SaintJackoInHurworth

Three from four for me: Fulham, West Brom, Sheff Utd and Burnley. Brighton could also be dragged into it, but I don't think they will. West Ham, Newcastle, Palace, Leeds & Villa will be in the next tranche of clubs moving up the table. Above them will be Saints and Wolves filling the 9th and 10th places and then above them in the top 8 will be the usual top 6 plus Leicester and Everton. Liverpool and Man City will again be the top two.

https://www.lalaziosiamonoi.it/news/calciomercato-lazio-de-grandis-hoedt-viene-respirato-come-una-beffa-130807 Stefano De Grandis commented on the purchase of Hoedt by Lazio and the discussions around the biancoceleste defense on Sky Sport: "The speech is always of quality. Lazio wanted a defender and started with an interest in Kumbulla and Verona. he asked for a lot. In the end he takes home Hoedt, who he sold for 17 million and resumes on a free loan with the right of redemption for 5 million in a year. It is clear that the fan remains with a bitter taste if Cagliari also takes Godin, Roma Kumbulla, everyone takes defenders of a certain depth. Hoedt is breathed in like a mockery. " Anyone able to translate that better than Google? I can translate French but not Italian! Looking at various Lazio related websites they are talking about Hoedt as already being a Lazio player but there seem to be suggestions that he is injured or not fit.

Interesting to read all the latest rumours. None of them sound particularly convincing and it seems odd that Saints would suddenly abandon the transfer policy that has stood them in good stead on many an occasion (albeit that some more recent transfers like Carillo, etc. may have challenged this outlook). Personally I feel that it is odd that we would be looking at Theo, but if he does come then I hope he can rediscover something of the raw talent that caused him to attract the attention which led him to leave Saints in the first place. I well remember the adulation he recieved when he first came to prominence and the frightening speed he demonstrated in what I think was his debut - away to one of the Sheffield clubs I think. Squad Needs Overall, if we don't sign anyone today it is not the end of the world, but it is interesting to analyse our current squad to see where the needs are. A look at the Saints squad in terms of at least two players for every position is interesting (NB Don't read too much into the order of players or the slightly arbitrary nature of the labels for positions!): GK: McCarthy, Forster, Gunn, Lewis (Surprisingly listed on OS as part of first team squad) LB: Bertrand, Vokins, (McQueen - LT Injury & not listed on Saints website in any squad!) RB: KWP, Valery CB1: Bednarek, Stephens CB2: Salisu, Vestergaard CM/DM1: Romeu, Diallo CM/DM2: Ward-Prowse, Smallbone AM1: Redmond, Djenepo AM2: Armstrong, Boufal CF1: Ings, Obafemi CF2: Adams, Long, Tella It is interesting that the following players are identified as B-Team players: Slattery, Sims, Hesketh (and Tella is in both first-team and B-team squads!) Looking at that squad list backs up the idea that if we sell Boufal then we need also to bring in a replacement who would provide cover for Armstrong. As others have rightly suggested, other areas we might also look to strengthen include the full-back positions. After that reserve CM and CF positions coulkd also be strengthened though they don't seem a particularly urgent need at present. Future Prospects? I think the big questions must be about what the future prospects are for Smallbone, Obafemi, Tella, Valery and Vokins and how we best give them experience. Obviously there are also similar questions about those who have been dropped from the first team squad onto the B-Team.

So... Ralph has said two or three more signings before the transfer window closes. It looks like Diallo must be the first, but what about the other two? What is the latest news on the following players?: Ruben Loftus-Cheek Ryan Sessegnon Jovan Cabral Folarin Balogun Jack Butland Are there any other players with whom we have been linked in the last few days that could be one of the other potential signings? Also, where are we up to with player sales?: Hoedt - was supposed to be rejoining Lazio and having a medical last Monday but seems to have gone quiet. There were some rumblings about Lazio being short of money. Anyone know what's happening? Carrillo - was supposed to be leaving for free to join Elche in La Liga but again it seems to have gone a little quiet. Any news? Boufal - There was talk of him joining Olimpiacos and then it changed to Angers, but again it has gone quiet! Gunn - Linked with Stoke City, but it seems to be dependant on Butland leaving. There were some rumours of a swap deal with Saints. Has anyone got any news or updates on any of these or any other potential transfer moves?

