Southampton Banter Archive January 09 2013

09 Jan 2013 17:14:53
Davide Astori, Phillippe Coutinho, Douglas and Andre Ter Stegen seem to be the prevailing rumours.

Out of curiosity which of these four would you prefer? Considering it unlikely that we'll sign more then two.

Despite Lambert saying Villa won't sign anyone, they have made an offer for Coutinho, but the bid has been rejected.

Astori and phillippe

In order of preference for me anyway;

1st) Davide Astori - He seems enthusiastic about joining us, is a very good player and would hugely boost our defence which is in trouble after the injury of Jose Fonte.

2nd) Douglas - If we are not getting Astori we need a Centre back. Douglas is also very high quality, quite young and is actually probably quite cheap seeing as he is out of contract at the season's end.

3rd) Phillippe Coutinho - He is an incredible young talent, would be great cover for Lallana, who is currently out injured, Ramirez and Puncheon. I think he would also benefit from the supportive atmosphere at our club which would help him to develop his ability to work as part of a team.

4th) Ter Stegen - While yes, he is an incredible keeper. The fee we'd have to pay and the wages it'd require to get him here would be ridiculous. He doesn't want to leave Germany anyway. He is also a very young goalkeeper and would be more of a hope for the future for which we already have Gazzaniga. I think, if we were to get a keeper, we should look for someone who won't cost as much, will be happy playing in England and has confidence. Not sure any such players we would require are currently in this country so we would need to look abroad.

Astori and Coutinho 100% we would stay up

1. Astori
2. Ter Stegen (But we're not getting a keeper says Adkins)
3.Coutino
4. Douglas

Would prefer Douglas as we need a CB. But would take any of them.

If we didn't need a CB so badly, I'd be very excited by the prospect of Coutinho, he would be an outstanding signing and one I am still very doubtful of.

We need = Douglas
Best signing = Coutinho

Those talking about wages don't forget we're out paying tottenham for Ramirez

1) Douglas 2) coutinho. I can see coutinho being alongside neymar at the next world cup, would push guly off the pitch/bench aswell. Tho he has been awesome the last 2 games il never forgive him for letting pompey equalise away last season ):

We're out paying what spurs offered Ramirez, I'd imagine spur's top earners are on 75-80 a week whereas Ramirez is on about half that

Couldn't have agreed more with you lot. As far as I'm concerned Astori is the signing we need (Him or Douglas) and Coutinho would be one to offer some real quality in the middle of the field.
- TJ

09 Jan 2013 14:16:58
I kep hearing "we only need defenders..." "we don't need strikers " Well we've lost Lallana for at least 4-5 weeks. What do the naiveSaints fan think we should do now. I'm not panicking at all but it does illustrate how youcan never have enough quality players up front because at the moment it looks thin on the ground.
Stu

We don't need strikers, generally the consensus is that we need defenders and attacking midfield cover. Up front we have Lambert and Rodrigues with Lee available as well.

I think If we can get astori then we'll have enough defenders and i would like us to go all in on a striker

Original post... Lallana isn't a striker you muppet?

Most people think we need CB's most urgently (True) but would like another AM (True) and a keeper wouldn't be a bad thing. But we don't need strikers, we have at least 5 :S

I think I've watched football long enough to know what kind of player Lallana is you muppet! My point was, we do need attacking players. I keep reading the contrary. I should have made that clear so i apologise to the illiterate and uneducated who can't see past their nose and took me literally. Don't keep telling me we have Lee, Mayuka, Rodriguez...these three have not cut it so far! I don't care who's been injured etc, I can see with my own eyes how they haven't settled, clicked or had a good run in the side. If we want to push on we should be signing a frontman and AM at least. Just fed up with us overrating our players. We are where we are because we aren't good enough! We can't wait until the summer to get people bedded in...maybe NAs early season naivety has rubbed off on you. Before anyone jumps down my throat again, I'm also very well aware we need two CBs and a keeper. Players like Boruc, Dickson, Chaplow, De Ridder et al need to be shown the door asap! Thankyou boys but its time to upgrade throughout.
Stu

Our priority shouldn't be attacking players though?

Of course we could do with strengthening in every area, but would you honestly say attacking players are a priority over defensive players in this window?

I think most people would gladly accept a quality attacking player, but are sensible enough to suggest we secure a solid CB first.

It's just common sense.

Its also common sense to read thru my op and response, to notice that at no point did i mention forwards were a priority.BUT at least one striker is essential imo. We have depth in that department i know but its the quality we severely lack. The whole point of this post was, I'm tired of people poopooing rumours about quality attacking playes with the arguement that we have Lee, Mayuka, Jay etc. They won't get us to where we want to be imho. I've been watching footie for more than thirty years and have some idea at least of who's got it and who hasn't. Maybe next season we'll see a difference in their quality (and i'll be glad to be proved wrong) but if the opportunity comes up in the shortterm to sign a quality goalscorer we should take i. Of course CBs are No.1 priority tho, especially with the latest news about José.

Totally agree we need prem quality players if we are going to move on next season all the dead wood has to go, guly, de ridder, chappers, fox, boruc, butterfeild, sharp, and maybe lee and mayuka. We also need back up for the likes of shaw, clyne, lallana, punch, if we stay up we need to improve to push on.This transfer window we desperately need a QUALITY CB! or two and NA needs to stick with one goalie .

Stu i could, nt put it better myself? i am glad we got someone who talking the same as me, if i had my way, i would be getting rid of alot of players and start getting in players in that can play football.its about time we started to payout for some decent players and get two goalies in as well, if they don, t start doing this saints will go down and adkins with them.