01 Feb 2019 00:19:02
14 games to go with a fairly settled first team, no experienced right back and only one fit and firing forward but I still think it's enough for now. 23 points from 24 games and seeing as 18th has only 19 I can see 35 being the safety mark, so 13 points needed;

BUR A Loss/ Draw
CAR H Win
ARS A Loss
FUL H Win
MUN A Loss
TOT H Loss
WAT A Draw
BHA A Draw
LIV H Loss
WOL H Win/ Draw
NEW A Draw
BOU H Win
WHU A Loss
HUD H Win

There's about 17 which would give us 40ish. I'm expecting it to be a bit sweaty around March when our last period of difficult fixtures come through but thankfully our run in is kind and our only particularly tricky tie out of the last 8 matches will be against a nervy Liverpool at home so if we're within touching distance by match 30 I think we should be fine.

I cannot see us going down even if the worst were to happen, I get the impression that Ralph has a plan. The next two home games against our nearest relegation rivals will be MASSIVE for us though.

1.) 01 Feb 2019
01 Feb 2019 05:07:36
Good post ggsy,
I think your predictions are not far off. I know lots of fans were disappointed that we didn't bring in any new blood in but let's face it our recent January purchases have been nothing short of disastrous. I will be honest I'm not totally up to date with the Saints full squad but I list loan players I know of Clasie, Carillo, Cedric Boufal, Hoedt, Gabbi at a value of roughly £85m plus others that you guys care to add. If we look at worst case scenario and their present clubs choose not to convert their loan to buying them, where would SFC be if they all come back in the summer? A huge squad of overpriced failures wòrth nowhere near their perceived market value!
I wonder if this has dictated our actions this January. I would welcome input from anyone with greater knowledge. coyr.

2.) 01 Feb 2019
01 Feb 2019 13:33:35
Gabbiadini has left permanently, and Davis is out of contract at the end of the season. The futures of Hoedt, Forster, Lemina, Clasie, Carillo, Boufal, Elyounessi, and Austin are not looking very good at the moment and to me they seem like the most likely to be sold this summer. I can see McCarthy, Yoshida, Gallagher, McQueen, Reed, and Long to leave as well but only if better players are available. But the first cluster I mention I expect to leave. I hope RH and Ross Wilson and the scouts are properly looking for a RB, CB, a creative attacking midfielder/ pacy winger, and a forward.

3.) 01 Feb 2019
01 Feb 2019 15:30:05
I think reed will be given the chance to impress Ralph, hopefully. Elyounoussi may be a slow starter and might come good. I'd hold on to him till next January and assess then.
One of forster or McCarthy will go. Maybe McCarthy and leave forster as back up to Gunn?
Clasie will go, probably out of contract anyway.
Would love to see boufal buy in to RH's high energy pressing, but with his attitude it seems unlikely.
Austin will go. If someone offers big money for lemina I'd let him go too.
I think yoshida will stay as back up. McQueen will go. Apparently Ralph likes the look of Gallagher. Maybe he will get a chance in this half of the season? Long I'm not sure. He lacks quality but has heart and effort in abundance, Ralph likes that quality. I'd keep him, as back up.
That would still give us a decent transfer kitty and free up a serious amount of wages for a young striker, some pace at rb/ rwb and a new top quality cb to partner bednarek.
My squad would be:
Gunn
Mcaarthy or forster

Valery + New signing

Vestergaard+bednarek+New signing+stephens or yoshida

Bertrand+targett

Romeu+PEH+JWP+Reed+lemina?

Redmond+armstrong+elyounoussi+New signing

Ings+long+obafemi+New signing

That gives depth, competition, but also the chance for our younger players to come through too.

4.) 01 Feb 2019
01 Feb 2019 17:48:28
Agree with that, I’d like a RB, CB, AM and ST.
Sell Lemina if someone is willing to give £25m+ for him, Austin, maybe Stephens (I hope Yoshida doesn’t go), Forster, probably McQueen. I can see Bertrand going if he doesn’t turn up when fully fit. Think Moi will be given a chance so I agree about him staying.
Can’t see any loanees coming back except Carrillo and maybe Boufal, plus the youth players. Clasie, Davis, Cedric and Hoedt will go.

For Christmas I would like;
RIGHT BACK: Tin Jedvaj, young, German, versatile, can play all across the back four and I personally have followed him for a while and would love to see him become a Saint.
CENTRE BACK: Robin Koch, another young German, he seems to be playing well at Freiburg and maybe one to look out for. Alternatively maybe Jansson if Leeds don’t get promoted.
WINGER: Anyone that is quick and can score. Musonda, Chelsea loanee who is at Lyon I think, or someone like Pjaca or Sisto.
STRIKER: Augustin is the dream. Che Adams would be useful but I wouldn’t want to heavily rely on him if Ings gets injured.

Those four of four of similar quality is an outlay of probably £65m, and by selling all of the names mentioned above that would raise funds of around £70m. That’d my dream summer.

5.) 02 Feb 2019
02 Feb 2019 03:02:58
Some interesting Posts Guys but it seems ultimately we all want the same result. Naturaaly disappointed with transfer outcomes but sure that rationale’prevails and may even be a blessing in disguise! Although targets may alter come Summer the young Danish R/ B Maehle looked promising paired with a speedy young L/ B we could develop a ‘ new look’.
With Gunn becoming no.1 and a new quick C/ B (similar to Leipzig’s Upamecano) and two top class midfielders A/ M and D/ M plus a pacey winger ( maybe Lookman or similar) along with Augustin ( Leipzig) C/ F.