Here is my best attempt at an accurate translation: Transfers: Ibrahima Diallo (Brest) targeted by Southampton Brest defensive midfielder Ibrahima Diallo is interesting Southampton, who are expected to place an urgent transfer request to the club from Brittany. Ibrahima Diallo has developed a following in England. Already targeted by Leicester, during the January transfer window, the young (21 year old) Brest player is now attracting great interest from Southampton. The club from the South of England are actively seeking a defensive midfielder and have made the former Monaco player, who transferred to Brest in the summer of 2019, a priority. Diallo is valued at €15 million in the transfer market. The directors of Brest are already seeking a successor to the under-21 international (1 cap) who expressed his desire to leave at the start of the transfer window.

What IS going on this weekend? Especially today!! West Ham thrashing Wolves... Leicester thrashing Man City away from home... Spurs only managing a draw at home against Newcastle... West Brom almost beating Chelsea... It's certainly not been a good weekend for most Fantasy football managers either! 😲

Those do seem to be the main links, but they are not the only ones, albeit, many of the other links seem to have gone quiet. There are also a few positive links in terms of us selling players. I tried to summarise everything the other day. Here is a slightly shortened version of that summary again (with Florentino Luis removed following his move to Monaco): As a recent link, Jovan Cabral may also be one to keep an eye on but we shall have to see if it comes up again in the coming week or not.

Is it just me or is this thread the most frustrating ever at the moment?! Some days it is full of petulant arguments and then every now and then there is finally another rumour. Today feels like one of the better days, but who knows what will come of it all. Nevertheless, overall there are plenty of rumours, so I am going to try to put all the ones I can identify in one post... Potential Outs Hoedt - loan-to-buy deal reportedly agreed with Lazio, based on achievement of certain criteria. Both fee (£4.6m vs £7.8m) and wages (£30,000 vs £60,000) have been issues. Boufal – In talks to move to Olympiacos with Angers also interested. Carrillo - Mauricio Pellegrini was reportedly interested in taking him on loan at Velez Sarsfield in Argentina but evidently Carrillo did not want to go home and there has been little or no other news. Gunn – Leeds are rumoured to be interested in signing him on loan, though rumours remain that he may go to Stoke – potentially on a swap deal for Jack Butland. Vestergaard -previously linked with Leicester; recently linked with West Ham – but only as a loan deal which would not interest Saints. Potential Ins – Central Midfield Ibrahim Sangare (Toulouse) Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea) – Loan Olivier Ntcham (Celtic) Tom Davies (Everton) – Loan Florentino Luis (Benfica) – rumoured to be set to move to Monaco Hamza Choudhury (Leicester) Dejan Ljubicic (Rapid Vienna) – reported to be staying in Austria Orel Mangala (Stuttgart) – linked in August but no recent reports Idrissa Doumbia (Sporting Lisbon) – work permit issues have made signing him look not feasible Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic) - stronger links with AC Milan than Saints (mainly a CB but also plays CM) Potential Ins – Wing/attacking midfield Ryan Sessegnon (Spurs) – LB/LW – Loan Jovan Cabral (Sporting Lisbon) – RW Potential Ins – Other Folarin Balogun (Arsenal) – striker – more likely to go to Sheff Utd Jack Butland (Stoke) – GK – swap deal with Angus Gunn I am sure there are recent other links I have missed but that is an interesting collection of rumours!

I don't know if anyone has seen this and/or knows anything about it...? https://kickgh.com/world-football/10788-southampton-to-announce-partnership-deal-with-ghanaian-giants-asante-kotoko It sounds a bit random to me! Or is it related to the potential takeover? Anyone know anything about it?

I can't believe there are bed-wetting idiots here who believe we would be better off without Ralph! While there were obviously problems with our second half performance today (especially after Romeu went off), let's not for a moment forget how bad we were under Pellegrino and Hughes! If Ralph were to leave we would be well and truly stuffed. Clearly a few players are not yet up to speed/fitness and without our pressing game a high line does not work. Clearly, also, the poor fitness of Salisu has scuppered many of our plans for this season; and our failure to sign a replacement for Hojbjerg, Reed and Lemina has left us very weak and short in the middle. Our biggest failures in the second half of this game were our failures to mark Kane and Son. Without those two players on the Spurs side I think we could well have gone on to win this game! Finally, to return to the initial point, it is not foolish for Ralph to believe we can play with a high line. The fact is that we played out the last part of last season very successfully using just that system (and indeed without Hojbjerg in the side too). Ralph will, I am sure know that we have got work to do on the training pitch; and I am sure he will be as keen as any of us to see us signing a central midfielder and for Salisu to be fit.

Finally, some sense after all the bed-wetting that has been going on here in the last few days. Meanwhile, too, Man Utd just lost at home 3-1 to a Palace side we were unlucky to lose 1-0 against away from home. If we are destined for a relegation scrap, I wonder what that means for United!??!!!

