Gavin Bazunu G Standard Liege (loan from Southampton) b.2002

[pineapple stu]

Wasn't great for the opener either; didn't get enough distance on the parry and went to ground doing so, leaving a huge target. The defence was asleep as well, which didn't help things. Two shots on target and two goals; not the first time he's had that stat.

A year in the Championship won't be the end of the world at his age anyway.

[ontheotherhand]

Not sure what to think about his time at Southampton. Is it a sign he won't be able to make it at EPL level? Possibly but I still think it was probably just the wrong move. As much as I've been in favour of him playing as many games as possible, he's also sacrificed the kind of coaching and development Kelleher got by staying at Liverpool. I've argued the opposite before but as with most things, there are grey areas. Would Bazunu have been better off going back to City for a season as #2 or 3 and working with the best coaches and keepers than being thrown into that Southampton defence with a merry go round of coaches? I'd say his confidence is absolutely shot at this stage. He's a strong lad but the constant managerial changes and the fans getting on his back can't be good.

As you say stu, a spell in the Championship might be for the best. It might have been a better step from League One in the first place. That's if Southampton keep him.

[pineapple stu]

Not sure what to think about his time at Southampton. Is it a sign he won't be able to make it at EPL level?
You sound like me not, otoh!

So I guess I should sound like you in this strange mirror-land. I don't think it's a sign he won't be able to make it at EPL level. That's not to say he definitely will make it of course - Southampton previously spent €20m or so on Angus Gunn from Man City, he flopped quite badly, and five years later he's a solid Championship keeper.

But he's 21. Time is on his side.

Would he have been better off as Man City's #2 or 3? Would he have been Man City's #2 or 3? Backup keeper seems unlikely based on his performances this season; Man City would surely have wanted someone more ready for the Premier League? Third choice keeper is nothing. I still think he made the right move. But maybe leaving was the right move and Southampton were the wrong club, so if they were the only permanent option then maybe another loan or trying to make third choice at City were the right move after all. It's not black and white, as you say.

But I think it's good that there seems to be a more rounded view of him of late, one which doesn't pump him up as a world beater all the time but acknowledges he's making mistakes and has a lot to learn. Even on this thread there's posts which say he doesn't make the same mistake twice or that Southampton's poor defensive record is because of the defenders not the keeper (though xG stats, and I know I know, dispute that and say he's conceded about 15 more than an average keeper would have (https://www.football365.com/news/feature-premier-league-goalkeepers-ranked-psxg-liverpool-alisson-man-utd-de-gea). It's a lot), and there's a marked difference in reaction when, say, Kelleher conceded two soft goals against Latvia (although I don't think he could have done much about the deflection) and when Bazunu conceded two soft goals against Armenia. I've said it before, but it's created a divide on here unlike any other two players I can remember and I don't know why.

He'll be grand if we take a more balanced view of things I think. Ditto Kelleher. Let them fight it out and we can get back to worrying about whether we'll have any wingbacks yet by the time Coleman hits 40.

(Also, I never realised Bazunu's mother was Irish. Same as Idah I think?)

[ontheotherhand]

You sound like me not, otoh!

So I guess I should sound like you in this strange mirror-land. I don't think it's a sign he won't be able to make it at EPL level. That's not to say he definitely will make it of course - Southampton previously spent €20m or so on Angus Gunn from Man City, he flopped quite badly, and five years later he's a solid Championship keeper.

But he's 21. Time is on his side.

Would he have been better off as Man City's #2 or 3? Would he have been Man City's #2 or 3? Backup keeper seems unlikely based on his performances this season; Man City would surely have wanted someone more ready for the Premier League? Third choice keeper is nothing. I still think he made the right move. But maybe leaving was the right move and Southampton were the wrong club, so if they were the only permanent option then maybe another loan or trying to make third choice at City were the right move after all. It's not black and white, as you say.

But I think it's good that there seems to be a more rounded view of him of late, one which doesn't pump him up as a world beater all the time but acknowledges he's making mistakes and has a lot to learn. Even on this thread there's posts which say he doesn't make the same mistake twice or that Southampton's poor defensive record is because of the defenders not the keeper (though xG stats, and I know I know, dispute that and say he's conceded about 15 more than an average keeper would have (https://www.football365.com/news/feature-premier-league-goalkeepers-ranked-psxg-liverpool-alisson-man-utd-de-gea). It's a lot), and there's a marked difference in reaction when, say, Kelleher conceded two soft goals against Latvia (although I don't think he could have done much about the deflection) and when Bazunu conceded two soft goals against Armenia. I've said it before, but it's created a divide on here unlike any other two players I can remember and I don't know why.

