bugenhagen

Agree about Baz. But way too early to say the window is looking like a failure. Sadly, Dibling, Fernandes and Ramsdale will never be resolved until the closing of the window. The "dross" will probably take it's time to get rid of as well. The real test for SR and Spors is how they react at the end of the window when the probable sale of these three will happen. Do they have good replacements ready, and will they be able to get them when the dominoes start to fall?

My biggest problem with Stephens, the armband and the new contract is that we end up in a situation where two (or three) defenders are playing better than him, and we start to change players or tactics to get our captain on the field. That is my fear. I never had that feeling with Dodd (or Frannie).

Fernandes is number one for me as well. The main reason I am a little fussed about Ramsdale, is that keeping him guarantees no Bazunu.

Oh, the obsession over 9k… we all know it’s not about the length, but what you do with it.

When it comes to transfer fee, the club values him based on what he showed glimpses of. When it comes to contract, the club does not value him based on those highs, but you can be damn sure Dibling and his agent do. The club value him higher as a transfer asset than they are willing to pay him in wages. I have no problem seeing that he will be reluctant to sign a new contract.

Pretty sure he had the armband, yes.

Yeah, I enjoy watching him play. Industrious player, makes things happen, brings others into the game. Brings some of the same things that Stuart Armstrong brought to the game.

This is so true, I don't mean to speak for everyone, but hey, lets... The starting 11 was more or less the players most of us want either gone or as backup.

Yeah, just a confirmation by the club that Bazunu is not the one would be good

Funny, sad and scary at the same time... just like a clown!

I can’t speak for Will 😉 but I take it as those two are more types of players with attributes we are lacking, and that a bit of quality is coming later depending on what becomes available.

Tried to tell you 😉

It could be a good deal, IF we go straight back up. But the fact that we had Baz and Macca as GK's last time around, does not mean that it will work this time. If we do not get in a better GK (than those two) this season, I belive we will make the chance of promotion a lot harder for ourselves. We must prioritize this season, before looking ahead to the one after... and a new GK (if Ramsdale leaves) is one of the most important signings to get right this season IMO.

No problem, it could be as a gift.

Didn't we have to move a flower pot with a red flag in our window or balcony? Then the other guy would mark a mailbox nearby to indicate they had got the message. Followed by a drop-off behind a bench on the local ferry or something...

Rangers after Ramsdale and Downes must be a mix-up. Martin probably asked Rangers to make an enquiry for Saints finest goalkeeper and midfielder, clearly meaning Baz and Smallbone…

Nice topic Benji! For me 86 was the big one. Danish Dynamite, Elkjær and Laudrup, Maradona and the Hand of God, France v Brazil, Platini and Tigana, Socrates and Zico, Gary Lineker top scorer. My love of the game started here. 90 was also special with England and Baggio. 94 mostly beacause Norway made it (at Englands expense). In 98 I was in the army, but when Norway beat Brazil it felt like all of Norway was out dancing in the streets (something we never do) in the midnight sun. In 2010 I was lucky enough to travel and attend 6 games in South Africa. Could have done without the vuvuzela, but other than that pretty magical experience.

Or, look at it the other way: “If they value him at that price, he must be good” -The Southampton Way.

I agree. And I hope that this is kinda what Spors was talking about when saying the following in the interview below: "It’s always a very clear profiling first. It’s always important to identify as a club what you really need, not to be too reactive on market opportunities but the first thing is we need to understand what we really need. https://www.tntsports.co.uk/football/premier-league/2024-2025/tyler-dibling-jurgen-klopp-football-new-manager-search-southampton-planning-relegation-johannes-spors_sto23183150/story.shtml

Just had a bit of fun. For the record, I'm not that kind of guy 😀

Very nice, not a fan of collars, but understand that a lot of people like them, so loved that you made both versions. But... can I ask you to be a little more realistic? We all know the sponsor is going to look like this: So please make any future designs the correct way 😉

That doesn’t mean much. Different manager and playing style. Even the players might have changed. Look at Armstrong. There is no guarantee that a player will perform as well as last time.