With a distinct lack of quality big name transfers this summer but several big name departures, Saints need to make a statement of intent before the transfer window closes.

I am not one of those who subscribes to the fact that selling players is a backward step, that is of course unless you fail to adequately replace them.

With three big names departing from the club so far this summer bringing in a total of around £60 million in transfer fees plus another £5 million compensation for Ronald Koeman , the fact that so far barely £25 million has been spent on beefing up the squad is perhaps the main cause for concern in the minds of most Saints fans.

In some respects Pelle'e replacement was already at the club in Charlie Austin, but the fact still remains that the squad although not as depleted as some would make out, does need a couple of additions before the transfer window shuts.

Perhaps Les Reed is still reading off Nicola Cortese's hymn sheet in that he would like to see the utopia of a squad with youth breaking through, but the reality is that no other Premier League club has managed that and that we have to have a good amount of bought in quality and experience to succeed at the level that we have done in the past two years.

The truth is that the rich are getting richer and it is harder for a club like Saints to compete financially with the big boys, but they should certainly be doing so with the likes of Palace and Stoke who are spending to improve their squads.

There are those who say that the fan base should have faith in what the club is doing and they are right, but that does not mean that sometimes the club has to go out of its way to show the supporters it is still focused and not sitting back on its laurels.

This is perhaps one of those moments, whilst I can appreciate that Claude Puel is going to talk about how the squad is good enough, the reality is that virtually every Saints fan can see where the gaps lie and know if they are not plugged then we will not have the depth to equal last season's exploits.

For one thing we need another quality central defender, even if Fonte does stay, we cannot rely on him and Virgil Van Dijk being fit and available for near on 50 games this season, if one of them is missing then we have problems, to put it bluntly we need a third central defender before the window shuts.

Then there is the question of a striker, especially if Jay Rodriguez goes out on loan which I think would be folly, but does show that it is hard for Saints to keep quality players happy, even if Jay stays I think we need another striking option.

But there is one important thing here and that is both the club and the supporters understand the situation, the supporters have to realise that there is a long term view and that sometimes a backward step or two are taken to keep moving forwards.

The club also has to realise that sometimes it has to give its supporters something to make them feel good, it is not sufficient to just assume that the fans are all onside because they can see the overall picture, that is usually far from the case, fans are sometimes like Club Chairman and that means a club is always only six games from disaster or triumph, indeed we were near both at points last season, if the fans had panicked then, would we have seen the season finish as we did ?

So it is time for Les Reed and the club to show us they are still focused, that they can see that there are still things that need to be done, I understand why they cannot say that publicly, but they can do so by actions and that action is spending out on a couple of signings that will excite the fans.

Photo: Action Images

the_saint added 15:48 - Aug 22 great article think you have covered it all thets hope les reads it.
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simmo400 added 15:52 - Aug 22 Nick the statement of intent was made team was decemated when 5 players left 4 years back. the couldnt keep them and the cant keep the others who have left. More of a worry are the managers. we have been lucky by appointing two good ones but as we all know your luck runs out eventually. You cant loose your best players and good managers yet preach european football ambitions. yes we are there this year but thease games will test our poor thin squad to the max.

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BoondockSaint added 16:21 - Aug 22 Is this really Nick posting this?Many of us have been saying from the beginning of the transfer window that Saints seem to be making the statement that they are just a development squad for the Scouse and Spuds. You have repeatedly said that selling off players like Mane was good business and are easily replaced. They are not. You have said we can't compete with the big boys, we should be happy to make up the numbers in the Prem and infer supporters should pick a second favourite team if we want to see a team that tries to win. Yet, Leicester have been able to keep both Vardy and Mahrez! Unfortunately, I worry that the "statement" has been made that there will be no big signings to replace Pelle and Mane's goals and Wanyama's muscle-Les continually sits on the sidelines while teams like Leicester, Palace, West Ham, etc don't back down from the big clubs. When he does make a bid, it is so insulting low, that you know the team will not accept it, and not want to do business with Saints. So he has it built in that the bid will fail and he can say he tried when he had no intention of spending at all. The worry is that Saints are happy to be the joke team of the Prem as long as they make a profit.

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LordDZLucan added 16:24 - Aug 22 Spending does not necessarily guarantee success. More important is getting the right players in given what we have already. I've watched both games so far this season and what is abundantly clear to me is that the team is not short on quality but it is short on height and strength. We were bullied by the bigger Watford team until they ran out of gas; similarly we did not get to grips with the Man Utd giants (Ibrahimovic, Fellaini, Pogba and Bailly are all well over 6ft). Pelle and Wanyama were the bullies in the Soton team last season and we are now missing that strength especially when you consider that a number of our players are below average height (Soares, Davis, Clasie, Tadic, Redmond).

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Bettwsresident added 17:04 - Aug 22 "Then there is the question of a striker, especially if Jay Rodriguez goes out on loan which I think would be folly, but does show that it is hard for Saints to keep quality players happy," so is the quandary...how do we sign a quality centre back to play second fiddle to Jose and VVD. How do we fit another striker and keep J-rod, Austin, Shane and Redmond happy. I think J-rod has to leave for another quality striker to consider us..or if we do we risk losing Charlie who I think will come good for us. I for one do not like Redmond playing as a striker, but then I don't trust him yet on left midfield. In the last match. I don't like how the squad is being asked to play in this diamond with 2 strikers, it makes Redmond an essential.. Surely this is our best set up, which allows Redmond to drift in and out as Mane did. Back to 4:2:3:1 which served us so well, with the back ups in brackets. Forster (McCarthy) Bertand (Targett) VVD, Fonte (Gardos, Yosh), Soares (Martina) Hojberg, Romeu (Reed, Davis) Tadic, Classie, Redmond (JWP, JRod, Davis) Long (Austin) As lord lucan said it is missing height and runs the risk of being bullied by bigger men.

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halftimeorange added 17:08 - Aug 22 Saints showed that they are not a bad side against both Watford and Man U at various stages of both games but, whilst we might do okay in the EPL and we could do okay in the Europa, anyone can see that we do not have the strength in depth to seriously contest both and we could, therefore, struggle in both. The lack of height and domination at the back, in midfield and up front is very apparent. If we can see it so can the management, so why no additional spending to rectify these issues? It simply doesn't make sense if the club is truly ambitious. Saints certainly need to make a statement, if not in money, then at least verbally or they could start seeing empty seats at St Marys if results continue to be mediocre.

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SaintPaulVW added 17:42 - Aug 22 Unless there's something underway any big purchase now would be a panic buy. Just can't see that happening. I agree we seem to need a few players, certainly a CB but I don't see it being anything other than loan signings. I hope I'm wrong.
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LordDZLucan added 18:03 - Aug 22 I'm not in agreement that we need a centre back. Virgil is the class act in the side; Jose is Mr. Dependable; Florin will always dominate because of his height and the much maligned Maya is actually a very good player if we could just eradicate the one guaranteed howler per game. A big, skillful midfielder is the priority and after that a big striker. Charlie Austin might do the job up front - we'll have to wait and see on that one. But how about Momo Sissoko for the midfield? He's available and desperate for a move!

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Redrum added 18:35 - Aug 22 Ok,We have four strikers,plenty of all midfieders,creative talent in Tadic and Davis and plenty of defenders. If Austin,Rodriguez,Yoshida and Gardos are always backups they're never guna be reliable.Admittedly there's a risk with injuries but play them alot until that happens for competition and to rest the others.We have a good all round squad and everyone should be played to keep them fresh and hungry.Plus if we have good young players in key positions then we should be ready to show them overall we trust their ability or what's the point.

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sidsaint added 19:40 - Aug 22 A really good shout Nick and some excellent back up comments that reflect the thoughts of many Saints fans. Every time I look on line other clubs are always mentioned not us. The trusted sights that are not so influenced by agents like the BBC, SKY and the Echo are silent on transfers. If we go into September without strengthening in the areas we know are under par in a season that includes European football I am afraid we will be forced into panic buying in January and the inflated prices that that window brings. I also found it interesting when Koeman talked about his move to Everton last week and how he enjoyed working with the Director of Football there whom he trusted together with the ambitions of the club. Reading between the lines he could well have been having a big dig at Les and the lack of ambition at Southampton.

