Transfer Rumours Saints January Transfer Window Rumour Thread

Why's that then? Because they only go to one game a year?

 

It's because we don't get the ball forward quickly, that Long is suffering under Puel. He thrives on the early ball, into space, to run onto, but our slow play means that there is no space behind the opponent's back line.

 

I found it very interesting listening to Charlie Adam shortly after our 0-0 against him and Stoke (it might have been on MOTD2). He said that ever though they were down to ten men for most of the game, they never really felt under much pressure and they saw out the draw quite comfortably - because our whole play was in front of them; we never got in behind them, turning them around etc. If you stick to your job defensively, that's easy enough to defend against. He even went on and highlighted Long specifically, saying that before the game, they had planned to expect Long running in behind them. He was surprised that it never happened.

 

I read somewhere yesterday that Bournemouth are interested in Conor Chaplin at Portsmouth. Whist I appreciate that he plays in the second division, it would be ironic if Eddie Howe snaps him up from under our noses. Chaplin is someone I have only seen on highlight packages on TV but has scored in about 25% of his appearances and is held in high esteem by the fans down there. I have heard the likes of Guy Whittingham says that he is a special talent and there does appear to be an awareness at Fratton Park that Chaplin is destined for better things. Whilst there is often a tendency to over-praise the academy players at Portsmouth ( a lot seemto end up at Havant & Waterlooville) I get the impression that Chaplin is a genuine talent and too good for that division. If Eddie Howe is monitoring Chaplin and believes he is good enough as the article suggested, surely Southampton should be looking too?

I know very little about him other than by reputation and maybe he would be a good player to bring in for the future.

 

I don't think we should be shopping at PompCo, for a number of reasons.

 

Gabbiadini and Haller, who have both been linked to us, fit the bill.

 

From ltd knowledge I have would be happy with either

 

You could equally say it's because of a lack of movement in front of the ball, that we don't get it forward quickly. Either way, Shane's pace offers the solution, but for most of this season, he couldn't finish his dinner. Hopefully this might change now he's off the mark for the season; one positive from this weekend, perhaps.

 

What is disappointing is to see players making runs often into space or good positions but they never get the ball as it is usually passed sideways or backwards or even worse to a player who already has a number of players around him by the player in possession.

 

Agreed.
If we can see it, you would hope that the manager and players would see it and do something about it.
Another issue is those players that won't play a forward pass if it means using their weaker foot, always choosing to use their better foot, even if it means a backward/sideways pass as against a forward pass to a player that has made the run.

 

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.

30 days to go. Come on Les, dust off the fax machine. With 7 or 8 fixtures in January, don't leave it too late, it's a busy month, we knew it was coming. Let's get the first one through the door.

 

Even if we do, which I suspect we won't, it'll be right at the close of the window when we're knocked out of both cups and are in such a position that we only have a coast to the end of the season to look forward to.

This season isn't sucking at the moment but it definitely is starting to look Hoover-like to my mind. If I was in my mid-twenties and young dumb and full of you-know-what I'd be really furious about the ball being fumbled but nowadays I'm more...*sigh*... which I think is actually worse.

 

I've just been having a look at the ELF rules to see if someone signed between the two SF legs can play in the second leg (with the FA cup, when there's a replay, players signed between the original tie and the replay cannot play in the replay). There's nothing immediately obvious I can see to say that a player couldn't feature in the second leg.

It's potentially an important issue, as no doubt we won't have any signings finalised prior to the first leg.

(Obviously it still has to be the case that the player has not previously played in the competition this season. But given that you imagine we'll be looking abroad, that shouldn't be an issue)

 

SSN headlines this morning that Chelsea are bidding £60m for VVD with City in competition....FFS that's going to test the board

 

I wouldn't be surprised if it's accepted.

 

Would be a shock if it wasn't. The question is how do we spend £60m?

 

Puel has already said VVD won't be sold in January......the summer however is a different kettle of fish.

 

I would be appalled if it was. Mund you, I have been appalled before. Not normally in January though.

 

He will be worth the same in the summer....ridiculous to think we'd sell in January....though it is possible Chelsea may be on a promise for the summer.

 

We signed anyone yet?