 | News
Comment | Bella-Kotchap Speaks About Southampton Future
at 14:00:13
@flamingbankers ABK didn’t fail his medical because of a heart condition, I think he failed it because of his shoulder or another injury at the time the medical. In an RM press conference at the time he said the heart thing was a private matter that should not have been disclosed or linked to the medical stating it was identified some time ago - so all potential buying clubs were pre aware - and dealt with / being monitored/managed and should not be seen to impact ABKs career or fitness to play. Implication was they tried it on with the fee and/or the current injury he was recovering from.
Whatever went on or not with RM and his picks - whether favouritism or tactical or character preference - it was completely up to him who he picked and who he trusted and he was the one best placed compared to anyone in or outside the club to make it and he carried the consequences of those actions. It’s always been so and should be - eg I remember whenever Telfer was in the line up, especially out of position, there were groans and sniggers about him being a strachan favourite / mate (they used to drive down from Coventry together apparently) plus more recently Nathan Jones implied he’d compromised on his choices based on other voices and once that starts any managers authority is gone.
That being said - it should also be clean slate for everyone from ABK to Lesley to Cornet to BBD to Smallbone. Let’s just hope Juric can find a combination he’s happy with, whoever it includes! |
| News
Comment | Southampton FC Sack Russell Martin
at 08:31:54
Who next? Not gonna get potter or moyes or anyone who sees themselves as a premier league manager. So need a seasoned mercenary who doesn’t care about their CV / whose reputation outlives this job. Benitez or the like? |
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Comment | Graham Potter Lined Up For Southampton Job
at 15:59:48
Potter won’t come to saints unless he gets turned down for Utd, Spurs and England, and he’d chose Everton over us (new owners, stadium, club size etc).
f we sack RM (which I hope we don’t / don’t have to - ie I hope we start picking up wins and points) it will likely be a manager with little prem experience, if any, unless Everton sack Dyche, and he was willing to come in, he might be able to keep us up, but the shift in style etc would be seismic and such big shifts in approach and style don’t often work.
Keeping the faith with Martin makes most sense and a cold hard decision based on data (xg/ expected points etc) at the start of each international breaks and equivalent gaps will keep being made each time until a change is made |
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Comment | Southampton Already Have Their Target To Replace Russell Martin
at 08:48:43
I hope all the talk of Martin out is nonsense. Disappointing result yesterday but performances have been good and improving. Only the Forrest home game performance left me really disappointed, even against Brentford it was silly mistakes, a set piece and lack of ability to take chances when dominating that lost us the game, and I don’t think the manager can be fully to blame for the mistakes or lack of taking chances.
So many of the players and this squad have been put together becuase of and for Martin, it would be silly to change to someone with a different playing style anyway.
Keep the faith, even if we lose the next three if the performances are there, the cohesion between staff and players is there, we need to stare down the press noise. Re assess at the November international break and plan for January. I’d still keep him as changing manager when in relegation zone almost never works anyway.
I would like to see him get Tall Paul and ABK closer to the first team though. Tall Paul has scored goals everywhere else apart from our dreadful relegation team, he has to want it and earn it though. |
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Comment | The Knives Are Out For Russell Martin In The Media But Do They Have Substance
at 09:35:38
I hope it’s completely untrue speculation.
I would also hope he and the players (many of whom signed because of or have a personal connection to him) are given plenty of time. I agree he is not so rigid he won’t learn, adapt and think once he can figure out how to get the best of what he’s got to work / the best combinations on the pitch with we’ll pick up points. Not much he can do if our strikers miss the chances they will have or if there are individual errors that directly lead to goals, he can only motivate and coach them so much.
Despite the three straight losses we actually played well at Newcastle and Brentford, and it was a narrow defeat vs forest (much improved from our last match against them) - Nuno did outdo us tactically though and we were a little off it all over the pitch as RM has said as well. Being tactically out thought or losing out due to quality of individual players will likely happen again this season as no one will just assume they can beat us, all the other managers and teams will still prepare the same and they are in the premier league because they are the best. |
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Comment | Southampton Set To Sign Out Of Contract Brentford Midfielder
at 20:25:36
Tierney, like almost all players from the big 5 (don’t count spurs for this) will be on huge money even if he’s one of the lower earners, as in becoming our top earner money, and that’s likely why he’s available for relatively low transfer fee. Only a handful of clubs who can or will pay those wages.
