Southampton: Saints Marching assesses the January transfer window

Q1) What have you made of the business Saints have done this transfer window?

Alastair Case

I admire the vision of Hasenhuttl – he certainly isn’t taking any prisoners in his approach to the window. An unfortunate legacy of some questionable purchases in the last two seasons, Hasenhuttl recognises that we have a bloated squad and by offloading Gabbiadini, Davis, Hoedt and possibly even Austin, he is freeing up space in the squad and the club’s wage bill.

That being said, I am cautious that when in the midst of a relegation battle, we haven’t brought any new faces in. Moreover, most of those who have departed St Mary’s have left on a loan to buy basis meaning that we are reliant on those players performing for their loan clubs or else we face the same problem of trying to sell them in the summer. With the exception of Gabbiadini, it also means that there are no transfer fees coming in which will be used as an excuse by the board not to invest in new signings.

Joe McIndoe

At the time of writing, the January Transfer Window has been a non-event. In what feels like a typical Southampton style it’s been a slow and let’s be honest dull march to the Window’s close.

In terms of fresh blood into the club there is absolutely nothing to write home about. Thankfully for those Saints fans who usually bother tuning into Deadline Day, there is at least an actual game of football to watch at St Mary’s, to help get you over the boredom.

Sadly, the exit of Steven Davis and Manolo Gabbiadini was inevitable. After being a loyal servant to the club since it regained top-flight status, Davis gets a well-earned return to former club Glasgow Rangers to make his swansong. The Northern Irishman has been a key cog in the midfield machine over the years but has of late been surpassed by stronger personnel. Not least Armstrong who seems to play a more attacking version of his colleague’ s role.

As for the Italian striker, his Southampton career is an oddity. After a bright start Gabbiadini struggled to find the net, and favor under several managers. Despite that Manolo is easily as Southampton great. His remarkable brace (should’ve been three, thanks ref) at Wembley followed by a survival clinching strike against Swansea have secured his name in the history books.

In the end, the international wasn’t the most prolific, but few could match his skill for timeliness. For two magical Wembley moments and one vital rescue act, Manolo has been worth every single penny that SFC paid for him

Ryan Borowski

So far so good for me. Hasenhuttl, made his intentions clear right from the start that the squad was going to be trimmed. I will miss some of them but the moves, in general, are for the best. They benefit both the club and the players, in terms of their careers, and the ones who remain know that they will be the guys moving forward.

Selling and not buying tells me two things. First, the Austrian has full faith in the players currently on the squad and that should be a confidence boost for those that remain. Second, the buying will happen in the summer. Hasenhuttl, has a long term plan. He hasn’t been brought in to just save us from relegation but for long term success and he knows that buying rashly in the winter means less funds and freedom to operate in the summer.

Harry Tizard

Ralph Hasenhuttls first transfer window at Southampton has concerned a few, but pleased many. Despite no incomings, I for one have been impressed with his cut throat nature, disposing of the ‘deadwood’ in the squad, cutting down the wage bill, and really emphasizing to the players remaining that he values them and clearly shows them they are all part of his plans moving forward.

Many a Saints fans have voiced their concern of having such a high ratio of players going out the door to those coming in – especially if Charlie Austin follows suit and leaves the south coast. However, as said previously, the players that have gone rarely featured under the ‘Klopp of the Alps’, so there is no need to replace players that never played for him in the first place.

Marc Walker

Whilst it is a little disappointing for us fans to see no signings through the door as of yet, the business that Saints have done so far makes a lot of sense. Some signings in previous years just haven’t worked and it was clear that some either weren’t buying into Hasenhuttl’s new plans or they just didn’t suit the pressing style. The players that have left had certainly been out of favour that’s for sure, and the Austrian seems to want a fiercely competitive but small squad.

For me – and I’m sure many other Saints fans – this window was all about beginning to shape the squad for the new manager and performances so far have shown that he may already have enough at his disposal to drag us well clear of relegation.

Hasenhuttl is clearly a high-class manager and comes from a superb group of coaches who got their grounding in German football, and because of this he may well be in demand in a years time or so. However, I’m hopeful that he could stay and build something really special again at Saints; much in the way Ronald Koeman did.