x

Ins Ans Outs Rumoured In Saints Goalkeeping Squad

The media are suggesting some transfer movement in the Saints goalkeeping dept, however perhaps it will not be bad news for Saints supporters with a big name linked to come to St Mary's.

The media are for obvious reasons linking Alex McCarthy with a move to Liverpool, due to the awful goalkeeping display in the Champions League Final and also because the Anfield club already have a monthly direct debit to Saints.

But if they are serious about signing the keeper who at Xmas had never played a Premier League game for Saints then they will have competition from other top flight clubs.

The Mirror is suggesting that Spurs will be one of those calling, Michael Vorm is out of contract and seeking a regular first team spot elsewhere and Spurs want McCarthy as back up to Hugo Lloris.

But neither rumour looks to have much chance of progressing, Liverpool need to be signing a keeper of international quality and with a proven track record at the top level, that profile is not McCarthy who at 28 has only 41 Premier League appearances to his name including his 18 for Saints this season.

It would be a big gamble for Liverpool to take on a keeper who is relatively untried and until the last five months had pretty much spent the last four seasons as a back up. The Anfield club cannot afford to make the wrong signing in this area.

The Tottenham connection does not seem to be a move that would excite McCarthy, at his age he needs first team football, Vorm was highly rated when Spurs signed him from Swansea four years ago, but he has stagnated at the club, in that time he has managed only 9 Premier League starts and now as he approaches 35 he has spent what should have been his prime on Spurs bench, McCarthy will surely not want to head the same way.

But the big news is that if McCarthy does go then it could be Joe Hart replace him, Hart has just changed his agent and is now represented by Pitch Agency, coincidentally the same firm that represent Saints, that could make any likely move a lot smoother than it would likely be, however this is the strongest reason for Hart moving to St Mary's, it is enough for the press to make a story out of it, perhaps inspired by Pitch Agency themselves.

But would Hart himself be a good fir for Saints, at 31 he is in his prime years as a goalkeeper, he has a reputation to rebuild and he seems the type of person who would want to do that and put his career over money.

Personally I would think that Liverpool would be more likely to go for Hart than they would McCarthy, it is a question of balancing the unknown in the Saints man against the tried and trusted but low on confidence in Hart.

Perhaps both Liverpool who are also represented by Pitch and Saints will need to do some thinking and balance up the risks.

What to read next:

Saints Announce Ticket Pricing Information For Play Off Semi Final
The opponents won't be known until Saturday afternoon, but Southampton FC have announced their ticket pricing structure and how the tickets will be sold to give supporters plenty of time to sort their tickets out.
Time For The Spirit Of Southampton Football Club
Recent months have seen a number of events and issues divide opinion and split the supporter base but as we head towards the play offs it is time for everyone at Saints to kick in the same direction.
Should Russell Martin Put Out Another Reserve Side For Leeds United Trip
Against Stoke City Russell martin selected a side that was very much a second string line up, with the play offs looming should the manager repeat this for the trip to take on Leeds on Saturday.
A Rough Guide To Leeds United
A big big game for just Leeds now, although by Saturday the odds on them going up automatically might have changed slightly so here is all the info for those travelling Saints fans who are still going,
Southampton Should Not Fear Anyone In The Play Offs.
The hope of getting back into the Premier League automatically has long gone, but the season is not yet over and we now have a good chance of getting to Wembley and going up through the play offs, here we look at who we could meet.
Southampton V Stoke City The Verdict
This should have been a celebratory day for Saints fans, there should have been a feeling of positivity, but the truth is that the fight has been knocked out of the supporter base and we go into the play offs with confidence both on and off the pitch at a low ebb.
Southampton 0 - 1 Stoke City - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Saints V Stoke City A Look Back In Pictures 2
In the second part of our pictorial look back at some of our games against Stoke City from the past, here we look back at more recent games, so most of you would have been at them.
Saints V Stoke City A Look Back In Pictures
We have looked through our photo archives for a look back as some games against Stoke City over the years, what are your memories of these games ?
Southampton V Stoke City The Preview
Saints go into the last two games of the season with their hopes of automatic promotion ended, even the hope of finishing 3rd is only a point away from being ended, but they do have something to play for and that is getting back the togetherness, character & fight Russell Martin has recently be moaned.