I’m really pleased with this signing and happy that this concludes a successful transfer window. We’ve said goodbye to Jay, wishing him well unlike some previous departures, which is the best thing for everyone as it gives him an opportunity to restart his career after his injuries. We’ve finally replaced Jose Fonte with Hoedt who looks like he could be another undiscovered gem, and we’ve signed a promising midfielder that we don’t need but will add competition, depth and value to our squad.

If in two weeks’ time there are no more ins or outs then I will be very happy. All we need now is to realise the promise of this squad and to start scoring goals.

Does he have a nice touch for a big man ?

Excited now! headed to Southampton form Lazio, the last guy from Juve. I remember when we needed strong signings during the Lowe era and we got David Prutton! That was a bad time for me. This is a substantial improvement in our affairs.

This looks like a brilliant signing, but unlike many on this site I do rate the Stevens/Yosh partnership, and if we do get VVD back(?), fitting 5 CB's into 2 could be problematic. In the last 7 EPL games when we have had the stephens/yoshi partnership Saints have conceded a mere 0.57 goals per game, and both are a threat going forward, Yoshi looked the most liely to score on Saturday. 0.57 is excellent and compares well with any of the more prestigous CB partnership we have had since we rejoined the premiership. It has only been beaten recently by that amazing run in Jan/Feb 2016 when we had 6 consequtive clean sheets.

My views on the Yoshida/Stephens partnership arew well known at the end of last season we sat back and protected them meaning we didnt get forward enough and so stopped scoring goals. There is direct correllation between the fact we stopped conceding goals and stopped scoring them too.

Ask yourself this would either of them get in any of the sides who finished above us last season , I think we all know the answer to that, ask yourself would they get into any of the other Premier League sides ? Again I think the answer is no and that is backed up by no one tried to sign them when they were 3rd and 4th choice

Disraeli said something very famous about statistics Bettwsresident. It certainly applies here (do the same calculation with points and you find us quite close to relegation). The Stephens/Yoshi partnership is not 'top 6' and that is where we should be aiming. Once VVD goes we are still one first choice CB short.

Great news as long as Stephens still gets some game time this season
We needed a bit of height and muscle in this team

gearing up for three at the back new look side being built takes time...

The improvement will be the build up play from the back Wesley provides, this is neither Yoshidas or Stephens' strenght... I'm guessing Gardos will leave at some point so having "double" positions everywhere is normal, every strong team has that now .. VVD/Wesley/Yoshida/Stephens excellent!!! Romeu and new guy in front and the creative guys Redmond/Boufal/Davis/Tadic/Gabby/Charlie etc... can have a ball up front!!!!

I think we're almost there, though we need something to get goals. I'd be happy to see Long and/or Tadic leave to be replaced by a clinical attacking midfielder

I'll wait until I see it officially with Les sitting down shaking his hand, but this would be awesome news. Unlike some on here, as much as I want to see Stephens become the next VVD he won’t ever be that good. I don't think we can afford to try and accommodate him either, as satisfying as it is to see one of "our own" coming through the ranks. I've got a lot of time for Yoshi too, as I believe he is a model pro. It's a shame he doesn't have VVD's talents to match his attitude. That said I think he does a decent job and if Stephens or Yoshi were to form a decent partnership with VVD (or now the new guy), as Fonte did, I don't think there would be too many complaints. I also disagree that neither player would get into any other PL teams. I think that's pretty insulting, especially when you consider that the likes of Arsenal conceding 3 at home to Leicester at home. Just how much better are their defenders? So yeah, playing Stephens and Yoshi together is not ideal, but don't give them too much of a hard time. They've done a decent enough job. And it's not exactly their fault that we're not scoring goals, because with nearly 30 efforts on goal, some of that blame (okay most of it) must lay with the front men. Talking of which, if we signed another goalscorer/playmaker that could cap an excellent window.
On a related note I wonder if the board have genuinely sat down and discussed the likelihood of VVD being turned by an ambitious attempt to sign his Dutch centre half pairing. I’m wondering if the situation with Vertonghen turning Toby A at the 23rd hour has had any bearing. I still think it’d take huge balls by VVD to change his mind, likely more than he has, especially after showing us all his true colours, but I’d love to be a fly on the wall to see how or if his attitude has been changed by this.

Think this time Nick has it spot on with his comment. Think the two holding midfield could push us on. Hats off to Ralph if he sticks with what he said yesterday. Please make him run up and down the line to warm up.

Nick I have to disagree.
We didn't stop scoring goals because we weren't getting forward-it was because our finishing was cr@p! How many times (with the exception of Gabbiadini) did we see one of our players with a wide open net only to have him miss?

As for VVD-I would be surprised if he ever wears the shirt again. Even if he said he had a change of attitude, would you really trust him to put in an effort? Would he want to play badly so we get rid of him? Would he really go in for a hard tackle or risk clashing heads on a set piece? To play devil's advocate for a moment: If I was him or his agent, I would not want him risking his value on the transfer market getting hurt for a club he wants to get away from.

VVDs value will start to decrease at the end of this transfer window, especially if he doesn't,t get game time. His agent should be now advising him to put in a shift and prove his worth.

6 CB's at the clubs if he signs?:

VVD
Hoedt
Yoshida
Stephens
Bednareck
Gardos

3 at the back?

I agree with the comments that Stephens and Yosh are being underrated and harshly treated. I remember thinking Fonte would have to be replaced when we got promoted from the championship a season he didn't look up to it, I think after a run of games Yosh and stephens have been getting better and better. The lack of a new contract for yosh suggests to me he's going and Bednarek/Stephens/new guy are expected to be the back ups. Would be good to have the competition for places and a VVD plus one of the others pairing and ability to cover injuries and suspensions and have the option for three at the back (although I would argue we have had that anyway with Ryan able to come in and Target/McQueen fill the wingback role).

Yet another guy nobody on here has ever heard of before a week ago yet suddenly everyone's "really happy with this signing"?

Grasping at straws is a Nick kind of thing but this guy may be crap in the Pl like some before him with high price tags.

What's the old saying " Slow to praise but swift to chide?"

I do a word search on any Nick article about CBs, the word being "*******".

Glad to see the search delivered 0 results! Well done, Nick!