He'll be grand if we take a more balanced view of things I think. Ditto Kelleher. Let them fight it out and we can get back to worrying about whether we'll have any wingbacks yet by the time Coleman hits 40.

(Also, I never realised Bazunu's mother was Irish. Same as Idah I think?)

I think anyone reading it would get a balanced view as most people are just putting up opposing arguments that are sensible enough. I think it's been pretty civil here and on the Kelleher thread (in contrast to the Kenny or Celtic/Irish youngsters threads for example). Everyone sees two promising keepers for the most part. I don't think I've ever put Bazunu up as a world beater. I've always said he has a long way to go. They both do. We don't have many coming through who are the complete article or at the peak of their powers. Cullen maybe as he's at the right age at least. Hopefully he has another level to get to though.

I think you and I agree on way more than we disagree. Most of the hyperbole probably comes from our collective desperation for the national team to improve and the associated need for promising players to come in and set the world alight. I saw someone ask if Collins was better than McGrath on Twitter a few months back. At least foot.ie tends to be more reasonable than that.

We'll be fine at wingback. Lyons and Farrugia either side. Rovers to the rescue.......;)

[pineapple stu]

I think it's been civil but definitely biased (on both sides). Certainly way different to the Celtic youngsters thread for sure. But the example I gave, of Kelleher being slated for the two goals against Latvia while little was said about Bazunu's two against Armenia, is definitely there. I think you've been more balanced in general, though I do recall you claiming earlier in the season that he'd had a few great performances when he hadn't had any stand-out games really. I tend to find the bias a bit frustrating. (Not just on this thread; I've given out about green-tinted observations on other threads as well. The Idah one in particular I think)

I think the desperation for good players to come through is definitely part of it alright. I think there's also an element that we all want to lay claim to being the first to call a player as a genuine international prospect, and when we do we pin our colours to that player. You can see it a lot in the earlier stages of a fair few threads. It leads to a bit of blindness.

foot certainly tends to be more reasonable than Twitter; not a high bar granted! I quite like it for that (as I'm sure most of us on here do). Some of the stuff on YBIG can be way over the top on the odd occasion I check, so we've got that going for us too. I think I mentioned before the guy who back in October or something put up a table which showed Bazunu was statistically ranked third best keeper in the Premier League, and wouldn't back down from that even when it was pointed out the list was ranked alphabetically.

Touch wood Kelleher gets a move in the summer though; then next season will be properly interesting.

[ifk101]

Less than two years ago, you thought Bazunu would be third choice at Portsmouth. You are now hinting that Bazunu (21 years old, 14 senior caps, most minutes by an Irish player in the PL this season) is not “a genuine international prospect”? And in another thread, you lament the goals scored by a semi-pro footballer in a semi-pro division as a reflection on our current striking options.

Yeah, thanks for keeping it reasonable. I share the frustration.

[John83]

Less than two years ago, you thought Bazunu would be third choice at Portsmouth.
You mean this one? (My boldface.) That would seem to be a fairly unreasonable twisting of his meaning. Not that anyone ever does that here.


Portsmouth are a bit of a strange one - their keeper was Player of the Year last year, and an ever-present. Had been with the club three seasons, played 135 games, called up by Scotland - and then got released on a free, only to join Charlton, who had finished literally one place about them in the league. It'd be interesting to know why they did that - it seems they were unable to agree a new deal, but you'd hardly imagine Charlton would be offering much more than Portsmouth as they're both similar-sized clubs. Is it that he was a big earner and they felt his salary would be better apportioned across a squad? But then he signed from Shrewsbury three years ago; you'd have thought they'd have had bigger earners.

They've only one keeper left after the summer, and the manager has said (https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/danny-cowley-reveals-portsmouth-plans-for-alex-bass-as-he-overhauls-goalkeeping-department-3246758) the reserve keeper (who was first-choice for a few months in 2019/20) has a "great opportunity" to re-establish himself as number 1 (but then he would say that) and that he was looking to bring in two new keepers, including a youngster as third choice (and you would hope that's not going to be Bazunu!)

August/September will be interesting anyway if Gavin does go there.

[texidub]

According to a fella I met on the bus yesterday, there isn't a huge gap between the two keepers and they both have great potential. As a result, the narcissism of minor differences comes into play at this point and people end up taking more radical positions than they would normally intend.

