Oh no, there I was thinking it was only the 9th of January, but from the desperation on here it must be at least the 19th! Honestly, would people feel that we paid over the odds if we signed expensive players on the 3rd? If we still have no reinforcements at the end of the month, then we may be entitled to have a little melt-down. But not just yet.
I think people have a right to be concerned at what appears to be a lack of success in recruiting new players. Maybe if we were playing consistently good football, scoring goals, picking up league wins and weren’t sitting one place above the relegation zone, courtesy of goal difference, the concerns may be a little OTT. Personally I couldn’t give a flying fig how much we pay for a player(s) so long as the player helps to improve team performances and the garnering of points. And if we can find such a player(s), I would prefer him/them to be here early in the window, when there are more opportunities for him/they to influence games. Yes I realise it isn’t always easy to get transfers across the line, but I would have hoped that having resigned ourselves to losing VD, and with Austin long term absent, and with Long, Redmond and Gabbiadini offering little hope of goals, we would have had a transfer primed and ready to go from day one, even if it cost a premium.
Well, I like to meltdown prematurely so that any upturn in fortunes comes as a proper pleasure as I'm expecting bubkes in this window other than cheap or loans. I set my hopes so low now that I will never be disappointed
Certainly they have a right to be concerned. On the other hand, I am entitled to point out that it is more important to get the right signings than necessarily the quickest. And anyway, in a free country, everyone is entitled to my opinion. Er, their opinion.
There may be some truth here. It would have been easier if we were sitting more mid-table (even though we are only one win from there).
Also, we haven't consistently gotten transfers over the line in recent years, so it's hard to just assume that we'll do so this time.
So we have our Transfer News thread detailing links in the papers and I think a few people have chucked their own thoughts in there too, but I thought it'd be fun to have a thread to see fans thoughts on who our targets should be. I have never been one for thinking that we should spend big, only reinvest a good chunk of what we bring in and develop other areas of the club - commercially, training facilities, ground etc; however I guess we do have to move with this ridiculous market or face the consequences. So £75m...? Well straight away we lose I think about £7.5m to Celtic so we're down to a measly £67.5m. For me we need major investment in our attacking options. This may later lead to a further departure, but given that relegation beckons I think we need to carry extra options in the second half of the season to secure our status. I'll start by giving my opinions on a few players that I've heard linked since the window opened: Theo Walcott - I think most Saints fans would like to see Theo back in our shirt. He left us in a dignified way, when the club needed the money and has always had a good relationship with the club and its fans when he's returned. For me, I do question his form and his injury issues. His record at Arsenal is actually pretty good given the lack of football at times, but the lack of football is the concern I guess both in terms of missing so much through injury and where he currently is with his career. Whilst he's still young enough, you do see with some players that they fade earlier in their career than others. I think that he could be one of those players. Equally, I could also see him as being a really positive landmark signing for us, providing he comes here to be here for as long as we want him and not just to try and get another move back to one of the "big six". I reckon he'd probably thrive for a couple of years if injury free, so I guess the question would be about the fee and the wages. It's hard to know what Theo is worth in the current mad market. On form and playing a few more games he's worth £30m easily, but having played just 49 mins before the weekend and with just 18 months left on his contract I'd argue that we should be able to get him for between £15-£20m. Reckon that if he does come back he'd probably be the highest earner at the club as a marquee signing, but again it'd need to be within a budget as nothing is guaranteed with him as to what he will achieve. Could be a club captain and catalyst for a turnaround in the clubs transfer dealings though if all went well. I am split as to whether it works, but the sentiment in me would like to see him back if we can make the deal make business sense. Wouldn't surprise me if it were a loan with a view to a permanent in the summer providing we avoid relegation. Fee etc all agreed now in principle. I'm going to say get him and that he'll cost £22m. Nico Gaitan - Linked today from Athletico Madrid. Tricky winger, who looks decent enough. Seems to get fouled alot