THB completes Southampton move

[ClaretTony]

Two successive promotions for Taylor Harwood-Bellis with the opportunity this time to play in the Premier League having completed his move to Southampton today.

First Team Manager Russell Martin said: “We’ve had nothing but good words to say about Taylor since he joined the club last season. Not only with his performances but how he’s fit into the group.

“His excitement for the game is infectious and you can see how much he’s enjoyed being here.

“He’s ready now for that step up to Premier League football, and we’re really lucky to have an exciting young defender like him at our club.”

[bfcjg]

We really made a massive error not signing him.

[claretskeith]

We really made a massive error not signing him.

No we didn't.

[bfcjg]

No we didn't.

If you say so.

[jlup1980]

Good luck to him. Let's see how he gets on against proper strikers. I liked him a lot, but I still rated him behind Beyer and Ekdal by the end of our last Championship campaign. It can be argued that he would have been a better signing than O'Shea, but I don't think O'Shea was ever expected to be first choice all season. One thing for sure, if Ekdal was caught out by the pace of the PL, I suspect THB would have been the same.

[Foshiznik]

Just imagine him next to Esteve. Formidable.

[Bowclaret]

Biggest c ock up of the lot not signing THB

And this stupid idea the lad did not or does not have pace - what a load of c rap

We messed up here - BIG TIME !

[ksrclaret]

Russell Martin has him spot on there when he says his enthusiasm is infectious and you can see how much he enjoys it.

I’m of the mind that those sorts of characters are worth their weight in gold.

[Vegas Claret]

it will be interesting to see how he gets on, it was very telling that despite him having a really good season for us not a single side went anywhere near him at the 15 million asking price - that's peanuts in the PL and nobody fancied him.

[ClaretPete001]

it will be interesting to see how he gets on, it was very telling that despite him having a really good season for us not a single side went anywhere near him at the 15 million asking price - that's peanuts in the PL and nobody fancied him.

It's not peanuts for the bottom half of the table, which is where he would play, for a centre half.

Granted it's affordable but the PL is quite a small market for players who are not top 6 quality.

And he was only 21 with no PL experience

[CoolClaret]

Russell Martin has him spot on there when he says his enthusiasm is infectious and you can see how much he enjoys it.

I’m of the mind that those sorts of characters are worth their weight in gold.

Can't quantify that with data points though, much better to sign a motley crew from here there and everywhere instead... apparently.

[blatherwickstattoos]

Cracking player. We missed out imo. Far better footballer than oshea.

[Woodleyclaret]

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be
VK was spot on not pursuing THB .He will be caught out with pace and imo O'Shea has developed into good cb and will turn out to have a good career.

[Rowls]

I'm not convinced he's any better than O'Shea.

THB is a great player but the potential signings we really missed out on last season were the one who won the Bundesliga and the one who got to a Champions League final, not the lad who finished 4th in the Championship.

[ksrclaret]

Can't quantify that with data points though, much better to sign a motley crew from here there and everywhere instead... apparently.

Well you'd hope that a sophisticated scouting and recruitment programme could operationalise variables like that and attribute some value to them, but it probably doesn't contribute much to a resale value, and that's why we ended up with that unbalanced and disaffected squad of misfits.

Hopefully with the departure of VK, the data and analytics department have been allowed a return to a more traditional way of working.

[Quickenthetempo]

Be interesting to see how he goes in the prem.

[ClaretTony]

Hopefully with the departure of VK, the data and analytics department have been allowed a return to a more traditional way of working.

That will be interesting given it was done by Kompany’s company Mud Analytics.

[blatherwickstattoos]

That will be interesting given it was done by Kompany’s company Mud Analytics.

Mentioned this a while back about it being a huge conflict of interest. Very interesting times ahead. Unless we become Munich’s feeder club

[ClaretTony]

Be interesting to see how he goes in the prem.

It will and he deserves the chance. Personally I’d have preferred to sign him than Beyer last summer, others I know disagree, but there was no interest from us.

[ksrclaret]

That will be interesting given it was done by Kompany’s company Mud Analytics.

One of the best things about Kompany leaving will be the opportunity to untangle ourselves from that ridiculous way of working. I hope we can take advantage of it, or at least scale back it's influence.

[NewClaret]

Going to be interesting to see how he does in the premier league.

I think he’s too slow and ponderous but I might be very wrong.

Personally very grateful for what he did for us and hope he does well but I wasn’t upset we didn’t spend £20m on him.

[ClaretPete001]

It will and he deserves the chance. Personally I’d have preferred to sign him than Beyer last summer, others I know disagree, but there was no interest from us.

I think the 60 million dollar question for the future of the club is based upon attributes like desire and will to win.

Neither Tarko nor Ben Mee are particularly quick. Ben Mee is is not particularly tall. THB captained England U21s to European success and looks every inch a leader.

