Saints do have a bit of form in getting the best out of players who's careers had arguably lost a bit of direction - SKD, Lovren, Bertrand, even Puncheon. Who knows, maybe for a change we can try and work the same trick on one of our own -Gaston! Did he go to Hull before last years pre season? Maybe pre season with saints this year could be a turning point, or maybe I'm just hopelessly optimistic
I think Gaston would only have gone to Hull if he realised that he was well down the pecking order at Saints...perhaps Ron told him the same as he told Boruc.
A show pony at least. There were moments last season where we probably could have done with Gaston in the squad. We bought in Djuricic and I don't think he is an improvement on Gaston. He will be on his way and it's a shame it didn't work out, but that's football and hopefully his fee & wages can be used on someone who can make a difference to our first team
Sadly I think we need to get rid. I can't see him starting regularly at this point. In terms of ability I'd be happy to keep him as a squad player - especially if we get in the Europa League and need someone to unlock the tightest defence in the Croatian/Greek/Azerjaijani league - but I suspect his wages would be better spent elsewhere.
Once again, it's a case of, 'if only Steven Davis came from a sexy country and had an exotic sounding name'. Then people would love him more.
Come on now, more a case of 'If only Steven hadn't squandered good scoring chances regularly for the last 12 months then people would love him more.' Because honestly that's my only frustration with him, in the role he plays he finds himself in scoring positions so often and is so utterly incompetent in that position, great at everything else he may be. It's especially galling as some of those misses have come in close games too, where the extra goal would have meant a point or three.
Most of this makes sense apart from the bit, "We were bad that first year". I don't remember that. With the exception of Arsenal and West Ham away we gave everyone a good game and were unlucky not to get more wins early on (Man Utd at home for example). I know we try to buy players that 'fit' our style of play but I would suggest that a top player should be able to adapt to some degree. Ramirez has had 3 chances to do that (arguably 2 at Southampton and then Hull) and he hasn't been able. He clearly has occasional flashes of brilliance but then so did I in Junior League 8
There will probably be clubs after him, but as Ramirez didn't wanted to go to Sevilla because they offered him lower wages, it's probably be hard to get rid of him.
On the contrary, he said he had a Hull of a time there and will return to Southampton when Hull freezes over.
I don't agree with you, but I will point out that probably his best performance in a Saints shirt was Villa at home in our first season back in the PL. And where did he play? Central midfield. At times he was picking the ball up behind the DM's, not just in front. I would not be surprised if the next few hours have an impact on his future with us. If we don't get EL, I would expect us to actively seek to sell him. But if we do get EL, then the mixture of a need for a bigger squad and a often a different type of opponent could well mean that Gaston's use as a squad player increases sizeably.
But does Gaston want to be a squad player...he should be at a club where he gets guaranteed game time.
He has also been left out of the Uruguay squad for the Copa America, he might want regular football to force his way back into contention
I think he would get quite a bit of game time if we qualify for Europa because I'm wondering if it would a good thing or not for us... We would need a much bigger squad!
If we qualify for Europe...remember Ron is happy. If Ron's happy, I'm happy. He's the one who has to deal with it.
Pre-Christmas, Davis was a very effective and often underrated player. Since his comeback from injury, he's been sloppy, wasteful and impotent at times. I still rate him and I think a lot of his issues come from being rushed back too soon but you're mad if you think he was playing well in the tail end of the season.
Davis is great , hes had a poor few months but on the whole has been brilliant for us since he signed. He does need to work on his finishing tho , the spurs game was bordering on embarrassing. If we can sell Gaston fine if not use him in the Europa Cup he will be better suited to that.
