HarvSFC

Braithwaite threw his toys out of the pram last summer. Knuckled down after not getting a move, but not the type of character profile we should be looking at.

Another fun day. 62 to go. Wood, as I mentioned yesterday is a bit underwhelming, but a good price, so in a sense risk free and still got room for development. Hopefully allows us to free up funds for the three main positions - Goalkeeper, Downes and a striker. Could even allow us to go a bit higher for O'Reilly too. Never seen Ronnie Edwards play, but his name has been mentioned on here for a few years now. So was Caleta-Car's and he was crap, but again, hopefully an English mentality and team spirit at the club makes up for any lack of talent. Again, a good price also with room for development. A couple of young England internationals, not too bad and THB as well, we could have the future England backline in the making. Recreate the Rodriguez, Shaw, Lallana, JWP and Lambert picture. Shame to see the two youngsters go. But, there's a food chain at the youth level, like the seniors now and anyone who looks decent will get snapped up, like the seniors. Unfortunate we hadn't tied them down to their first pro deals, as the market values them at £15m+ these days. The rest of the Premier League must be wishing they were us this summer. Shows you don't have to be one of the big six to get deals in early like we were told for so many years.

What a fun day. Only 63 more to go. This time two years ago we had already signed Bazunu, Lis and ABK, so we're currently 3-3 on senior signings with THB, Lallana and Taylor. 3-0 up on last summer with the first senior signing coming in the form of Ryan Manning on July 11th. The days of us spending all summer waiting for a signing under Gao are well and truly done.

I was intrigued by what our transfer strategy was going to be this summer, as always. No doubt Martin had a big influence on transfers last summer with him having managed Manning and Downes previously, Fraser being a former teammate and apparently he tried to sign Stewart at MK Dons, also got the Scottish link. Worked at Championship level and we also clearly targeted British players with no one joining from overseas. Now, at Premier League level, it doesn't look as glamorous. Wood's a bit of a worry for me in that he didn't standout for the right reasons at the level below. The Premier League is ruthless and won't allow for him to learn on the job. But, we have also thrown a lot of money on foreign flops in recent years, especially in the CB position. ABK, DCC, Lyanco, Hoedt and Vestergaard to name but a few. You would at least hope Wood has the mentality to make up for a possible lack of talent with a bit of graft and fight, which the former five didn't have as when the going got tough a lot of the time they went missing and into hiding and they were meant to be our back line. Now, ideally we would have a good recruitment team, but who knows with that anymore. At the very least you'd hope we have a more focussed plan this summer than Joe Shields' scattergun mess, which he has continued at Chelsea. Up the Brexit Saints?

I don't think there's actually any credible links between us and Delap, but if we were to hypothetically sign him, the only way we should be signing him is on loan. We've thrown away too much money on the Manchester City academy and can't keep throwing money down on "potential". Would be stupid from the club to spend a good amount of money on a player we wouldn't have taken any notice of if he wasn't connected to Manchester City and wasn't a relation of one of our former players. Loan spots are also a premium in the Premier League, so even that may be wasted on Delap. Even his record in the England youth set up above Under-17 level is pretty mediocre.

Very reminiscent of us under Selles. A lot of pointless passing between the backline, a lot of aimless punts being soaked up by the opposition defence when it does go forward. Only real threat looks from a set-piece and nobody's working hard to put pressure on the opposition when we don't have the ball. 0 shots on target and nothing clear cut being created. Only this England team is a lot more talented than that Saints one, which makes it all the more impressive from Southgate.

Sorry guys, I jinxed it. Second time he's played well with the end of his contract nearing and we've given him a brand new deal. All the more absurd considering he wasn't good enough to be on our bench last season until the final few games. Should have gone out on a high, but if he plays like he did the last time we were up here he'll receive pelters and the club will deserve a lot of criticism if we're going into the season with him as our first choice until Bazunu, another poor goalkeeper for the level recovers.

West Ham play their first league game outside of London on November 2nd, their 10th game.

I put him in the same bracket as Bertrand and Clyne. Really good full-backs, perhaps too good for us, but not good enough to consistently start for a top six side. There were moments last season in the Championship where KWP was caught defensively, for example and that wouldn't be forgiven in the top six. Should do what Bertrand done and see his contract out with us until he's past it. I'd also be disappointed if he went to a Brighton, or one of the other mid-table sides who we should now again be looking to compete with.

