What Will January Bring

[Toadhall Saint]

Inconsistent in an extremely inconsistent Valencia team though. Flashes of brilliance mixed with bad spells during the games.

Think a change of club would do him good.

 

Pretty sure he will move somewhere if not in january definitely in the summer.

 

I still think our interest in him is lodged with Valencia.

[Avenue Saint]

4 players

 

Ever Banega (if Gaston goes)

 

Ashley Young

 

Aaron Cresswell (left back cover)

 

GK (no need for world class, just someone who can do basics like covering near posts, coming for the ball etc...)

[Dig Dig]

4 pacey wingers, 2 strikers, a CB, a LB and a Goalkeeper or two.

[Olallana]

4 pacey wingers, 2 strikers, a CB, a LB and a Goalkeeper or two.

 

Only 2 strikers, dont you think we need cover??

[DuncanRG]

86 pacey wingers

[PhilippineSaint]

4 pacey wingers, 2 strikers, a CB, a LB and a Goalkeeper or two.

 

and a Partridge in a pear tree

[Bearsy]

you guise is all v.greedy! I will be satisfaction even if we don't sign anyone, as long as we hang on to all our best players like gaston + osvaldo

[teenagegsaint]

you guise is all v.greedy! I will be satisfaction even if we don't sign anyone, as long as we hang on to all our best players like gaston + osvaldo

 

You really count Gaston as a vital player? I wouldn't mind seeing him go if we got the £12m back

[Bearsy]

not particular, i was doing a troll on barry!

[Giordano]

I can understand the interest in Lennon and Oxo but it seems pretty clear cut to me that the essential qualities that MP looks for in a player is ball possession and work rate. He does not want profligate players who will undo the pressing and disciplined work done to get the ball every time we lose it by someone who is going to put head down and lose it in cheaply. Our game or rather mopes game depends upon retaining possession ever higher up the pitch. Then bringing force of numbers into play with technically gifted players who can eventually find the pass so that we can get a good strike on goal. Multiply over and over and statistically we will score more and concede less. If we lose poses soon when we have committed men high up because a sloppy head down winger has gone for s trick too many we will be at greater risk of counterattack in the breakdown phase.

So i reckon technically gifted midfielder with some pace but primarily pace of thinking and ability to score might be on the list. That's supposed to be GR. Some have mentioned Banega but I've not heard anything if him this season so far - but there are quite a few around, immobile is another, Coutinho was another, iwould not be surprised to see a Spanish / Italuan player fitting the bill / arrive in January - perhaps on a swop.

[John Boy Saint]

Some funny reading on here, Ashley Young comes up twice, no thanks looked good in a poor Villa side looking poor in a waning Man U side.

Kagawa had a purple patch last season but has fizzled out

Replacement for Fonte, we already have him in First choice Japanese Centre back Yoshida who is being kept out by the successful partnership of Jose and Dejan. Then playing Yoshida on the left as back up to Shaw when Yoshidas natural position is on the right so put Yoshida at right back and Clyne at left as we know they can both do that, but then Cork can fill in at right back too.

If the tale about Dani is true then I think we might be a little cautious about bringing in another player from Italy.

 

January will have speculation about various players of ours without doubt. We will have a HCDAJFU thread that will have Jonathan Woodgate, Robert Huth, Sideshow Bob, Jermaine Pennant, Charlie Austin, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles all being suggested as blinding buys. What will be really interesting is if we find ourselves finishing in the CL positions in May how many names linked to us will all of a sudden have our heads spinning.

[Batman]

Some funny reading on here, Ashley Young comes up twice, no thanks looked good in a poor Villa side looking poor in a waning Man U side.

Kagawa had a purple patch last season but has fizzled out

Replacement for Fonte, we already have him in First choice Japanese Centre back Yoshida who is being kept out by the successful partnership of Jose and Dejan. Then playing Yoshida on the left as back up to Shaw when Yoshidas natural position is on the right so put Yoshida at right back and Clyne at left as we know they can both do that, but then Cork can fill in at right back too.

If the tale about Dani is true then I think we might be a little cautious about bringing in another player from Italy.

 

January will have speculation about various players of ours without doubt. We will have a HCDAJFU thread that will have Jonathan Woodgate, Robert Huth, Sideshow Bob, Jermaine Pennant, Charlie Austin, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles all being suggested as blinding buys. What will be really interesting is if we find ourselves finishing in the CL positions in May how many names linked to us will all of a sudden have our heads spinning.

they were not poor at the time

[John Boy Saint]

they were not poor at the time

Still a pants player though

[Saint_clark]

Centre back to upgrade Fonte.

Someone to do the things that we all hoped Gaston would do if Gaston isn't doing it by then.

 

Are you crazy? You want to mess with the second best defence in Europe?

[Huffton]

Don't agree about a back up keeper, if were serious about CL we need a better keeper than Boruc full stop. Whilst he is a perfectly good shot stopper and he commands his area well enough, his distribution with his feet is awful. His decisions just don't suit our play it out from the back style. When he gets the ball to feet both CBs come wide and short to give him two options, but he usually passes into the midfield to a player who is then shut down, thus putting pressure on him while the CBs recover their positions, or he smashes it down the field into no-mans land or straight out of play.

If he works on this and improves I'm quite happy to have him on the pitch, but sooner or later its going to cost us.

[studentsaint]

Can't agree with Boruc. He is confident with the ball at his feet. He doesn't panic and hoof it, he will sell the player charging him down and find a players feet. What's greatis that he can use either foot and doesn't mind either, he won't try to use his right all the time. He's turned out to be a great keeper who has earned us some points this year.

[swannymere]

Kagawa had a purple patch last season but has fizzled out

 

Kagawa hasn't fizzled out, he's just not been played and allowed a run in the team, if Gaston goes he's the ideal fit for our system and will add real quality.

[Saint 76er]

I can understand the interest in Lennon and Oxo but it seems pretty clear cut to me that the essential qualities that MP looks for in a player is ball possession and work rate. He does not want profligate players who will undo the pressing and disciplined work done to get the ball every time we lose it by someone who is going to put head down and lose it in cheaply. Our game or rather mopes game depends upon retaining possession ever higher up the pitch. Then bringing force of numbers into play with technically gifted players who can eventually find the pass so that we can get a good strike on goal. Multiply over and over and statistically we will score more and concede less. If we lose poses soon when we have committed men high up because a sloppy head down winger has gone for s trick too many we will be at greater risk of counterattack in the breakdown phase.

So i reckon technically gifted midfielder with some pace but primarily pace of thinking and ability to score might be on the list. That's supposed to be GR. Some have mentioned Banega but I've not heard anything if him this season so far - but there are quite a few around, immobile is another, Coutinho was another, iwould not be surprised to see a Spanish / Italuan player fitting the bill / arrive in January - perhaps on a swop.

 

Immobile?

 

This doesn't sound like a pacey player to me .....

[lloydie]

Depending on our and Valencia's respective positions we might go back in for ever benega

I would literally vomit with delight if this happened, blowing chunks of happiness everywhere. I think that signing could be the piece in the puzzle that might keep us with a tight defence whilst offering a much more creative attack than present. Could maybe even do a swap for Gaston?

[Ralph Wiggum]

Banega or Kagawa if Gaston goes. (Did I really just say that? Gawd, I remember when we signed Prutton as the great white hope ). A left back and keeper for Shaw/Boruc cover, which probably goes against how the squad is being built anyway.

 

This is all depending on how we are sitting come January. If we are top six, it makes some of the above likely. That said, NC won't pay over the odds for anyone

[pimpin4rizeal]

Kagawa hasn't fizzled out, he's just not been played and allowed a run in the team, if Gaston goes he's the ideal fit for our system and will add real quality.

 

In my opinion exactly the same applies to gaston!

[SuperSAINT]

In my opinion exactly the same applies to gaston!

 

Kagawa would suit MP's pressing game much more than Gaston, IMO.

[Lord Duckhunter]

Gaston needs to go. Personally, I'd go for Tom Ince to replace him. LB and Keeper need strengthening, Kelvin and Fox aren't good enough. I like an experienced number 2 keeper, we should be able to pick one up, but Left back could be an issue. What player of quality will want to be Shaw's understudy?

[Highfield Saint]

There will be at least one academy player given his chance - maybe Isgrove, maybe another...

[Sour Mash]

There will be at least one academy player given his chance - maybe Isgrove, maybe another...

In the month of January specifically?

[Convict Colony]

Someone to play on the right of the forward 3 and some one in the central position in the forward 3 behind Osvaldo, simples.

[Batman]

Someone to play on the right of the forward 3 and some one in the central position in the forward 3 behind Osvaldo, simples.

lallana plays right of the 3???

[modern matron]

I think we'll look for a "number 10" creative player to replace Gaston - say Kagawa or Banega - plus another pacey, wide player to play in the Lallana/Rodriguez role - maybe Young or Lennon.

 

Apart from Gaston can't see many leaving just yet - maybe Guly if we make signings?

[Convict Colony]

lallana plays right of the 3???

 

I can't keep up, I thought he only did that v Man U, usually he is on the left or maybe I am going mental, anyway you get my meaning no more crowbarring Jrod into the right side (or JWP) or steve davis into central position, lets get some specialists in those positions in that formation and see how our chances creation increases.

 

Have to say I am very happy with all other positions just those 2 that could be clearly improved.

[CB Saint]

LB and Back up GK for now, then do another £30m in the summer on another CB, Striker and AM (reinvesting all sales proceeds on top)

[Golden Balls]

Think we need a back up who can play both LB and RB. Naughton was mentioned in the summer. He'd do.

 

I'd love Gaston to work out as its clear he's a good player, he just doesn't seem to be able to settle to the style of play. We need a play maker.

[Olallana]

Very rarely any big transfers is made in january but we could do with a young gun like Viktor Fischer, Remy Cabella, Wahbi Khazri, Quincy Promes or Wijnaldum......

[Saint_clark]

Very rarely any big transfers is made in january but we could do with a young gun like Viktor Fischer, Remy Cabella, Wahbi Khazri, Quincy Promes or Wijnaldum......

 

Are you just making names up?

[Olallana]

Are you just making names up?

 

Nope, all good young players.

[Window Cleaner]

Very rarely any big transfers is made in january but we could do with a young gun like Viktor Fischer, Remy Cabella, Wahbi Khazri, Quincy Promes or Wijnaldum......

 

Cabella won't come cheap but really you have to ask yourself just how good a player from French Ligue 1 really is. Yanga-Mbiwa was supposed to be the bee's bollicks but really he's distinctly average. Ligue 1 is a very poor championship these days, most NPC teams could hold their own with everything apart from Qatar FC. Mayuka gets a game at Sochaux, wasn't really in our first team plans, the list is endless.

[Olallana]

Cabella won't come cheap but really you have to ask yourself just how good a player from French Ligue 1 really is. Yanga-Mbiwa was supposed to be the bee's bollicks but really he's distinctly average. Ligue 1 is a very poor championship these days, most NPC teams could hold their own with everything apart from Qatar FC. Mayuka gets a game at Sochaux, wasn't really in our first team plans, the list is endless.

 

Agree but still a class class player, vey good already last year and this year he´s started as one of the best in the league.

Sochaux is a really really bad team so wouldn´t compare Montpellier to them even if Montpellier has declined since being champions 11-12.

[doggface]

Saints are back in for Davide Astori according to Di Marzio

[Olallana]

We could go for that Zlatan guy also...

[Dr. Kucho]

We could go for that Zlatan guy also...

 

Lewandowski from Dortmund has said he wants to play in the Premier League, and out of contract at the end of this season.

[Sour Mash]

Saints are back in for Davide Astori according to Di Marzio

When was that reported?

[RonManager]

Lewandowski from Dortmund has said he wants to play in the Premier League, and out of contract at the end of this season.

 

Lew would be a great buy, so would Owski, but I wouldn't want them both.

[DuncanRG]

Lewandowski's going to Bayern isn't he?

[Smirking_Saint]

Lewandowski has signed a pre contract with Bayern who have offered 15m for him to move in Jan I believe.

 

As per us, IF we give up Gaston then someone like Ince is entirely the wrong player to replace him with. Its not Gastons quality thats under the spotlight IMO it is him fitting into the system. An ideal replacement would be Banega, as he is seemingly able to play in that role. You just have to look at Chelsea to see how difficult to get decent attacking players who will adhere to a defend from the front mentality which is why Mata found it so difficult to get in but Oscar is his pet favourite.

[tajjuk]

And rosicky and arteta. And United wonder why they might be left behind. I would happily take any one from that list off arsenals hands. Certainly preferable to Ashley young, though I don't think he's quite as bad as some make out. He would improve our squad and offer an option we simply don't have. Plus his diving with srl penalty and free kick abilities? Got to be worth a couple of goals!

 

Seriously, he needs to play and play well to get back in the England fold so we might get him and with a serious motivation to perform.

 

Forgot Rosicky,think Arteta is a holding player these days. still lots of competition for places and he needs to play games at his age.

[Olallana]

Clearly a story with substance and truth unlike the other they have published lately...

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/southampton-summer-transfer-target-davide-2485020?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Smirking_Saint]

Forgot Rosicky,think Arteta is a holding player these days. still lots of competition for places and he needs to play games at his age.

 

Plus Flamini and even Diaby if he is ever fit again. They have some real options all over now, sort of gone from under quality to a team going places.

 

A decent striker and possibly a CB and theyll be ok, a RB even better.

[Coxford_lou]

So i reckon technically gifted midfielder with some pace but primarily pace of thinking and ability to score might be on the list. That's supposed to be GR. Some have mentioned Banega but I've not heard anything if him this season so far - but there are quite a few around, immobile is another, Coutinho was another, iwould not be surprised to see a Spanish / Italuan player fitting the bill / arrive in January - perhaps on a swop.

 

Makes sense, but even better if that came from the youth team. Anyone seen recent youth games to spot any new progress on talent? Just watched the latest 'our journey' update on YouTube, and reminded of the Ox-chamberlain aggression. But I get the sense the English upcoming stars still don't have the same vision or quick thinking as you'd buy in Europe. Is that changing under Pochettino influence?

[doggface]

When was that reported?

 

last 24 hours, Roma and Milan also interested

[Jack]

Getting Astori would be ace, but it's not as high a priority as other positions. I agree about upgrades on KD and Fox. A new wide man if we're pushing it. Would be funny to test Arsenal with a bid for Oxo. He really needs games.

[John Boy Saint]

Getting Astori would be ace, but it's not as high a priority as other positions. I agree about upgrades on KD and Fox. A new wide man if we're pushing it. Would be funny to test Arsenal with a bid for Oxo. He really needs games.

 

I don't think Mr Cortese will be rushing into that descision in a hurry. Things surrounding his going to Arsenal are looking like an example to other Academy players and in particular their parents and their saucer eyed dreams of cashing in on their nipper at the first opportunity. Especially as Mr & Mrs Chamberlain thought that they had managed to sneak young Alex up to Arsenal for a medical without Saints knowing, add to this (if true) the recent revelation that we get £10k everytime Alex plays more than 20 minutes, that is a real sting in the tail of what looks to have been a shrewd bit of business.