You have been placed in charge of Southampton FC’s January Transfer signings. You are also responsible for the first team line up going forwards, with the sole aim of surviving relegation. You have been successful in agreeing deals for two players, both of whom will join on January 1st. The players must both have played for Saints previously in the Premier League since our return in 2012. They will sign as the best version of themselves whilst they were with us previously (Eg if you choose Van Dijk you get him as he was in a Saints shirt.) So which two players do you sign? And what would your first choice line up (including your shiny new signings) look like?
Don’t forget those line ups! I’m interested to see how you’d fit your transfers in, and how you’d use what we already have
Changed my mind…. …………Baz……….. Tino…..Fonte……Sailsu …….KWP …….Lavia ……JWP……Stuey Che …….Rickie……..Edozie
My immediate thought was of course Rickie, but I’d rather have him in the form he was in in the Championship, where he scored 27 goals in 42 games. Provided that’s within the rules, I’ll go for him and Dusan Tadic, also in the form he found playing alongside Graziano Pellè. McCarthy Tino ABK Salisu KWP Lavia JWP Stu Tadic Edozie Rickie
Morgan, without any hesitation. Absolutely essential. Second choice is so much harder. I think I would just about go Virgil (and make him captain). But Rickie, Mane, Jay, Lallana, Wanyama, Pelle, Ings and Fonte were all considerations too. I also wouldn't mind getting JWP back, as opposed to that poundland look-a-like we've replaced him with this season.
I'll make a controversial choice, Adam Lallana (he was POTS under Poch) he would add much needed creativity and goals from a 10. His telepathic partnership with Rickie would make him my second choice and a pre-injury Jay would be my third if I had one. They were the most exciting front three I can remember since Shearer, Le Tiss and Rod Wallace.
Baz KWP ABK DCC Perraud JWP Lavia Edozie Stuey Adam SRL Adam and SRL would probably add 15-20 goals over a season.
Mane and VVD without any real thought. It's not that CB is our biggest need, necessarily, but VVD is head-and-shoulders above any other option at any position. And second-season Mane is the most dynamic attacker since we returned to the PL; it's not just the goals/assists, he opened up an awful lot of space for others because defenders had no choice but to track his runs, because if he got a step, you weren't closing the distance.