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ExiledSupporter added 19:57 - Aug 22 On the subject of Les Reed who I think has got quite a bit of undeserved praise recently (last couple of seasons)because firstly I don't for a moment think that he sets the price we will pay for any player. He may well recommend but the authority surely comes from the Chief Exec who has no doubt sort the agreement of the Chairman. Les then works to that maximum price, where his success will be measured is the extent to which he secures the player at less than the max. price authorised and the public will never know what that is, self evidently. Secondly, he doesn't unearth the talent this is by statistical analysis and via a network of scouts that we have in various parts of Europe and Africa (mainly); Les will be involved in running his eye over the contenders to be targeted, but the outcome is a result of a team effort rather than Les's individual initiative or inspiration. Additionally a number of players have no doubt been brought in irrespective of Reed's opinion, so it is generally conceded that Cortese required marquee players, hence two of our most expensive cock-ups in Osvaldo (some involvement from Pochetinno here too) and Ramirez; then it seems obvious that Koeman was the decision maker in the cases of Pelle and Tadic and Romeu and Clasie; Long, Mane, Cedric, Bertrand and VVD (easy decision the latter, most of the fans would have seen that one), yes and Hojbjerg and Redmond came out of the 'black box ' processes...but Les did sign them all. If we don't or do get players Les plays an important part but it is far less executive than some commentators seem to believe. Where I do suspect and credit him with greater personal input is in the selection of managers...let's hope that this run of success continues with Puel!

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BarnetSaint added 20:00 - Aug 22 If there was one statement which said the club do not have ambition it was " the stadium should be full for multiple years before we consider any expansion". Kruger summed up the clubs philosophy with that. A ridiculous small minded penny pinching statement. On that basis, west ham would never have moved to a ground twice as big ( yes i know it was " free" but thats not the point. The money spent on training/ academy facilities is designed to maximize player development before their sales and profit.

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StRipper added 20:19 - Aug 22 I definitely don't see reason to panic but agree with many sentiments. I find it frustrating that we don't pay to get deals done, whereas we are happy to jump to the tune of our competitors and their timetable, as we did with Mane to Liverpool. We have been crying out for effective defensive cover all round and have struggled without Bertrand and or either CB when they are out. Nothing changed since Lovren. This year has to be the year to address that, so why are we waiting 9 days left of the transfer window and counting to get someone in!?! I have also been a bit concerned to see the number of lunging tackles that we are putting in. I always see these as a desperate last effort which shows we are struggling to control the space. That would support the view that, although PEH had a good game, we don't have a player to replace the imposing presence of Wanyama at DM. Finally, it's all about goals. No matter how we all want our players to step up its crazy to think they will come close to replacing Pelle and Mane this season. We have no doubt been tracking targets forever. I would have hoped that we would have been better placed to be decisive in replacing them rather than vulnerable to going into the season with not enough attacking options for a EPL campaign, let alone a cup run and Europa. I'm not panicking but we're definitely into squeaky bum time.

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BoondockSaint added 21:10 - Aug 22 Notice how other teams have replacements lined up for players, managers, etc? They realise that anybody could want out at any time, and as soon someone leaves, they are already making bids for replacements. Saints don't do this, nor do they "unsettle" players on other teams. I have always said the "black box" is a marketing gimmick-it's just a PS4 with the FIFA game database.

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the_saint added 22:13 - Aug 22 I've heard a strong rumour that stanciu is about to sign, boufal was another one but that one is suppose to be complicated as he has not got an agent but family representing him and all having a say on the matter (complicated) anybody else heard this one
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saintmark1976 added 22:30 - Aug 22 Nick, I have posted previously that you were turning the site into the house magazine of Southampton F C so all credit to you in saying that the club now needs to make a statement of intent. I doubt that the board will comment upon your suggestion but at least you have now acknowledged that there is a genuine concern with large numbers of fans that we are simply becoming a feeder club for the "big boys". In my opinion there is no long term future in the way we are drifting at the present and I would not be unhappy if the owner just accepted that she has taken us as far as she wishes by ultimately selling.

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SanMarco added 00:19 - Aug 23 It is interesting that anyone who knows anything about Saints + quality neutral reporting says what we need. The article and all the posts are in 95% agreement. If the club can't see what we see then there is something wrong. I like saintmark1976's use of the word "drifting". Of course money doesn't necessarily buy success but it could buy us a couple of decent players to stop the drift. 10th is probably as good as we can hope for but it would only take one or two injuries (VVD and Bertrand say) and we could do what drifting boats sometimes do - sink...

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aceofthebase added 07:55 - Aug 23 It's difficult to score goals with our small player attack but more impoertant is we have conceded two goals by players lacking height. It's ok saying we are playing well, as I do, but if this trend were to continue for the whole season.........
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Fordy added 09:31 - Aug 23 Totally agree Nick. A new signing would lift the whole fan base who are a bit jaded after seeing all the best players leave year after year. I would like to see a move for Vincent Aboubakar at Porto who is out of favour and would be well-suited to the Prem.
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