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Sors appointed as technical directorpublished at 15:55 7 February
15:55 7 February
Image source, Getty Images
Southampton have confirmed the appointment of Johannes Spors as technical director. He replaces Jason Wilcox who left St Mary's Stadium for Manchester United last year.
Spors has previously worked for RB Leipzig, Vitesse Arnhem and Genoa across European football, and will begin his role at Southampton next week.
"I'm excited to finally start work at Southampton." Sors said. "Saints are a club with a great history and commitment to developing players, not only in the academy, but also at first-team level.
"I look forward to working with the team at Staplewood to build a strategy that helps bring success on the pitch."
Southampton Q&A: Why did Saints sell strikers but not sign?published at 13:44 7 February
13:44 7 February
Adam Blackmore BBC Radio Solent sports editor
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We have been putting your questions to BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore.
In part three Adam focuses on Saints' struggles in front of goal and recruitment in the forwards positions.
Ben asked: Why have we offloaded our forwards and not signed replacements?
Adam answered: Hi Ben, if you mean recently then I don't see the offloading of Ben Brereton Diaz and Adam Armstrong on loan as big losses in the current squad. They have two goals between them all season in the Premier League. As much as I love Arma, he just does not threaten enough in the Premier League.
Saints still have Paul Onuachu, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Tyler Dibling, Matheus Fernandes, Cameron Archer, and hopefully Albert Gronbaek as forwards for the rest of the season. Would it make a big difference if the other two were around? I don't think so. The bigger question for me is if they can go down and come back up at the first time of asking, will they learn from this last summer and invest in a proper Premier League goalscorer and buy quality not quantity.
Mike asked: Why has the club gone through so many transfer windows without signing a proven goalscorer (we haven't really had one since Danny Ings)? We have signed promising youngsters but one by one they seem to be drifting away.
Adam answered: Hi Mike, I share your frustration with this. As I said in my reply to Ben, the strategy of quantity over quality has not worked. I get that the club in their first season back up needs to be careful and hope that some potential is realised, but it has nt really happened. And we all know that since Ings' departure Saints have not had the quality upfront to stay in the top flight.
Any players that have drifted away have not really gone on to pull up trees elsewhere, just accentuating the lack of judgement Saints have made. Che Adams was never prolific (but they should have kept him) Arma has always struggled in the Premier League, Onuachu has been misused and underused by a succession of managers...
Plus, that revolving door of managers that has created different styles of play also has not helped a number of players who have been en vogue or persona non grata depending on who is in charge of the team!
You are right - they need to stop taking chances with the most important end of the pitch and back someone to keep them up with his goals.
Southampton v Burnley: Did you know?published at 13:41 7 February
13:41 7 February
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Southampton have won eight of their past 10 home matches in the FA Cup, winning the last three in a row at St Mary's Stadium by a margin of three goals or more without conceding a single goal.
Who has enough to survive the drop?published at 13:40 7 February
13:40 7 February
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Now that the transfer deals are done, we have a clearer picture of how the season may finish.
Unfortunately, as things stand I think Ipswich will be relegated in addition to Southampton and Leicester City.
Saying Ipswich is a difficult one for me because out of those three, they are the one that I think will give the biggest fight to survive between now and the end of the season.
But at the expense of who? It is probably Wolves, as Everton have now distanced themselves from the pack, but even then Wolves have a new manager and they have Premier League experience which will always help in this crunch time.
Ultimately, the gap now between the Championship and the Premier League is massive.
It is hard to adjust quickly enough in the Premier League as the players simply just don't have the time to adapt. Mistakes are punished, so it makes it very difficult to play the same style that has got a team promoted from the Championship.
Ipswich have probably been the most adaptable of the three teams, but they still lack the quality that is needed within a squad to compete. They have, however, invested and brought in more players in the January transfer window to give them a fighting chance.
Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford
Southampton Q&A: Can Saints stop being a selling club?published at 10:50 7 February
10:50 7 February
Adam Blackmore BBC Radio Solent sports editor
Image source, Getty Images
We have been putting your questions to BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore.
In part two, he focuses on Saints' recruitment, selling strategy and youth teams.
Laurie asked: Is there any chance that Southampton could stop being a selling club - with a view to keeping team consistency and having a fair chance of making ourselves a club to be reckoned with?