Don't shoot the messenger, that's just what the man said.

Time will tell - maybe an obvious gap in ability will emerge between the two- I hope they both have great careers.

(Bazunu Ire #1 4evah :D )

[pineapple stu]

You are now hinting that Bazunu (21 years old, 14 senior caps, most minutes by an Irish player in the PL this season) is not “a genuine international prospect”?
Reading wouldn't be a strong point for you, would it?

This is not what I said. And John has clarified that other things you've said I said aren't what I said.

[LurcherLover]

Who said what, or are people just saying said too much?

[ifk101]

You mean this one? (My boldface.) That would seem to be a fairly unreasonable twisting of his meaning. Not that anyone ever does that here.
Context. The context of the thread’s previous posts, the player’s context, and the poster’s bias. Bazunu had completed a season playing in the same division as Portsmouth and the thought was Portsmouth would loan a starting player from the same division to be their academy, third-choice back-up.


Reading wouldn't be a strong point for you, would it?
This is not what I said.
The use of the word hinting was deliberate. You comment a green tinted frustration, “that we all want to lay claim to being the first to call a player as a genuine international prospect”, and in the same post single out Bazunu’s performance against Armenia and sneer at a YBIG poster’s claim about Bazunu to validate your frustration. And you posted this in a thread titled Gavin Bazunu. The reader’s interpretation of your post is the venting of a green tinted frustration with the inclusion of Bazunu, and with that, hinting he is not a genuine international prospect.


And John has clarified that other things you've said I said aren't what I said.
See reply to John83 above.

[pineapple stu]

I think your own bias of reading things into posts that aren't there needs to be recognised here tbh. For example, you ignore the bit in my post where I say "You can see it a lot in the earlier stages of a fair few threads", because that doesn't suit your argument. Not everything on a player's thread is specifically related to that player. We can go off on chatty tangents at times.

The Armenia game is clearly mentioned in the context of a definite Bazunu bias over Kelleher seen by a number of posters. That's a different angle on the discussion to the above. Some of us can distinguish between two different topics when having a discussion.

And why would you not criticise someone who claims a list rates a player third in the Premier even after it's shown that actually, he's third alphabetically?

Anyway, you'll forgive me for being sceptical of the judgement of someone who thinks Buffon at his peak wouldn't stand out in the LSL.

[texidub]

Would anyone here regard it is as a disaster if either of the two under discussion was picked to play for Ireland? I wouldn't lose much sleep either way, even if I have a preference for Bazunu because of his experience, the fact that he never seems to shirk, and because I believe he has the character to get through any slump in form.

By contrast, Kelleher seems a bit fragile, is untested by comparison, and we have no idea what his character is like because he hasn't been through the wars as Bazunu has this season... and I STILL wouldn't worry if Kelleher was picked ahead of Bazunu.

[third policeman]

I agree with the core proposition and would be happy with either playing as our first choice, but what exactly is the evidence that Kelleher "is a bit fragile." It's not an observation that you'll find on any LFC forums, but is often alluded to here.

[texidub]

I'd be contradicting myself if I argued strongly against Kelleher here, 3rd policeman as I don't think there is a huge gulf between the two in terms of ability. It's a 'seems fragile' rather than an 'is fragile', so is little more than a hunch on my part (and is based on Ireland performances only).

[third policeman]

Fair enough if it's an impression. I think one test of nerve would be the penalty shoot outs where he's looked anything but fragile.

[ontheotherhand]

I think it's been civil but definitely biased (on both sides). Certainly way different to the Celtic youngsters thread for sure. But the example I gave, of Kelleher being slated for the two goals against Latvia while little was said about Bazunu's two against Armenia, is definitely there. I think you've been more balanced in general, though I do recall you claiming earlier in the season that he'd had a few great performances when he hadn't had any stand-out games really. I tend to find the bias a bit frustrating. (Not just on this thread; I've given out about green-tinted observations on other threads as well. The Idah one in particular I think)

I think the desperation for good players to come through is definitely part of it alright. I think there's also an element that we all want to lay claim to being the first to call a player as a genuine international prospect, and when we do we pin our colours to that player. You can see it a lot in the earlier stages of a fair few threads. It leads to a bit of blindness.

foot certainly tends to be more reasonable than Twitter; not a high bar granted! I quite like it for that (as I'm sure most of us on here do). Some of the stuff on YBIG can be way over the top on the odd occasion I check, so we've got that going for us too. I think I mentioned before the guy who back in October or something put up a table which showed Bazunu was statistically ranked third best keeper in the Premier League, and wouldn't back down from that even when it was pointed out the list was ranked alphabetically.

