Right, I mean it would be odd if he didn't make a couple of good passes per game. That's his role. An average defender will still usually make a couple of good tackles per game, or a keeper, saves. I'm not saying he's useless, just that I think we need better.
At the very least, it's going to be easier to manage Saints on FM with these wonderkids already in the squad.
He got a management team & then decided he should be competing for a first team place at 16. I’ll be interested to see how it pans out for him, as he’s obvs come to Soton with some guarantee of first team football. We’re a club who’s known for giving our academy players a good chance of first team development, so this seems out of kilter tbh.
Who knows how his contract talks with you lot went. He is 17 and may have stated that he feels he is good enough to start featuring in and around the first team this season, which is fair enough - however your board/coaching staff may not think he is ready just yet. Whatever the case, as he is joining us we can safely say it isn't financially motivated!
Digne is one of your better players isn’t he and not exactly old. Don’t you have another young left back as well? Seem to remember Iwobi playing LWB as well last season Could be as simple as he felt there was a better opportunity to play regularly earlier with Saints. We only have one recognised left back who we signed this summer so if he is any good he should be given a fair few chances this season
Think of all the ones that have left the club over the years, Bridge, Bale, Shaw, Chambers so this is a welcome change.
Yeah Digne is top notch, but beyond him there’s only really Nkounkou who was signed for the u23’s but made the first team squad more or less straight away. I’m sure game time is the prime reason, but he must really fancy himself as he’s literally just turned 17.
It might be as simple as he will be part of our first team squad and first reserve (and as already seen a chance to become first choice if he impresses in training) where as he remains in the B team squad at Everton and is at best third choice
I love Matty and hope that he continues to do well, but he was slightly different as he left to get more first team action and was not in our first team, the others we were forced to sell to the top 6 clubs.
Yes when you look at that list it is more that Chambers should be removed than Targett added He hasn’t kicked on at all. And despite being signed as a right back they still signed Cedric who appears to play ahead of him. And wasn’t Cedric who we got to replace him ?
I said it in the transfer thread but it’s just the biggest bang of Matt Crocker with all our deals this summer. Ralph wants a younger squad? Okay then let’s find the best available young players from MC’s time as head of England player development and get whoever we can. I don’t know if it works out this year but it’s going to be jolly exciting isn’t it?
I don’t think we’re going to be getting one this window. Having said that, the only two CMs I can remember us being linked with were Harry Winks and Tom Davies who…yeah, totally fit the profile.
Think we’ll be waiting for an 11th hour loanee , possibly high profile & a highish earner, similar to Theo or Mini last year.
