Big lump is not the way to go. 'Intelligent powerful striker' is the way to go. And they don't come cheap. We were smart with the two we had. Wilfred Bony is not what I had in mind.
Personally I think Clasie is the closest player on the books to this, but it looks like he is being pushed out
I see Liverpool are bitter my Keita for 48m but he's not joining till next summer. Would that not be an easy way out of the VVD drama? Sell him for £65m but he only joins whoever in July 2018. Until that point he gets his head down with us.
I'd have had him in that team ahead of those two, yes. Actually he's different to Lampard, but I'd pick him first. One of our most underrated players.
Can I point out that I'm not suggesting we *do* buy Bony - I don't actually think we need to buy a striker. I was just answering the question of 'wherefore art thou big target man'.
You'd be surprised. My daughter, now grown up and an ST holder at Old Trafford, thinks he's brilliant. The armchair fans don't get him, was my point. I can recall Saints fans who moaned about Armstrong. Fans with similar qualities; they knew sod all about football!
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/sa...dric_unmoved_by_transfer_speculation/?ref=rss Cedric said he is unmoved by transfer speculation....he is a professional and he has a contract with Southampton and is happy here. Don't know whether any offers came to anything and I couldn't see us letting him go anyway, but nice to hear.
And the first time he pulls out of a challenge to ensure he doesn't risk missing a pre-season at his next club?
And would we play a half-hearted Virgil instead of fully committed Stephens or Yoshida. I know there's a large difference in quality, but it doesn't feel right, does it? This is why Davis said that VVD would have to force his way back into the team....not because he doesn't know that Virgil is better than those CBs we have, but it's disrespectful to them to say he'd walk back into the side when they have given everything for the team.
I doubt there's much room for sentiment in the Manager's mind. He more than anyone knows how tenuous a Manager's position is. However much us fans would like to see a bit of a slap down dished out, MP will probably name him at the first opportunity - I know I would.
I'd name the old Virgil straight away, but I'd have to be convinced that the embittered Virgil was professional enough to put things behind him for the interim.
Adam Blackmore saying it is unlikely we will bring in an attacking midfielder before the window shuts
Then barring a miraculous change in form from Tadic, Redmond, JWP, Davis or Boufal I think we need to resign ourselves to a low scoring half a season.
Is on the BBC article about what each team needs http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41069084 "The club have made it clear they will not sell defender Virgil van Dijk, or any player they do not want to. Whether they spend more on giving Pellegrino that much-needed dynamism in the final third is doubtful, given the talent already in the camp. But that is what is needed if Saints are to push back towards the top six." Sorry doubtful was the word he used, not unlikely
