes, on balance it seems we are doing the right thing here, but realistically it means we will have to wait till later in the window to get it done because Brum are unlikely to cave in at this stage if their valuation not met. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

The trouble is, this early in the window, Birmingham are always going to hold out for a higher offer if they think other clubs are interested. If we want to get deals done early, we may need to pay a bit of a premium to do that. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

It's the kind of muddled thinking that has become commonplace in the club over the last few seasons though. The "logic" is:- - Top player coming towards age 30, need to "maximise his value" by selling before he gets any older. - We have younger players in that position who haven't been given enough chances in first team yet. Need to give them more opportunity to come through by freeing up 1st choice place. This rigid view ignores completely the relative qualities of the "ageing" player who the club want to sell vs the young players they want to bring through. And the impact this loss of quality will likely have on the first team and results. If we are serious about wanting to move up the table next season we need better as first choice than Targett, so we will likely end up having to move him on anyway at some point and replace. Makes far more sense for Targett to be sold at this point and there should be enough interest from championship teams or promoted clubs to get a fairly decent fee, close to that being talked about for Bertrand. Hopefully the Mail story is garbage, but it shouldn't surprise anyone if it's not as this type of move is pretty typical of the kind of thing we've come to expect. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

We need to be adding quality not selling one of our only quality players left. I don't care how much older Bertrand is than Targett, he is still a massive upgrade on him. Targett should be the one to be moved on, and if we are only likely to get around £10m for Bertrand, then we would likely get close to that for Targett anyway given that he is younger and has more contract left? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

There's a reason Ralph has played 3 centre backs nearly all the time so far. It's not because he wants to tactically, it's because he knows our centre backs are not solid or quick enough to play in a back 4 in the prem. If he wants to move to 4 at the back (which I think he does) then the club need to get him a better quality CB to go with one of the ones we've got. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Yep, these last few games have underlined what a painfully average set of players we have at the moment and also what a great job Ralph has managed to do in the second half of the season to drag us out of the mire. The positive thing is nobody at the club should be under any illusions now about the amount of work that needs doing to the squad if we want to become a decent top half prem side again. I have faith in Ralph but he will need good support from above in the summer if we are to progress much next season.

This is it. Ralph knows he is unlikely to be able to shift Forster in the summer with the contract he is on, so he will use these couple of games to gauge whether he can be relied upon sufficiently to be No2 to Gunn next season. If he thinks he can, it would help Ralph as could potentially get some cash in from McCarthy that can be reinvested elsewhere without needing another keeper. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Enjoyable. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

That Messi's not bad. Reminiscent of JWP [emoji3] Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Yep Liverpool need a goal tonight now. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk