Gao 'open to offers for Gabbiadini, Long and Austin'

[DuncanRG]

As per the Mail on Sunday. First time since the Liebherr takeover that I can remember an owner's opinion on players getting into the press.

 

You'd have to hope we don't intend to sell more than one of them in the same window and - obviously - that replacements are on the way regardless.

[Ultimatt]

Sell 2. Buy 1 quality CF and bring Gallagher back.

Do the same with our midfield. We don't need 6 CM's (Romeu/Lemina/Davis/Hojbjerg/JWP/Clasie). Sell 2, buy a better AM than Davis, promote Hesketh or Reed.

Do the same with our defence. We don't need 6 CB's (VVD/Hoedt/Yoshida/Stephens/Bednarek/Gardos). Sell 2, buy a better attacking winger.

 

Squad built for Europe and we couldn't be farther from qualifying for it again.

[beatlesaint]

We dont use the strikers we have in matches so might as well sell them

[doddisalegend]

mmm...

 

who would buy them? Its usually easier to sell strikers that score goals..

 

This line makes me think we won't be suddenly splashing cash Everton style any time soon

 

Jisheng Gao concerned his players are not delivering value for money

 

Interesting though that this article would suggest the players not the manager are in the firing line...

[LGTL]

Long and Austin are both poor excuses for PL players. I'd keep Gabbiadini though.

[pluto]

This article has been 'made up' by someone with an axe to grind as Gao doesnt talk and SFC would put out this stuff either.

[warsash saint]

I stopped reading at 'Mail'

[simo]

And their Source is ? Funny how the new owners first message is that he wants to sell players !

[alpine_saint]

The problem lies in midfield, with the formation and with the manager. Not up front.

[saint1977]

I'd be really concerned if our owner was stupid enough to think it's about strikers. Gabbiadini is very good for our level, but it doesn't matter when they're that isolated. It's not even about putting another striker up front, it's about committing men forward. 2 wide players, no 10 and central midfielders need to be getting in the box.

 

People say we don't have goalscorers, but even if players like Davis and Lemina won't score many, them getting forward creates space and opportunities for the forwards. At the moment it's just strikers chasing lost causes and so depressing to watch.

 

Tadic, Redmond, Boufal, Long, Gabbiadini, Austin have all shown they can do it in the past. All could chip in with goals, yet for whatever reason, poor form, isolation or being in the wrong position, none of them are doing it at all.

 

Ideally I'd like a good striker to compete with Gabbiadini or play with sometimes, but that would involve selling at least one of Austin or Long, ideally both. But that only works with a new manager who'll actually produce a team and get them attacking.

 

Quite. With the same players we looked a threat constantly at the EFL Final and either side of it so it has to either come down to the players reducing effort and willingness to make runs or manager tactics. Far more likely to be the latter. Puel lost the pre and post EFL bravery and retreated into his HBS Euro disaster setting and MP makes Claude look like Ossie Ardiles by comparison in terms of attacking intent or any interest to football being a spectacle.

 

Gabbiadini has shown what he can do with some service and would be moronic to sell him. Get rid of VVD, Forster, Bertrand, PEH, JWP, Clasie, Tadic, Long, Austin first. Oh and Pellegrino and Reed out of the door first of all.

[saintadam]

I'd be really concerned if our owner was stupid enough to think it's about strikers. Gabbiadini is very good for our level, but it doesn't matter when they're that isolated. It's not even about putting another striker up front, it's about committing men forward. 2 wide players, no 10 and central midfielders need to be getting in the box.

 

People say we don't have goalscorers, but even if players like Davis and Lemina won't score many, them getting forward creates space and opportunities for the forwards. At the moment it's just strikers chasing lost causes and so depressing to watch.

 

Tadic, Redmond, Boufal, Long, Gabbiadini, Austin have all shown they can do it in the past. All could chip in with goals, yet for whatever reason, poor form, isolation or being in the wrong position, none of them are doing it at all.

 

Ideally I'd like a good striker to compete with Gabbiadini or play with sometimes, but that would involve selling at least one of Austin or Long, ideally both. But that only works with a new manager who'll actually produce a team and get them attacking.

 

This. I'm seriously worried with our new owners if these quotes are true. Seems like zero football knowledge to me.

[Webby]

I'll be absolutely delighted when Long is no longer a saints player. Stealing a living.

