gio1saints

Baz, Salisu and ABK should be nailed on starters imo and given a good run of games to cement that key core central defensive understanding. So I see no strong argument for a “ better” than JB, Stephens Valery or Lyanco CB to be recruited - unless one or more of those leaves that is.

Thank you for the JB data. Just proves how contradictory's saints fans can be on the same player! It seems supporters of all colours seem to need to have scapegoats for losses. It’s easier to personalise it into one or two “ bad” players. Especially if there’s a howler or two to point to. Then it’s easier to do that than enter the grey world of blaming the tactics or allowing scope for superior players or even knowledge of intangibles like was he playing of necessity with an injury. FWIW I don’t think Jan is anything better than an average epl CB - but he is good enough to play for Saints and for Poland and certainly not as hapless as some make out. Selling our most experienced CB and replacing with a kid is a high risk play which given we have brought in one youngster to CB is all that much of a priority. I’d keep him unless a really good offer came in - in which case it’s gamble time - another kid or replace a seasoned pro with another at CB?

Was the difference also that he’s been essentially dropped from the starting 11 this season and there is much talk of him being unloaded to other clubs? Those “ other” clubs were undoubtedly watching him on Saturday and he certainly gave them two good reasons to believe he’s worth an investment. It is not unknown for a player, once it’s clear he’s playing for his future career and the financial future of himself and family, to go full concentrate mode and do the biz. It often happens at contract renewal time. I am NOT saying that is what happened Saturday as do not wish to impugne his character and Fwiw I think Che is a good epl forward - but it is a possibility and cannot be ruled out as a contributory factor to his superb impact from the bench. If Ralph / coaching team/Che have tuned into that as a motivator then well done all round. Saints need to score and win however we can and with whatever on or off field support we can mobilise. This is a facet of modern football but it’s been around for decades..

No Broja in the squad for Chelsea. Must be injured.

Depending on where you look Belottis salary was around €65,000 at Torino. He was Captain and always scored 10+ goals every season in a mid to lower level Seria A team somewhat comparable to Saints ( but with a much more acclaimed history). He is essentially a full hustle cf - Saintsy in that regard but also a genuine #9- a relatively old school goal scoring penalty taking good in the air hard working player first and foremost. He’s also physically strong so the EPL physicality would probably not frighten him as much as it would some foreign players. At 28 /29 years old and after giving a loyal shift to Torino he probably wants a last payoff and maybe a last opportunity overseas challenge to set him up for life. Though he’s married with family I believe so that may make him less inclined. EPL fits his style for sure and the ££ definitely. He could play at Villa, Everton, Newcastle, Brighton or Saints. Easy. Of those I’d say Newcastle would be nailed on if they wanted him. We’d be 3rd choice. I’m sure £100k pw ie a JWP salary or thereabouts for 2 years would seem fair to our fans considering his previous wage - BUT he won’t join for that. It will be nearer £150K+ pw if we really want him. My view fwiw : Given it’s no fee ( but I don’t know the agents cut) £150kpw over 104 weeks is £15.6million. And no resale value. Given his undoubted track record of scoring in the hardest league to score in and especially at a club like ours often under the cosh - I’d do it. Not at £200kpw though. He’s a leader and won’t ever give up always giving 100% effort. He’s not s hands up in the air moaning type. He’s not super skilful not technically brilliant not super fast - but he is a known product not a potential and has enough to have made him a full IT international and well respected by all Seria A defenders. That’s good enough for me and should be more than good enough for Saints. I hope SFC can see that and go the £150k pw ( or more) as then he would be a marquee signing of great significance and give whole city a boost. Sign him up!

And, it would make sense because they would tend to be exactly our kind of player - NOT. Currently a CL player but in a euro squad trying to qualify for it or that has got through to qualifying conference/ europa. Especially from the lesser known or non big five leagues.

