Southampton Banter Archive August 06 2014

06 Aug 2014 21:39:05
seems that a few things have kicked into motion today, firstly it seems we are poised to sign Forster, which is fantastic new, although I doubt we still want Van Dijk as that's all gone quiet now, good to hear that we have apparantly opened talks with Sporting over Rojo, we could maybe do with another young CB who will grow into that position after that and provide competition for Rojo and Fonte, but that player could be Jack Stephens if he's ready as he's yet to be loaned out. Rojo would be a mnarque signing, but a marque striker who can play off the main striker as well as playing up top on there own would be perfect and then I will be happy to start the season knowing that we maybe stronger than last season!

07 Aug 2014 07:36:46
Would like to see a proven epl striker. We needed one before Ricky went and as JayRods injured and?off in jan, it makes sense to have a good one in place. Ricky was excellent off the ball and unselfish. Quite like a younger him

Agree, we need proven epl players in a striker and CB

Don't think he'll be off in Jan, but I agree a striker is needed as I think Mayuka would do well playing off the striker but wouldn't have the strength to play up top on his own

06 Aug 2014 21:31:13
Celtic 2-0 down atm. Can see Forster and possibly Van Dijk on there way. COYR

One of the worst celtic teams in the past 20 year and your happy to sign 2 players from it

06 Aug 2014 23:21:15
Forster is a young International GK. Van Dijk is also very handy at the back. Tbh if we get Rojo we may not need him but i'm worried of facing Liverpool with Hooiveld or Yoshida. Van Dijk outclasses them by a country mile

What games have you seen of vvd

I agree with Lexlau

Just been watching a load of YouTube clips. He looks very useful to me but I think RK needs to decide if he wants a CB who will join the attack and solo run at every given opportunity. Reminds me of Kompany

I'm happy to get Forster as he's clearly capable of playing at the next level with some of his Championsleague performances, I'm not sure obout VVD yet, but he is young and has the potential to play in the prem I guess, not sure he's ready yet though and feel like we need a proven CB

06 Aug 2014 21:11:37
celtic losing 2 0 could be good news as far as
forster is concerened
forestsaint

06 Aug 2014 21:09:02
Forster having a mare. Still sure we want to sign him :-)

06 Aug 2014 17:22:13
Have I got my facts right ed? Could Jose Fonte play for England?
Been in this country for a long time now, with us and palace. But never had a senior call up.
We see other country's have other country's players playing for them. Like botang plays for Germany but he's from Ghana, or Owen hardgreeves could have picked England, Germany or Canada, or john Barnes being Jamaican but playing for England.
Would be great to see Jose pull on the 3 lions shirt and get the international chance that he deserves

{Ed033's Note - You might be right, although Fifa appears to have a rule that seems to say a player can't have played competitively for another 'country' (but there appears to be another rule where exceptions to this are allowed).

According to a quick www search, Jose Fonte (born 1983) allegedly played for Portugal U21 once in 2006? when he was 23 but has not played for Portugal or any other country at the senior level.

06 Aug 2014 15:16:33
Its high time all the talk ended and we saw some action!

06 Aug 2014 11:55:02
At the moment we are one CB signing away from having the same depth as last year, as we have nearly replaced all the player we have lost:
2 Full backs:
Shaw and Chambers out
Targett and Bertrand in
AM:
Lallana out
Tadic in
ST
Lambert out
Pelle in

So Lovren is the only position we haven't replaced yet. Krueger has been talking about coming out with a stronger team then we did at the start of the window and to do that we also need a few players in positions we planned to sign when we hoped no one would leave, so now if we got in a GK, CB, AM and ST we would have more depth than last year, so if we got Forster, Taider has pretty much been confirmed as the AM, then all we need is at minimum 1 marque signing at CB and a Striker who can play off the main striker as well as up top on his own then we could be pretty well set and as Stephens has yet to be loaned out, maybe he will be used more this year, so in addition to that we have Isgrove, McQueen, possibly Stephens and Targett (who I already mentioned), so our squad is looking better all the time, also expect Gallagher, Reed and JWP to play more prominent roles this year too, getting more excited now, COYR!

I think Chambers is being replaced by McCarthy and that Targett and Bertrand are both there to compete for the left back slot.

I do agree however and have said several times we have replaced most of what we have lost and are only really a signing or maybe two away from being where we were at the start of last season, maybe better. We have several youth products coming through to support this team too with a manager of the profile of Koeman this can be a productive season.

I was meant Target coming in for Chambers as in we have the same number of Fullbacks and forgot to mention McCarthy all together! We have potentially gained 5 youth products into the first team this year! Not bad

Sorry St Sam I was talking like for like changes. But yes the youth system has churned out more good news for us with greater squad depth than last season being a potential result.

As I have been saying for a while we should not be in a state of panic as what's lost has been almost all replaced bar at CB where Stephens could potentially step up (unclear what plans are for him yet) and we could well have a signing to bolster the squad there as well.

I mean of course we want other additions like strikers and such but we are around the level we were at come last seasons end at the moment only with need of a centre half to recover that first team standard.

06 Aug 2014 08:47:32
IMO I don't think there is anything to worry about with the board. Yes, things have not been good, and yes, It was hard seeing our team stripped.
But I believe in what is being said. A don't want to be a yo-yo team anymore, and the board are doing the right thing IMO. The club as a whole is more important than any player has or will ever be. I believe KL is doing exactly what ML wanted for the club, to build and be a solid PL team. Yes, it doesn't feel good to see all these players going and few coming in. But the team is being rebuilt. We need the right players to help us move forward, and that can take time.

The world knows of our financial position (we are still one of the richest clubs in the PL) and they know of the 90 odd million received in transfers plus TV money. Teams will hold out for and ask for higher prices. Isn't that exactly what we have been doing recently?
I have full trust in the board and especially RoKo in bringing in the players we need. We still have a month left on the transfer window, and then there is still January.

Remember people. Rome wasn't built in a day. Just look at Arsenal. Everyone got on Wengers case for not spending. He and Arsenal had a plan. The Emirates is now paid for (I do believe) and they can now become one of the powers of English football again on and off the pitch. I'm not saying we can compete like that, just saying, stabilise the ship and glory will follow. I think Arsenal will win the PL this season.

So come on, get behind the board and club. We are the stripes. We are the Saints. We are Southampton FC!

I'm just wondering what the odds are on Arsenal winning the league, I don't see it myself, possible Chelsea for me (although in the ideal world I'd like it to be Saints, of course)

Arsenal seem like a good shout to me with Sanchez, Ozil and Ramsey, if they got an top striker in, I reckon they could

Finally a post which is seeing the positives! As soon as Krueger's interview began doing the rounds last night in the media there were already fans on the Echo site complaining. It's time to get behind the board and patiently watch the signings come in!

We had a solid PL team.