He’s rumoured to be on £110k per week. Don’t see us paying the fee plus long term contract commitment near that. If we were would rather was for a goal scorer and as others have said make Perraud and Martin give pre season a good go and give manning & larios a really critical look.
We need to get players from championship, abroad, big six youth gems (as we did before) or the “other 14” especially first season back. |
| News
Comment | These Are The Six Positions That Southampton Need To Fill For Premier League Survival
at 11:36:35
I think on the centre halves Caleta-Car's deal was like THB, it becomes permanent and Lynaco isnt returning either, he's off to Brazil so its only ABK whose future is up in the air. I dont think Cody would be player we'd go for but he does have experience in a three.
I would assume unless / until Romain Perraud is sold we wont go for another left back, even if sold we may do without if Fraser is expected to play LWB rotating with Manning and Larios to be given a chance and Meghoma as emergency/peripheral. Also if we keep KWP we dont need a left back cover we need additional right back or left/right back - hence links to Ben Johnson on a free
JWP (which I cant see happening) and Llanana would complete midfield spaces with Downes, Aribo and Smallbone unless upgrades are available/JWP alternative.
We also need two strikers in addition to a goalkeeper. Additional wide player if Sulemana is written off after poor Championship season. Need to be able to revert to 4-3-3 for some games / in games. |
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Comment | Southampton Linked With La Liga Striker
at 11:25:27
The missing / implied but not state piece to this story is that he had an effective and complimentary partnership with Adam Armstrong while at Blackburn. I agree it would be good to get an additional name but if we are playing 3-5-2 or 3-4-1-1 and losing Che then only having Mara, Armstrong and Stewart as options isnt enough and we could do we signing two players. (this assumes Onuachu cant be brought back into the fold / isnt fancied by Martin)
Brereton Diaz as one of two new signings seems a good option but would hope the club have a list they are working down and there may be names ahead of him they are trying to get. Equally he is likely working down a list of clubs with his agent and others might be ahead of us on his list he is waiting / hoping for. |
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Comment | James Ward Prowse Future At West Ham Said To Be Uncertain
at 00:09:33
Modern transfers mean they probably still owe us 2/3 or 3/4 of the fee, does that mean a deal could be done without any outlay?
I think that would mean we could still recognise the profit on the sale last year for PSR, but would show a transfer fee now spread over whatever contract length he had with us.
Tough one, would be good to have him back in many ways but getting bit silly with ex players.
Can’t see this one happening. |
| News
Comment | Saints Can Now Start Planning Their Transfer Strategy For The Premier League
at 10:09:26
Back up to 64% as I didn’t vote either and I’d welcome him back!
Ings not sure about, every club needs goals and he’d probably be good to have, but might take up too much budget given what he’d be looking for.
Be good to have ABK, Charly (and even Tall Paul given his form) reintegrated and firing but if they think they are bigger than the club - or any non-top four club - we have to move on. They don’t bring the experience we need either.
What happens with Sulemana? Wasn’t trusted and didn’t deliver in a dominant team, is it just youth inconsistency or “betterthanthis” syndrome or is he actually just not as good as we thought he was when we thought he could be another Mane… |
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Comment | Would Southampton Fans Welcome Back Adam Lallana To St Mary's
at 09:55:21
Yes. Never felt the betrayal that others did. Completely different to Walcott who only played for us for six months the first time. Lallana gave us excellent service, stayed when we went to L1 after the humbling final championship season then grew with us to be a full England international through the leagues. I felt Oxlaide-chamberlain departure was more mercenary and Surmans hurt more (even if club probably needed the cash in Surmans case) than both Walcott or Lallana but I think footballers need to be selfish for their careers and Lallana wasn’t going to win all those trophies at saints. The what could have been if we kept everyone team is a fantasy.
It should be purely up to RM if he wants him or not, but Brighton reportedly wanted to keep him so clearly they thought he was still capable of contributing in the premier league.
As mentioned on Total Saints Podcast, look at Bednarek or Fraser, redemption is possible. If AL helps us stay up and build a sustainable future in the premier league I’d happily take him all day long. |
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Comment | Would Southampton Fans Welcome Back Adam Lallana To St Mary's
at 09:55:20
Yes. Never felt the betrayal that others did. Completely different to Walcott who only played for us for six months the first time. Lallana gave us excellent service, stayed when we went to L1 after the humbling final championship season then grew with us to be a full England international through the leagues. I felt Oxlaide-chamberlain departure was more mercenary and Surmans hurt more (even if club probably needed the cash in Surmans case) than both Walcott or Lallana but I think footballers need to be selfish for their careers and Lallana wasn’t going to win all those trophies at saints. The what could have been if we kept everyone team is a fantasy.