There are no end of young players in Europe who can run quick and do a gerzillion 'keepy uppies' but many fewer who can read a game.

If football was about running quickly we probably wouldn't have been relegated last season...! That is my big concern for next season particularly if we lose the likes of Cullen.

[dougcollins]

Russell Martin has him spot on there when he says his enthusiasm is infectious and you can see how much he enjoys it.

I’m of the mind that those sorts of characters are worth their weight in gold.

This is the point that some will miss.

Some on this thread already have.

[AGENT_CLARET]

Be interesting to see how he goes in the prem.

It will when you consider he was part of a back line that let in 58 goals in the championship last season

[NewClaret]

I think the 60 million dollar question for the future of the club is based upon attributes like desire and will to win.

Neither Tarko nor Ben Mee are particularly quick. Ben Mee is is not particularly tall. THB captained England U21s to European success and looks every inch a leader.

There are no end of young players in Europe who can run quick and do a gerzillion 'keepy uppies' but many fewer who can read a game.

If football was about running quickly we probably wouldn't have been relegated last season...! That is my big concern for next season particularly if we lose the likes of Cullen.

Agree with this… but… Mee and Tarks were fine in the low block. They’d have been murdered in Kompany’s high line for pace.

Recovery pace was so important then. I think THB could do fine in a low block like us under Dyche, so think he could make it, will be interesting to watch.

So for us last season under Kompany, O’Shea at £7m was the better buy imo.

I also agree about our lack of footballing nous, we need to add that (experience basically).

[claretskeith]

This is the point that some will miss.

Some on this thread already have.

You certainly don't sign somebody because they have an infectious personality.

[ClaretPete001]

Agree with this… but… Mee and Tarks were fine in the low block. They’d have been murdered in Kompany’s high line for pace.

Recovery pace was so important then. I think THB could do fine in a low block like us under Dyche, so think he could make it, will be interesting to watch.

So for us last season under Kompany, O’Shea at £7m was the better buy imo.

I also agree about our lack of footballing nous, we need to add that (experience basically).

Fair point, agree about the low block and that O' Shea was possibly a better (less worse buy) under VK but I never thought VKs approach would work.

[dougcollins]

You certainly don't sign somebody because they have an infectious personality.

Just carry on missing the point.

[ksrclaret]

You certainly don't sign somebody because they have an infectious personality.

You do if they're a bloody good footballer as well.

[ClaretPete001]

I think anybody who thinks character and determination don't achieve things must have missed the Owen Coyle years because the squad had better characters than footballers.

And achieved more points than last years squad with a tenth of the talent.

[bobinho]

It's not peanuts for the bottom half of the table, which is where he would play, for a centre half.

Granted it's affordable but the PL is quite a small market for players who are not top 6 quality.

And he was only 21 with no PL experience

The way people are harping on, he’s easily top six quality. £15 IS peanuts for a player as good as what people on here are saying. The sell on value alone makes it a fantastic piece of business at that money. It’s an absolute bargain…. If he’s as good as all that. But as vegas states, nobody went near.
FWIW, I think he’s ok, but let’s not remember him as Beckenbauer reincarnated…. He was often the second best centre half on the field behind Jordan.

[aggi]

Can't quantify that with data points though, much better to sign a motley crew from here there and everywhere instead... apparently.

I seem to remember that they did do some analysis of this and Ashley Barnes came out on top.

[Quickenthetempo]

It will and he deserves the chance. Personally I’d have preferred to sign him than Beyer last summer, others I know disagree, but there was no interest from us.

I would rather Beyer signed 12 months ago but I expected us to only pay around 5m for him.

Neither seem to have a natural instinct in defending. Although both can look good with the ball.

[claretskeith]

Just carry on missing the point.

[Cirrus_Minor]

He was very good with the ball, great passer and dictated a lot of our play. But I was never convinced with his actual defending against aggressive, powerful forwards. He will have more defending to do in the Premier league so it will indeed be interesting.

[Cirrus_Minor]

Duplicate post

[Vegas Claret]

It's not peanuts for the bottom half of the table, which is where he would play, for a centre half.

Granted it's affordable but the PL is quite a small market for players who are not top 6 quality.

And he was only 21 with no PL experience

You'll need to make that make sense, he's now 22, still with no PL experience and has cost Saints 20 million

[CoolClaret]

I like O'Shea btw, after giving him a bit of stick early doors - he really grew as the season went on.

I can see why O'Shea (and Esteve) were signed, as their recovery pace allowed us to play a high line (even though the high line was pretty suicidal).

THB would be ideal in a side with a normal or lower block, especially one that plays on the counter. Has a tremendous long range passing range which would be suited to it and doesn't mind getting 'stuck in'.

[NewClaret]

I like O'Shea btw, after giving him a bit of stick early doors - he really grew as the season went on.

