![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | Vacancy- Ball Playing Goalkeeper Wanted Apply St Mary's Stadium at 15:59:58
Yes. McCarthy DAJFU in the playoffs, but not by choice. Sadly he is not a Prem. standard keeper and the idea that he could "hold the fort " until Bazunu is fit ...is simply grasping at straws. The Newcastle game may have made big headlines for another reason but every Prem. manager is going to make their goal incident his first talking point before playing us. Even if Bazunu comes back "superfit" by January, meantime we must rely on AM or Joe Lumley (ho barely played more than a few Cup games against lower league sides). Neither was really a first-choice for Championship matches. If it all goes "pear-shaped " we could be 10 points adrift at the bottom by Christmas. Another experienced goalie should have been first priority in June. |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | James Ward Prowse To Be Allowed To Leave West Ham United at 15:47:21
Better left alone. A bit of a downer for him to suddenly come back. He was a great servant to the club and leaves good memories. Those who criticise him should find the You Tube clip with all his free kicks ..OK so he didn't beat Beckham's record but he DAJFU in several roles yet was ignored by an England manager who praised him to the skies when his U23 captain, but was afraid to upset " the experts" and drop some of the media favourites . I really don't think the England midfield was so much better without him. In one of his last Wham games, Prowsey scored direct from a corner and gave an assist. Moyes understood his potential but WHam ditched him after he won their first trophy in an age, now they have a new manager and deserve everything that goes wrong. JWP won't get much game time but I hope (like Ings) he gets the most out of his contract. |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | Southampton At Newcastle United The Verdict at 14:24:10
You have all covered the major points (above) so I will just agree as follows: dellboysaint, A 1079, American Saint, ItchenNorth.. We all agree. McCarthy has to take the blame.... (a few people trying to be kind because it was first game doesn't disguise the obvious.) On another day we'd might have got at least one point. Kristian J.. the Board has (so far) ignored a problem we all knew was obvious and a new keeper should have been our no.1 priority. Thank goodness we have been reminded early season, and not in two months time. El Santo ...Agreed .I long to see BBD terrorising a few big names this season. Referees are too soft favouring defenders. It's a strikers job to hound the back line. The red card was strictly according to the rules, but Ben must pick his fights more carefully in future. andover pedro....It was tough luck on Sugawara. He looked up for the fight and was just as effective (better) than Edozie's contribution. All things considered - a disappointing result, but an encouraging display especially at SJP. |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | German Club Agree Deal For Southampton Defender at 09:48:05
Arrived whilst still in his teens (?), hard to settle and got an early setback with injuries. Obviously has talent, and playing on home soil may bring the best out of him. If w can get a profit on the deal , it's one less problem to think about. |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | Southampton About To Break The Bank For Greek Forward at 09:45:06
yes ..I also agree with the above. If it means laying out that sort of money, let's get a deal with Celtic for O'Riley and get a proven player who will meet the requirements. Russell Martin is sold on the idea - go for it. |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | Kyle Walker-Peters Situation Is Win Win Says Russell Martin at 09:41:29
providing we don't get scre*ed by Spurs on the deal (as normal) this is a win-win situation. KWP has been consistently good during his time with us, and IF he is happy to stay we will have good coverage at full back - in case of injuries, and he'll be worth a new contract, Many players who move down from London ..eventually long to go back after a while and remembering that Kyle was a Spurs graduate from the start of his career. Hopefully there will be a suitable solution for both player and club(s). |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | Southampton Hold Talks with Goalkeeper at 10:46:14
