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Comment | Southampton Defender Linked With Move To Championship Rivals
at 06:03:23
Feel sorry for Charlie. What little we saw of him showed confidence and experience that we sadly lacked at the back. Managerial preferences for Manning at LB limited any normal opportunities for Taylor (as did some unfortunate injury issues that came at a bad time).
The new influx of younger players will not improve his chances of game time and I wish him well should he decide on this move. At this time in his career he wants /needs to play regularly and deserves the chance to do so.
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Comment | Very Low Key Pre Season Friendly Fixture List For Southampton
at 19:32:35
It maybe a disappointment for fans, but logically not a bad move as we are sure to see a lot of new names in the final first team squad, and a few departures in the meantime.
The comments / criticism that followed the Eastleigh fixture already started some negative responses from some people, but clearly it was a 45 minute practice game for many in order that Will S. could make assessments after two weeks of pre-season routine training.
Any poor reactions from the the fanbase would only create a lot of negativity before the season even starts, and regardless of the "results" of these kickabouts.. Will and his staff will make their own decisions about planning without getting bad press for any poor performances from individuals who most likely will be leaving the club in the short term.
I'm sure we would all enjoy seeing our players in any sort of game, but it would be equally discouraging to see substandard showings in what are basically just "meaningless games" before the League action really starts.
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Comment | Southampton At Eastleigh The Verdict
at 11:33:30
I think some of the first half group would have been glad to come off at HT. The youngsters in the second half all knew they had something to prove and took their opportunities.
Maybe better "verdicts" of the team performances after a few more practice games. |
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Comment | A Game Of Two Halves At The Silverlake For Southampton
at 11:29:12
agree with mgprobert (above). Looking at the line-ups, the first half had 9 players who had game time last season with RM's slow-mo style of play, whereas barely 3 of the second half changes had played on a regular basis and the rest were younger talents who are making their way and consequently the pace upped considerably and it showed.
The score may have been greater had it not been for some last ditch blocking from the home defenders. It was, after all, only a 45 min. run out for them and maybe we will see the basic squad emerging by the time we get to play Brighton, but I do feel that we still have quite a few players who will be leaving, and a some more new names to adjust to.
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Comment | Southampton Cofirm The Signing Of Damion Downs
at 06:18:19
Seems like a good prospect and we will see his potential in the friendlies and how he might adapt to the Championship. The first half dozen League games will be a guide to see what we've got for the money, and a hat-trick v. Pompey will make him a fan favourite directly. |
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Comment | Saints Award Jack Stephens A 3 Year Contract.
at 16:56:04
As Capt. Jack has seemingly small fan club on this site, (Nick) you may need to create an extra file just for those who will be complaining about this deal for the next 3 years.
However, in general I think that I'm inclined to agree with Colburn ( above) |
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Comment | Russell Martin Is Shopping At St Mary's Bid Made For Southampton Player
at 12:52:04
Really can't figure this one. Admittedly Sam was a bit in-and-out in his first season but nevertheless did make an impression at a young age. Now it's 2 ...or is it 3 years on, he has had game time on his loan-out abroad and is now attracting attention from other clubs.
We are back in the Championship, so the level will not be quite so challenging and so I wonder who we would look at for another name on the shirt - should Sam finally move?
Perhaps we might see Jay Robinson filling that spot, but what happens in the case of a big injury, or sudden loss of form...we would have no obvious replacement.
There are still several weeks before the season start, and a few weeks more before the window closes and so there may be some other names we've haven't heard yet, but a.t.m. I'm not totally convinced it's such a good idea to let him go for such a low-level fee.
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Comment | Damion Downs Left Off Koln Pre Season List As Southampton Move Nears.
at 17:37:51
Downs may be coming into a side with a couple of the experienced names who he can partner up with. Assuming that we lose one of AA /or/ BBD, we will still have Stewart and perhaps even another yet unnamed / unsigned striker.
With the Spanish tour and a couple of friendlies on the books - expect Will Still to build his strike force because we will need a LOT of goals to get back upto the Prem. |
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Comment | Southampton Keeper Makes Move To North West
at 17:28:48
Ollie Wright has gone through both Academy groups and (unlike some of his contempories ) is still on the books. He's had a few loan outs already but will now be playing League football and leaving the Youth level games he has known for several years past. Good luck Ollie.