I can see why O'Shea (and Esteve) were signed, as their recovery pace allowed us to play a high line (even though the high line was pretty suicidal).

THB would be ideal in a side with a normal or lower block, especially one that plays on the counter. Has a tremendous long range passing range which would be suited to it and doesn't mind getting 'stuck in'.

I agree about how O’Shea grew in to the season.

I never saw the THB passing that everyone raved about. I just saw his long balls going out of play. They used to annoy me so much (about as much as our appalling throw ins and set pieces last season) that I’d count them every game and annoy my son whinging about them. I thought we looked much better when AAD and Ekdal came in and that coincided with our best run of form.

I do think that’s an area O’Shea could improve though. He played one sensational diag last year that we scored from but didn’t try them often enough.

[NewClaret]

It will and he deserves the chance. Personally I’d have preferred to sign him than Beyer last summer, others I know disagree, but there was no interest from us.

I agree with this. I think that’s 3 full seasons in the championship now isn’t it, promoted twice? He’s earned his spurs and absolutely deserves his shot at the premier league. I hope he does well.

[boatshed bill]

I'd have had THB over O'Shea, that's for sure.

[Swizzlestick]

I appreciate it’s the default position for some to get a dig in when they can at the Kompany regime, but wasn’t the first signing we made Beyer, who was widely considered to be our best defender at the time? £16m? O’Shea, West Brom’s captain, hardly indicative of a ‘motley crue signing policy. THB was good for us, but I found he tended to dwell on the ball too much. Was a player with a good personality really worthy of another £20m, considering he was in and out of the team towards end of the season.

[boatshed bill]

What is better/worse, a defender who dwells on the ball at times or one who is regularly caught the wrong side of his man?

[Carlos the Great]

Vk arrogance in thinking his genius got us 101 points and he court do it again with a new team in premier league came to a catastrophic end ..: he showed no respect to a number of players who got us promoted IMO .. THB wasn’t cheap at 20 m but we knew him and I think another missed opportunity

[willsclarets]

Just imagine him next to Esteve. Formidable.

I think some forget just how good Beyer was in the championship. He glided past midfielders like they weren't there. Didn't adapt to the prem, at least when fit, but for me there was no one better in the league than Beyer 2 years ago. I'd be as excited by a Beyer/Esteve partnership

[ClaretPete001]

You'll need to make that make sense, he's now 22, still with no PL experience and has cost Saints 20 million

It's irrelevant, £15 million is not peanuts for bottom of the table PL clubs and there is a limited market. The Saints rate him and have paid £20 million for him.

On the one hand it is conjectured he is too slow but on the other a player who played in a defence that shipped 78 goals is better? I mean it's irrational.

Even Andre Bikey and Clarke Carlisle playing behind Pugh, Pugh and Barney Mc Grew only shipped 82.

And let's not pretend Brownhill, Berge and Cullen aren't good players - they are....!

[ClaretPete001]

I think some forget just how good Beyer was in the championship. He glided past midfielders like they weren't there. Didn't adapt to the prem, at least when fit, but for me there was no one better in the league than Beyer 2 years ago. I'd be as excited by a Beyer/Esteve partnership

I think the argument against Beyer is that he wasn't as good defensively and he couldn't glide past PL players because they are quicker and there is less space. So, all the qualities that made him good in the Championship are negated and all the things that are overlooked when you are the best team in the league become very exposed in a league where you are far from the best team.

Of course, ultimately the issue is the club didn't have the money to buy the kind of players VK needed to play like he did so as NewClaret pointed out O' Shea was better under VK but when better is 78 goals conceded the argument is mute.

[willsclarets]

I think the argument against Beyer is that he wasn't as good defensively and he couldn't glide past PL players because they are quicker and there is less space. So, all the qualities that made him good in the Championship are negated and all the things that are overlooked when you are the best team in the league become very exposed in a league where you are far from the best team.

Of course, ultimately the issue is the club didn't have the money to buy the kind of players VK needed to play like he did so as NewClaret pointed out O' Shea was better under VK but when better is 78 goals conceded the argument is mute.

Beyer only played 15 games though, and at 23/24 years old I don't doubt he has the ability to play at the top level. If Beyer had played the whole season he'd have looked better at the back end. His exposure at the top level was inexperience imo not lack of ability. I have zero doubts Beyer will achieve more in his career than OShea (barring serious injuries) That's nothing against Dara at all, he's just not in my opinion on the same level.

[ClaretPete001]

Beyer only played 15 games though, and at 23/24 years old I don't doubt he has the ability to play at the top level. If Beyer had played the whole season he'd have looked better at the back end. His exposure at the top level was inexperience imo not lack of ability. I have zero doubts Beyer will achieve more in his career than OShea (barring serious injuries) That's nothing against Dara at all, he's just not in my opinion on the same level.

All fair points.

[Stayingup]

No we didn't.

Oops. Yes we did.