[shurlock]

I'll be absolutely delighted when Long is no longer a saints player. Stealing a living.

 

Agree, though the sad fact is that there was a certain logic to playing him yesterday, away from home against slow CBs that like to push up.

[MOSaint]

I would rather the owner looked at the manager first before plotting to sell off under performing players. The right replacement should be able to get some improvement out of the players.

[adrian lord]

The journeymen Long and Austin need to go. Gabba a stay of execution.

[Dusic]

I'll be absolutely delighted when Long is no longer a saints player. Stealing a living.

When you think of the stick some other players get and then look at Long over the last 18 months its laughable. He is a terrible player earning probably £60k a week.

 

To think what Long, Austin, Hojbjerg and Gardos get paid in a week!

[BARCELONASAINT]

I cannot believe for one moment our new owners have come out and said we are looking to sell anyone....at best someone in the family has been heard to say in conversation that we are not scoring goals and something has to change....suddenly sensational paper headlines all the strikers are up for sale....complete b*l***ks!

[Window Cleaner]

This. I'm seriously worried with our new owners if these quotes are true. Seems like zero football knowledge to me.

 

And how does that change from the last one ?

[shurlock]

I cannot believe for one moment our new owners have come out and said we are looking to sell anyone....at best someone in the family has been heard to say in conversation that we are not scoring goals and something has to change....suddenly sensational paper headlines all the strikers are up for sale....complete b*l***ks!

 

Sounds like complete rubbish to me as well - even the porn barons wouldn't mouth off like that, never mind discrete, non-English speaking owners. Anyway hasn't it already been reported we've been looking to shift the likes of Long and Austin?

Edited 19 November, 2017 by shurlock

[Heisenberg]

When things go wrong blame someone else....

 

The Southampton way

[corky morris]

I’d get rid of Tadic & Redmond before getting rid of any of them!

[simo]

I’d get rid of Tadic & Redmond before getting rid of any of them!

 

Hesketh and Sims (when fit) need to start being given at least a bench place and a chance to show what they can do again this season!

[Pamplemousse]

It's the Mail so it's BS

[Manuel]

Hesketh and Sims (when fit) need to start being given at least a bench place and a chance to show what they can do again this season!

McQueen too.

[Micky]

I cannot believe for one moment our new owners have come out and said we are looking to sell anyone....at best someone in the family has been heard to say in conversation that we are not scoring goals and something has to change....suddenly sensational paper headlines all the strikers are up for sale....complete b*l***ks!

I think you might be onto something with that theory.

 

Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk

[VectisSaint]

I’d get rid of Tadic & Redmond before getting rid of any of them!

 

and Forster. Austin and Long I agree with but not Gabbi.

[Charlie Wayman]

When things go wrong blame someone else....

 

The Southampton way

 

From what I read on here old chap, most people blame you.

[Saint Billy]

Not being funny but what does Gao know about football apart from the prospect of making more dosh, he's a business man and little else.

 

Yes Long and possibly Austin need to move on but the problem eminates from the midfield with Tadic and Redmond being complete failures in their positions. And then of course we have our incompetent manager continuing to play them.

 

I hope the Mail story is just bullsh!t or I am really concerned where our owner is getting his advice from, hopefully not Reed.

[The9]

I'd be really concerned if our owner was stupid enough to think it's about strikers. Gabbiadini is very good for our level, but it doesn't matter when they're that isolated. It's not even about putting another striker up front, it's about committing men forward. 2 wide players, no 10 and central midfielders need to be getting in the box.

 

People say we don't have goalscorers, but even if players like Davis and Lemina won't score many, them getting forward creates space and opportunities for the forwards. At the moment it's just strikers chasing lost causes and so depressing to watch.

 

Tadic, Redmond, Boufal, Long, Gabbiadini, Austin have all shown they can do it in the past. All could chip in with goals, yet for whatever reason, poor form, isolation or being in the wrong position, none of them are doing it at all.

 

Ideally I'd like a good striker to compete with Gabbiadini or play with sometimes, but that would involve selling at least one of Austin or Long, ideally both. But that only works with a new manager who'll actually produce a team and get them attacking.

 

Quite. The "play two up top" argument only works if we've got players who can create things with one fewer body than the opposition in midfield - we can't even do it at the moment matching them up.