01 Sep 2017 17:25:22
Great to have kept hold of Virgil Van Dijk. That really is a coup. Yes, "£70m" would have been nice in the bank account, but the player is top quality and, with five years contract still to run, the high transfer fee will still come if/ when Saints sell him. Inflated market though, might be frustrating when the prices come back down. Never mind, I'm very happy to have Van Dijk at the club and hope he plays and plays brilliantly. It's like a new signing! Maybe he transfers next window or the summer, but still.

Shame we didn't grab anyone in as a late signing, it looks obvious we need a forward of sorts. Still, optimistic

Jordy Clasie's loan move to Club Brugge is a bit of a thinker though. Do we gain from it? Does JC gain from it? Do Brugge gain from it? Would have made more sense to send him to a British club. I think this about many a loan deal. Isn't a better way to loan out a player for the player become better in the league his parent club are in, surely? Modern day football decisions baffle me.

Also, good luck to Jay Rod at WBA, hope it works out great, you score loads of goals, stay clear of injuries and you can get back into the England set up.


1.) 02 Sep 2017
02 Sep 2017 03:01:45
With regards to clause, I think maybe long term they want to keep him as a replacement for Davis as he gets older/ retired. But he's low down on the list at the moment so best to loan him out, get the game time. then we can either keep him or sell him at a later date. I think, as with a few of our players, if he was given a solid run of games and starts he'd excel like yoshida has done. but he struggles to just come in and hit the ground running.


2.) 02 Sep 2017
02 Sep 2017 09:36:40
Hi Folks

First of all this is just my opinion, as I have no idea what the sky tv money is now or what monies the club get for there finishing position in the premier league. I have been a season ticket holder for many seasons. I don't understand what this board is trying to achieve as it is obvious to me and probably many saints supporters that this club are in desperate need of a schemer/ goal scorer, yes we have Boufal who needs to beat his opponent 2/ 3 times before he actually lays the ball off or is dispossesed, Redmond who works hard but with usually no end result.
Then there is Tadic who for reasons beyond me the loyal rauncus crowd behind the goal sing his name every time he touches the ball When are the board going to buy someone who actually produces an end result, why keep buying defensive midfielders or work horses. Anyway i'm glad they didn't let the scoucers get VVD.


3.) 02 Sep 2017
02 Sep 2017 10:18:12
Go on. get Lambert. He can still be signed as a free agent. Motivational, great in the dressing room and could still do a job even if its very much part time. Even if its just to train the rest of the guys how to take a penalty!


4.) 02 Sep 2017
02 Sep 2017 11:33:09
I came here this morning having just read on sky sports app their "Free Transfer XI", a group of decent/ above average and even in some cases greatest of all time (arise Sir Richard Lambert formerly of the beetroot factory) and anyway, back to my point, Rickie Lambert was on their list and of course this means we could sign him (or any club could sign any of these free players, of course) at any time. We have three "proper" first team forwards (by "proper" I mean strikers not attacking midfielders such as Redmond, Tadic, Boufal etc) in Gabbiadini, Chaustin and Long, a fourth, even just for a year, would go down very nicely thank you very much yes please, etc

So, we have a situation:
A) sign Lambert on what would be a good deal for all concerned, his wages would be lower than most and he's a safe pair of boots (quote me on that! ) and a club legend. Need I say more, number 9 shirt needs a name on it.
B) we stick with what we got, and do what Manchester United did a little while back by throwing a kid off the radar into the team (ladies and gentleman, here's England hot shot Marcus Rashford) when we're short of strikers for a game or two
C) wait until January and buy a new striker then, or get a disgruntled top six striker on loan.
D) wait until next season, make do with what we've got, get a good top 10 finish this season and give Sam Gallagher the number 9 shirt and watch us fly up the table with him scoring 30 goals like Harry Kane did for Tottenham!


I'd go with this: sign Rickie Lambert today. Right now, get him signed. He can be our back-up striker, wear the number 9 shirt, play for a season, then next season perhaps retire from playing and take up a coaching role at the club, where he can mentor the future star Sam Gallagher to fulfil his every potential

So, in a line; I hope we're getting Rickie Lambert on a free transfer!


5.) 02 Sep 2017
02 Sep 2017 17:38:26
I agree with a lot you have said but not quite sure on what basis you reckon Sam Gallagher is a star of the future. He has been loaned out to poor clubs in a lower division and not exactly set the world alight . He is not a youngster any more as in nearly 22 and if we thought he was that good why when we are crying out for a goal scorer did we lend him out to scumbag Redknapp? I did think it was for more experience and that a striker was coming in before the window closed but that did not happen. Just maybe the club don't rate him as highly as a lot of posters on here.


6.) 03 Sep 2017
03 Sep 2017 08:18:05
I've said it for a year now olufelo on loan at yeah ok is the future movement pace strength hits the target think we should of given him time from the bench this year. Wouldn't mind ings as a back up if he is now surplus at Liverpool or Sturbridge at the right price. We go on about the kids but it seems to Of stalled with them all going on loan instead of playing 22 plus you should be in the team not out in loan.


7.) 04 Sep 2017
03 Sep 2017 23:49:11
Not if you're not good enough to be in the team you shouldn't. The ones that are get a shot, as we have shown over the last 5 years. Otherwise, why not go on loan and get some experience.


8.) 07 Sep 2017
07 Sep 2017 07:40:55
We have strikers, what we need is a creative playmaker that can be an assist king, like another post said Bouffal, Tadic and Redmond have lots of huff and puff but then it fizzles out - I'd sell all three for a decent PM that can get forward and feed the strikers - we all know that Gabbs and Austin can score but they don't want to have to run from their own box to do it.


9.) 07 Sep 2017
07 Sep 2017 09:25:09
I think selling all 3 is a bit drastic. and you need more than one player for each position anyway. tadic boufal and redmond are our most attacking players bar the strikers! Lol
Personally, I would have looked to sell tadic for a profit and get a creative CAM in.


10.) 07 Sep 2017
07 Sep 2017 11:54:54
Fair point Milky, got a bit carried away and saw pound signs! Bouffal needs a proper run out (especially seeing how much we paid for him) and I agree that Tadic would be the best to sell on.


11.) 08 Sep 2017
08 Sep 2017 22:27:18
We paid a lot for Gaston Ramirez and I see similarities to Boufal, loads and loads of skill but just not sure the PL is their kind of football. They need time on he ball but you don't get that here. They struggle with the the pace of the game in this country.


12.) 09 Sep 2017
09 Sep 2017 22:44:20
Jules t maybe you were right after all. 3 of our front 4 look pony and gabbiadini is getting nothing, which means it won't be long before he offers nothing.

I'm not a fan of 442 as a formation, but we need to start working defenders and I think having a partnership up top is the way to do it. Despite trying to be positive early on about our attacking options, we look dire and have done for some time.