Did we ever discover who it was? Presumably they are now back to training? Was it Redmond as a few people concluded?

I agree that our biggest need is now in central midfield to replace Hojbjerg. However, that doesn't rule out the possibility that we might sign a central defender if we feel he can be utilised in central midfield. I thought the rumours that we were interested in Kristoffer Ajer at Celtic were interesting in that regard as he can play as either a central defender or central midfielder. Unfortunately, it looks more like that Ajer will go to Liverpool or Milan than Saints - clearly Liverpool have worked out that they can sign players from Celtic before we do to save themselves some money! It is also interesting to see rumours linking us with Balogun from Arsenal. While I agree that we don't need another striker now, the fact that he is only 17 suggests the possibility that we could add him to our academy and develop him as a star for the future. Of course, such a step would increase competition for Obafemi, N'Lundulu and others. Talking of N'Lundulu, I can't see him listed in the newly-updated squad profiles on the OS. Is he going out on loan or has someone inadvertently missed him out - perhaps due to uncertainty about whether to list him with the first team or under-23s?

I want to express my thanks to Steve and any others for all they do to keep this forum going. While I have been frustrated with the current problems, this is still the best forum around. Personally, I have found the biggest issue has been when I try to go back in my browser. In general the page which has the most problem loading is the Saints forum page. If I have difficulty then I find going to the home page first and clicking forward from there has greater success.

We play Fulham at St Marys in our third to last fixture on May 12. If Fulham are needing points to stay up (and assuming Saints have nothing to play for at that stage) who would tempted to drop some hints for Ralph to give them a chance to beat us?!!! 🤪 LOL

If we sign Ajer then I think once he and Salisu are settled and up to speed, etc. I think our first team line-up is likely to be: McCarthy KWP Salisu Bednarek Bertrand JWP Ajer Armstrong Redmond Adams Ings I think our bench will include Romeu, Stephens, Smallbone, Djenepo and Long. As to reserve keeper I have no guess as to whether that will be Forster or Gunn. The seventh sub will vary depending on the match, player fitness, form and desire to give younger players experience/motivation. Depending on who we sell, loan and retain, it will be out of Vokins, Valery, Boufal, Vestergaard, Obafemi, Slattery, McQueen (when fit) and any of the younger academy players, especially Jankewitz, Tella or N'lundulu. Presumably Sims, Jones, O'Connor and Lewis might also be possibles for the bench if they do not go out on loan or get sold.

These stats and the characteristics you posted before are interesting, but where are they coming from? How are they calculated? Also, as a comparison, do you have both the stats and characteristics for Ntcham too? Have the stats and characteristics been worked out for Harrison Reed too?

What I don't understand is that there is talk that we are interested in signing Ntcham from Celtic, while they would love to have Elyonoussi but can't afford him. Isn't there some possibility of a swap deal? Or are Elyonoussi's wages the problem? Or is just that Celtic don't want to sell Ntcham or daren't do so because the fans would be too upset? From what I can see from Celtic fans is that they love Ntcham and hope the club don't sell him, but they do seem to be resigned to him leaving.

Winners: Liverpool Other Champions League/Europa qualifying places: 2 Man City 3 Man Utd 4 Chelsea / 5 Arsenal (6 Spuds 7 Wolves) Relegated: Fulham, WBA, Aston Villa Us: 8th, just ahead of Leicester & Everton Surprise good team: Saints! Surprise shit team: Sheff Utd (not a real surprise, but they won't repeat their success of 2019-20) & West Ham (also, Leicester to have a more disappointing season) Signing of the season as it stands: Ziyech & Salisu Shit signing of the season as it stands: Joe Hart First sacking of the season: David Moyes The Managerial “get fed up with mediocrity” resignation: Slaven Bilic or Jose Mourinho Final Table: Liverpool Man City Man Utd Chelsea Arsenal Spurs Wolves Saints Leicester Everton Burnley Leeds Utd C. Palace Newcastle Sheff Utd Brighton West Ham West Brom Fulham A. Villa

Make of it what you will, but there are rumours on Twitter that Lemina has offered to reduce his annual wages by €0.85m from €2.05m to €1.2m in order to get a transfer (or loan?). It seems, however, that he is offering this to Galatasary which doesn't fit well with reports that Galatasary will not be re-signing Lemina. https://twitter.com/1905GSFANS/status/1294532275028332544 There is also a report that Mario Lemina has said "Not everything is about money, football is my first love. I am very unhappy when I am not on the field. I want to stay in Galatasaray. If the clubs agree, I will sign.. for Galatasaray." https://twitter.com/1905GSFANS/status/1294544358134300673 There is also news on Turkish website 'Haberturk' which states that Galatasaray have reached an agreement to sign him: https://www.haberturk.com/lemina-transferinde-sicak-gelisme-galatasaray-anlasma-sagladi-2773490-spor/2

Ah! Thanks - so it's actually 28, but one of those has already been loaned out. That all makes sense now. So, hopefully this means that simply selling one or two players should open up the possibility for at least one more signing. I imagine that whether or not we sign anyone else, Hassenhuttl will want to reduce the squad as much as possible beyond what he sees as key players. I remember him saying when he became our manager that he likes to work with tighter, smaller squads.

