brookfox

Is it though? We started at the weekend with Hamza and Page in midfield. Not wanting to be harsh on Page at this stage of his career but that is nowhere near strong enough and we're also small and weak (mentally and physically) in midfield. Yes we have Skipp coming back and maybe/maybe not Winks, but we need improvements in midfield particularly with JJ out. On a loan (assuming we're not covering all his wages) it's a risk worth taking in my view. What will be bizarre is if we match his current wages on a long term deal at the end of the season.

Decent loan. 3yr contract on silly money. Reverts to Southampton form. Might get a lottery ticket!

Is this a loan or a permanent deal? I know he's out of contract in the summer but talk of agreeing personal terms makes it feel more permanent. And if it is hopefully no more than an 18m contract and heavily weighted to appearances.

I'll reserve judgement on him as a player until I've seen him play for us in whatever position we deploy him. The reality is that midfield options of Hamza, Skipp, Winks and Page probably isn't strong enough for a relegation fight. So a more experienced head, with a bit of size about them who has been recognised as a leader and positive chararcter is needed. Can't say I'm mega excited about our option to fill that role, but can see the logic in it. Albeit financially it stinks!

Transfer deadline day at LCFC is basically the same as England friendlies. You've seen it enough times before to know it'll be rubbish, yet you still get your hopes up and tune in, only for it to be painfully dull and ultimately end in disapointment.

Sickens me the role agents now play in transfers. Fair enough if an individual player needs support negotiating a deal, however they now appear to shape entire club transfer strategies based on lining their pockets and not the clubs scouting department. At least they do at our tinpot setup. That said if we need to do this deal to get JJ over the line I’m all for it 🤩

If fit he’ll be a massive plus on and off the pitch. Makes it pretty clear Souttar is nowhere near fit as well.

Only we could go into the transfer window desperate for a striker, and up with fewer at the club than we started with after Carranza and Evans left!

Cast iron certainty the next message on this is “However any deal at this stage of the window is likely to be… complicated”!

Aribo and Fatawu are pretty different players. Box to box midfielder who can play right mid vs an out and out winger. Aribo looks more a James injury replacement.

I genuinely find it hard not to project forward a medium to long period of time and not see The Terminator / The Matrix!

If the miracle happened and Vesty was left out today due to a transfer and Lascelles replaced him it’d be glorious!

I’ll reserve judgement until I see him play. Saints fans clearly not positive about him, but as a contrast Rangers fans seem pretty impressed with his time there. I imagine if JJ didn’t get injured we don’t make this signing, but without him we really lack creativity with any combo of Winks, Hamza and Skipp. The Man City signing then being the replacement for Ramsey.

If it’s him and a striker, then great. If it’s him as the striker I give up.

Probably went to the toilet to start a new season of Championship Manager as Southampton on his phone to plan our next move.

This is up there with people saying they’d never seen Janet Jackson or Michael Jackson together!

There were a few times in the second half we had their defence under pressure, crosses went in and their keeper came and caught them. It just makes such a difference to the whole team and atmosphere in the stadium. He’s one of those who you want to do well but is unfortunately a big part of the problem not the solution and needs a break in my opinion to regroup.

It’s not the loan that’s the problem. It’s the opposition fan reaction, his wages and contract status at 29 that worry me. All points to us not learning our lesson and a lucrative contract being on the table in the summer.

Watched One Fight After Another last night. One of those where you probably know after 20mins it’s not for you and still have 2hr20mins to sit through. Some good performances, Sean Penn I’m looking at you, but the storyline, pacing and style just bored me to be honest.

Well at least we know what Top was doing in the second half. Get a striker in and we might… might… look something resembling competent.

Would definitely like to see him as the rotation option with Ricardo at RB for the rest of the season.

Surprised to see positivity for Pages performance. Thought the second half completely passed him by. Not a criticism just an observation, very hard for a 17 to come in and shine in midfield in the situation we’re in.

Pains me to say it but we’re in a relegation fight and need our best 11 on the pitch every match. Like it or not that team includes Winks. He just has an higher football IQ and technique than some of our other options and other players look better as a result. Attitude this, fell out with managers that… I want us to win football matches more than take the moral high ground right now.

Never heard of him, not seen him play, haven’t watched any YouTube videos. But after today I’d bet my house on him already being our best player!

Has absolutely none of the attributes needed to play a lone striker for a team with 10 men (or 11, but we’ll ignore that debate for now). He can’t hold it up, isn’t quick, doesn’t work hard and doesn’t win anything in the air. Nothing stuck up top today and he gave up absolutely no platform to build on.