Today we look at the central midfield an area in which we have the ability to be one of the strongest in the division, but who will stay and who will go, this being the engine room of the team, is perhaps the most crucial part of Will Still's summer planning.

Two of last season's central midfielders have already left the club, Adam Lallana won't be a big loss, if only for the few games he played last season, Big Les Ugochukwu was perhaps the best player in the second half of the season after being criminally ignored by Russell Martin, but we still have some good options who it is essential to keep.

Shea Charles spent all of last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, again a strange decision by Russell Martin, at Hillsborough Charles came of age, he played virtually every minute of every game after his arrival and ended the season as the Owls player of the season.

So the hope is that he will step into the Southampton side this season ready for the task ahead and play a big part this season.

Two years ago he looked a great prospect in the early part of the season, but he seemed to lose his way as it became clear that Russell Martin did not see him fitting into the way he wanted to play.

But last season showed that it wasn't a question of quality, it was Martin preferring a certain style of player who would play his 100% possession football game.

There are rumours of Premier League clubs circling and the danger is that the player himself will feel that he is now ready for the top flight.

This is a player where there can be only one verdict and that is STAY

Matteus Fernandes, was player of the season for most and endeared himself to all Southampton supporters, however he is far and above Championship level, he will attract interest from other clubs, but whether the offer is good enough for Saints and indeed the player himself is yet to be decided.

Of course the verdict here is very much STAY, but this decision might not be in the hands of the club itself.

Flynn Downes was out of his depth in the Premier League, although some of the blame for that can be down to the fact that those around him with Premier League class were few & far between.

But he is most definitely Championship class and hopefully he will once again show it in our midfield and not someone else's.

He can form a great partnership with Shea Charles and anchor the centre of the park for us, so not a lot more to be said other than STAY

Joe Aribo is in the final year of his contract, again another who was not quite up to it in the Premier League, but has been a good buy for Saints after joining for £6 million from Glasgow Rangers 3 years ago.

In that time he has been a regular on the pitch, but not always in the starting line up, he has started 50 League games for Saints plus another 38 off the bench.

The question is whether the player will want to secure a long term deal for himself now or see out his last year on a wage that will be higher than he will get elsewhere.

Turning 29 next month he still has a lot to offer, so this one will be hard to call, the easy call would be GO, but like all the other areas of the team there will be players where the verdict will be determined by whom the club get off the books, this decision assuming that we keep who we want to keep might be a straight choice between Aribo & Will Smallbone.

Talking of Will Smallbone, he has been the brunt of some supporters ire, but again like most around him last season he was perhaps not Premier League class, but can do a good job in the Championship.

Like Aribo he is entering the last year of his contract and again like Aribo his value is around £5 million, we need new blood in the centre of midfield, both Smallbone & Aribo could go for a complete clear out, but just as likely is that both could stay or as I have said, we might well keep one and sell one.

So like Aribo the verdict is STAY or GO, but we really need to get rid of at least one of them.

We do have a trio of youngster coming through, Cameron Bragg & Joe O'Brien- Whitmarsh are both 20 and spent time out on loan last season, but from first glance at their stats, neither excelled in their short spells and established themselves as first team regulars.

Romeo Akachukwu is another 20 year old who has looked good in the Premier League 2 and is an attacking midfielder so could be a replacement for Mateus Fernandes, but again untried at the level we need, so if we look at them as a trio, we will probably loan one or two of them out and keep one as back up.

So this is an area that needs a bit of wheeling and dealing, in essence all those in this part of the field who got us promoted two years ago are still there, so from that perspective we are stronger, but it does need some surgery.

If we keep Fernandes then perhaps we can leave it intact, but if he goes, then we will have the money for a revamp, it will be interesting to see how this one plays out, it may be late August before it is all sorted.

All Photos Via Reuters

Bowlercow added 09:58 - Jun 21 If we want to keep Smallbone or Aribo then it has to be on new contracts If not they leave for free next year Or we cash in now and get 7/8 million for the pair Added to the 35m for Fernandez it gives Pors a m/f fighting fund Charles & Downes should be good enough to control m/f with youn guns to back them up Charles is also quite adept AT CB
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Block8 added 10:03 - Jun 21 Personally I'd like to see Aribo go as I'm not sure he has ever justified his big wages. With Smallbone it very much depends on how we set up, there is little doubt about his ability technically but he is a ball player and not enough of a ball winner. Downes is definitely good enough for the championship but only if his head is really here and not feeling he should be elsewhere. I honestly believe we will be lucky to hold on to Fernandes but if we do a starting three of Downes, Charles & Fernandes will be hard to beat!

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Jesus_02 added 04:02 - Jun 22 We will be doing well to get anything for Aribo or Smallbone. Wages will be the issue for both. 25k a week for smallbobe . 60-70 for Aribo. Who would be mad enough to pay that?
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underweststand added 08:39 - Jun 22 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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WanderingSaint added 20:54 - Jun 24 Any reason why we wouldn't look to get Ugochukwu back on loan for next season? He's well down the pecking order at Chelsea and i can't see any PL clubs wanting him...
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