We can bring back our Japanese Twitter page at this rate. https://x.com/SouthamptonFC/status/249187374775549952

I'm not opposed to Rodon and it could set up a good partnership with THB for years to come. However, with the club now targeting experienced players, I think the best position we could fill with an experienced player would be the centre-back position to mentor THB. Similar to how Fonte assisted Lovren, Alderweireld and Van Dijk on their way up. Craig Dawson at West Ham and Wolves is an example as he was/has also been impressive and he's a less glamourous, yet experienced head in the back line. I know we sort of have Stephens and Bednarek to fill that criteria, but we all know Stephens has his limitations while Bednarek isn't the greatest of leaders.

Torino fans didn't speak too highly of Lyanco either.

Not Saints, but youth players are now costing £19m. : https://x.com/David_Ornstein/status/1804450276557959354

Thought Lima to Chelsea may have put to bed the KWP links, they already have James and Gusto anyway, but looks like Wolves have hijacked the deal.

Never expected to see him back in a Southampton shirt until a few weeks ago, so this still feels weird. I grew up with the League One double promotion and JPT team, so when Lallana left after all his talk, it did hurt, but he was also a hero for a few years. I'm doubting whether he's any good now, especially for the Premier League, but it's now up to the club to either answer or confirm those doubts, as it is with all transfers.

Spence is one who has a bad attitude looming over him all his career. Warnock loaned him to Forest because of it, where he was successful, but then he was more interested in posting shots at Warnock on Twitter rather than celebrating their promotion. He has since fallen out of favour with Conte and Postecoglu and Farke didn't speak too highly of him after cutting the loan short, saying Spence didn't meet the expectations off the pitch in the Championship. Didn't have any impact at Rennes either and he's now playing YouTuber charity matches. Really, he's only been good for Forest and Genoa in his career, which I'm assuming the latter because they want to sign him. Probably one we want to steer clear of. Reportedly, we had a lot of unprofessionalism at the club when we got relegated.

Adams to Saudi? https://x.com/JacobsBen/status/1801017487691034752

Mane, Van Dijk, Wanyama, Pelle, Tadic. All players excelling in lesser European leagues, some even playing in Europe when we signed them and gave them a pathway into the Premier League. I want to see us target players like this again, rather than taking risky punts on youngsters who might not make it and aren't ready to make an instant impact. Of course you get duds like Clasie, Juanmi and Boufal, but a Van Dijk and Mane sale counters those. Last season, Manning, Stewart, Fraser, Harwood-Bellis, Rothwell, Brooks and even Holgate had previous Championship successes on their CV. Shea Charles was the only punt and he didn't really come off. So, I'm hopeful we can find a good philosophy again this summer.

Upgradeable squad option is Aribo. S. Armstrong, Downes and Smallbone (rightly or wrongly) were always favoured over him last season. Injuries saw his minutes increase and he didn't put a foot wrong, but if we need to trim some of the squad fat to get genuine upgrades, especially in the middle of the pitch in the starting eleven then I would be okay with the move. Trading Aribo out for Ox would be pointless because the latter can't stay fit.

When are the Sam Vokes and Lukas Jutkiewicz links going to start?

Two uninspiring names on the list there.

Jokingly, made this prediction after McCarthy's first appearance of the season. He just keeps coming back and the powers that be keep offering a new deal after a handful of good appearances just as his contract is about to come to an end. Was only selected for 8 of the 49 league fixtures this season, so wasn't considered good enough for 84% of the season, but we're looking to retain him for the Premier League, again. Two keepers already on the books, McCarthy would keep it to three, not many clubs add more than three senior goalkeepers even with a long term injury. Been negligent/hamstrung by the goalkeeper position for nine years now, since Forster's knee injury and been offering deals from what seems like emotions, rather than on pitch contributions and McCarthy wasn't getting a look in until Bazunu's injury. If our recruitment team can't find better player's than McCarthy and Adams then we need a new recruitment team.

Right time for club and player to move on. A good servant of the club leaving on the high of promotion having had a good season and will be remembered fondly. Can apply the same statement to McCarthy and Adams who we should also be looking for better than this summer.

Good with the youngsters.

What a difference it makes to not have someone from the top saying we're lucky to be in the Premier League and that the women's team will eventually outgrow the men's team. Good that they've learned the team needs a mix of youth and experience, think that proved last season, especially the loan signings. All fans knew it when they were raiding the City youth team last time we were up here, but it's good that they've identified that mistake. Don't think Lallana's the answer, but we've got a whole summer to see who else we bring in.