da brdice： So, you’ve opted to cope with the turmoil of being Southampton’s manager?
da jogodeouro： Well, that’s a nice decision. You can try and fend off the flirtatious advances of the Premier League big boys and become a realistic challenger in your own right. It is a tantalising prospect; defying the historical order of English football to turn one of the bullied little’uns of the transfers market into a real force to be reckoned with.
To start with, you’ll need to find a way to compete without having to go toe to toe with some of the nation’s strongest clubs. Shopping around, hunting for a bargain can take a fair bit of time, mind. The other alternative is to really, really throw everything you’ve got into the academy basket – which could work rather nicely.
Whatever happens, make sure you spend a fair bit of cash in the first season and have a squad that you feel can really take on the best in the business.
How you do that is down to you, of course, but a little pointer or two never hurt anyone…
Darren Fletcher
In an immensely talented Southampton midfield, there is still room for a bit of extra experience and Darren Fletcher is some of the best value on the market in that respect.
Relatively high wages can be a bit worrying for a player who will be rotated, but Fletcher’s mental attributes alone are enough to keep you interested.
Gary Cahill
Europa League football puts a strain on any squad. The extra matches will mean that rotation of the defence is necessary. Virgil van Dijk and Jose Fonte, who are the undoubted first choices, will need to be rested and the current backups are not up to the same standard.
One way to solve this, of course, is Gary Cahill.
Zlatko Junuzovic
Perhaps not quite entering into the bargain territory for Southampton, Junuzovic is another option for the Saints midfield.
Able to play anywhere across the two midfield lines, he is well worth the slightly larger fee. A balance between strong technical and mental attributes make Junuzovic a sure fire upgrade.
Ashley Young
So, this one depends a little on the formation you are wanting to play.
Young will take up a hefty chunk of your wage budget, but that is nicely offset by the minute transfer fee. His recent adaptation at Manchester United has seen Young become a completely versatile option on either flank on Football Manager, making him even better value.
Well-rounded, Young can be used in a number of different roles, too.
Stefan Radu
With defensive depth an issue at Southampton, Stefan Radu has to on your shortlist. Unlike Cahill, Radu is competent in two positions along the back line.
Likely to cost less wages and transfer fee than Cahill, too, Radu can be seen as the ultra-budget option to add to the defence.