Jose Fone looks set to be out for at least six weeks after being stretchered off against Chelsea at the weekend putting further pressure on an already weak central defence.

Of course no one at Southampton Football Club could have predicted that Jose Fonte would have picked up an injury against Chelsea, there are those that will say we should have played a weakened side to protect players from injury, but Im not one of them, you can never tell when an injury might strike it could just have easily have been done in training or in another league match, it was just bad luck it happened in an FA Cup game when in the past we have put out weakened sides.

But this potential long term injury to Fone only accelerates the consequences of our failure to land an experienced central defender at Premier league level, last summer we were rumoured to be chasing central defenders almost as soon as the season had ended last April, indeed we had shipped out Arron Martin on loan to Crystal Palace within weeks which suggested that we were clearing the decks for an arrival in this department, however despite many names being linked, no one arrived till virtually the last minute of the last day when Yoshida was signed, this smacked of a panic buy and to be fair to Yoshida although he has improved of late the fact is he isnt the rock at the heart of our defence that we need.

Unless we sign someone by Saturday then it looks like Hooiveld will have to partner Yoshida and this worries me greatly, in recent weeks we have shored up a little defensively but how much is that due to the quality of opposition we have played than the quality of our defenders? Ok we kept Arsenal at bay, but the Chelsea game showed just how at this level you just cannot afford any lapses in concentration and show the opposition a chink in your armour.

Now is the time to get proactive and quickly, of course they would like to sign the likes of Davide Astori, but if he isnt going to be signed by Saturday then we will have had a week to identify someone who could be signed easily and quickly and perhaps on loan who ticks most of the boxes, Ill throw a name into the hat, Matthew Upson, not had the greatest time at Stoke since signing in August 11, and at 33 he is not one for the future, but there are pleny of his ilk in Premiership squads and he fits the bill in he knows what is needed in this division, a short term loan could be the difference between drawing or losing at Aston Villa and that in turn could be the difference between staying up and going down, in the wider picture Matthew Upsons wages for three or four months are a fraction of what we will lose if we are relegated.

So again the problem is not that we are missing out on transfer targets but thet we have or seem to have no contingency plans, someone like Upson and I am only using him as an example could well be better than either Fonte or Yoshida in what we need them to do, Liverpool messed up in the summer transfer window that left them with only one striker at the club in Suarez, but they had their man identified and the deal agreed so that it could be signed virtually the moment the clock had struck midnight to herald in January, Sturrisge came in and immediately repaid some of his fee by scoring the first goal at Mansfield, if they can do this why do we find it so hard, as i have often say its not what you do wrong that counts, its what you do next !   

Photo: Action Images

Whatsforpud added 11:55 - Jan 10 I understand that we would have to sign someone by Friday noon in order to play Saturday - time getting a bit tight to sign someone and get him familiar with team play. So Hooiveld it will be then. Can we at least not give away own goals or penalties.
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slynch added 12:20 - Jan 10 Adkins has kept Hooiveld as cover for CB injury. A CB is injured so Hooiveld plays...no panic. Gazza Clyne, Yosh Hooi Shaw Punch Davis Spider Ram Lamb Gully Can beat Villa.
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Zambucco added 12:23 - Jan 10 Apparently Aaron Martin has been recalled, I thought he did brilliantly when given the chance last season when Fonte was out injured, is he good enough to play in the Prem? So fingers crossed that Hooiveld and Yoshida do the business. Or they could could play Cork there, he seems to playing everywhere else as though it's his natural position! Bottom line is we have needed a top class CB from day one and we still do, Come on Nicola get that cheque book out

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simmo400 added 12:25 - Jan 10 Why should we ever play a weakened team ? We pay to watch Saints and they should play out their strongest team in any game. They owe us that much as we pay top money. Most thought we would loose against Chelsea, and so it proved. Chelsea played well but only because we let them with our gutless display. We didnt close them, press them, just let them play how they wanted. QPR closed them and gave 100% effort to the final whistle. Swansea defeated them last night in the own ground after giving there all. Could Saints hold up there hands and say they gave everything ?? I dont think so. So no excuses that the league is more important. Fans are spending the cash for full blooded commentment, never say die atitude. If they cant get rid.

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StSaint added 14:00 - Jan 10 Any chance of a piece on the news of the day that Shaw has agreed a long term deal? Well done SFC!
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SaintNick added 14:16 - Jan 10 There is nothing on the official site saying that Shaw has agreed a long term deal, merely that he see his future at the club and he would like to sign a five year deal like Jamie Ward Prowse, whilst its good to see players make statements like this the truth is at the moment he doesnt appear to have agreed anything or to have signed a pre contract agreement, given that he has the best part of five months to make up his mind and actually sign a contract there is still a long way to go. I think Southampton is the place to be for young kids like me. I’m playing in the Premier League for the First Team and that is all anyone wants to be doing, so I just want to carry on" Hopefully if we are relegated he wont be tempted away from here

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SaintJez added 15:24 - Jan 10 Is all very concerning as Sat is a massive game and Villa are a poor side but are not actually that bad going forward. Our defence and keeper need big performances on Sat or, at the very least, we can't afford poor performances. That we are going into it with Hooiveld - who's barely played since an awful start to the season - and probably Boruc who the less said about the better is less than ideal. Being linked with the likes of Coutinho is lovely but this club really needs to look at what it takes to survive at this level. Very few teams succeed with a solid defence and a good keeper.

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StSaint added 17:02 - Jan 10 A no score draw seems unlikely!
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thegeneral added 17:13 - Jan 10 I am very surprised that a CB didn't arrive within days of the window opening. Its obvious to all that we need to strengthen and i would have thought that the club would have two or three players scouted and all but officially signed. Hooiveld simply isn't good enough at this level which he has already proved. We have to protect our weak defence against villa by playing Cork and spiderman in front of them and hope we stay lucky from corners and set pieces.

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StSaint added 17:33 - Jan 10 I'm surprised that so many of you are surprised that nothing has happened yet. 99% of deals happen in the last couple of days of the window. Every window it's the same. Should we not sign anyone then I will gladly eat my words. Then I will swear lots and start to worry.
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geezershoong added 22:27 - Jan 10 'An already weak defense'? That's a bit harsh!
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