although we know the shortcomings in McCarthy's game, we should be grateful to him for his input at the end of last season, BUT the Premier League is another world and not one that McCarthy will be likely to survive in. Having satisfied ourselves that Lis is not a viable alternative at this level, and Lumley was not even proven in the Championship, we have no real alternatives and the expectation that Bazunu may come back after the New Year fitter and better than before is a most unlikely outcome, by which time we may be back in the drop zone. Every Prem. club need keeper(s) of established international class and a proven defence in front of them. We have fortuitously managed to cobble together half of a new squad for (in Prem. terms) a fairly miserly 60 million, but without a safe pair of hands at the back we will be fragile to say the least. Ramsdale fits the bill and we must go for bust in securing someone of his quality - or else. |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | Sheffield United Interested In Saints Defender at 09:43:52
With a new influx of defenders for RM's Prem. squad it looks as though Bree would be spending a lot of time on our bench - when he would prefer to be playing every week. Admittedly there was some truth to the statement that he.." was one of the best FB's in Championship ", but that's about his level and he' d struggle to get game time in Prem. I think there is some mileage in his career at that level, and Sheff. United would surely benefit from his experience. Hope it gets sorted... to everyone's benefit. |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | Southampton Set To Smash Scottish Transfer Record For Celtic Star at 12:11:05
Oh ..forgot this thread was about the possible / potential / probable record-breaking fee for a player little-known to many - except perhaps Russell Martin. On paper he may look the part, and so let's hope it works out well to everyone's benefit. |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | Back To Stripes Back To Reality For Southampton at 12:06:18
As a fan for over 60 years ...you can imagine my joy at seeing the traditional red and white that was the standard style ...way back when. At least, for the short term we've ditched these weird colour combinations that looked like some work of modern art and looked nothing like an attractive football shirt. Stripes for me . |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | Southampton Set To Smash Scottish Transfer Record For Celtic Star at 12:01:14
OUCH !..well saint mark has just about ditched all of the Saints striker force.. Oh! you forgot Mara (but I wouldn't dispute that decision). Not sure what your ideal striker looks like? ..but even if we got Ings for nothing, his salary might blow away the buffer we have for other players not yet joined. |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | Southampton At Eastleigh The Verdict at 16:33:33
Fun for players and fans, and agree that Diblings defence-splitting pass was a joy to watch. Difficult to judge how good we were, considering the huge gap between the two sides. Have noted that some people are " building molehills" about the absent players but there can be many reasons for that, but it was a good chance to see the youngsters get game time - even against a National League outfit. Note To Joe Egg...are you worried that ROSS Stewart might still be injured ..or ? |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | Saints Agree Deal With West Ham United For Flynn Downes at 17:46:19
This is a deal that will please Russell Martin most of all and he can plan more precisely what his " new look side " will look like. No problem at club level as FD is a player who fits the Russball style of play , and seems well-liked by other players and fans alike. The real question will be ....can he rise to the required Prem. level to hold his own ? |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | Southampton Have Opening Bid Rejected For Midfielder at 16:36:43
Well.....perhaps you're not familiar with bargaining and negotiations (Colburn), We're not buying a second-hand car, but hopefully get a deal for a player with a good future. We're talking millions here and - when we HAD to pay 20 million for Harwood-Bellis (undoubtedly a good buy )..but IF we really want this player there is figure that will get the deal over the line, but surely no-one would agree to the asking price at the first meeting. His club see Saints' potential Prem. income and will want " their share" ...and a bit more. Although Alcarez was a good prospect and is now worth a lot more, sadly the Mara deal seems a disappointment - even though both players cost around the same amount to buy. IF ..Carmara is " the real thing " he'll be worth the fee (whatever it is), but every player has a price, and Saints still have more players to buy and every million saved could be vital in the end, remembering that we have to pay a salary to these guys as well. |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | Southampton Said To Have Agreed Terms With Brazilian Defender at 14:15:14
(to Bowlercow). Think I read that we also sold Perraud for around 3 million.. and a bit. (highfield ) ...I agree with you about Stephens.... and his contract goes out summer 2025. Manning and Bree may have managed OK-ish in the Championship, but I don't see either as first choice Prem. players. It means Bednarek is the only experienced CB in the club. Interesting that the mooted signings of; Ghoddos, O'Riley, Jeronimo and Welington might help create interest in their home countries as the big money clubs have always tried to recruit overseas players and it helps to get attention for Prem. clubs. |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | The Calm Before The Storm The Transfer Scrum Begins On Monday at 10:09:55