It should be purely up to RM if he wants him or not, but Brighton reportedly wanted to keep him so clearly they thought he was still capable of contributing in the premier league.
As mentioned on Total Saints Podcast, look at Bednarek or Fraser, redemption is possible. If AL helps us stay up and build a sustainable future in the premier league I’d happily take him all day long. |
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Comment | January Transfer Window Mixed Bag For Southampton
at 11:40:20
Although not ideal Holgate has gone, can’t really blame him and can’t stand in way of players who want to leave, he came here to play and couldn’t dislodge what had become our first choice pairing and to know two players have to be injured or suspended or possibly three (if Shea Charles picked ahead to give him game time) makes sense. Would rather have the wages going on brooks. If we get a run of injuries then we’ll have to dip into the u21s which is no bad thing for their development and sometimes it takes being thrown into a proper league game that matters surrounded by an otherwise full strength side to truly test them rather than mixed teams and PL2/U21 games.
Rothwell was a surprise but seems to me we didn’t have a back up to do what Stuart Armstrong does or brings and so makes perfect sense from that point of view. With Aribo coming back frorm afcon we could allow for Charly to go.
Brooks is the standout signing - are there any better January deals across the championship than that? Adam Armstrong has done well in that position but now we can adapt and have more options.
Overall a good window in my view. |
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Comment | Everton Defender To Have Southampton Medical Today
at 10:26:54
Howe also has said Ryan Fraser coming our way, does that mean Tella and/or Sulemana are leaving? We seemed well stocked for wingers with Djenpo and Arma and Armstrong able to cover.
Holgate surely as back up initially as can’t see Bednarek or Stephens not being first choice. Wood to come as well since ABK to leave and Lyanco not rated. |
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Comment | Southampton At Plymouth Argyle The Preview
at 19:24:25
I would have thought it would be pretty clear, Shea in. Alacarez and Stu start ok the more advanced midfield roles and then later on if one needs to come off either Aribo comes on or Armstrong slots in behind Adams (either on from bench or moving from the striker position) into the other no8/10 role.
Issue with that is will Adams be available to play or even be on the bench with the Everton interest. Could we see a rare opportunity for Mara or Tall Paul?
I would have thought very little chance Stephens moves out of the back four. More likely if the above didn’t work that we’d see a change of shape.
Perraud would be a good shout in an emergency or one of the u21s, got to assume he’s looking for a move as can’t see him being happy to be a bench warmer in the championship when was playing a fair amount in the prem. Surprised no one has bought him yet. |
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Comment | West Ham United Agree Deal With Southampton
at 15:07:05
Not sure of the sums but if our net spend last season was £140m+ then I imagine firstly all that has to be covered, then wage/other commitment gaps, and only then can new money be spend.
Hopefully Alex McCarthy to palace stories are true to free that off the wage bill, I also assume ABK will go, if not and hes fit he'll be immense I think. |
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Comment | West Ham United Agree Deal With Southampton
at 12:45:29
Got false hopes up that he might stay. Given the uncertain futures and/or reliability of Charly, S.Armstrong and Aribo this does mean I'd be a bit concerned if we were left with just Charles and Smallbone having to play every game... plus if Smallbone wont sign a new contract presumably he has to be sold as well?
So that means we will need another one in through the door, is Grimes even an option - will swansea deal with us or will we have to overpay and get a taste of our own medicine... |
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Comment | Southampton At Sheffield Wednesday The Verdict
at 08:25:48
I also think Lavia at £50m is not over valued, whoever gets him will be getting an amazing player assuming he stays on track.
Only concern was that it was KWP-JWP-Che that got the second goal and can’t see any being here after the window closes. Don’t see why we would be linked so heavily with Max Aarons if KWP was staying. Smacks of they all know he’s going but waiting for other moves to take place in the chain.
Would be great to see Che stay but he’ll have an idea of the contracts on offer from Prem sides, and don’t think we’d be brave enough just to let him run his contract down.
On JWP clearly if spurs match or better West Ham offer he’s going to go, seems Hoijberg’s move to Athletico may be behind that one, he has the greater chance of staying given contract length and valuation. |
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