06 Oct 2020 10:06:09
I believe at the start of the window (I may be mistaken) I requested - at best - RB, CB, CM, AM. And they're all in. And to get rid of the failures. And they're all gone. Personally I think it's a 9/ 10 window.

Three young signings for £10-12m with potential, plus a bit of a sentimental but experienced low risk punt. If Walcott played through the middle, I think he could add something, whilst also doing a job out wide where needed.

In full;
Incomings: Kyle Walker-Peters (£12m), Ibrahima Diallo (£11m), Mohammed Salisu (£11m), Theo Walcott (Loan) .

Outgoings: Harrison Reed (£6m), Mario Lemina (Loan), Guido Carrillo (Free), Sofiane Boufal (Free), Wesley Hoedt (Loan), Maya Yoshida (Released), Alfie Jones (Free), Jack Rose (Free), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (£15m), Mohamed Elyounoussi (Loan), Christoph Klarer (Free) .

The outgoings are worth a net loss of about £55m, so we've in effect spent £90m this window but if we could do it it was worth doing and now we have a trimmed squad of 25.

We basically have 2 of every position, are probably a fullback short, but Ralph now has the players he wants.

Going forward, this would be my set-up;

McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Vestergaard, Salisu, Bertrand, Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Djenepo, Armstrong, Ings, Adams.

Bench: Forster, Valery, Bednarek, Stephens, Walcott, Romeu, Redmond
Reserves: Gunn, Vokins, Tella, Smallbone, Sims, Long, Obafemi

The bench now has experience, the reserves are youth products with the potential to make the step up, and there are opportunities for U23s if they perform. Though Gunn may be loaned out to the championship so Lewis would become third choice.

With most of the top six in disarray and about eight other teams in the battle for the top ten (I think West Brom, Fulham, Burnley, Sheffield United, Brighton and Palace will probbaly be bottom six), the potential is there for us to break into the top eight if the new boys hit the ground running, but I think there will probbaly only be about 10 points between 6th and 13th.

Let's go!

1.) 06 Oct 2020
06 Oct 2020 12:59:55
Great article you’ve written above there SaintsGGsy. Lots of views. Good to read

We’re all probably going to disagree on what’s good or who we want playing, but it’s still great to see people being passionate about footy.

I’m enthusiastic about the season ahead but there’s a lot of good times in the premier this season. 12th or 13th would be alright although we could get 7th or 8th if everything clicked into place with a lot of luck too.

Feel safe though.

Welcome Back Walcott. Theo! Theo! Theo!

2.) 06 Oct 2020
06 Oct 2020 13:16:55
I agree mostly with your team set up SaintGGsy except I would personally have Bednarek in for Vestergaard. I just think that Bednarek is a bit more mobile and makes fewer mistakes.

3.) 06 Oct 2020
06 Oct 2020 14:59:06
Tend to agree given Salisu probably isn’t the quickest - one of Bednarek and Stephens playing alongside one of Salisu and Vestergaard is a more rounded pairing. I just love Jannik 🤣

Certainly compared to week 1, our bench looks a lot stronger with attacking and defensive options available which can impact the game where needed. Hopefully after Spurs and the back-to-back clean sheets that followed, Ralph has sorted this defensive experiment and keeps Moussa in the side ahead of Redmond - I think he’s been fantastic and is that real bit of magic we need, even only for 55/ 60 minutes a game.

4.) 06 Oct 2020
06 Oct 2020 16:48:25
to me finally playing Vestergaard is like a new signing in itself. I always said we need to give him a proper run in the side and I hope that will now happen. I know he has made a some big mistakes in games but I think he has (fingers crossed) got them out of his system now and understands how we play and how we play in the premier.

He wasn't wanted by Leicester and West Ham for nothing! We have made some excellent signings in this window and I cannot wait to see Diallo hit the ground running. I hear he is an aggressive player, I hope that is true, I think our team has screaming out for such a player. COYR!

5.) 06 Oct 2020
06 Oct 2020 17:28:14
I don't see salisu as a starter, I think he is one for the future like Bednarek was when he first arrived. I can see Theo in for djenepo though. He scored last game but apart from that did nothing.