Adam answered: To be honest Laurie, I don't think there is! FFP/PSR really makes it very hard to compete in the Premier League against much richer clubs with far greater turnovers (Manchester City's turnover and wage bill is five times that of Saints) and I don't see those differentials changing unless, in the long term, Saints can up their turnover and revenues so much that they close the gap. That is a really long-term project that I know they're working on.
I think the best any club of Saints' size can hope for is one season where they have a crack with a manager and squad that punches above its weight, shocks everyone, and gets into Europe. That ups the income dramatically and makes players more likely to stay. However, finding young talent and making a good profit on that talent has to still be a big part of the strategy I'm afraid.
Darrell asked: Why have Southampton never brought young players into the fold and nurtured them together into senior team? Surely to bring a youth team on together through the age leagues and then into the senior team will be the best team spirit and cohesion that money can buy? Instead, they sell them on thinking of profit instead of a team that the supporters can be proud of.
Adam answered: Darrell, I'm afraid the days of Dave Merrington getting two-thirds of the first team squad from the academy are over. As I said in my reply to Laurie, PSR makes it nigh on impossible to keep really good talent for a long time.
Saints have only had a handful of players make it from the academy in the last decade but, on the positive side, we can now see a number of age group internationals in the under-21s and below.
There are also a lot of young players coming into the Saints setup from other countries, as the club hopes its wider scouting network will start to find diamonds in the rough.
But remember it is now a global market and the biggest clubs will always get the best young players. Manchester City pay for their academy talent to go to private schools – how do you compete with that if parents have a choice?
Realistically, Saints still need to develop talent as much as possible, but it's really difficult to keep top young talent and the best you can usually hope for is to make a big profit that helps the club thrive more in the future.
Southampton Q&A: Is Juric the right manager to rebuild the team?published at 08:57 7 February
08:57 7 February
Adam Blackmore BBC Radio Solent sports editor
Image source, Getty Images
We have been putting your questions to BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore.
In part one Adam focuses on manager Ivan Juric and whether he is the man to lead Saints next season.
William asked: Is Juric the right manager to rebuild the team next season when we're in the Championship? What does he need from the club if he is?
Adam answered: I think in principle he is absolutely the right manager to take the club forward. I appreciate he has little experience of English football, but with any proven manager, it's about letting him do things his way and giving him the resources to be able to play the way he wants.
In that regard, what he needs is to keep as many key players as he can in the summer, and for those that are sold to be replaced with top-end Championship talent.
With parachute payments, Saints should again be a force in the Championship, and I think Juric's intense and focussed mentality could turn Saints into a ruthless team if he has the tools to do the job.
Ivan asked: Juric would obviously have been aware of what he was getting himself into. Do you get the sense he's in it for the long haul at St Mary's, and is the man who will lead us into next season's promotion push? Have you picked up any frustration on his part around our transfer activity this January (or lack thereof), that may influence him and any decision to stay on beyond this summer?
Adam answered: I think he and the club have every intention to give him his head and let him lead the club in the Championship. Saints will not gain anything by chopping and changing managers again, and in a short time he has shown he is a serious manager who can drive up a club's standards. I am quietly excited about the prospect of him leading Saints in the Championship.
With regards his frustration, I think he will not show it because it gives him and players an excuse, and so far I do not think he likes that.
He has rolled his sleeves up and got on with showing the players he is a manager who knows what he is doing, and he does not come out with excuses and makes players accountable.
I really like that - he does not mollycoddle them!
'It's a big step up for us' - Parkerpublished at 16:31 6 February
16:31 6 February
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Burnley boss Scott Parker says Southampton are "going to be a big test" for his squad, describing Saturday's FA Cup tie at St Mary's as "a big step up" for the Championship outfit.
The Clarets are second in the league, chasing leaders Leeds United, but still hope to put a cup run together alongside their hunt for promotion.
"Southampton came out of this league last season and then added to an already quality squad," said Parker. "It's going to be a big test for us.
"It's a big step up for us and they're a very good side, but it's one we're looking forward to. It's also an opportunity for us to freshen things up, but we want to go there and give the best version of ourselves.
"There's a chance to give players minutes that haven't played as much as others and for the new lads to be integrated into the side. It will be useful for them to get a feel for it and what we expect.
"There's nothing better than going on a cup run and like I've said, it's a big fixture for us. It gives opportunities for others to show what they can do and hopefully we can progress into the next round."
Juric on team news, lack of transfer activity and Burnleypublished at 14:06 6 February
14:06 6 February
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
Southampton boss Ivan Juric has been speaking to the media before Saturday's FA Cup game against Burnley (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Taylor Harwood-Bellis has an ankle injury and is unavailable for the FA Cup game but fellow defender Nathan Wood is expected to return.
Midfielder Tyler Dibling is also available, with Juric insisting there was "no fear of losing him" in the transfer window because the club's determination to keep him never changed.
Captain Jack Stephens has also faced a setback and is "upset" about returning to the sidelines. Juric said "it is not really bad" but they will know more in the next few weeks.
On opponents Burnley, who are flying high in the Championship: "They have kept a lot of clean sheets and from watching them, they are a really good team."
He said he will field his best XI to face Burnley because "every game is a opportunity to improve and get better."
On whether he was 'disappointed' by Southampton's transfer window business: "A little. There are some positions where we are missing players and that could be an issue in the future. But I understand the situation and it is difficult when you are bottom of the table to convince players. The club tried to bring me what I want - but we didn't succeed."
He added: "It is not easy to change mentality, but they [the players] are really willing to get better and are working" to get as many points as possible between now and the end of the season.
'He trusts us and we feel it' - Ugochukwu on Juricpublished at 10:40 6 February
10:40 6 February
Image source, PA Media
Southampton midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, speaking to BBC Radio Solent about the mood in the squad after beating Ipswich last weekend: "Winning is a very good thing for morale and it gives everyone more confidence to build this week and prepare for the game this weekend.
"For myself, I'm very happy to be part of the team and to win. I just want to give my best. The club trusted me, it wasn't easy at the start but now I'm playing and I'm happy and I'll give everything to this team."
On the impact of manager Ivan Juric since his appointment in December: "He is very busy [on the touchline] and passionate.
"During training every day, he shows his passion to us, showing us how hard he wants us to work. As players, we feel it. We want to give the confidence back to him because he trusts us and we feel it."
'We never expected, nor desired, to go down buyer's route'published at 18:08 4 February
18:08 4 February
Ray Hunt Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Southampton's deadline day ended as expected - inactive. In terms of incomings, anyhow.
In truth, we never expected, nor desired, to go down the buyer's route in our current position. With relegation almost a certainty, it would not have made sense financially. When Ivan Juric arrived, he commented on his eagerness to trim the bloated squad. And he has done just that.
Gavin Bazunu joined Belgian side Standard Liege on loan - a move that suits everyone, especially Bazunu. After being sidelined for nine months with a ruptured Achilles and with summer signing Aaron Ramsdale not likely to be replaced any time soon, Bazunu will get regular football and be ready to return in the Championship next season.
Promising academy graduate Sam Amo-Ameyaw was loaned to Strasbourg, with an obligation to buy. The loan in itself was expected given his lack of time under Juric. The obligation is hard to take.
Southampton's youth set-up has always been recognised as one of the leaders in the country, but has been a far cry from the likes of Theo Walcott or Adam Lallana. That is a major worry under this ownership. Amo-Ameyaw joins a long list of highly rated players moved on prematurely. We could end up regretting this decision.
A deal to send Adam Armstrong to West Bromwich Albion was confirmed on Tuesday. Armstrong has once again failed to impress in the top flight, scoring just three. A short-term loan with plenty of games should hopefully boost his confidence and get him finding the net again.
Left-back Welington formally arrived at the start of this window, while Denmark international Albert Gronbaek joined on loan from Rennes (let's hope that one becomes permanent). Both featured in the win at Ipswich and slotted in nicely.
I would have liked to have seen a centre-back arrive to plug the gaps of recent injuries in that area, but I was not too dismayed when a loan bid for Strasbourg central defender Abakar Sylla collapsed towards the end of the window.
Bazunu joins Standard Liege on loanpublished at 23:34 3 February
23:34 3 February
Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has completed a loan move to Standard Liege until the end of the season.
The 22-year-old returned to action in January after nine months out with an Achilles injury, featuring three times for the club's under-21s and keeping two clean sheets in Premier League 2.
He will now get more minutes under his belt in the Belgian Pro League.
