Saints are 'increasingly hopeful' on Victor Wanyama signing a new deal at St. Mary's

Davis is under contract until 2018. I don't think we need to be holding talks just yet!

 

Vic isn't the Messiah, he is just a very naughty boy!

 

Maybe we should change the title of this thread to "Saints are increasingly 'meh' about Victor Wanyama signing a new deal at St Mary's"?

 

I have to agree. If he signs great but if he doesn't I'm sure there are some decent replacements on our list.

 

I felt we missed Davis at times today.

 

Yes. Those times being between the first and ninety-fifth minute. But take nothing away from the team. Brilliant performance, and continuing the defiance shown at Arsenal.

 

Fare all these "Top Teams" really interested in buying Big Vic or is the agent just playing silly games.
Surely watching him get sent off three times, numerous yellow cards and his rather slow hit or miss passing would not attract anyone who is prepared to pay him top wages when he appears to spend 20-25% of games suspended.

 

And that's when he's on the pitch!
Seriously though, I agree with you. His agent must be spitting feathers at the poor marketing strategy his client his displaying.

 

It's not particularly great for us either though. I'd have hoped to get upwards of £20m for him, but we might now have to accept something more like £12m. (If he's not to sign a new contract, then our hands are relatively tied. £12m would still be better than nothing one year later). I recall Tiote being linked to Spurs and Arsenal two or three years ago, for decent money, but I'd hazard a guess that his number of cards played a large part in those clubs going away. And his career hasn't really gone anywhere since.

 

Get a chinese club to bid.

 

But he likes Spag Bol

 

Tell him noodles are similar.

 

He could fly over a top Italian chef and have fresh pasta made each day. He would probably be on about 100k.

 

I said on the match day thread, how Mane and Long don't understand the need to drop deep to support the defensive midfielders, especially when one of them gets pulled wide. But that is the danger of going with three strikers and just two midfielders, in this system.
Davis fills that space, without even thinking about it and, for me, if playing with 3CBs and 2 wing backs, you need 3 "proper" midfielders and just 2 strikers.

Not saying that Mane and Long don't work hard enough, at closing down, it's the reading and understanding of where to be, defensively, to fill gaps and cut out passes, rather than chasing players who are on the ball.

 

I think it just isn't how they are built. Their first instinct is always looking to get behind the defense or at least run at them rather than drop back.

Like you said, they do run hard. If they dropped back for support then maybe we don't get some of those long ball counters they are so good at.

I think the problem was more the lack of Davis. Mane and Long don't have to drop back, but someone should be there to link up. Which like you said, is the perfect role Davis.

Although tbf, we could have used JWP to do that as well. Koeman wanted three forwards though. And it worked okay. Yoshida and VVD both pushed way up at times to fill that gap. And later Romeu did as well. West Ham was totally discombobulated in the early going by our tactics.

 

Chef Pelle?

 

You'll need stats to prove that to some people though St Badger

 

You're referring to SD's covering ability I take it. How about the simple stat that if he's fit Koeman plays him? Personally I can live with the fact that he's top of my "oh **** he's not playing" list!

 

Good word. Tried to get the chant
"We are Southampton, we discombulate" started on the Northam. Strangely it didn't get going.

 

Maybe a pay as you play deal for Victor would be better value.for Saints.....might try and stay on the pitch a little longer