Goalies take much longer to develop from a young age, and if he's still with us in a season or two may become a regular figure on our bench at SMS. |
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Comment | Promoted German Club Interested In Southampton Defender
at 18:06:49
Not a lot to discuss here - is there? How ever good ABK is /was he hasn't had the game time a player seeks and he's hardly likely to get much more under the new management.
The fee won't be enormous, but if we recover the cost of the purchase and his salary paid out we will do well, but history says that a cheap fee will also demand an eventual sell-on clause in case he proves to be successful and ends up with Leipzig, or even Bayern. |
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Comment | Southampton Target Ex Liverpool Midfielder
at 12:48:37
In short .... a talented lad who made the most of his chances at Liverpool, but has now fallen foul of a foreign a manager who doesn't rate him and is still trying to regain fitness.
Haven't we heard this story a few times in the last decade?.
Columnists (like yourself Nick) can make a lot out of such stories, but Clark rates as one of two dozen or so players since May who " Saints are watching / chasing/ keen to sign ".
He may sound "good enough" on paper, but I won't be holding my breath on this one.
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Comment | Southampton Make Offer For Bundesliga Striker
at 10:52:33
Bringing ANY player into the Prem. is a challenge in itself, and even those who change clubs in the top tier don't always succeed. Here is a young striker (21) who can score goals and would likely flourish in a squad alongside experienced goalscorers at this lower level, (as long he is "teachable" and smart enough to adapt to the English game).
We will need to see who is still here in August, and how he might fit in. I might foresee formations where we change out two strikers in every match and see how it develops.
Last season we started the season with 5 recognised strikers but (sadly) none of them was able to establish themselves. Hopefully we can build a new strike force capable of creating goalscoring partnerships, because we will need lots of goals to get back up to the Prem.
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Comment | Atalanta Submit Increased Bid For Sulemana
at 14:38:36
a postscript to (above) a deal at £16 mill.is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
We've already lost money on this deal and the sooner he is off the books the better (and richer) the club will be. The same goes for Onuachu in his on-off deal with the Turkish side who are refusing to increase their bid, but Saints persist in hitting their head against a brick wall over the actual fee + add-ons.
Neither of these fellas will play for us again, and so as soon as they give up their shirt numbers, the sooner we can see who Will has in mind to replace them. GET IT DONE PDQ. |
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Comment | Atalanta Submit Increased Bid For Sulemana
at 10:51:33
On those rare occasions..he did look like a world beater, but in a team that was failing in every department and where he was picked in different roles, he hasn't looked like the £20+ million player we hoped we had bought. Certainly he has skill and quality and when played in his best role (whatever that is ?) he will be a stand-out player in the right club.
Many see us as the Championship side we are, and therefore the fees being bantered around for some players reflect that, and so we are unlikely to balance the books on him.
IMO..Saints are right to stand out for every £ we can get. Sulemana deserves the chance to play at a better level and...if he's a success ...will come back to a top Prem. side in a year or two. I just hope we have a decent sell-on clause written into the contract. |
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Comment | Southampton Squad Should They Stay Or Should They Go ! Part 6
at 13:49:14
You probably wrote this before ONUACHU's deal was posted, but that solves one problem.
Both BRERETON-DIAZ and ARMSTRONG were previously recognised goalscorers in the Championship, but differing issues meant that they both had highly-forgettable seasons. The problem with loans is that many managers tend to see them merely as an extra ar*e on the bench in favour of their own regulars whilst we want them to get lots of game time. If a good offer comes along.. expect one of them to leave - or maybe even both - if Will has some other names in his plan.
I feel sorry for ARCHER. There is a good player in there somewhere, but he rarely got a full 90mins. and was often given different roles to play in the last quarter without any glory. He should stay and have a chance to show his best form. IF ..he doesn't shine, than maybe a loan out in January would be a good alternative.
Ross STEWART is almost like a new signing after a wretched time with injuries. In the little we saw of him at season's end, he looked like a real CF should and I hope for much more.
I'm glad that Dom BALLARD is on your list. He was outstanding at U18 level alongside both Dibling and J.J. Morgan and outscored them both with ease. His two loan-outs were blighted by freak injuries that kept him out for long periods, but he seems to score with ease and reminds me of someone ...like Kevin Phillips or even Marian Pahars.
