Saints got their transfer business completed quietly and efficiently well before the end of the transfer window, meaning that they did not take part in the usual last day rush for overpriced transactions.

Reading social media you would think that Saints were in the dark days of 2008/09 season when they hurtled towards administration with no money to invest in the team and ultimately relegation to the third tier of English football, rather than a club that has just achieved its highest top flight finish in over 30 years and that in itself equaling our best ever run of league placings.

Saints supporters ranted about the lack of investment in the squad and the fact that we had not joined the scramble for overpriced "Bargains" that is the closing hours of any transfer window.

I would contend that Saints failure to join in and over spend was more a case of forward planning than any of the other reasons ranted about by some.

Saints lost three key players in the summer, Wanyama, Mane & Pelle, but they have already replaced them with Hojbjerg, Redmond & Boufal and the fact is that when Charlie Austin was brought in back in January that was looking towards the summer with the expectation that Pelle was going to move on, we expected to Italy for £4 million so it was a bonus that we got £13 million when he ended up in China.

Of course any squad can do with an extra player or two and we are no different, but the reality is that as a club we will feel that we have adequately replaced those that have left.

Pelle and Mane have suddenly taken on God like status's after their departure, people forget that mane was missing for most of last season and before his annual burst at the end only rarely showed what he was capable of, Pelle is slightly different, but he is replacable.

In Nathan Redmond and Sofiane Boufal we have two players more than capable of replacing Mane and Charlie Austin's goal scoring record is far superiour to Pelle's.

In midfield on his day Wanyama was immense, but like Mane his day was not that often, he missed 8 Premier League games through injury, suspension or sulking and in 3 of the other 30 he was sent off. I would contend that in Pierre Emile Hojbjerg we have a more than adequate replacement and that in the central midfield department we have a good and strong variety of options.

So those wanting another striker on deadline day seemed to be doing so after being blinded by the fact that we still have money in the kitty so it must be spent, that is not the right way to do things, over the past two seasons we have managed to add Quantity to our squad as well as quality, but there is only so far you can go in terms of numbers, our transfer strategy is about getting the right players in and if we get them in at the right price for us, the club should not be chastised for doing things on the cheap, but finding the talent and not paying over the odds for it.

Most Premier League squads outside of the top six big clubs would kill for a strike force of Long, Austin & Rodriguez with back up from Redmond & Boufal, yes there are some injury issues, but we still have enough back up to cover that, the issue at the moment is players adapting to the new system that will be the same issue should we bring a new striker in.

So Saints are being chastised for being organised with their forward planning, we still have the basis of the squad that got us into sixth place last season and did so for large swathes of the season without the three departed players either being in the team or actually when in it playing well.

Saints fans should give more credit for the players that are remaining and their contribution last season, rather that inferring that it was all down to the contributions of the departed trio.

They should also give more credit to the Saints team working behind the scenes to identify the replacements and ow successful they have been in the past, it is no accident, it is by careful planning, yes of course there will be failures but in the main it has been successful.

If there is one area I think we did not perform well in this transfer window it is our failure to sign a quality central defender, we got lucky with injury and suspensions with Jose Fonte and Virgil Van Dijk last term, we do not have anyone at the club good enough to step in should one of them be missing, I do think this is the one area we fell down in and should have addressed.

So all in all a good transfer window for Saints, despite the fact that we didn't sign anyone for an inflated price who has no proven track record in the Premier League, what we did though is sign players that we need and add to that a couple of academy players who are a year older and a little more ready to step up to the plate I think overall our squad is strong.

The start we have made is no worse than any of the last four seasons since we have been back in the Premier League and is in fact a little better than last season's in terms of goal difference, the issue is not the quality of the squad, but the implementation of a new system, a couple of more signings would not have changed that.

So now supporters need to get behind the squad and the manager, supporters can make or break a season, they can create an atmosphere of success or they can create one of failure, the past two seasons have seen the season started with moaning about players being sold and that has not helped us off to a good start, as the season has progressed and the team has won a few games it has got the supporters off the teams back and results have improved.

The transfer window has closed, we cannot do anything else till January, we can get behind the team and enjoy one of the most successful periods in the clubs history, including a Europa League adventure or we can mope about and spend the next four months moaning everytime we waste a corner kick.

I know what I am going to be doing !

Photo: Action Images

dirk_doone added 10:43 - Sep 1 "The transfer window has closed, we cannot do anything else till January, we can get behind the team and enjoy one of the most successful periods in the clubs history, including a Europa League adventure or we can mope about and spend the next four months moaning everytime we waste a corner kick. I know what I am going to be doing !" Moaning about Jose Fonte?
1

BathSaint added 10:46 - Sep 1 Clearly the main cause of our quiet deadline day was shirt-based confusion between the different red and white striped teams. Claude Puel must have seen Stoke's unveiling of both Bruno Martins Indi and Wifried Bony, the exact two types of player our squad is desperate for right now, and as a then informed the board he was happy with the squad. Considering they were both were loan deals (and so were not overpriced transactions) it really wouldn't have been unrealistic to see us do that business instead, still pocket a big transfer surplus AND look ready for serious competition in both the premiership and Europa league. Oh well.

