A few days ago Gaston Ramirez looked to be leaving the club for Spain albeit on loan, but suddenly Saints lack of transfer activity could provide an unexpected chance for the Uruguayan.

Gaston Ramirez has talent, no one has ever denied that, however what he has failed to do at the club so far is convince his previous two managers that he can fit into their team structure and right up to this week it looked like he was going to be only remembered at St Mary's as an expensive folly.

But as they say when one door shuts, another one opens and with Spurs refusing to play ball with Saints over Andros Townsend suddenly Ronald Koeman has to look a bit closer at his squad and look to try and plug the gaps from those already at the club.

Under Mauricio Pochettino's high tempo pressing game regime, Ramirez did not get a lot of chances, last season he started only 3 league games plus 15 from the bench usually of fairly short duration, however with Koeman employing a less frantic system this could suit Ramirez more and could finally be the opportunity to shine at St Mary's.

Koeman seems to e an admirer and feels that the player has an ability to play in several roles, something that the Dutchman likes in a player.

“He’s a very good player because I know him, I see him in the training sessions but he had a big problem. He missed two times in a week in the first six or seven weeks of the season and then you are always back with your physical way and your football way and you need time for that.

“Little by little now I hope he will continue fit and in a good shape because there is no doubt about his quality.

“He can play in my opinion in three positions — in the left wing position, the right wing position and as a number ten behind the striker with a lot of freedom which he needs.

“He’s a player like Tadic, you can’t say stay wide and keep wide, they need movement, they need freedom to play.

“The problem is he wasn’t in the physical 100 per cent and now little by little he will be and then he will start playing.”

Football is a confidence game and players like to feel they are wanted by the manager, under Nigel Adkins there was always the feeling that the player was forced upon him by Nicola Cortese and that there was not really a place in the system for Ramirez, as mentioned when Pochettino took over the pace of his game was much faster and not suited to him, indeed towards the end of the first months under Pochettino you could see the frustration in Ramirez when he was sent off for against West Brom.

Now though and the chance is suddenly there and the question is whether Ramirez can grab it, certainly everything is now there to help him do so, Ramirez is a passer of the ball, up till now his talent was wasted, his target was Rickie Lambert, but the problem was Lambert was not a channel runner, he did not want those defence splitting through balls, so Ramirez would have to keep passing it short, now with Pelle and Long in the squad, the outlet is there for those type of balls and Ramirez now has the time to flourish on the ball and pick passes.

Hopefully this will be the reboot of his career with the club, up till now he has been the perfect pro, unlike his fellow marque signing Osvaldo there has never been the hint of throwing his toys out of the pram and being a bad influence on the squad, Gaston has simply got his head down and despite the fact it must have been soul destroying, when called upon he has tried his best, perhaps now he may get his just rewards and maybe Saints fans will see why we paid so much for him on a more regular basis.

If this happens then it will be like a new signing and perhaps we will save ourselves £12 million or so.

Photo: Action Images

truthfulsaint added 10:27 - Aug 29 Talented at giving the ball away and giving hospital balls, dwelling too long and making poor decisions. Total waste of money.
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SaintNick added 10:38 - Aug 29 so far he has been a total waste of money, but is that because of the system we have played for the last couple of seasons ? The problem is for him is that under our old system no one made runs, he had no outlets, look back when le tissier played he knew instictively where say Ostenstad would make his run so didnt have to look up where he was, Ramirez hasnt had that luxury, perhaps now he will have . We have nothing to lose in giving him another chance, it might just work, if it doesnt we are in no worse position than last season with him

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slynch added 10:52 - Aug 29 Some people go to different football matches than I do?
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Jesus_02 added 11:24 - Aug 29 Wow. For once I agree with Nick! (the artical at least) He is still relativly young and moving must have taken some ajusting. The systems that we prviously employed meant that there was only really room for either him or Lallana. I think that this season we may play with more width so will two. With regards to the comments that he was a total waste of money I wouldnt agree. In Osvaldo and Gaston we bought in very well regarded players to create genuine competition for places. It just so happend that Lambert and Lallana raised their game to keep their place. (perhaps the fees recieved for them should be taken into account too) What I was really pleased about at the time was the fact that we didnt just say "we have spent £x on these guys so they will automatically get the nod"

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1962saint added 11:35 - Aug 29 Should similar thoughts be given about Mayuka who hasn't been given much of a chance. When talking about signing a winger various names are mentioned but most are come with a high price tag. Mayuka may be worth a place on the bench and being brought on as an impact player.
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brady100 added 11:51 - Aug 29 I would argue he only has himself to blame for his lack of game time. Whilst I fully support the club in wishing to keep him, although our formation has been a contributing factor he has just not been good enough individually. Injuries have prevented him from a sustained run in the team, but also his decision making at this level is lacking. Too often he takes one touch to many, plays the wrong pass, tries to do too much or is inconsistent on a minute by minute basis. If we can install some discipline, play to his strengths as Nick mentions and keep him fit, I am hopeful we can start to see the best of him.

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Zambucco added 12:45 - Aug 29 Without doubt he has more talent than most footballers dream of. Yes he's inconsistent, but is that his fault? Injuries aside? For me his problem is, he never has the support around him, to play his style of passing game. Sometimes his passing is visionary, but needs players sharing the same vision and pace, to move instinctively into the holes Gaston has seen or created. No disrespect to Rickie, but he never did. I think Long will be the man for this and hopefully Pelle will given time. He still needs to toughen up and retain possession when challenged, as he lost it all too easily, all too often. But like you Nick, I believe he will revel in a free role, his confidence will soar and his effort too. Especially since the King has abdicated, and crown is there for the taking. As for Mayuka, yes he needs to be given a chance, but as yet I've not seen anything apart from pace, that inspires any confidence. A loan spell at a Championship club with regular English football would help him?

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ChristchurchSaint added 13:07 - Aug 29 I think that the worst problem with Gaston was that he arrived under a big fanfare as our record signing and we all immediately expected wonders from him. He didn't fit into Judas's plans and I don't think that Gaston has the type of personality where he will adapt to fit. Whilst I appreciate that maybe he should have done, that is not all totally his fault. Also I think that, like so many imports into the Premier league, he doesn't like the physical side of the game. If he can stay fit and gain confidence and belief, he may turn out to be like an extra signing.

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BoondockSaint added 13:37 - Aug 29 I agree with Zambucco-When he got into a game he would make a nifty pass or create something where you thought there was nothing-but whoever he passed to was usually caught flat-footed because they weren't expecting the pass, or didn't see the opening they should have ran into because they never saw it. Hopefully, with the new signings he'll have someone on the same wavelength. He's been a class act and deserves a proper chance.

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Jesus_02 added 14:03 - Aug 29 Zambucco: Is spot on about Mayuka. I think he has the ability to be a revelation in the Championship and it would give him a good grounding in the physical element of the game. Loaning to a european side would be pointless
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ExiledSupporter added 15:14 - Aug 29 Agreed, let's give Gaston an extended run, preferably at 10, and send Mayuka out on loan again and get Zaha for the bench asap!
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