The situation whereby Saints are waiting on a signing from a team playing early knockout European competition stages does recur. When// if they get through to a group stages - or are out will impact player incoming timing. It may well be the case that we are fairly confident in one or two players but they are however currently indisposed until their team has sufficiently progressed. Several names already mentioned fit that category.

Fair point about non existent service. I know it might sound laughable but, for me, he had something of the Cristiano Ronaldo about him. He attacks defenders directly with pace and technical strength in final third in a way which terrifies them - and which we are unused to seeing at SMS from our attackers. He just wants to score. He can win a game by himself if he's in the mood and given ball in right areas. None of our current or recent past forwards can do this (though there's a promising case for Mara on his one cameo). IF there's a non football problem with him then we are nuts and need to show more mental flexibility in order to find a way to utilise his talents.

Can someone explain why Broja form dipped end of last season? The whole team were dire. We collectively ran out of juice and had a 15 game meh.. Surely that would have impacted upon his motivation and ability to deliver goals? That he was def going back to Chelsea also might be a factor and his head was already turned as had somehow "made it?2 perhaps?. Did he get too billy big boots? Came in humble got too greedy/arrogant perhaps? There are people saying RH does not fancy him and such like - but when he was smashing up EPL defenders and scoring people like Franny were saying he was "the real deal" live on tv...and i genuinely thought he looked mustard a proper good strong fast technical physical cf the like of which unseen at SMS possibly ever ....how come he seems to have gone from the real deal to not someone we'd want?

SFC supporters pay for match tickets at SMS and away trips. There are some little known additional rights and benefits that come with that ticket : On each ticket is a special codicil that says money not refundable if SFC lose or play bad. Or win. Its a non refundable ticket. If its a shitty performance or a good one you pay the same. That's pretty neat huh? There is another notification that says that the ticket holders also have bought the right to criticise the work competency of any SFC employee. Its largely used on players underperforming from the stands, in pubs, or online but if you don't like the way the turnstyle guy looked at you or the shop assistant when selling you that SFC emblazoned old style t-shirt you can come on this forum to slag them off too. This is a really good right. One can say anything we like about how shit someone is at their job here. The match ticket also esepcially imbues its holder with an inalienable right to complain and especially biatch in full public. This can take the form of a song or chant or just general prejudice eitehr overt or latent and lurking. Most professional footballers at SFC and certainly the type we would look to recruit here are trained or self learn to cope with this abuse but, all the same, being trained and not being affected are not the same. If you buy a ticket though it means its ok to do this. All potential SFC transfer targets or even budding pro soccerball players ought to check the fan forums and online sites first. To see if they can handle the shit.

I'm sure i'm stating what is common knowledge but there are some strong facts about SFC transfer biz and our squad: 1. Our squad has too many Below Average EPL (BAEPL) standard. Our recent league placings tells you this clear as day. These BAEPL players are proving virtually unsellable. So, we cannot "unload" them off the payroll or get a transfer fee out of them. Neither does it make sense to pay up their contracts whilst there is even a chance they can play for saints in a mega injury crisis situation. 2. As older players leave the squad our recruitment team is attempting under the SR / in Ralph we trust model to backfill with Moneyball sweetspot right age young talents (ie 19/20/21). The idea is these young talents cost £5M-10M but can sell at £20M-£30M after less than one good EPL season (see T Livramento). It pays many SFC bills if you we reliably pick up one or two like that each year. 3. These big increases in value do not come from playing Championship football. In order to attract the big bids these players must showcase at EPL level. 4. Relegation is an financial catastrophe but not terminal if the assessment is that an immediate return is highly likely. Consequently, the manager must be of great experience to know what is the right blend of added value youth and no or little resale value more aged but experienced bros- but it is not an absolute deal breaker if SFC goes down. 5, Saints are not attempting to win the league or get top six. Not every coffee shop opening in your high street is hoping to be a Pret a Manger. Instead they aim for a long term self sustaining business. 6. Fans are the fly in the ointment though, as despite being historically considered important ( this is no longer true- fan value is only in its monetisation value - not the intangibles that are what we all really care about) so they are essentially paid lip service as they are relatively uncontrollable. Do not expect fan power to change transfer policy- unless its incredibly well supported - such as SMS riots / massive hostility to news of saints selling JWP for instance - or merging with pompey!

