The press talk about Liverpool missing Mane, but we really miss Mane. Loved seeing him neck and neck with Long.....2 pacey runners putting the wind up the opposition and drawing them away from marking Pelle.
To back up views on Boufal. First year in Ligue 1 - 16 appearances, 3 goals. Second year in Ligue 1 - 35 appearances, 12 goals. Obviously stats don't mean everything but give him the bedding in period and he may well deliver.
True, but I just look at the amount of games he's had in a settled side, and there isn't much of an opportunity. If someone else is coming in above him, his few chances will be even fewer.
Redmond Tadic boufal ward prowse sims hesketh. AM is probably our strongest position right now, don't see us bringing in another.
Every team has players that are back ups. If you have a decent back up, familiar with your style, on a contract, would you: a) keep him and expend your energy and money on bringing in a few players in areas that need strengthening b) get rid of him (if you can, remember he is on contract) and look for another back up, whilst strengthening in the areas that need it. We are not a rich club that can afford to have ace players sitting on their expensive butts. Saints try to have players that can step in seamlessly if needed. Whilst not quite seamless, this is what we have been doing....remember Maya that some fans wanted gone and Jack Stephens who wasn't good enough. It will all come down to what Puel has made of our players: the certain starters and the decent back ups. He will tell Les his real priorities and Reed will concentrate on those and be happy to keep the contracted back ups.
Would be its happy to see Boufal given another season but would like to see some sort of development and understanding in his play. He is playing in the same selfish, head down and over elaborate fashion now that he did when he started off earlier in the season. If he is prepared to listen to the coaches and play for the team then I would love to see him stay as his close ball control is fantastic. As for his "injuries", I suspect another Ramirez where little niggles become week long injuries. Just look at the Chelsea game for him taking an opportunity to get off the pitch when things weren't going well with an "injury"
Full first team squad below, I've marked red who I think should/will go. 1 England GK Fraser Forster 2 Portugal DF Cédric Soares 3 Japan DF Maya Yoshida 4 Netherlands MF Jordy Clasie 5 Romania DF Florin Gardoș 7 Republic of Ireland FW Shane Long 8 Northern Ireland MF Steven Davis (club captain) 9 England FW Jay Rodriguez 10 England FW Charlie Austin 11 Serbia MF Dušan Tadić 12 Uruguay DF Martín Cáceres 13 England GK Alex McCarthy 14 Spain MF Oriol Romeu 15 Curaçao DF Cuco Martina 16 England MF James Ward-Prowse 17 Netherlands DF Virgil van Dijk (team captain) 18 England MF Harrison Reed 19 Morocco MF Sofiane Boufal 20 Italy FW Manolo Gabbiadini 21 England DF Ryan Bertrand 22 England MF Nathan Redmond 23 Denmark MF Pierre-Emile Højbjerg 24 England DF Jack Stephens 26 France DF Jérémy Pied 27 Wales MF Lloyd Isgrove 28 England GK Stuart Taylor 32 England FW Olufela Olomola 33 England DF Matt Targett 38 England DF Sam McQueen 39 England MF Josh Sims 40 France GK Mouez Hassen (on loan from Nice) 41 England GK Harry Lewis 42 England MF Jake Hesketh Currently out on loan - Argentina GK Paulo Gazzaniga (on loan at Rayo Vallecano) England DF Jason McCarthy (on loan at Walsall) England FW Sam Gallagher (on loan at Blackburn Rovers)
I can see Harrison Reed being sold on or leant out next season along with Matt Target as McQueen has made a very good impression when given the opportunity. What about Ryan Seagar?
Reed is a difficult one - he's shown his quality in a 2-man CDM role in the past, but played as the lone CM at the base of the diamond this season, and didn't look as good as he has done previously. But then he's jsut signed a new long-term contract so the club obviously still have hopes for him . Seager has just come back from a long-term knee injury, he might get pre-season with the first team but can see him being loaned out.
I am sceptical about Boufal and I can see where you are coming from DL. Like others here; I think there is more to come and a pre-season will certainly help but I just do not see any genuine team commitment in his play. The Bein TV pundits suggested during the Chelsea match that he was a maverick who plays when he felt like it and would do so to showcase his talents to get signed by a 'bigger' club. I think we need to get a good season out of him just to get back our outlay. Also think Clasie should be sold on. I do agree with FLT that we need good squad players but he has not done enough for me - an expensive bench-warmer. He lacks the physicality to make him effective week in and out. As we have no European Football next season - now would be the time to offload him and look to trade up when we are back into Europe the season after. JayR to the Magpies or anyone else who would have him.
I think it's made more difficult to know what will happen because of the manager we have. He's shown complete willingness to lean on the academy/youth in a lot of games this season, yet Reed still hasn't seemed to be involved even when we were at the height of our rotation. I certainly want him to do well, any opportunity we have to demonstrate the strength of our academy players is one to be proud of.
I can't agree about Clasie - if he's happy to stay, keep him. Great option to have in the squad, and what makes you believe him to be expensive? (And realistically, in the grand scheme, why does that matter?)
Who are we going to get that is better, to sit on the bench (most weeks). Bit like Maya as 3rd choice. I would keep him. Definitely need to look at the position alongside Romeu though. I think we can do better than play Davis there out of position, who has been preferred to Hojbjerg (a year younger than JWP). I would prefer to just give Hojbjerg the run of games and see how he improves.
You can be skeptical about Boufal - that is fair enough as he has certainly not proved himself this year. I myself am a little concerned about how often he gets injured. But in my mind there is no debate as to whether we should give him another season. I believe every single player new to the league and country should have at least 2 seasons to settle in and make a difference. There are countless examples of players that have struggled in their first season but after they have grown into the league they have become fantastic players. Of course that isn't guaranteed to happen with Boufal, but considering we paid £16m for him; we need to give it the best chance we can of happening. Plus we would probably recoup a similar amount if we sold him now or at then end of next season.
Can I just say, that it's fine to express your views on how players have shaped up over the season, and whether they should be sold or otherwise moved on, but views aren't rumours, which is what this thread is for.
No transfer news yet? Thanks Chilcs, I saw there were 55 posts and thought there might be a few people we were actually being linked with...not the case unfortunately. I'll know its worth checking again now if it is only actual rumours being posted
I was actually about to post my own views until I read this, and remembered where I was. Reading the posts one by one, suddenly you forget that this is a transfer rumour thread!