Touch wood Kelleher gets a move in the summer though; then next season will be properly interesting.

I think the general consensus was he should have done better with the second but wasn't at fault for the first. It was pretty well analyzed in the Armenia thread. I still wouldn't call either howlers. Superbly finished even if he should have gotten the hand to the 2nd. Kelleher hasn't shown us anything yet to say he would have done better with either and he probably gets slated more (if that's true) because people keep bringing him up as a better option. I probably look for holes in his game more because it gets frustrating to hear people build him up when we don't have much evidence to justify it. Human nature. Guilty as charged. If you need a bit of Bazunu slating for balance you only have to jump over to Saintsweb.com!

As for the "few great performances", I probably should have said "good". He has had them (weirdly often against the stronger teams)...but few has been the more operative word there unfortunately. Whatever way you want to look at it, he's had a bad season. Where he goes from here will be interesting as things aren't rosy in the Southampton garden. All 3 of our young keepers may need a move to play first team football at this point.....

[pineapple stu]

I think Bazunu was very much at fault for the first in that game; he had no footwork and what should have been a step to the right and a save around the post became a full-stretch save onto the post, and they scored the rebound. Neither were howlers, sure, but they were both weak goalkeeping.

Agree we need to see more of Kelleher - and the frustration you describe is the same I feel when I hear people build Bazunu up! So as you've said before, we're not too far away in our views. The summer transfer window will be interesting, and across lots of different positions (Cannon/Parrott ending their loan spells too of course).

[ontheotherhand]

I think Bazunu was very much at fault for the first in that game; he had no footwork and what should have been a step to the right and a save around the post became a full-stretch save onto the post, and they scored the rebound. Neither were howlers, sure, but they were both weak goalkeeping.

Agree we need to see more of Kelleher - and the frustration you describe is the same I feel when I hear people build Bazunu up! So as you've said before, we're not too far away in our views. The summer transfer window will be interesting, and across lots of different positions (Cannon/Parrott ending their loan spells too of course).

We'll have to agree to disagree on that! Maybe the first save he makes could have been better but they didn't score from that, they scored from a pretty spectacular snapshop where he was blinded by Collins. It comes from the fact he couldn't get the ball past the post so I do see where you're coming from. Fine margins either way, it could have gone anywhere but it went right into the path of the Armenian who finished very smartly.

But nitpicking about that isn't me defending his club form of course. It's worrying.

Is Nathan Collins approaching "interesting" for the window? At 21 you'd usually say he's absolutely fine on the bench....but his trajectory was such that it looked like we'd have a first choice EPL centre half. As it stands he looks like their 3rd choice which isn't too bad but wouldn't it be nice if he went back to Burnley and developed an understanding with Cullen.

We could have quite a switcharoo next season in terms of who is considered our best options in each position or at least who is playing at the highest level. Definitely interesting.

[Eirambler]

I can't see Collins moving again. He has had a few moves in the last couple of years so needs to settle down and fight for his place again. He'll get back in at Wolves before too long. It looks like Bournemouth are going to stay up, so Travers will need a move. Randolph can be Neto's backup so he should be able to find a Championship club based on his form last season. Kelleher as well obviously.

Bazunu should just stay at Southampton, he'll be a good keeper for them in the Championship and if they can bounce straight back up he'll be more ready for the Premier League next time around. This year was a year too soon for him in hindsight, a Championship loan from Man City would have been better, but obviously it was impossible to turn down the opportunity that came his way.

[pineapple stu]

It comes from the fact he couldn't get the ball past the post so I do see where you're coming from. Fine margins either way, it could have gone anywhere but it went right into the path of the Armenian who finished very smartly.
This is it. Similar to the goal at the weekend - he was unlucky that he parried it straight to a guy unmarked on the edge of the six yard box that none of his defenders were aware of, but if a keeper gets the ball safe from a shot, the rebound just doesn't happen. And had he taken a step to the right - which he had plenty of time for - he'd have sent it around the post and safe. Compare that then to the reaction for Kelleher's second against Latvia, when a shot at pace took a unpredictable deflection six yards in front of him

Collins (and Omobamidele, who's in a similar club position lately) will probably be looking to next season to kick on - if either is still largely benched in 12 months I'll be quite disappointed. But yeah, not where we expected them to be now.

[tommy_c12000]

Dropped today, Southampton have to try something different. Don’t think they can be saved at this stage

[Eirambler]

Bazunu being dropped means that for the midweek round of Premier League games, which is a full fixture list involving all 20 teams, short of a sub keeper being called into action in the Southampton v Bournemouth game, the total Irish involvement will have been 2 minutes off the bench for Nathan Collins on Tuesday. Not helped by Ferguson and Coleman being injured obviously, but that must surely be the all time low point in terms of Irish involvement in a round of Premier League fixtures.

Hopefully with Ferguson back fit this weekend and, longer term, Egan and Cullen getting promoted, Doherty probably coming back from Spain and maybe one or two more additions, this will finally be the absolute low point before things start to improve for us at this level.

[pixiehead]

Must be the first time in years that no Irish player started a premier league game in a full 10 game schedule.

[Asterix]

Southampton are awful, they'll struggle to comeback up next year.

[tetsujin1979]

Yeah, it's happened a few times, and obviously getting more frequent in recent years
However, there hasn't been a full weekend of fixtures(ie ten games) with only one Irish starting player yet, but there was only one starting player in the six games on the weekend of Friday, 15th April 2022 - Nathan Collins for Burnley away to West Ham on Sunday, 17th April
There's been only one player in weekends with nine fixtures twice, and in both cases it was Seamus Coleman for Everton


The weekend of Friday, 10th December 2021 - away to Crystal Palace on Sunday, 12th December
The weekend of Friday, 26th November 2021 - away to Brentford on Sunday, 28th November


Incidentally, if Coleman does play tonight, he'll reach 400 appearances for Everton

That didn't take long, zero Irish starting players in the midweek round of Premier League fixtures
1651658857800671252

[JR89]

Who do Southampton fans blame now that they still lost but Bazunu wasn't playing.

[Snapshot]

Who do Southampton fans blame now that they still lost but Bazunu wasn't playing.
Had McCarthy (or whoever) been first choice for Southampton all season and performed as per Bazunu there would have a green-tinted sledge-athon directed at McCarthy and manager Sellés for persisting with him. Southampton have been thoroughly atrocious and Bazunu has made a solid contribution to that status. He's been the worst EPL goalkeeper this term (imo) and arguably one of the worst ever. Time may be on his side and lessons learned but this season has been underwhelming to say the least.

[Jd2793]

Had McCarthy (or whoever) been first choice for Southampton all season and performed as per Bazunu there would have a green-tinted sledge-athon directed at McCarthy and manager Sellés for persisting with him. Southampton have been thoroughly atrocious and Bazunu has made a solid contribution to that status. He's been the worst EPL goalkeeper this term (imo) and arguably one of the worst ever. Time may be on his side and lessons learned but this season has been underwhelming to say the least.


you could remove that "imo" the numbers back up your statement. He was thrown into the deep end this year hopefully he learns from it. still very young so i wont be getting too down on him yet

[pineapple stu]

That didn't take long, zero Irish starting players in the midweek round of Premier League fixtures
1651658857800671252

We're ignoring the ship-jumper here of course...!

It's an amazing stat though

[tetsujin1979]

We're ignoring the ship-jumper here of course...!

It's an amazing stat though
Both of them

[pineapple stu]

I was only counting the one who played for us at senior, but still, fair point!

[Stuttgart88]

McCarthy's first real act was to take a risky touch on his own goal line and duly slip, necessitating a slide tackle recovery to send the ball out for a corner I think. Not much else to do, Bournemouth's shooting was awful. The goal was the type of goal we've seen Bazunu concede a few of this season, a well-placed low but not particularly firm shot just inside the post.

[John83]

The best outcome for Bazunu now is that he is first choice in the Championship next year and looks the part. I don't think we've any reason to think he couldn't do that, but it's a crap time to lose his place. Let's hope McCarthy fumbles his opportunity.

[tetsujin1979]

Both of them
Actually, three of them.

[John83]

Actually, three of them.
Rice, Grealish, and who? Bamford?

[SkStu]

my mind went to Kane... never with us but Galway father.

[dr_peepee]

Michael Keane??

[pineapple stu]

Michael Keane??
He has played underage for Ireland, so it probably is him alright.

[tetsujin1979]

yeah, Keane.

