As the season approaches rapidly, Saints fans are wondering when a new central defender might appear at St Mary's.

With just over a fortnight to go till the big kick off at Manchester City, Saints have still not signed a Prmeirship quality central defender and for many supporters thats a big worry.

Last season's partnership of Jose Fonte and Jos Hooiveld in the main did well in the Championship, but both players seemed a little ill at ease alongside each other and didnt quite seem to gel, it was hard to put a finger on it, because at times the partnership looked rock solid, but at others it was weak and both players had a tendency to lose concentration at key moments, meaning that although our goals against record was good, in truth it should have been a lot better and in the final run in 13 goals shipped in the final 10 games saw Reading overtake us after we had lead nearly the entire season and West Ham a little too close for comfort.

In football the best teams know that resting on laurels is a sure way to failure, its easy to identify problems when you are getting beaten, not so easy when your still winning games, whilst many supporters espoused on websites about how great the team was and how happy they where with the way it was playing, a look back at a few games shows that in the end it was a close run thing, at Leeds we could of and really should of been beaten by four or five, only an inspired display by Kelvin Davis won us that match whilst at Millwall only two late penalties saw us take three points, defeat in either of those games would have seen us in the play offs.

The truth is that late on too many of our promotion rivals scored soft goals, Reading and Blackpool put three past us apiece, virtually all six goals could be attributed to defensive frailties, Middlesbrough got too soft goals to beat us and even Pompey notched a brace at St Mary's, we got away with a few things in the Championship and got promoted, that cant be denied, but we wont get away with them in the premiership.

When Aarron Martin was loaned out to Palace many assumed that it would clear the decks for a new centre back or two, yet six weeks after Martin left, despite being linked with a few names, none have yet come to fruition and its starting to become a worry, if im blunt I dont feel that either of our first choice pairing are up to Premiership football, definately not as a pair, and with our only back up being Dan Seabourne, a player that wasnt considered good enough to be first choice in League One, Im a little worried.

Hopefully my worry is ill founded, perhaps I will be made to look foolish with a raft of signings shortly after the publication of this piece, I certainly hope so as with the season growing nearer, we are running out of time.      

patred added 12:09 - Jul 31 Your worry is not ill founded.. and it is time someone pulled their finger out if we have any ambition to survive our first season. We have seen countless strikers linked to us, both real and unreal. Swathes of midfielders and wing backs.. But only one or two centre backs. 10 training sessions, 3 friendlies and we will pitched right in it.. that is little time to get in who is needed and bed them in. This weakness was identified early, and we have had since the beginning of May to do something about. Time is running out. Like you Nick if they sign one or two shortly it will make me look foolish, thats OK , far better that than to look foolish fighting an unsuccessful relegation battle.

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Zambucco added 12:13 - Jul 31 I'm sure your worries are unfounded, the backroom team haven't let us down so far, I'm sure they are hard at work securing us a formidable CB. Your stories about our present pairing, is valid though. If Fonte doesn't find his best form he will be a liability. On his day a premiership CB. Hopefully Jos will step up and improve enough. Any names in the hat?	0 forum posts 48 news comments 1 match reports 0 blogs 0 polls

tiptop added 12:57 - Jul 31 The worry is real. Call it a gut feeling. Trying to remain positive. But the negotiating team also know how much time is passing by. Im currently going with - 'Better to wait another week and get the right player who may only have a week of pre-season than to dive in and get the wrong one with 2 weeks of pre-season.	330 forum posts 151 news comments 0 match reports 0 blogs 0 polls

REEDYREEDOREEDZ added 13:34 - Jul 31 Even more frustrating is the fact that some of our rivals seem to be buying good centre backs, some of which we have been linked with: Ramis to West Ham Mariappa to Reading Cameron to Stoke Turner to Norwich Vlaar to Aston Villa (He would've been a brilliant signing for us) They must be working on bringing in a couple of centre backs, otherwise they would've never let Martin go. It's just a bit worrying that it hasn't happened yet!

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1teeminants added 14:58 - Jul 31 We all are concerned i think but i still maintain that Jos will be fine with a strong central defender with him, Jos Is clearly stronger than Jose IMO.	1330 forum posts 65 news comments 0 match reports 0 blogs 0 polls

SingaporeSaint added 15:20 - Jul 31 Couldnt agree more Nick. We should have have had C Backs lined up since May and acted July 1 - C back is the most important pairing on the field. The Cameroonian guy from Rennes looks a decent option - quick and strong, although unlikely to be a leader in the short term. We really need 2 centre backs, we still need cover for injuries and suspensions and have lost Jaidi and Martin..

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Butty101 added 15:36 - Jul 31 The premiership is not as strong as last time we where in it. I dont think there is a massive difference between the bottom 10 in the prem and the top 10 of the champ. No point getting worked up we will be fine.	361 forum posts 13 news comments 0 match reports 0 blogs 0 polls

redandwhitedee added 16:05 - Jul 31 Jos has been outstanding in the last 3 pre-season games (i admit i didn't see the liebherr tournament but saw the others). Fonte will be fine. I believe with a solid holding player sitting in front (the chap being rumoured from Celtic sounds ideal), this pairing will come good. Don't forget Fonte was a mainstay of a team which was top of the Championship for almost an entire season. Yes he looked a bit shaky in the last 4-5 months, but to be honest i dont know many centre-backs in the prem lge who are faultless. We do of course need another CB to fight with Seabourne and Stephens for a place, but its not panic stations just yet. I'd much rather we get it right than end up with a panic buy.

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thingummy added 16:28 - Jul 31 i dont think they are sitting on their hands ... and we dont leak stories about who we are pursuing. I agree it's a gap in the squad, and probably the 1st 11. Dont like the thought of man citeh against our back 4 from last year ......	0 forum posts 47 news comments 0 match reports 0 blogs 0 polls

saintwiz added 16:53 - Jul 31 Fox can play CB.	294 forum posts 30 news comments 0 match reports 0 blogs 0 polls

sidsaint added 19:32 - Jul 31 Time is moving on and others are much more active than us.	0 forum posts 68 news comments 5 match reports 0 blogs 0 polls

Kiwifiedpom1 added 00:36 - Aug 3 In a way I agree, but my main concern is that failure to get the right man leaves little time for any new player to bed in. But then who am I ? I'm no expert. But I'm sure both Adkins and Cortese are aware of the problem but will continue to search for a player who will add to their STAR TEAM rather than get a STAR PLAYER who will rock the boat	101 forum posts 21 news comments 0 match reports 0 blogs 0 polls

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