I don't think Ralph trusts his CBs so we are stuck in this 532 formation that doesn't work and causes us more problems than it solves. We have to get back to the 4222 with the high press. To do that we have to get in a better quality CB. So from that perspective a CB is actually the most needed signing. And we all know we need a striker too and for me another attacking midfielder is a must. Oh and full back cover. Hmmm 4 players then but the CB seems the most important based on the above
Hmmm...Jason Denayer is available on a free.... (As is Marcelo, which would be interesting on the LB front!)
I would be happy if we sold bednarek and stephens and invested in one experienced CB. It’s so important that we do this, will make the difference between survival and relegation.
Depends what you mean by experienced. Stephen’s has 121 Premier League appearances Bednarek has 131 Premier League appearances AND 42 for Poland you’ll struggle to find many with more experience who would be realistic additions to our team Edit - I should add I’m not opposed to the idea of sell both and reinvest the combined funds into a better CB. Experience isn’t everything though, for me we need a leader at the back
He looks like a touch of class, but put him in a team, with players that aren’t on the same wavelength and the fans would be calling for HIM to be dropped and not those who lack vision.
I’ve never been fussed by “Prem experience” but it would be nice to bring in someone with some top level mens football experience. Shouldn’t be too much of a stretch for a ****ing premier league team
I don't want to speak for others but I think when people often use the term experience they aren't purely referring to PL experience. More so just experience of first team football and aren't fresh out of an academy, which sure isn't always a negative thing, but at CB that experience of professional first team football is pretty important. I do also think that people use the word experience and are assuming that with that comes organisation and some level of leadership skills, though that obviously isn't a given. We all know we are desperate for those qualities in our back line and it should in turn help to steady the troubled waters that Salisu is sailing on since February.
If this where true then people should be fine with Bazunu and ABK. Indeed a big thing was made about how ABK has a surprising number of games for a 20 year old central defender. And yet there were still cries out there on the internet for Ben Mee. And later even the likes of Shane Duffy and Issa Diop (Saintsweb can be a crazy place)
My Saints fan exposure is purely on here, at the stadium and the walk to and from and listening to TSP, so my assumption about peoples use of experience was purely based on not606. But yeah, I do think with CB age and experience of first team game time does help, along with the leadership and organisation qualities and...actualy have qualities as a central defender. Not asking for a lot
It’s amazing that such a thing needs to be said. The only reason we would be letting him leave is to generate extra funds
I think there is a case of semantics with some people calling for an experienced CB and I understand that it is fans calling for someone who can be a steady hand who will guide the younger players that have potential but crucially will immediately improve the central defence as well. Bedders, Jack and Lyanco have proved that they are not reliable enough as the goals against column has shown for the last few seasons and it is time to nail down the defence with better quality.
Except that isn’t what happened. There were two questions: the first about Che going on loan to Everton, which Ralph categorically squashed. Then a follow-up, about if bids were made for “any player”, for “the right money”, would they be considered? Ralph answered that Southampton would never be a club where substantial bids for any player wouldn’t be considered. Jacob Tanswell reported that exchange rather poorly I’m afraid.
I more meant that it is amazing that anyone would believe the rumour from yesterday that we would loan Che to Everton. Including to the extent that seemingly someone asked about it at the forum (generating the categoric answer) But I guess we have loaned out high wage players who arguably could have had a squad place in the relatively recent past - Lemina, Hoedt, Carillo, Boufal (I think)