The last two seasons has seen a massive turnover of players, but now we will likely see the biggest influx since Ronald Koeman started his managerial reign with 9 new signings. Last season we finished with 5 loan players on the books, and 3 others who then went out of contract. Now that the dust has settled, we have Harwood-Bellis permanent, and then hopefully Fraser and Downes back in the fold, plus an untold number of new recruits. Lallana will be the Stuart Armstrong replacement (for however long he lasts) but we need to fill quite a few more gaps - to get a squad even good enough to SURVIVE next season. We will see some of the " dead wood " leaving (already Perraud and Lyanco gone) and a number of our promising young talents going out on loan to Championship / L1 sides where they will regularly play against seasoned pro's who have been around a while. Keeping McCarthy - even for a season - seems a sensible move, but with KWP likely on the move we need at least two more FB's, two more CB's (you can never have enough central defenders in my book)...plus an extra pair of experienced legs in midfield and at least two strikers who can score regularly and not just on high days and holidays. Nuff said! |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | Saints Set To Agree Deal With Keeper at 09:45:22
(read above)...seems to be split judgements on our goalies capabilities already. Clearly age is not an issue for goalkeepers, as many can still get lucrative contracts when they are past 35, and McCarthy DAJFU in the play-off games and helped get us promotion. In the present circumstances it's a common sense decision to keep him for another season ..(or two) ..until we can get a stable group of custodians to choose from. Whether people see Bazunu as a promising young keeper with prospects, the real issue has to be - WHEN he will return and be the fit, agile keeper we need for the future. In the long term we need to sign "another Bazunu" capable of challenging for the role, and /or be good enough for the No.1 spot (if and when required). I expect / hope to see a good young keeper with league experience on the books soon and see McCarthy start the season, continuing - as long as necessary - until we get it sorted. |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | Saints Set To Bid £6 Million To Bring Back Former St Mary's Hero at 09:47:39
Depends what we have as alternatives. There are some arguments against this deal.. his age, fitness and recent form, but the main reason that players " fail " after a move is they have to play in another formation to that which brought their success. Danny wasn't first choice for David Moyes' set-up (only as sub. for Antonio,) whereas DM was happy to sign Prowsey, for his midfield but now might end up being "frozen out " under the new WHam manager who uses a different formation. I don't see Danny getting 20 goals ever again, and he won't get a 4 year contract again either, but acouple of seasons of " vintage Ings" might make the difference between survival ...and relegation. What we know is that on his day he can be a " match-winner " and helped save us over two seasons before our eventual relegation without him. For our first season back up we need to consolidate and survive our first couple of seasons, and signing some " smart kid ", who has scored a lot in someone's U21 side is not the same as starting in a Prem. League game every week, and whenever he does score, we suddenly declare a special holiday in the city to celebrate. No thanks - too chancey. Even if we get a little " Ings-action " for only 60 minutes each match, and few goals more he'd bring experience to our already " too-young " squad and help " the young and the newcomers " settle in before they have to bear the burden of being first on the team sheet every week and needing to perform. |
![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | News Comment | Southampton Back For Third Attempt To Sign Defender at 05:47:53
Agree (Dell Boy Wally) that KWP was a good deal for us, but Levy screwed us on the deal for Höjbjerg who was clearly worth much more that 18 mill. at that stage of his career. The irony is that, Spurs have squandered more than 60 mill. in trying to find a suitable RB, without success and if " the rumoured buy-back clause " does exist , then Spurs can get KWP back for around 30 mill. (an absolute steal in the current market, as his form in the last 2 seasons has been excellent and even got him international recognition). we will get screwed and Spurs will win again. |
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