VectisSaint

or more likely that he is closer to return than anticipated and therefore RM doesn't see relying on AM as such a big issue. Lis and Lumley are not going to get a look in once Baz returns.

Not since his injury at the end of last season.

Armstrong signs a new 3 year deal.

Actually contrary to what I said based on reports a couple of days ago, it seems like Arsenal are now considering a loan, report today. https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2024/07/18/arsenal-open-to-loaning-out-aaron-ramsdale-instead-of-permanent-sale/

Arsenal are not interested in a loan. They want a sale, and are looking big money. Loan will not happen.

Just an idle thought but how about we play him "out of position" as an AM? A lot of what he did last season was more in the attacking role.

Clinical striker? More of a striker in the clinic.

Ipswich was his boyhood club, was with them from the age of 7. West Ham was the team he supported.

Thank you so much for your advice. 🙄

The posts (started by Saint Scott) were specifically about the squad pictures/profiles on the OS (https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/teams/mens-team) that were updated to show existing and new players. A potential indication of what we will have for next season. We know that Alcaraz and others are back at Staplewood, after all they are contracted to be. But they aren't included in the squad list. Obviously the squad list (photos) isn't gospel but its a clue as to who might still be here come September. Why do you think all of the loan players are missing from the list? Might just be an oversight, but seems a little odd.

Are they? They don't appear in my browser. Have you refreshed the page? Checked on Laptop and phone.

No free Nivea any more. More interesting really is that the squad pictures don't include Alcaraz (or any of the other players we loaned out last season).

You seriously think starting XI for first game back in the PL won't include Stephens?

I know that 😡 If they were coming back they would have been back by now, Scots (and Poles) went out of Euros 3 weeks ago. Maybe tomorrow is the day back after all, would expect all three to rock up somewhere.

Maybe we will know more tomorrow. It's 3 weeks since Scotland departed the Euros, I would have expected him back last week but maybe tomorrow is the return date. Has Bednarek returned yet? Not heard anything about Armstrong either, though I think it was certain he had left, not signed for anyone else AFAIK, but then I had heard he was retiring from football.

Valued at £42m by Arsenal. Seems a bit unlikely, unless there is a missing decimal point. Seems he has no takers but Arsenal are looking to make a profit https://paininthearsenal.com/posts/aaron-ramsdale-complicated-situation-arsenal-explained

Bath Academy closure was not entirely by choice. It has always been a source of irritation especially to Bristol City that Saints were allowed a satellite academy outside of their standard geographical catchment area on the basis that half our designated area is in the Solent. I don't think Brighton or Boscombe were allowed such exceptions and believe the FA had finally concluded that they could no longer justify Saints Bath satellite exception.

Any chance the title of this thread can be updated. It is a while now since the B Team designation was dropped in favour of U21.

I'd rather we were wise.

or at least hobble

Not basing it on anything, other than trying to imagine why we appear to be heading into a PL season with poor GK options. I've always wondered why Baz's injury meant he was going to be out for so long, it just occurs to me that maybe his recovery has gone far better than expected and that he might be available much sooner than early 25 as suggested previously. I don't think Baz is the answer at GK either, but the Club clearly do. [Sorry not to have replied before, ran out of posts]

I know most don't think Baz is PL standard either, but beginning to wonder whether Baz might be back significantly earlier than previously thought.

You would have thought that for Ballard last season, but it didn't work out that way. Very surprised if he is going back to Reading, and equally surprised Amo-Ameyaw would need to drop down to League One having featured for us in the Championship a few times last season.

No sign of Adams, obviously he is out of contract, but not clear to me whether he would have returned anyway with the Scots being out of the Euros anlong time ago now. Question really is whether he has rocked up somewhere else or is he still on the beach.

Russell Martin's Norwich connection?