Thanks for the clarification on this - glad to hear that it is not likely to be a problem. However, on the basis that we have got 27 squad players at present I guess that does still pose questions about which players we will ship out this summer - whether by selling them, releasing them or loaning them. Just a quick look at some other threads, together with what has been mentioned above, gives me some idea what our squad currently looks like. However, I have ended up with 29 players not 27! Can someone tell me where I have got this wrong?: Goalkeepers: 5 - McCarthy, Gunn, Lewis, Forster, Latham Defenders: 9 - Walker-Peters, Salisu, Bednarek, Stephens, Vestergaard, Hoedt, Bertrand, McQueen, Jones Midfield/Wing: 11 - JWP, Romeu, Armstrong, Redmond, Djneppo, Reed, Boufal, Sims, Hesketh, Elynoussi, Lemina Strikers: 4 - Ings, Adams, Long, Carillo Players who are under age but have appeared in the first team (or on the bench) by my estimation are: Valery, Obafemi, Smallbone, Vokins, Tella, N'Lundulu, Johnson, Ramsey, Slattery To trim the squad to 25 or less we would need to get rid of at least four - more if we buy anyone else. Like you have all said, though, this seems to be fairly straightforward with a choice of any or all of the following likely to be elsewhere in the forthcoming season: Forster, Hoedt, Elynoussi, Lemina, Carillo, Sims, Hesketh, Jones, Latham, Lewis I haven't included McQueen in the list of those that will end up elsewhere on the basis that he will need to complete his recovery from injury and show that he can get back up to full speed and fitness before any other club is likely to take a look at him; and personally I would be delighted for him to make a full recovery and to begin to challenge for a place in the first team squad.

In the last few seasons I seem to remember that discussions about new signings and players being sold or sent on loan were influenced by the limitations on EPL squad sizes - especially with some of our younger players getting to an age where they count in the statistics. So, can anyone outline where we are at in relation to this for the coming season? (Including allowing for Forster, McQueen, Sims, Reed, Elynoussi, etc. as well as our recent transfer dealings and the release of Cedric and Yoshida).

It was sad that Sam McQueen got such a nasty injury. It is good to hear he is on the mend, but I wonder what future he has at Saints. A few years ago he looked all set to establish himself in the Saints first team squad, but he always had a tough struggle on his hands displacing Bertrand. A number of injuries and changes of manager do not seem to have done him any favours since then and with Vokins looking set to establish himself as reserve left back I wonder if McQueen is likely to be able to get a look-in. In addition, there remain questions about whether he is best at left back or on the wing, though personally I think he will have greater chances as a left back.

Romeu, Smallbone, Jankewitz, JWP, Armstrong, Reed, Lemina, Stephens... In theory we have a decent number of players who 'can' play in some sort of central midfield position. Of course, there are problems with all of them in relation to the more defensive midfield role... * Romeu - the player who naturally fits the mold as long as he can maintain good form. The question is whether one player in the middle is enough and does he need a partner who compensates for his occasional weaknesses? He is not always the fastest or most consistent player. * Lemina - A great player on his day, but seems to prefer a more attacking role and his lack of discipline, his laziness and the fact he has fallen out with Saints pretty much rules him out; otherwise he could have become a good box-to-box midfielder. In the light of his falling out with Saints, let's hope a foreign coach can see his potential and pay a decent enough transfer fee and wages to take him off our hands, releasing money for us to buy someone else. * Smallbone - was touted as potentially the Hojbjerg 'replacement' but is it really his position? He did well in his appearances at the end of the season, but you have to wonder if he needs a bit more experience yet. * Reed - seems to have done well at Fulham, so maybe he can finally come good. It would be great if he can, but I didn't see enough from him in the past to suggest he will. Ralph will be the best judge of his ability. * JWP & Armstrong - both can fill in here and do a job, alongside e.g. Romeu, but ultimately it is not really their best position. * Jankewitz - too inexperienced surely? * Stephens - maybe occasionally but not really the long term solution surely? Who knows though?