Transfer Rumours Saints January Transfer Window Rumour Thread

Whilst I agree on your general point (particuarly on Romeu, add Maya to that too), it's impossible to say no one was available that isn't as good as Stephens.

He's had a bright start and while we all hope it continues it doesn't mean he's suddenly a great cb, he wouldn't be the first player to start well and not carry it on. We can't say with any certainty either way. It's a huge gamble whatever way we look at it.

What's done is done now though and we can only hope for the best.

 

Oh I'm not for a minute saying I'm happy with the position, I'm just saying that I think Maya/Stephens are pretty capable (and certainly better than I thought). Stephens looks fine, and Maya has really stepped up to being the senior defender.

 

Not sure you can say anything unless you can say who was actually available.

Obviously we were very confident of landing one of the two we were trying to get, it just fell through at the last. It happens.

 

Yeh what I meant is that the shortlist should include players there pretty sure would be available and happy to join! But I guess there are no certainties in life etc.

 

Not saying it happened in our case, but players and teams suddenly change their mind. Wasn't there a case recently where a manager was awaiting a player and he landed at the airport on time, but joined another team.

 

I can't believe a board who usually get it so right have got it so wrong this time. We were in a position where we knew for 6 whole months that Fonte wanted to leave. We should have had multiple possibilities lined up and we also shouldn't have sold Fonte if we didn't have someone nearly over the line on that day. Les said we wouldn't have sold Fonte on deadline day, but it doesn't matter now if we had because we'd be in the exact same position. I've defended Les before, and I'm sure I will again in the future but he's seriously mugged us off this time.

 

The issue r me was letting Fonte leave with the risk of not getting a replacement.

I wouldn't at all be surprised if we left this late to really pursue as we were forced to look due to Virgil's injury.

That forced our hand as I dont think we were going to replace Font until the summer, and we simply left it too late.

 

Think that involved Middlesbrough and Forlan...

 

Also Willian was right on the verge on joining Spurs but then Chelsea swooped in last minute.

 

The summer transfer window will no doubt be dependant on whether we qualify for Europe via the league cup, but if we were to go out and sign Scharr, or Semedo (or both), plus Sigurdsson, then I will forgive Les for this little blip.

 

Think with the players we now have available, and after watching last nights game, I think we are set up to play as we used when we had Spider-Man and VW as the 2 holding midfielder's.

Our CB's will probably need a bit more protection especially in the tougher games, so a 4-2-3-1 would be perfect, and after watching Boufal last night when he went more central, this would allow him to be a creative Midfielder.

The constant rotation should also finish now, Puel has to play the best 11 now and get another 12/13 points asap.

My Team Would Be:
Forster
Cedric. Yoshida. Stephens. Bertrand

Romeu. Classie

Redmond. Boufal. Tadic

Gabbiadini



Subs: Mouez / Gardos / Davis / Long / Hojbjerg / McQueen

Others: JWP/ Rodriguez / Sims / Martina / Reed + (when Fit) Austin / VVD

Mainly based on who's fit at the moment, but when you note it all down, it doesn't look all doom and gloom. Plenty of options.

 

Puel won't need to rotate so much as we only have one cup game left Rotation may be in his genes, but a lot was forced on him by playing so many games.

 

Team to finish the seasoj strongly,

Cedric, Maya, VvD, Bertrand

JWP, Romeu, Davis

Redmond, Boufal, Gabiadini

But go back to the diamond.

 

I agree with most of that, but it would be a shame if JWP's huge improvement in recent weeks were to go to waste. I'd put him in the middle of the 3 and move Boufal to the right, dropping Redmond to the bench.

I'll say it again, the much-despised rotation served us very well in that we have a lot of options in midfield which have match experience working in different combinations. I'd like to think that Claude knows which combinations he'd rather have for different matches.

 

From the little of Sims we have seen when he has the chance he deserves a start way more than Tadic

 

Yes, agreed.

 

What's the rule on loans, can we still bring anyone in if we have to?

 

Nope, only free transfers until a certain date.

 

Tadic on form is indispensable and without him I don't think that we would've qualified for Europe, but his form since returning from injury has been disappointing and Sims has shown a lot when he has played, so i'm inclined to agree with you.

 

When is VVD likely to return? and I hope that Maya doesn't get injured or suspended, I wouldn't like to see a repeat of the Gardos/Stephens partnership too soon.