Southampton banter 2

09 Jul 2024 07:39:19
{Ed's Note - Dillinger has posted a new article entitled, Albert Gronbaek Of Bodo / Glimt Player Profile

07 Jul 2024 10:15:44
Seems like RM is continuing down the route of signing young talent from parts of the world/leagues that he knows.

I'm all for young English talent and long may it continue but it is always a bit of a gamble. There's a reason why the premiership is littered with foreign players, because even the top English talent isn't enough. Hopefully though it works out out and or we sign the odd European talent here or there.

On a side note I find it completely nuts that our former chairman is now a member of parliament.and for reform?!

:/

08 Jul 2024 06:42:00
Glad Rupert Lowe isn't our Chairman now! His hard immigration policy would severely limit our transfer window options!

04 Jul 2024 07:39:22
{Ed's Note - Dillinger has posted a new article entitled, THREE FREE TRANSFERS LEEDS UNITED SHOULD BE LOOKING AT

03 Jul 2024 14:02:02
Quite like our start to the window - THB, Lallana, Taylor, Wood and Edwards coming in, Downes hopefully coming in for wantaway KWP, and all for very good prices.

If the figure is a net £83m (ish, I know it's more complicated than that), that's £26m or so spent, provided no cash is involved in signing Downes. We'll see.

Sugarawa is being heavily rumoured and would be a good addition in my books, else I like Aarons, and I think that about sorts the back line - ABK, DCC and Lyanco will all be off, leaving 10 defensive players.

Goalie massively needed and I sincerely hope Martin doesn't stick with McCarthy but I can see it happening. Just look at some of the keepers at the Euros playing in lower leagues, we could have so much better.

In midfield, we look quite light - if Alcaraz and Aribo go, that leaves Smallbone, Charles, Downes and Lallana. We need at least one more to compete with Smallbone to be starting, and O'Riley at £25m+ seems to be the current thinking. I can't say I know much about him.

That would leave about £25m for the front line to go with Edozie, Ross, Arma, presumably Fraser and Mara, assuming Sulemana and Onuachu go. We again need two here. Obvious punts are those performing at the Euros, Schranz and Mikautadze, but they're gambles.

We need a starting winger and starting forward minimum, and even then may be able to get one or two more in for reasonable prices or if we sell for good deals.

Whittaker of Plymouth is an option but a risk, having worked with Martin before, and probably wouldn't be a starter.

Any realistic options? We know Arma won't be as prolific back in the PL and who knows what Stewart will turn out like.

03 Jul 2024 16:56:51
Hi SaintGGsy,

Can’t argue with your analysis of the squad and where we need bolstering.

That led me to think about what is the harder challenge - is it building a squad capable of staying up in the PL or is it assembling a squad capable of getting promoted to the PL?

Obviously, we achieved the latter but would it be harder to finish 4th bottom (or better) in PL, than 4th top in Championship.

From the incomings, as I see it, we are not getting much with successful PL experience. Taylor has, but in a team (Burnley) which got relegated. Lallana is very experienced but will spend most of the season either on the bench or in the medical room.

So we are hoping to strike it lucky with players coming from Peterborough, Swansea and Millwall. It’s great if it works, but if it doesn’t?

It’s too early to be cynical, but what odds on Martin seeing his contract out?

03 Jul 2024 19:52:00
I expect Cordova-Reid to sign once back from Copa America, Fraser will sign for free on a 3 year contract. KWP has said he wants to move and has been clear he will not sign a new/ extension to his existing contract. West Ham want him so I expect Downes/KWP swap, we will sign a first choice right back.

We might get Ings for a very low fee or possibly free but his current wages are a problem for us to pay. I think Stewart will be ok in premier league, he is a very good player and excellent finisher. We are looking for an attacking midfield player as Alcaraz does not fit in with our style of play.

Expect Alcaraz to leave, possibly another large loan fee. We will bring in an experienced older keeper on a years contract as cover for McCarthy. Lyanco is going to Atletico Minero, ABK is going to German club on loan, Caleta car is signing for Lyon. Don’t be surprised to see Lavia and Delap on loan.

04 Jul 2024 05:47:49
I was going to withhold my opinion until. after the ‘dealins done’but to date II believe Saint GGsy you’ just about nailed it.! .RM continue to tread. very carefully.with plenty of quality option still aavailable .With SFC previous transfer history it wiould’t surprise me if the cheaper midfield option of Calllum O’Hare in lieu of. O’Reilly was not pursued.Wood / Edwards twogood young defenders alongside TBH.With several signings still required RM many well defer 1. or 2 until Jan. to re-assess requirements if he believes he can avoid collateral damage until then.!

04 Jul 2024 11:23:22
I agree with your potential signings SaintGGsy. I think Mikakuatde (butchered spelling my bad) will be a good striker for us pacy and can finish which is what we need right now as we aren't finishing goals enough and we concede hence why we finished 4th in the Championship. So Mika would be a good Striker for us Personally for the wings I would say Philogene he plays at hull and is attracting interest from Ipswich and Crystal Palace. I think swooping him for our wings would be a good idea.

I would try keep ABK as he is still young and he can improve unless a club offers big money for him so maybe a loan and alcaraz the same.

