Ulrich van Gobbel

Any ideas for Saints related Fantasy Football Team names? All about the Mane? Wanyamas In Pajamas? No Way Jose Fonte? I need some inspiration...

I have a mate who works for Celtic FC and I sounded him out about VvD. I have pasted his response below, so make of it what you will. It includes information we already know but I think it gives a good overview of the player from someone who watches him play week in week out.. "So it looks like you guys or Everton might get VvD. Up here, he has been a revelation for us. Very talented and comfortable on the ball and is a real asset going forward in so many different ways. Celtic play with our fullbacks high and basically means our formation with the ball is 2-4-4. VvD had a great season for us last year because he had a great understanding with Denayer who did the defensive stuff well allowing him to break forward. In terms of his weaknesses...the big problem is that he is rarely tested by strikers in the Scottish league. We've saw him caught out a few times in Europe by better players. It's not the physical side of things, really, it is intelligent strikers with good movement who catch him out and he'll need an experienced centre half to keep him right in the prem Watch him against Icardi - the big man struggled. The big benefit is that under Koeman, he'll only get better and there is lots still to come from him, I'm 100% sure of that." So again, nothing we may not have gleaned already from this thread and elsewhere - but I thought I would share the information here anyway. Based on the above, it sounds like Fonte would be a good experienced CB partner that would allow him to maraud forward. Perhaps not dissimilar to Lovren's (****) stlye when he was at his peak for us. He also seems to have an eye for goal having scored 7 goals in 62 apps for Groningen and 9 goals in 71 apps for Celtic (Wikipedia stats). You could argue that you would expect him to get on the score sheet a few times a season when you're guaranteed the title and win comfortably most weeks for Celtic but that wouldn't have been the case for Groningen. As others have pointed out in this thread - we have the Koeman factor, which can't be overstated! The fact that our manager is one of the greatest ever CBs and a Dutch legend has to be a huge draw for VvD. We also have our growing Dutch contingent at the club with Erwin K and Jan K in the coaching staff as well as Stek, Martina and Jordy (who he played Dutch U21s with). He knows Tadic (they played together at Groningen) and Pelle well from the Eredivisie too so that all goes in our favour I would say. Get him over the line, Les!

Lighten up some of you! It's a bit of fun and all proceeds are going to Saints Foundation. They're not trying to win an Ivor Novello award.

The odds on VvD to Saints shortened over night from 2/1 to 6/4. I realise this is driven by nothing more than betting patterns but interesting to observe nonetheless. FWIW he is currently 8/1 to end up at Everton by the end of the window.

We need two CBs now...

I noticed on Twitter that VVD 'favourited' two of Southampton FC's tweets about us signing Clasie. There could be nothing in it ofcourse but it's interesting that he did that for all to see with him linked to Saints. We're 2/1 to sign him at the moment.. Definitely could be worth a few quid.

No worries mate, just drop me a message.

You can use my ST if you want.. I'd love to go but I'm away in Liverpool unfortunately! Does anyone know if the game will be shown on TV? It's got ITV4 written all over it..

They'll probably be saying the same thing about us.

I didn't suggest we sign a VW Mk II. Schneiderlin could be described as physical - he is also extremely dynamic and possesses great athleticism. I would hope that enormous talent is a prerequisite for any signing that we make.

I totally agree with the above.. I'll be happy when we sign a CB (Van Dijk) and a physical DM.

Brilliant!

Very, very pleased about this signing if it goes through. Clasie is a seriously talented player who will add tenacity and determination to our midfield. He has fantastic vision, a great range of passing and is a leader. The rumoured £10m fee is a bargain!

https://twitter.com/alex_crook/status/620194705591111680 Talks between Jordy Clasie's representatives and Ronald Koeman have been taking place in Austria today. Deal will happen #saintsfc

"Southampton's interest in Jordy Clasie is concrete but there are more clubs interested in him."

I under called it last Summer.. I'll go for 6th this season!

I'm with you on this.. It's a shame that Arsenal appear to be out of the picture as a bidding war would have accelerated things a bit no doubt.

Agreed.. Also, someone posted yesterday about a Spurs ITK who is insisting that Spurs are not signing TA. Never a dull moment in a Saints transfer window..

Relax WC.. I was being tongue in cheek. I'm sure Ben is positively charming. The tweet about Toby was more the point of my post.

Football journo, Ben Fairthorne - @BFairthorne - has just tweeted: "Saints can take legal action against Atletico, but I can confirm Alderweireld now had Spurs medical, and that's where he will be joining." Also tweeted last night: "From the minute Levy landed in Madrid last week, Alderweireld made it clear Spurs were the only club he wanted to sign for." I really don't like this guy...

Betting has been suspended on Morgan again..

Just saw this.... Fingers crossed.

I'm still feeling quietly confident on this one.. The only way I see Toby going to Spurs is if we don't match Athletico Madrid's valuation (very unlikely) or that we can't match his wage demands/Spurs wage offer (possible). Toby and RK have said that he would like to return to Saints and I believe them.

Looking into it..

I'd rather have Austin AND Pelle..