6

BUCK added 10:53 - Sep 1 Our squad is solid. The 5 year plan is in great shape. In all the years I've supported saints I've never seen so many contracts being signed.we have virgil for 6 years,best defender in the league in my opinion. Dusan tadic was the main one for me and we got him on board. One of the best left backs in ryan.i feel our squad is extremely strong. The results will come that's for certain and when they do, watch this space.

0

SaintPaulVW added 10:53 - Sep 1 The worry guts in me would have liked to see one more player come yesterday. I agree that the 3 players we have bought if they prove up to scratch will improve the team. Obviously the key concern is how long they take to get up to speed in the EPL. It also shouldn't be forgotten that a lot of the remaining members of last year's squad have committed to long term deals. While that doesn't mean they'll definitely stay it removes the last year of contract panic sales that seem to start distracting everyone with 2 years left now, that have dogged us these last few years. It has to be appreciated that long term deals for proven EPL players don't come cheap. As you say, time to get behind the Manager and Team and show our support.

1

SaintPaulVW added 11:04 - Sep 1 The thing is with Bony and BMI - would MC have agreed to him coming to a proven direct competitor for a top place, would Porto have agreed to him playing a club in the Europa league when they are still playing off for CL, could they not end up in the EL? Just like would we have wanted JRod to go on loan to say W Ham?
0

JDawg added 11:07 - Sep 1 There is part of me that things saints haven't done enough this summer, that the "Southampton Way" might finally be shown up. It would have been nice to see a CB come in, even on loan, to give Fonte some competition. But you're right there's nothing to be done now but cheer on the team and trust that saints have got it right again!
0

aceofthebase added 11:52 - Sep 1 Blah blah I know what I will be doing moaning about Cedric and /or Clasie apart from the time they are on the pitch, trying, when I will be cheering them on We did need replacement centre backs and I feel with a better midfield, and we may have it, chances will open up for our forwards. Prediction 13th place, come on Saints prove me pessimistic
2

Bettwsresident added 11:52 - Sep 1 I agree Nick that we have the squad...we have the key players tied down on long term contracts...now what about that formation that finished last season WWLWDWWWW......the players know it, the development squads were playing it, it gave us width, solidity in the middle and at the back and a potent counter attack but it has been binned. Koeman has taken it to Everton and despite them having a awful transfer window started with 2 wins and a draw.

2

SanMarco added 12:16 - Sep 1 Forward planning eh? The article and the majority of comments take the optimistic view and, of course, I really hope they are right. I do however believe that the club may have been complacent - the "We wont get away with it again" argument prevalent amongst a significant proportion of the fans points to that complacency. Not strengthening at centre-back (especially with Fonte not looking as solid as expected) is worse than complacency - I think it is an enormous risk. There are narrow margins in this league and, although I agree that a lot of the cash-splashing by the middling to lower clubs may not come to much, it only needs a few results like our first three of this season (2pts this, 7 pts last) to have us a lot nearer the bottom than we had a right to expect to be. Let's hope the optimists are right - they will have to be.

7

halftimeorange added 12:38 - Sep 1 What's missing for me is that "feelgood" factor. Injuries, player fragility, lack of adequate cover at CF and CB and a strange change of playing system have robbed me of confidence for the games immediately ahead and, I suspect, many of my fellow fans haven't felt this way since the Wilde times and relegation. I bet that they don't feel this way at Bournemouth. My support for the Saints is undoubted but my fears are not unfounded and as a ST holder I believe I have the right to express them. The club hasn't been exactly communicative either.

7

Archersclose added 12:44 - Sep 1 Nick really does tow the club line nowadays doesn't he? When Saints play we will still want them to win every game, we won't be willing them to bloody lose FFS! We will all hope that we don't pick up injuries so we can have another successful season. However, you must be aware the same as me that there are many fans out there who believe the squad is weaker than last season and we have to contend with an extra 6 games in the Europa League. IF we pick up injuries and results in the Premier League suffer because of this, i can see the club via the echo saying they have to prioritise and we will field weakened teams in the Europa games and we will probably go out after the group stage i'd imagine. So, we would have spent all of last season trying to finish in the top 6 only to throw it all away due to the lack of quality cover within our squad. We all know that if and when results start to suffer 'because of injuries' the fans will remind the club that they did not do enough in this transfer window. The 'Puel and his system' issue may just make matters worse.

6

IWOZTHERE added 13:10 - Sep 1 Well said SanMarco. Bit of patronising in the article if I may say so? If the boot was on the other foot we would turn down the opportunity of paying big bucks for Austin and JayRod as being too much of a risk yet they are our main strikers. I leave out Long, as for now he appears to be a fringe player in CP's glorious new world. It was reported by two sources yesterday that interest in Haller had been dropped because a single goal in a single appearance by JR was enough to render a signing unnecessary.Desperate for an excuse not to spend 8 million quid I'd say! This is one hell of a risk, as is the CB situation, particularly given Jose's state of mind and how much danger there is of this infernal formation leaving him more exposed.