I agree Matt o' riley would be good for midfield and alledgly we are trying to get McTominay too so hopefully if we can get these players our team can look strong.

Obv the keeper is a must change IMO, Ik Mccarthy can have good days but we need a good keeper and there are so many keepers that play in UEFA competions that are in relatively less known leagues and grabbing one keeper of one of those teams can significantly boost us from relegation to possible midfield- low top 10. I remember with a strong team we can make it to like the semi finals of the FA up so hopefully we can do that again maybe even make the final and win but hey I'm probably delusional

05 Jul 2024 08:50:09
Great thread and comments.

GK - Pivotal to survival. I hope we invest but would McCarthy have signed if he thought he would be number 2?

CB - Great to get in young talent at good deals. If we drop down and THB and Bednarek go, we have a ready made partnership. If ABK and CC leave as 2408 suggests, I think we need another CB, especially if we go 3 5 2. Otherwise, if we we are struggling in Dec, I agree Millertime, I can feel a lot of us thinking it was madness to pressure 3 young CBs with no PL experience.

Wing Backs - Please keep KWP or get similar quality. Then we we need RB cover at least. Not convinced by Manning, Larios or Bree in the Prem, maybe loan as useful in the Champ.

CM - Downes is essential and I think we need another DM for cover or if we go 4 2 3 1. We struggled a lot without him and Charles is young. Loan in seems sensible and Lavia could be great. AM, O'Riley if Alcaraz sadly goes.

Wingers - if go 3 5 2 with 2 wingbackd then this position is not as key. So, good debate on whether to go for a Cordova Reid and invest more in a ST or spend on a Clarke, Philogene, Whittaker instead. Probably loan/sell 1 of Sulemana, Ameyaw and Edozie at LW. Sulemana did do okay in the Prem before.

Strikers - Mara probably a loan or sell then 2 more. We need a proven player and then hopefully 1 of AA, Stewart or Ings will do well too

Should get us to 80m net spend.

05 Jul 2024 18:27:11
Spot on SaintThatAKickInTheHead, We've signed THB with a clause in the loan if we got promoted so he should be on our team. So he should be on your team I believe. But everything you said I hope it happens. Boosting our wingers maybe selling Kalameeden Getting Philogene and maybe Clarke would be nice for the wings and Alcaraz could play as a Striker and we get O'Riley or we could find a good striker like Mikauztude but he could be like James Rodriguez hopefully if we do sign him (unlikely) he can be good and not flop after a good international performance.

05 Jul 2024 18:46:32
Good post SaintThat etc ….
And the previous posts.
I think it’s going to be very interesting window between now and 30 Aug.

06 Jul 2024 05:24:36
Cordova -Read now going to Leicester? Strange decision as I think he would get more football at Saints. Now we’re linked with Wellington a left back, does that mean Manning Larios or both are leaving?

06 Jul 2024 08:48:16
I thought Cordova Reid was pretty nailed on. Very disappointed indeed as clearly gone for better wages esp with Lei facing big points deduction. Hope to get Jerimimo and Ingsy in. Also Wellington and O’Riley

06 Jul 2024 09:57:02
I could see Manning leaving @2408, Larios and Meghoma being loaned to championship sides to eventually take over from Taylor and getting cover in.

@JoshGarge Sorry I explained that badly. I know THB is with us. I meant Wood and Edwards are good value signings. Hopefully they can perform at this level but if we do get relegated next season and THB and Bednaerek need to be sold, we have have 2 solid championship players ready to go. Still hope for another experienced CB too.

Agree Millertime. This will be an interesting window. Then again, I was excited during our first SR window, so should hold the horses!

06 Jul 2024 10:26:15
As someone famously said, “you win nothing with kids” - I suppose it’s where you set your sights. Some may say 4th bottom or better is ‘winning’ from a Saints perspective.

As others have said, it is the GK situation which is most concerning. If we are to have a younger defensive unit, we need an experience figure of authority between the posts - that isn’t Baz (yet) and McCarthy would seem to be a step backwards.

It’s looking less likely that we will be holding onto KWP but his valuation (£20M) seems far too low.

Let’s get busy…

06 Jul 2024 16:58:26
Agree Millertime. These lads will need some experience around them in a relegation fight.

Just read that THB and Wood play together in the England U21s, so good already a partnership there.

We will wait and see.

01 Jul 2024 07:04:35
With the FFP situation, does anybody know how much Saints are actually able to pay on transfers this season?

01 Jul 2024 13:52:04
I read somewhere that it’s 83m

02 Jul 2024 06:41:14
Thanks for the Intel Sainty76.

So that leaves us about 50m after THB, Downes and Perrraud transfers.

Would hope to spend that between a top GK, Right Winger, ST and RB Backup

Then like for like replacements if Onuachu (Ings? ), KWP (Aarons? ), Alcaraz (O'Riley? ), Mara (Delap), Sulemana (Clarke), ABK (van den Berg) CC (Wood? ) go (based on rumours) .

29 Jun 2024 07:39:20
{Ed's Note - Thefields has posted a new article entitled, My Thoughts On Liverpool's Upcoming Season

28 Jun 2024 07:39:21
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24 Jun 2024 07:39:23
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23 Jun 2024 11:53:31
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23 Jun 2024 07:39:26
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