Saints transfer rumour thread

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That will be the Guardian reading happy clapper Le Saux! I like the guy, the BBC should get him as a replacement for Dixon, who I was sad to see go.

 

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  [*=right]ByBrendan Husebo

[h=1]Scouting report: How will Norwegian star Vegard Forren fare in the Premier League?[/h]16 Jan 2013 15:51He's on trial with Liverpool and Southampton are also considering a move for him, but how would Norwegian defender Vegard Forren fare in the hustle and bustle of the Premier League? Norwegian football expert Brendan Husebo gives us the lowdown

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Vegard Forren of Molde FK

Getty​

“After Emil [his son] came into the world, I had more responsibility. Things are a lot different now than from a few months ago [before his son was born]. One becomes automatically more adult.”
That was Vegard Forren talking to Adresseavisen in May 2011. Six months previous, he was childless and told he could be leaving Molde in the upcoming transfer window. He was out of shape and out of form. Rumours of reckless behaviour off the pitch as well had become too common.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær had arrived at his new (and old) club with no pretence. Forren was to use two months extra training or all of his potential would become eternal “what if”s.
It was his new manager and newborn son that had given him a grown up lifestyle – “Vegard has become dull,” smirked his partner, Sinje – that is in large part the reason he’s finally moving to the Premier League.
Back in 2008, months after joining from fourth tier side KIL/Hemne, Forren broke through at Molde to become one of the best young centre backs in Scandinavia. By the summer – half way through the Norwegian season – he had Milan and Liverpool scouts watching games only for him.
Molde accepted a £2 million offer from newly rich Hoffenheim. Forren rejected them, considering himself neither ready of or on the pitch. The Bundesliga has a growing reputation in Norway, but he always saw himself learning at Molde and excelling in England.
But then came the regression; almost two years of criticism because of his own high standards. He became error prone and certainly had no bigger move around the corner. Yet, in retrospect, I don’t think he’ll regret those years. The new “dull” Forren is here because of them.
The new “dull” Forren ran away with the Kniksen Award (Norwegian Player of the Year) last year to the point of Lionel Messi’s Balon d’Or proportions. In a league known for frantic finishes and hapless defending, he oozed calmness.
His composed nature runs through his game: he’s not received a red card since taking one for the team as the last man in May 2008; he only ever needs to go to ground when he needs to; and he passes accurately, succinctly and progressively.
The reason he has been right to reject moves to so called ‘stepping stone leagues’ on what seems like tens of occasions is because he’s stepped on all the necessary stones. He is an adult. That he has excelled in every international and European match he’s ever played should be evidence enough of that.
The four games he played against Heerenveen and Stuttgart in the Europa League, particularly, were defensive artistry. Molde were favourites for none, but won all four and conceded just one goal. He was a leader and a winner in what was a new arena for him.
Forren is not lighting fast. But, for the most part, he doesn’t need to be. His positioning and reactions are almost always perfect. Whether asked to follow his man or mark his zone, he will probably end up with the ball.
He is strong, both on the ground and in the air. But, perhaps surprisingly for a defender known for his passing, it’s the latter in which he excels. It’s the combination of his reading of the game, a wonderful left foot, a strong physique and aerial ability which makes his so perfect for these shores.
For all the teams he’s rejected – including wages of £50,000 per week at Zenit – Forren has finally arrived in the Premier Leag

 

"Forren is not lighting fast." Oh dear, he's got no pace! One of the pre-requisites of the posters on here.

 

Has he arrived in the PL? Any news? Reads strange but presume that is language differences. Calm, good passer and header of the ball...sounds right for us.

 

he rejected 50,000 pounds salery, that new dvd that NC has must be **** hot

 

Reading that he sounds like a changed man and he will be desperate to prove himself in the prem especially if he's turning down big clubs offering big wages. Get him on board nige.

 

Expecting him to run at the speed of light is a bit much, even for this bunch of grizzling fannies.

 

65 acceleration 68 sprint speed on fifa..

 

According to FM and FIFA13, he isn't that fast... but still faster than Hooiveld or Fonte!

 

Faster than Hooiveld then, not hard mind.

 

To be fair, the salute associated with Lazio fans is a Roman salute, and pre-dates Mussolini and Hitler by about 2000 years. Still dodgy though.

 

We don't need players like that. Way too slow.

 

It is wrong to associate it with Nazism, but it does signify fascism. Paolo Di Canio admitted to being a fascist, but was very clear to make the distinction that it doesn't mean he's a racist. It's just a political doctrine, and it seems to be a popular one among Lazio supporters.

 

If its wrong to associate it with Nazism, I guess someone should have told the Nazis, because they did it all the time!

 

The Nazis also hijacked a good luck symbol as their emblem...didn't bring any luck to millions of people.

 

Blackmore: "Nigel, has Vegard Forren signed?"
Adkins: "Yes, in the wrong place. Haha!"

 

What did that mean?

 

They ruined a Roman salute, a Hindu symbol and a perfectly good mustache.

 

It's Adkins dead-batting the question again. The deal is done, anyway.