Southampton have well and clearly run up the white flag in terms of their survival chances this season with the announcement that they are letting their top striker over the past couple of seasons leave on loan.

I have to say I am extremely disappointed to see that Adam Armstrong has left Saints to join West Bromwich Albion on loan, given that we have already seen Ben Brereton Diaz leave the club, it leaves the club short of truly proven striking power.

The top scorer this season in the Premier League this season is Joe Aribo, he is followed by Adam Armstrong with 2 goals in 15 starts and 5 off the bench, Tyler Dibling with 2 goals in 14 starts and 6 sub appearances and Cameron Archer with 2 goals in 10 starts and 11 off the bench and finally Paul Onuachu whose 2 goals in the last few weeks come from 6 starts & 8 sub appearances.

So the departure of Armstrong leaves the club without a truly proven striker at this level.

Some will argue that Armstrong's goal tally in the Premier League is not great, but it's not just about goals, it is about work rate and Armstrong more than anyone worked hard to provide chances as well as score them.

Last year Adam Armstrong was our talisman in the Championship, scoring goals and creating them, it feels like the spirit of that team is being squeezed out of it.

Ivan Juric clearly has his own opinions and what he sees as the way forward, I accept that, but I felt that we had the foundations of a team that could have done better in the Championship next season than last year, but we have ripped the heart out of it.

As I have said it is like we have run up the white flag, we have been trying to trim the squad, I didn't think it was that desperate, but it seems that it is about saving money this season and that we are putting that ahead of our admittedly very very slender chance of staying up, by getting whoever we can off the books.

In the last few days players who have been the backbone or even the future of the team have suddenly become hot property, Armstrong has gone, Sam Amo -Ameyaw has gone & Flynn Downes has suddenly been the subject of bids, clearly the club have been putting the word around, a case of cutting costs wherever we can and that is worrying.

I hope that this is truly a temporary move, that it is about saving money now than an indication of how the team will be set up next season, we need proven players at Championship level, we need a backbone of the side and at the moment too many players.

I wish Adam Armstrong all the best at West Bromwich Albion, but I truly hope that when we are back in the Championship next season, he is back at the club.

Photo: Action Images

DorsetIan added 15:10 - Feb 4 Good luck to him. He got us promoted. He always works hard. He's not at PL level, but that's not his fault.
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Colburn added 15:19 - Feb 4 I disagree with your sentiment that he is proven at this level unless you mean he’s proven that he’s not good enough for this level. That isn’t to say that he shouldn’t be praised for all he has done for the club but your angle is not progressive. Will he score goals this season to help us improve? No Will he score goals at this level in 2 years if we bounce back again? No So what’s the point in keeping a player who’s only useful once year out of every 2? There isn’t one. Good luck to Arma but he will be in League 1 in a couple of years as the game moves on. My only issue is the lack of replacement for him, Diaz and Cornet. We should have brought in at least one replacement but our board are like a chocolate fire guard..

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saintmark1976 added 15:58 - Feb 4 Quite easy to see Nick, Juric is getting shot of or margining the influence of Russell Martin’s favourites. Armstrong, gone. Downes, open to offers. Manning,dropped. Will his approach work ? Well it doesn’t really matter this season does it, given that we were effectively relegated during the week the clocks went back.Next season is all that’s relevant now.
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Bowlercow added 16:09 - Feb 4 Arma will probably reach double figure for WBA and is a player who will be the backbone of our team next season if we are going to bounce back I am surprised because with Ramirez and Gronbaek behind him he may well have produced a goal or two as a late sub
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bryanK added 16:24 - Feb 4 Sorry Nick but sentiment does not cut it. Cannot fault his work rate or commitment but in a good season and a half he showed the premiership was a step too far. Like you I sincerely wish him well Our new manager may not do the impossible with the great escape but he is I believe no mug and I suspect in his short tenure he saw enough of Armstrong to form an opinion that the majority of us felt. Shame.

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Monksway added 17:04 - Feb 4 I think despite his work rate his confidence is gone in front of goal. A good end of the season at West Brom getting a few goals in the championship is much better than being a periferal figure in the Premier League missing the odd chance that might come his way. As you say it's all about next season. We know that anybody of any value will be sold and I think Armstrong will be in the final year of his contract. Either his value might increase or he will sign a new contract.

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Staycalm added 17:30 - Feb 4 Agree with Monksway. It should be good for his confidence to build up a goal tally ahead of next season, in the Championship, where he is a very effective player. Sadly, not quite there in the Premier League. Constantly being subbed and/or missing half chances in the Premier League won't serve him or Saints well!
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ItchenNorth added 21:56 - Feb 4 A good end to the season scoring a few goals in The Championship for West Brom means we can command more for Arma in the summer when we sell him. Duric is building his own team. Yes not backed this window but let's be realistic, big signings were never coming in January with where we are currently.
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SaintPaulVW added 22:33 - Feb 4 Much as I appreciate his work rate, he has had 2 goes at the PL and the goals have dried up both times. He just doesn't seem able to adapt to quicker or more skillful PL defenders playing tighter to him. He constantly loses the ball either to challenges or through giving the ball away. While it would be great to have him next season in the Championship, if his contract has only just over a year to run, then better to put him in the shop window now and cash in at the end of the season.

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