6

SonicBoom added 13:22 - Sep 1 Hmm I am quite happy with what we've done but I can't agree that people would kill for our forward line. You yourself nick used to say that for what we paid for Long we should expect around ten goals a season. He is a great player but not a prolific goalscorer. Redmond is a kid learning. He might amaze us but he's young and could do with time to settle in. He's also always been a winger who scores the odd goal. We cannot rely on him to suddenly be a prolific striker either. I am a big fan of both JR and Charlie. If both are fit then they can both score 15-20 a season. BUT neither have a great track record of fitness and both appear to be second choice right now. Boufal will hopefully chip in with some goals which is something we've been missing from our attacking midfielders for a while. But again he's an unknown quantity. So what I'm saying is that in my opinion we have taken a big risk up front. If fitness allows and the younger lads deliver then we will be absolutely fine. Let's hope that's how it works out.

2

steve73 added 13:22 - Sep 1 Overly positive spin doctoring.
3

uaesaint added 13:45 - Sep 1 Have read this I agree .... But as you point out the lost points is down to the system we are playing now .... Not the system we ended with the best points ever in the last half of the year only 2 points behind the league winners drop this diamond crap and play to our strengths..... By all means play is in Eurovision way.... but the premier league in not the same don't thing new manager is up to speed on the way the premier league play ... And before you say it if the premier league is no different than others why do we then say give new players time to adjust to premier league

0

BaselSaint added 13:48 - Sep 1 Somebody will amaze us, somebody will dissapoint us, the system will finlly click or an individual will make it click. This is what I expect.
0

BoondockSaint added 13:48 - Sep 1 Last year I anticipated every game with "We can win this one" attitude (although I was always nervous about teams lower than us on the table). But this year, "I know what I will be doing"-hoping we can get a draw and crawl towards 40 points. If these new signings all of a sudden start scoring goals by the bucket (doubtful with the system we are playing) I'll be happy, but then I'll start worrying about Les Reed rubbing his hands together contemplating how much the Scouse or Spuds will give us in the next transfer window. "Last day panic buys" can be avoided by having a list of replacements ready in case a player or manager leaves, and then when that happens, get the deals done straight away. You know, like other teams who want to compete do? I was happy that we got Austin, and he hopefully will contribute, however, saying he has a better scoring record than Pelle, is using a little fuzzy logic since you should only use their time at Saints for comparison. So are we going to sign Gary Lineker tomorrow to replace Mane since, lets face it, he has a better scoring record?

6

clunk76 added 13:51 - Sep 1 Correct me if i'm wrong but didn't Puel himself say to expect a couple of new faces prior to the Boufal signing? If so then it suggests the powers that be are aware of shortfallings and subsequently failed in their attempt to recruit, so i question the assumption that everything has gone according to plan. Of course if we were being held to ransom by unscrupulous agents and we refused to back down then quite right too, and praise should be afforded....

6

saintinexile added 14:43 - Sep 1 Whatever the state of the squad, and l agree it's pretty good, we're still short of a tall strong proven striker who can also hold up play like Pelle, and a class midfielder with vision.
2

wopper added 15:05 - Sep 1 Bottom at xmas.
1

stmichael added 15:25 - Sep 1 Comedy of the highest order Nick either that or club spin. Losing your manager and 3 top players is a good window😂
4

highfield49 added 15:26 - Sep 1 Don't think I've ever seen Bottom play but I presume he's either a forward or central defender? Anyhow, we can't sign him until January.
0

Spanish_Santo added 17:01 - Sep 1 The system is wrong...we all know it. I think that the article is spot on and we need to just wait for two months before we decided to clean off the pitch forks and go hunt the Diamond King. He needs a chance to realise that he is wrong before we sack him. By then we will be out of every cup and the new manager will do a stellar job of climbing the table using a 4-2-3-1 system with boufal and redmond on the wings and austin and long playing in the centre. Take heed my friends... COYS!

0

DPeps added 18:21 - Sep 1 I'm fairly happy with things but would be a lot happier if we'd got Bony in on loan and had sent Jay Rod out on loan. That way, Jay gets meaningful game time for his recovery and we get a proven goal scorer who's fit and hungry to prove a point.
1

pintsizedsaint added 19:21 - Sep 1 The system is wrong...but we've never managed a football team before - let alone a top flight team or experienced Europa football. We've not replaced/added to the squad - despite the fact we've brought in several new faces as well as renewed contracts. And didn't we see that Puel came in (and RK left) so that we could do more to allow our academy players a chance to come through? Getting bored of the same old pessimistic attitude now. I don't know what's going to happen but I still trust those in charge. Seems a number of us just want to get the moan in now just in case - so they can say "I told you". You're free to have your opinion but you need to at least give the guys some time.

0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Preston North End Polls