Saints January Transfer Window Thread - Part II

I would say that the games over the winter period have shown Saints for what they are, which is a very good squad of 18 footballers, with little strength beyond that in terms of players who can come in and do a stretch of games without appearing to be weak links. We have plenty of good players who can make an impact in a game, or be fine for 20-30 minutes in a second half, but if you're plotting for league domination, but the best players are out injured, then all the plotting in the world isn't going to get Saints into winning the title, top 2, or 4 or 6 or perhaps even 8.

So, to me, the last 2 months hasn't simply been down to poor form. It has coincided with several things. 1] A run of games against slightly better opposition, in general. 2] Injuries to key players at the same time. 3] A step-up in the amount of games over a given time period, so that key players who are out injured medium term are missing several games, instead of one or two. 4] The chop and change of personal inevitably means that the side doesn't play quite to its full potential.

If Saints can get the players back who were available before November [Ramirez and Lovren are a real blow] then the good form will return. We saw lots of it against Sunderland. Remember also that during that run of poor form, we put Cardiff to the sword at their ground. So, even when we have significant players out, we can still be a force, provided we can convert goal chances. Still our weakest area beyond anything else.

 

Good Post TSS, says everything I wanted too (but saves me the trouble! )....The only thing that I can add to that is that I really think that we need to add a dominant top 6 Keeper and CB, either now or in the summer to kick on...we really shouldn't have conceded 2 goals today and scoring twice away is acceptable...I'm a lot happier with our long term midfield and attacking options than our defensive ones and I think that a top,top GK and CB will complete the first team jigsaw.

 

Porto defender back on Saints radar Southampton, Last updated: 11 minutes ago Southampton are back on the trail of Senegal centre back Abdoulaye Ba having sent scouts to watch him on Friday night. Ba, 23, was linked with a move to St Mary's in the last few days of the summer transfer window with Aston Villa also rumoured to be interested. Porto were understood to be asking for a £400,000 loan fee for the defender who impressed at the Olympic Games tournament in 2012. However, Mauricio Pochettino decided he had enough cover for first-choice centre backs Dejan Lovren and Jose Fonte and Ba stayed where he was. Vitoria Guimaraes took him on loan in September and he has helped them move into fourth in the table, although he blotted his copybook by receiving his second yellow card of the match after 59 minutes in their 1-0 away win over Olhanense on Friday. Southampton and Reading both had scouts at the match - as did Juventus, Freiburg and FC Basel.

Read more at: http://www.clubcall.com/southampton/porto-defender-back-on-saints-radar-1697930.html?

 

Jim White said Chelsea are close to a big signing. Chelsea fans are now tweeting "Welcome Luke Shaw!"

WTF....

 

It's probably not Shaw, but if Anyone bids even close to £30,000,000 he'll be on his way, without question.

 

Don't want to imagine life with Dejan out & Luke sold. Shudder....

 

Think it's more likely to be Zouma.

 

Luke has just tweeted "Zzz..."

 

Boruc is easily top 6 keeper.

 

Wish he'd just tweet "I'm not going to Chelsea"

 

Agreed. When focused. I think he has a tendency to let his form & fitness slip a bit.

 

Are you telling me you saw a bit of a rubber ring on Saturday when they did a close up?

 

David James rated Boruc in the top three yesterday alongside Cech and Lloris.

 

Why are you always a day behind everyone else?

 

Tired after a long day of negotiations and his medical?

 

On another day he'd have had both them goals, still a quality performance though, he gives the team a certain confidence.

 

Perish the thought

His presence and claiming of the ball is a league ahead of the others.

 

Don't know if has been posted yet, Tadanari Lee is reported to have signed for Urawa Red Diamonds in Japans J.League 1, they are sponsored by Mitsubishi and are one of the best supported Clubs apparently.

 

Saints still mentioned on sky for Ings, along with Fulham. Can't see it in this window.

 

Shaw is undoubtedly one of the most promising youngsters out there and any team would be pleased and interested to see him arrive...but would you call him a big signing for Chelsea? I also believe our manager and owner said no one is going and Lil' Luke has said he's not going.