Dusic

We have given Caballero a contract to be a third choice GK, because he is a respected guy who by all accounts is a very good character around the squad and an experienced voice to our young no1. I am absolutely certain his contract had absolutely nothing to do with Alcaraz. Besides, probably 80% of our first team squad have no idea where they will be on 1st Sept so giving out contracts linked to others would be even more bizarre.

Unfortunate that he only has a year left as makes it inevitable that he leaves. Would have been a great player to keep for this season IMO.

Lavia clearly will move so IMO the sooner it happens the better for all concerned. Hopefully as well as a big fee we insert a decent sell on arrangement.

They will be back. There is two months of the window left. If they really want him they will get him. Its just negotiation, and with 3 years on his contract and players like Nathan Collins moving for £23m we have a decent position.

I think he could be a key player this season in a different style. He is suited to a ball oriented style where he would have lots of touches and could probably play in his best position, which he rarely did last season. IMO unless we suddenly get a great offer for him (which is unlikely especially from a Turkish club), I don't see why we would bomb him out at a massive loss or on loan. Totally different situation to Orsic and Aribo made his name in the EFL so it will be a known quantity for him.

This really. Some of the individual moments (pass vs Leeds, finish vs City) are the type that many players cannot do. But he really lacked intensity at times, although he is still extremely young and has been thrown into the first team at both of his clubs with little time to really learn his trade. I would be disappointed if we loan him out and think he has a lot of attributes Martin values and could be an interesting player with a high ceiling.

Need to get Doyle signed up, think his deal expires next summer.

Especially as almost all of our squad probably don't know with any degree of certainty where they will be playing in September. There is still 2 months of the window - loads of moves involving Saints will happen.

I think he will stay and be no1 and would expect him to be significantly better for last seasons experience, in a poor team lacking in any stability of selection in defence. Wonder what will happen with Lis? Will he replace McCarthy as no2 assume AMc goes, or will he end up at Valenciennes? Always felt like a multi club signing as a low risk free transfer.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/truth-behind-leicester-city-interest-27224670 This says Leicester bid expected for Piroe in coming days. Saints have been interested but the poor relationship with Swansea is a significant complication.

Featuring so heavily in pre season videos/kit launch etc is also an outward way of Saints showing that he is committed and not causing trouble and another message to clubs trying to knock down our price that from our perspective there is no need to comply with that. Same as with Tella. Pay what we want and pretty much any of these players will be gone, but unless they refuse to train or play, show bad attitude etc then we are happy to have them until that offer comes in.

Thought Martin interview was clear, confident and genuine. Can't ask for more than that and nice to hear a manager be able to articulate what their tactical ideaa are after the last two. Came across as being comfortable in a good way, that he trusts himself and will stick to his way which I think is a good thing. Also a nice bit of honest realism about transfers and the fact we will have players start the season who will end up being sold but that he will take out anyone who isn't committed.

The basics still apply in the Championship which is why we are actively trying to get rid of him.

Remember that Wilcox is not rhe Head of Recruitment, that is Darren Mowbray, who is experienced in that role. I would actually say that rather than being a mess we seem to have been able to recruit well respected people into roles where they each have relevant experience. It will take time to settle but Wilcox reassures me - he wouldn't have joined if he didn't believe in SR, and he knows what elite looks like.

We have been repeatedly linked with Grimes who is very much an experienced player at this level. That central midfield recruitment is going to be massive considering the quality we will lose and the importance of the position in a possession team. Personally prefer Downes to Grimes.

The shame about Tino is that he would have been the best player of his position in the league had he stayed, or almost certainly the best. With the volume of players who will leave there is a danger of ending up very average. People expect us to be right in the promotion race but you do actually have to be a good team to do that, and I don't see that too many of our good players will still be around in Sept, certainly not the ones that will be considered amongst the best in the division. I think we will end up signing a lot of players in August after the season has started as many outgoings will also be done late.

Leicester moving for Harry Winks. He will be an excellent player at Championship level, particularly in a ball oriented team.

I am not at all suprised there is interest in Tino and the club won't be either. I'm sure he will go, as will others because that tends to be the outcome after relegation and we actually have a number of individuals who are worth signing. Regarding fees its a murky world because aside from the clubs nobody knows and there is so much spin. For example, he may have a contractual clause which is now relevant? If there isnt a clause then I am sure there is no way we will be selling him for £12m, despite what the Newcastle friendly journos say. You only have to see the difference in the numbers of their Tonali deal to see this - the Italians said it was €80m, the NE lads said £50m. But end of the day, he might be grateful to our physios but he is clearly going to want to join a CL team, and it may actually be better for his body to play fewer games than to be flogged through a gruelling Championship season. We will raise a lot of cash as I think all of JWP, Lavia, KWP, ABK, Salisu, Alcaraz and Adams will go (some we will want to go due to contract status) but it will be hard for Martin and Wilcox to build a team until thats all happened.

I tend to agree. There is so much uncertainty to the point that its hard to really make a convincing argument that any of our current players will definitely still be at Saints come September. For me the sooner the outgoings happen the better. We know some players, JWP for example will give his all until it happens but some will become troublesome pretty quickly I imagine. - Who are the leaders of this team going to be? - Who are the first choice centre backs considering all 6 could in theory leave? - Which players are going to get the 75 or so goals that would surely be needed for automatic promotion as a minimum?

If you have a read back then quite a few of your comments did seem pretty personal. "Its nothing personal", "its not aimed at you as such". Looks like a bit of a backtrack since you have been directly and politely called out.

If correct would be a good addition, has a lot of Championship experience as a mnager and is known to be a good coach. That said, would be a little suprised as pretty sure Martin will be bringing in his guys.

The pictures were probably done in March or April. Don't see how it really makes a difference.

Hooiveld was often clumsy but did the basics of a CB's job pretty reliably game after game: marking, positioning, winning headers etc. You knew what you would get from him and so did his teammates. Lyanco doesn't consistently do the basics hence why his level is so up and down.

Usually you have some good insights but this worries me. He is obviously awful, whatever Whoscored says. If he isn't good enough to start every week in the Championship and be good, why the fuck did we sign him in the PL? He is the most clear case of take the loss,(which is minimal) and get rid.

We are where we are precisely because of players like Lyanco, i.e ones that are not good enough for the PL, have huge flaws and who we shouldn't have signed. He was bought in the Gao era because he was cheap when we needed to sign a starting XI player. Not bothered what fee we get, just get him gone. Awful player who cons fans by showing some emotion.