mrfahaji

The signing's vital

Not an exact fit, but could use "beating" to rhyme.

But we already had one in Stephens

I suppose there's a difference between interest in a player and terms being agreed in principle in the even that we manage to sell a player further up the 'chain'. That's the hope anyway!

Not sure I'd say more important, but still important. Lemina didn't actually feature much last season and we did ok. Our midfield could be stronger and if Romeu and/or Hojbjerg pick up suspensions or injuries (which they inevitably will) we are in a spot of bother. However, at least our first choice CMs are ok. Our first choice CBs are not. (For the record, I also want us to sign a replacement for Lemina, I'd just prefer it to be as well as rather than instead of a defender)

Yep, if I recall it was his complete inability to contest any aerial ball which was particularly frustrating. For most of his time at Saints I was a fan, for a while more recently I thought he was being misused (e.g. starting games when he couldn't last 20 minutes) but could still be useful, but once Hasenhuttl came in and the tactics were more about pressing it was clear he wasn't going to up to much - I hope this is enough of a return to put to good use (assuming we haven't been twiddling our thumbs and are ready to act...)

But is that true? Presumably he wants to go to a team at least on par with us. I can't imagine he'd be too happy with a move to Sheffield United.

I know in an ideal world we would sell Lemina for a reasonable fee and put the money towards a new CB. However, we would probably also need to sign another midfielder, even if just as a backup, as we seem to be a bit lightweight in that area when Romeu is injured (i.e. now) and inevitably suspended during the season. So IF this lack of interest in him does in fact give him a reality check and he doesn't sulk, are we actually better keeping him rather than loaning him out or selling in a cut-price deal? I know there's a lot of ifs there, but with just a couple of days left for something to happen, I'm wondering if a desperate sell will result in us actually being worse off than if he stays.

While I would also expect Sheffield Utd to be relegated and Norwich to be in the mix, don't forget that people were saying similar things about Cardiff, and while they were relegated, it did go down to the final couple of weekends.

Wolves are the only one where it sounds a bit odd NOT to use it, so they win. I usually stick to ‘Tottenham’ but even a lot of official sites simply go with Spurs, but they wouldn’t go with ‘Saints’. Think we have a case for third place though. Pretty sure the Tweet you are referring to was “how acceptable it is to casually drop the nickname into conversation”.

Ok thanks, hope that's the case - if he just thinks he's good enough to play for a bigger club but that doesn't materialise maybe it will be a reality check for him and encourage a better work ethic. I can't imagine that St Etienne is the move he's been dreaming of, and if he leaves I think we'll need to replace him as we're a bit light in midfield, so not sure that selling to St Etienne for a cut price (or loan) is a deal that works for anyone!

It's the chicken & egg scenario! I was referring to us leaving him out of the pre-season tour etc and making it obvious we don't want him. Fully acknowledge that he deserved it, but just a shame that his attitude will likely cost us a decent sum.

Unfortunately this is the problem with ostracising a player. Not saying that we were wrong to, but at the start of the summer there was a sense that we could turn a tidy profit on him, now we seem to be talking about simply recouping most of what we bought him for. Surely potential suitors know that he's out of favour and we probably just want to get rid. Hard to know what to do in this situation, as can totally understand Hasenhuttl not wanting him to be part of the plans if his heart isn't in it, but that may cost us a fair chunk of cash. Perhaps we also thought the interest from bigger clubs was genuine.

Thanks. My question to northam soul might have sounded a bit curt, but the forum can be decent if you can cut separate the informed posts from the swathes of cr@p! While I'd be nervous of having Reed as our first CM option in the event of injuries or suspensions, I wouldn't mind having him as occasional cover. He's impressed more than disappointed me when he's played, and most of that was before his series of successful loans in the Championship.

I don't. I'm not too bothered about the football because I'm only interested in Southampton matches. But it pains me that virtually every sport is unavailable now. Would have liked to watched some F1 races this year, maybe some of the cricket world cup... But so far at least, I'm not prepared to give in to the "if you can't beat them, joing them" mentality. I'm actually not someone who goes to all the games (used to at the Dell, and still try and get to a handful every year), but I still think that if changes are to the detriment of those going to the games, they are the wrong changes. Unfortunately it feels like virtually every decision now is made for the benefit of the 'global audience' and therefore the TV companies, which very often is not consistent with those sat in the stands.