I'd have him on the bench for half the season and if he shows up well, will manage to avoid yet another loan-out after the New Year. I think he will eventually score lots of goals and hope that it will be with Saints.
Expect to lose 3 or even 4 of the aforementioned, and a few new names that "Will" may know better than we do at present.
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Comment | Southampton Squad Should They Stay Or Should They Go ! Part 5
at 09:45:32
I guess you are leaving the strikers to Part 6 ( Nick) but as for the above. FRASER has an unbelievable turn of pace than surprises many, but it's difficult to know if WS will rate him as highly as RM did. If he stays he will be a good (experienced) asset, but any Plan B might be him moving to Rangers (unless he has ideological reasons for not so doing.?)
We all want SULEMANA to succeed but he is very in-and-out and never looks like scoring. If we get a bid somewhere near his buy-in price, we should cut our losses and let him go.
If a good Prem. side wants to invest in DIBLING's potential, we might get somewhere near half of the oft-quoted 100M with a few add-ons /or a sell-on clause. Otherwise he stays.
I really thought EDOZIE had already gone (?), but he has potential and if he's still a Saints player by August then it will be down to WS' decision to keep him ..or not ?.
Once again..I really thought that SAM A-A had finalised a move to Strasborg(?) but he's too much like Edozie to have both of them on the books.
ROBINSON looked to be a real talent already at 15, and will hopefully develop well at this lower level. If he improves a lot this season, he may become the " next Dibling".
Can't wait for Part 6 and see if you can find anything positive to say about our strikers?
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Comment | Southampton And Trabzonspor Agree Fee For Onuachu. Sulemana Could Be Next
at 08:53:38
Onuachu will return to his goal-scoring form and leave us wondering exactly what it was we had to do to get him to replicate his previous high-scoring status. A bad buy all round, and the period surrounding " the reign of the three managers " and without the necessary guidance of Jason Wilcox proved to be costly in several areas. |
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Comment | Southampton Squad Should They Stay Or Should They Go ! Part 4
at 08:39:24
With the obvious departures mooted in the last few months, Will Still will want to put his own stamp on the squad which is already way oversized for a Championship side.
Not since Koeman's arrival has any manager had the chance to "choose his own team" and with the aim of returning to the Prem., he will want to build a young side capable of holding its own, or at the least staving off Prem. relegation again for a season or two.
So IMO... Aribo will want a move to hold onto his Nigerian squad place for World Cup , and a return to Rangers might be on the cards, whilst Smallbone and Downes were clearly not "the real thing" in terms of Prem. quality. Both will thrive at the lower level and with the eventual departure of Fernandes and Lesley O. returning to Chelsea, we will need a new midfield capable of commanding the pitch in all areas over a 46-match programme.
Shea Charles will be a big, now that he is back, but few other names sound so convincing.
a.t.m. I have real fears for " the new engine room" required for a quick return to the top tier, as I don't see it from any of the existing personnel.
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Comment | Southampton Squad Should They Stay Or Should They Go ! Part 3
at 14:42:58
Think I could go along with most of your thoughts (Nick) but the question over Jack Stephens still remains a mystery. As longest-standing player on the club's books, he will surely have to move on at some stage. The real question being if the new management team can see a place for him in the dressing room, as I don't see him as a regular starter in a side that will be looking to get promotion PDQ as want to form new partnerships at CB.
It will best best for Jan B. to move on. For all his efforts, he was not without fault on numerous occasions last season, and he will want to keep his status in the Polish World Cup squad. The list of new names you quoted (above) look to be the basis of a new defence set-up plus the experience of Bree and Taylor as role models for the young set.
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Comment | Saints To Face Sport Republic's French Side Valenciennes FC
at 16:41:25
Given the fact that there is a obvious difference in the standard that the clubs play in, such a match " behind closed doors " would be a good solution. Valenciennes are a part of the SR group and shouldn't be ostracised because of their "lower status" and would surely be impressed by the Staplewood set-up and the possibility of a better career in England.
There are often good talents in every club (as we have seen in the young Kayi Sanda in the past few months). There may be others who would benefit from spending a loan season with Saints, and perhaps even one or two of our Academy prospects who would benefit from regular game time in another league. A good idea all round. |
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