Is Bazunu set to join Standard Liege?published at 20:26 3 February
20:26 3 February
Adam Blackmore BBC Radio Solent sports editor
Image source, Getty Images
Sources suggest that Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu is set to move to Standard Liege to get his career back on track.
The 22-year-old Ireland international returned from an Achilles tendon rupture in January, but he has since been playing with the under-21s and he is now looking to get his career back on track in Belgium.
Aaron Ramsdale is currently the undisputed number one for the Premier League's bottom club.
Downes could make late deadline day movepublished at 15:24 3 February
15:24 3 February
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Southampton's Flynn Downes could be a player who makes a late move before the 23:00 GMT deadline.
The midfielder is unhappy at St Mary's but the Saints will not let him leave on the cheap, having signed him from West Ham in a deal worth up to £18m in the summer.
Downes, 26, still has three and a half years left on his contract leaving Southampton in a strong position.
He was close to joining Ipswich in the summer before Southampton managed to get a deal done to bring him back after last season's successful loan.
A move to the Tractor Boys would be welcomed by all parties but it is currently considered unlikely.
Downes helped the Saints to promotion via the play-offs last May and has made 20 appearances, scoring once, this season but has started just two of Ivan Juric's eight games since he replaced Russell Martin in December.
Meanwhile, striker Cameron Archer could also stay at St Mary's despite reported interest from Leeds.
'Might be busier than we thought at Saints'published at 08:46 3 February
08:46 3 February
BBC Radio Solent sports editor Adam Blackmore, posting on X:
"So as we reach the end of the window, it might be busier than we thought at Saints. As per Fabrizio Romano, signing Victor Udoh from Antwerp could help the Cameron Archer to Leeds move.
"Sam Amo-Ameyaw should complete to Strasbourg - hopefully Loubadhe Abakar Sylla comes the other way.
"One or two more out on loan would trim the squad for Ivan Juric to work with - Ryan Fraser? Gavin Bazunu?"
What do you want on deadline day?published at 07:37 3 February
07:37 3 February
We asked you what would ensure you are satisfied this deadline day.
Here are some of your comments:
Henry: I feel we need a centre-back and I would love us to sign a striker. A central midfielder would be perfect, but I am unsure about wages to revenue.
Simon: Let's be real, the best we can hope for is a couple of loans. If we sign anyone of note, they're signing on the basis that we are in the Championship next season.
Lucy: I think we need to keep hold of Tyler Dibling because he is a very talented youngster who we can grow. We should try and recruit one more defensive midfielder for strength in depth in defence. If Aaron Ramsdale goes, then we need a replacement goalkeeper and if Dibling goes, we will need a young winger as well.
Mike: We need a quality centre-back pairing - it's been a weakness for years. Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Armel Bella-Kotchap are OK but Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens shouldn't be anywhere near the first team. One quality centre-back at least.
George: Frankly, I don't think even a couple of world-class players would save us from going down, so it would be best to hold onto the money or invest for the Championship. We're still digging ourselves out of the PSR-shaped hole [profit and sustainability rules] we dug this time a couple of years ago, when we made a raft of ineffective signings. Avoiding missteps will give us a better budget should we bounce right back up again.
Andy: We need someone to score goals. Preferably someone with experience and not a young player for the future, as we have plenty of those.
Juric 'has organised us so we don't mess up'published at 15:29 2 February
15:29 2 February
Image source, Getty Images
Former Southampton player Jo Tessem believes supporters should "cherish every moment" of their win at Ipswich Town, as manager Ivan Juric claimed his first victory thanks to Paul Onuachu's late goal.
Speaking on BBC Radio Solent's Goin' Home with Adam and Jo podcast, Tessem said: "Football is all about moments. You have to cherish every moment you get a win because we have had so many losses this season.
"Ivan Juric took on a job that looked destined to go wrong, but he has worked hard and put in a new system. We are seeing progress. Even though the points hadn't come before this game, we had been close a few times. We definitely look more like a Premier League team.
"He got tested in this game as well because he made so many changes and had to adjust. You don't have to change your centre-backs very often, but he had to change two of them because of injuries to Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Jack Stephens. That would have made it much more difficult for him on the touchline.
"I'm impressed with the clarity in how we press, how we defend together and how we attack together. We still have lots of improvements to make with our attacking, but Ivan Juric has come in and organised us so that we don't mess up.
"We now look like we can compete against the teams we are playing against."
Image source, Getty Images