You're probably right, but the best recipe for being in a relegation fight is giving away goals easily, and that's what we do. Those three players you've listed might be a waste but all in different ways. Hoedt was the right type of player - (arguably) good on the ball and in the air, but you have to wonder who actually watched him over a period of time - because he always makes mistakes and looks dodgy. Lemina is a talented player, and it might not be easy to judge a player's character unless there are obvious black marks against him. The problem with Lemina (as it might also have been with Hoedt, Boufal and god knows who else) seems to be that we were so keen to sign him we basically guaranteed a move after 2 seasons now matter what. So even in hindsight those signing were not total abominations, just details of them that you have to question. Carrillo on the other hand, was a move that no club priding itself of being well run, sensible or strategic should make.

People who buy season tickets who can attend saturday afternoons but not midweek/Sundays?

Did you watch the game? Because supersaint specifically asked about his performance today. All comments about him in the PreSeason thread are positive, yet yours would probably best be described as a general assessment of him. Hence why I ask.

Pretty sure K Billy also said something similar a while ago. I've often thought his 'attitude' problem is more about wanting to impress, and often doing too much, rather than not being bothered (like Lemina). It frustrates me when people say he is lazy because - ironically - that is just a lazy stereotype of a flair player. I'm sure there are times where he doesn't, but more often than not he works to win the ball back, albeit sometimes a bit too hotheadedly!

Tempted to say "well that hasn't worked so far", but the depressing thing is it's completely possible that Hasenhuttl is the first manager in a while who might have thought about doing this.

Not sure it is really. Loyalty works both ways - you don't see many fans claiming that we should pick our most loyal players ahead of our best ones! Most fans accept the reality that good players want to move on to bigger and better clubs, but that in being here we at least a) make a profit that can be reinvested and strengthen the team, enabling a sustainable business model, b) enjoy seeing good players while they are here, c) improve the team's fortunes so that as fans we enjoy more wins than losses and are more attractive to other potential signings. Rather than loyalty per se, what fans really want or expect are players who respect the club during their time here - by trying their best, not going on strike, not causing unrest etc.

Well you could have got him for £10m from us ;-)

I don't think I'd put Boufal into the "inexplicable failure" list. Of course there are aspects that mean our scouts got it wrong (I'm not sure Boufal was to please Puel btw), but you can't expect a 100% hit rate and you can surely see why we took a chance on him. Elyounoussi and Vestergaard are more recent signings who don't appear to be good enough, but are at least the TYPE of players we needed, as was Clasie. Hojbjerg and Redmond have taken a long time to come good, pretty sure there were people a year or two ago writing both of them off as never going to be good enough. The "huge mistake" accusations should be reserved for Carillo and Forster's new contract. Jaw dropping moments for virtually everyone when they happened, not even in hindsight.

Or perhaps Boufal has told him that he wants a move away if such an opportunity arises an therefore Hasenhuttl is assuming he will go and thinks it's better to plan without him? (though isn't the point that he has been at AFCON and then on holiday which is why he didn't go to Macau - and there are now photos of him in training, suggesting he HAS been welcomed back with the likes of Cedric and Hoedt?)

It feels like some people are quick to say "well if Ralph doesn't want him, I'm happy to see him go" but a bit more reluctant to say "well if Ralph is happy to welcome him back, so am I". Boufal has a lot to prove for sure, and maybe he would actually prefer a move away anyway, in which case if we get a decent offer it might make sense to take it. However, to sign somebody who brings the same skills as Boufal to the table, albeit with more consistency/end-product, is most likely going to cost shedloads. I mean, we spent £15m+ on Elyounoussi who looks considerably worse. I get that some people don't rate him, but IF Hasenhuttl was able to get a tune out of Boufal, it is worth a great deal more than selling him for around £10m. So surely that's what we should be hoping for above anything else? But for some people it feels more important to be right about their dislike of him rather than the best outcome for the club.