Your response, albeit half tongue in cheek, does raise the bigger old chestnut question though - which is that of saint ticket pricing in general. We cannot afford new players without changing more to watch. Everybody who posts that we need new players should also post a disclaimer stating they know this likely means the ticket prices will probably need to go up- and that's ok. Everybody knows Saints have to max commercial revenue any way it can to offset wages and stay FFP compliant. But we all conveniently forget when it comes to how much we want club to spend. Not may clubs have found the "sweet spot" between "fair" matchday ticket revenues and the transfer fees + wages that are seemingly required to deliver a moderately winning team that stays in the EPL and gets that TV money. SR have spent a lot on new players - and their wages. We currently have very few outgoing to reduce the wage bill or even able to bring in a transfer fee. Be under no illusions. The prospect of subsidised away trips for hardy loyalists and so forth are not good. A simple example was two recent home friendlies- children and concessions should have been free. The goal should have been a full house. Perhaps everyone paying £5 or £10 and a charity donation to Hants underprivileged children and families in need. Would be a Sell Out. And we know with a family crowd there's the merch and consumables on top. Plus the prospect of a loyal customer for life. Plus teh excellent PR and community goodwill uplift. Instead we get the unimaginative unambitious uncreative take take not give give approach same as what happens every year : very low mediocre attendance for supposedly glamour fixtures and a lunar atmosphere. No owner dares take that chance. Every season its the same. Its only a couple of matches so I am still perplexed that they don't think the maths add up. We cannot afford £40m Broja but we can afford to do this. And if it does end up that we can afford a £40M Broja why on earth could we not afford do the right thing on the support for the friendlies, and indeed with deference to Turkish, do something to help the away fan?

No Liam Delap in the Man City line up today. Cannot make the bench for the Charity Shield? Either injured or….

Ralph talks in the present tense about the forward - using the definitive “he” - which suggests it’s a known player and he’s in the bag essentially - rather the more uncommitted ””they” which would have suggested we were not quite so certain who it might be. it may well be Ralph’s command of English means we should not pay credence to this interpretation - but by adding in my analysis of his body language to me he seemed to “ know” who the “ he” is that he was inferring we were still to get. Interesting.

SG - you are probably right. Just checked and it was £40M in 2019/20 season but suggestions are his value has dropped since then. Liverpool were periodically sniffing him as I recall and they are usually very good at identifying a baller ...

He is rather similar to what we've got so i can see why there's a possible connection. But surely Ismaila Sarr is the one you'd buy from Watford if he was available as a first preference?

Belated hullo to all forum posters here I know and love. My take on this transfer window is that we need an Alpha male striker. We have almost always done better when there is such a player in the squad/team. It seems we have a budget of up to £30M for this striker (or more-who knows?), in other words its potentially/probably going to be a saints record transfer. That would be a massive statement from SR. Will it be spent on more UK based but over-priced potential - or on a non UK better value more seasoned player? If you look at how much "potential" we have already brought on board this window the answer is : A LOT. If its likely to be a record transfer my thinking is that id be expecting a higher level CV from the new striker. Or maybe the more un-provens we buy the better chance at least one of them becomes Sadio Mane or Gareth Bale.. S Whilst the "all-in" nature of a Liam Delap or Broja joining at mega fees is fun the speculation may also be a smokescreen. From what I've read neither Broja ( I suspect Newcastle or Everton will over pay/wage him) or Delap are likely as if we can get them then Newcastle and Everton can as well. And probably pay much more. Which leaves us with other young strikers abroad or not quite so young perhaps, but more realistic. And if we are not breaking the transfer record does it mean we are allowed perhaps that just one older experienced goal-scorer with less resale but a cheaper transfer cost? Somebody with medals? Or even a previous player ;-)?