from what I can see on YouTube, although arguably he seems to look for it. Doesn't get enough goals for a player in that position (consistently 1 in 5, and about 4 per season). I like what I see, but consistency and adapting to the English game would be a worry. I have to say he does remind me slightly of a decent Tadic. I remember watching Tadic on Youtube before he joined and he looked mustard too. I'm going to say that whilst he could be good, maybe give him a miss. £18m. Guido Carillo - like the look of this kid again from what I saw on YouTube. He looks like he's certainly got the talent, however when you then dig into his record you have to wonder why his goals haven't flourished, particularly in the French league. Could be worth a punt, but for me the lack of goals in substandard leagues means I'd give him a miss too. Daniel Sturridge - We all know he can play. We all know he gets injured. I can't see him wanting to come here. Think he has too big an ego and he'd see himself above the level we currently operate at. Also think he'd want big money. On the flip side, where does he go? Newcastle have the big stadium, but it's no better team than us, Leicester is a possibility I guess, West Ham is probably an option as they will probably pay the bigger money and have the London pull. Can't see him at Everton or anyone else in the top 6 though, so maybe we could get him. Don't think it probably works with him and Walcott though. I feel that if we could get him on loan then of course he's a good player, but I'd probably rather see a more powerful striker, who holds the ball up and can give us the aerial option too. So for me Sturridge is a no, particularly if paired with Walcott. Now for my controversial additional targets (these have not been linked with us, just players that I would target if I had any bearing on how we go about this). I don't expect these to go down well with a lot of you, but I think they're realistic targets, who can improve. Patrick Roberts - At Celtic at the moment, where he's hardly played. Admittedly I think he's been injured most of the time and possibly there for the season on loan anyway. However, he hasn't played even when he's been available. I think he looks like a mustard young player. Exactly what we seem to be lacking as he's quick, skillful winger with an end product both in assists and goals. We are a perfect place for him to develop his career. Man City paid £13m for him, so I guess they'd want an advance on that or maybe loan if he can be recalled. Think it'd have to be about £18m for him. Aleksander Mitrovic - Poor disipline, but a real handful in his first season with Newcastle. Last season he was also fairly effective although playing second fiddle to Gayle. He's great in the air, and actually a lot better on the ground than we've seen in England, as they've always gone long when playing him. I think Newcastle would offload him for less than they paid for him as he's not playing and Mike Ashley loves a pound note. I reckon we could get him for anywhere between £10-£15m. Just have a look before you judge as I know his reputation isn't great. Lets say he costs £15m. Jamaal Lascelles - Some of you may be happy with what we have with Jack, Maya and Wes at CB, but for me I think you need 4, particularly as I'd possibly play 3 at a time. This kid really impressed me when he played against us in the season they got relegated. He changed the game that day and has gone on from strength to strength. Mark my words, he will get an international call up before long. Now captain up there, but again Mike Ashley loves a pound note. £15m? If we got the four that I said there for around what I said as value's, we'd have spent about £70m. Obviously that doesn't take into account the costs of wages etc, but I think thta given the position we do need to pretty much spend everything we've taken for VVD. It's probably unlikely, but will be interesting to see what investment does happen, as we were lead to believe that the Chinese owners did also want to make investments. Surely they wont want to see us get relegated as that would really mess up there investment. So, what's everyone's thoughts on the above? I'm expecting pelters, but please be polite. It's all opinions and we're all entitled to them, particularly as a season ticket holder of 26 seasons. And of course , I want to know from you. Who would you target? How much would you spend? I actually quite like McCarthy and his record of goals conceded per game for Saints is very good, but given Fraser's form falling off a cliff do we need to strengthen there? I fully expect that in the summer we will see the back of Bert, Clasie, Gardos, maybe Tadic & Redmond, and either Long or Gabbiadini.
James Maddison, attacking mid, Norwich - maybe £12-15m? Alireza Jahanbakhsh, winger, AZ Alkmaar - maybe £14-18m? Moussa Dembele or Michy Batshuayi - maybe £20-24m? Sign a CB - I dunno, allot £15m for that. Sell one of Tadic/Redmond - maybe £12-15m? Net spend: £46m - £60m I am well aware that we won't spend anywhere near that.
