Transfer Rumours Saints January Transfer Window Rumour Thread

We have made a profit for the past several seasons so it clearly isn't financial fair play holding us back. If we were spending the very maximum then we wouldn't be making £30+ profits

 

Having given it some serious thought, I've decided that playing Fonte could have made all the difference last night. He'd have given away a pen when they got into our box in the first half, so we wouldn't have had to wait 90+ minutes before showing some urgency

 

We are spending the maximum allowed, under FFP.

 

Not sure about that. Reckon the accounts will say otherwise.

 

Okay, its pretty clear that investment is needed. But who is going to sell a top class striker in January? Nobody will unless we pay over the odds which we all know won't happen. I think we may wait until summer or perhaps bring in a cheap youngster.

 

Call me insane but I'd sell Austin in January to a relegation threatened club at a premium and bring in a forward with an all round game. You can't play our style and be as immobile and one-dimensional as he is, I'm afraid. Take out his pens and he hasn't even been that prolific.

 

Will prove difficult to sell damaged goods.

 

We'd be much worse off without him ... there's no way we're going to sell Austin

 

You're insane.

 

Selling Austin? Brilliant idea!

Our problem is that we only have one striker capable of scoring, so let's sell him and buy another striker that is capable of scoring! Then we will be in a situation where we have... only one striker capable of scoring!
Problem solved, right?

 

Thought for the day.... Nathan Redmond was the club's NUMBER 1 TRANSFER TARGET in the close season.

 

We played by far our best game away at Arsenal with Long running the channels, closing down quickly and getting in behind. Austin provides so little as part of a running front 3 in a fluid formation. I'm sorry to go against the crowd but anybody at Palace & Arsenal and, actually, any of our away games this season ought to see my point.

 

He's hardly a game changer off the bench is he? I'd prefer us to sell him and bring 2 in who fit the identity and footballing style of this football club.

 

I'd much rather loan out Rodriguez in the hope that regular football can build him back up to a good level. Then bring in another striker to help out with the goals. But like I said earlier, where are we going to get these strikers? No club is going to want sell a top quality striker in january.

 

Because we signed him first before anyone else? I'd argue Boufal was as we were prepared to wait for him AND sign him when injured ... indicated to me we really wanted him.

 

Yes it's much better to have a striker who runs around a bit and doesn't score than a striker who does score.

Worst thing the club did (well, one of them) was give Long a 4 year contract. It's what he's always wanted at a club. He only ever performed for Saints and other clubs when he was hungry to prove something. Now in football terms, he's putting his feet up. He's no threat and he doesn't even work as hard as he used to. That's nothing to do with formation or the manager and everything to do with Shane Long.

 

Were you at Arsenal?

 

Ye I'd go along with that. It's difficult, of course, but they are out there. We're still an incredibly palatable club for players to come to but we need a forward who can run, finish and hassle. Hernandez would be ideal. Defoe would be a step-up.

 

I doubt any other club above Championship level seriously wanted Redmond. And if they did, mainly for squad depth and definitely not to make him into some kind of striker. He is playing exactly the same as he did for Norwich, bloody ordinary.

Boufal was a panic move.

 

Yes, indeed I was. I may have blinked and missed the incredible performance of goal threat he put in that night though.