[culloty82]

The best outcome for Bazunu now is that he is first choice in the Championship next year and looks the part. I don't think we've any reason to think he couldn't do that, but it's a crap time to lose his place. Let's hope McCarthy fumbles his opportunity.

He undoubtedly has done so, as Southampton have lost all their matches since Bazunu was benched, their defence doesn't look one iota improved, and their relegation was officially confirmed today.

[Colbert Report]

I'm not sure you can blame either goalkeeper for this season. The team was absolutely awful, and the defence was one of the worst I've ever seen in many years of watching football.

Kelleher seems to be linked with a few Premier League teams, but I don't get why he's rated higher than Bazunu. I'd like to see them both play a full season next year, regardless of which division.

[JR89]

Bazunu will surely be back starting next season cause. If they're planning on starting McCarthy they might as well sell Bazunu to get their money back and reinvest the money into the team.

[ontheotherhand]

Bazunu will surely be back starting next season cause. If they're planning on starting McCarthy they might as well sell Bazunu to get their money back and reinvest the money into the team.

Not sure they would get their money back at this stage. Probably better off keeping him as a backup and hoping he comes good. I think he could do well in the Championship but they may not trust him now.

[irishfan86]

The intelligent thing to do for Southampton is to have Bazunu as the starter next season and build up his value again. I don’t think any reasonable person would blame him for the relegation although I don’t think Bazunu was innocent. He’s an incredibly young goalkeeper by Premier League standards and this was a tough situation for any keeper, let alone one his age.

[Snapshot]

Not sure they would get their money back at this stage. Probably better off keeping him as a backup and hoping he comes good. I think he could do well in the Championship but they may not trust him now.


The intelligent thing to do for Southampton is to have Bazunu as the starter next season and build up his value again. I don’t think any reasonable person would blame him for the relegation although I don’t think Bazunu was innocent. He’s an incredibly young goalkeeper by Premier League standards and this was a tough situation for any keeper, let alone one his age.

He's considerably devalued. Anything less than a stellar Championship campaign will terminate thoughts of an EPL career for the foreseeable future. While this year's disappointment leaves the door ajar (he's young, gained experience etc) nothing will save him from a floppy Championship experience.

[Demesne Lad]

On the simple coefficient of average goals conceded, Bazunu ranked 17th of the 20 EPL regular keepers. For a more detailed analysis of all the keepers who appeared in the EPL this season, see https://fbref.com/en/comps/9/keepers/Premier-League-Stats. it's not too implausible to think that all 5 candidates for the Ireland keeper's jersey will be playing in the Championship next season. That would settle a few arguments....wouldn't it?

[pineapple stu]

Some of the other stats there are telling too. He's faced a lot fewer shots than others (Raya and Leno at Fulham and Brentford have faced half as many shots again, for example, yet conceded ten fewer). His save rate of 54% is comfortably the lowest of anyone with more than 15 games - 54%, compared to 59% for Meslier, the next lowest, and about 70% for the division average.

Of course, the defence plays a role in what sort of shots are faced, but that's where xG is supposed to come in (or technically, PSxG, which is supposed to look just at the keeper) and he's been consistently the lowest in the division there too. This link (https://fbref.com/en/comps/9/keepersadv/Premier-League-Stats) from the same site has advanced stats including PSxG and suggests he's conceded about 16/17 goals more than expected. It's a lot.

You can see how important Alisson and Leno were to Liverpool and Fulham's seasons (conceding about 9 goals less than expected), how Bournemouth were justified in getting Neto in to replace Travers, why Spurs are maybe looking to replace Lloris, and how McCarthy hasn't exactly staked a claim for the Southampton jersey either. Southampton could look to sign a new keeper in the summer? If nothing else, McCarthy is on a big wage and if they can move him on it may help the squad elsewhere.

Anyways, time is on Bazunu's side, but definitely a tough season. Next step is to get his spot in the team back of course. Mightn't be a gimme, and I've noted the similarities with Angus Gunn before, who had to move on to Norwich before finally establishing himself.

[weldoninhio]

He's considerably devalued. Anything less than a stellar Championship campaign will terminate thoughts of an EPL career for the foreseeable future. While this year's disappointment leaves the door ajar (he's young, gained experience etc) nothing will save him from a floppy Championship experience.

Spurs linked with a £15m move for Bazunu

[John83]

That'd be quite the move. I suspect it's paper talk - expensive player in relegated team linked with big club who are expected to sign a player in that position is a handy story, and most transfer gossip is speculation at best - but it'd be interesting to be wrong!