Saints January Transfer Window Thread - Part II

As exciting as new signings are, I'd much prefer to see the likes of Gallagher and Targett becoming bigger parts of the squad and flourishing, particularly since doing good business in January is notoriously difficult. I'd rather we waited and relied on our youth players for to fill out the squad for the rest of the season and then signed another Lovren or Wanyama in the summer than tried to fill a gap right now and signed a Forren.

 

Heh, with the departure of Fox, I believe that we've trimmed the total number of non-teenagers at the team down to 18. Taking into account that three of those are keepers, to construct a squad that didn't include someone below the age of 20 (with everyone fit), you'd have to go on a manhunt for Jonno Forte.

Edit: would appear to tie us with the poster-children for PLAY ALL THE KIDS! in Crewe...Transfermarkt has them with 18 non-teenagers as well. Curious if there's a team anywhere else with fewer.

 

Just have to wait and see what happens.

 

I honestly don't think we have enough striking options though. We have 2 senior forwards, one of which is nearly 32, and won't be able to play the whole of every game now. Gallagher looked good against Arsenal, he missed a sitter first half but he looked good. However it was only an hour or so, and you have to remember this guy is 18. I know Shaw is 18 as well, but Sam is a big lad, and it is much more of a physical game being a striker. Effectively, we are relying on Jay to stay fit, which he has been able to since he came. But, what if he picks up an injury? We really would be struggling.

 

You still hoping Beef?

 

Not hope.

 

I think if Osvaldo goes or is left in limbo there is no doubt we would be left light up front, but if the recruitment team can't get anyone suitable now (which I think MP may have been hinting to with “It’s not easy to sign someone who fits the profile of player we want.&#8221, I'd much rather we just live with it for the remainder of the season and got a proper player in the Summer than just grabbing someone inferior for the sake of it.

 

It can't be that difficult, there are thousands of players to choose from. Maybe if you only start looking a week before the transfer deadline it's not easy...

 

If we get a cente back to really compete with Fonte and Lovren (and hopefully provide a long term partner for Lovren) and a striker to provide a bit of depth and competition (would be happy with Mayuka back to be honest) I'd be happy.

But, as others have pointed out if we have to continue blooding youngters then so be it, it shouldn't have a major impact on league position.

My worry is being over reliant on young players and asking them to play too much and risking too much too early.

 

Why is Tom Ince apparently such a hard player for anyone to sign??

 

Get the feeling we were relying on the Vucovic swap, but if Arsenal have stolen in there it's scuppered the immediate plan.

 

Or a Cornelius, aka Forren II.

 

He's in demand, a lot of clubs want him so he can afford to be as choosy/greedy/difficult as he wants.

 

If this was Football Manager, sure.

 

Surely there must be a lot of players who would be available for loan at this late stage of the window having failed to secure a permanent move? Grab one of these such players then re-assess in the summer.

 

Oh do behave. We're supposed to have an active recruitment department, and Pochettino himself said last week that we are prepared for all eventualities.

 

I still can't figure out what happened with Forren. I don't think it was a panic buy, I think we really thought he was good. He had a nice assist a few days ago that's been making the YouTube rounds.

 

Get a player on loan?

 

Talk was that he didn't settle, and never reached match fitness (having arrived during the Norwegian offseason) and there may have been personal things contributing to his not settling or reaching match fitness.

 

He liked his alcohol too much. (Apparently)