SaintJackoInHurworth

I've never been a big fan of Manning but actually he has been pretty good in his recent performances and I would say he did ok on Sunday. Like Turkish, I was more concerned about Roerslav who struggled all day against Murphy. Personally, I would love to see Robinson start. However, I thought Fellows did ok and gradually grew into the game. Fraser had a solid game but he is limited - I wonder if he may be better in the AM position that Azaz. That having been said, while Azaz was poor in the first half he did begin to improve in the second half. Up front is difficult. All of our strikers offer something, but none is the finished article! Archer offers pace and movement but is lacking in height and positional awareness. Stewart offers height, positioning and heading ability but is lacking in pace. Armstrong is moderate in all areas. Downs is still an unknown and maybe needs more coaching to get him ready. In defence, Stephens remains a liability and he would be the first player I would drop every time. Personally I would love to see a THB and Wood CB pairing. Edwards is not quite at the level required yet - though still better than Stephens. In midfield, I have mixed feelings. Downes has been a great servant for the past couple of years but his form has not been great lately. I feel he is struggling with confidence. Charles on the other hand has more confidence but is inexperienced and prone to mistakes/bad positioning. As for Jander, he did ok on Saturday, except that we seemed to become more vulnerable to Pompey attacks when he replaced Downes. I suspect Downes is better defensively, while Jander is better offensively. At the end of the day, I think any of our players has something to offer, but if we could just replace Stephens then I would be much happier!

The way the Echo have allocated midfield and attack seems a bit arbitrary in that squad list! Fellows is listed as an attacking player on Saints website and presumably Scienza will be put there too! That having been said, Edozie is listed in both as a midfielder not an attacking player! I personally think the main positions of our players are as follows: GK = Bazunu, McCarthy, Long, Moody FB = Roerslev, Jelert, Manning, Welington CB = Stephens, THB, Wood, Quarshie, Edwards CM = Downes, Charles, Jander, Sesay AM = Azaz, Fraser, Matsuki, Aribo Wing = Fellows, Scienza, Robinson, Edozie Strikers = Archer, Downs, Stewart, Arma If anyone is wondering about squad size... We have 29 squad players altogether. Robinson and Sesay are only 18 and Moody is 17, so they don't affect the 25 squad players over age 21 that can be registered. Also, though, Downs, Charles and Quarshie were all under 21 on January 1st so they all count as Under-21 too. So we currently have 23 players that will need to be registered, unless Edozie and/or Aribo leave to any of the countries whose transfer deadline has not yet passed.

Here is another way to look at our squad to get a better picture of what we may need. Instead of just listing each player in one position (which can often be quite arbitrary for players who can play in a range of positions), I have tried to list every player who you might play in that position based on their historic and current positions. I have, however, ignored ridiculous experimental changes of role made by Russell Martin (e.g. Aribo playing as a CDM or CB!). I have also included numbers for those who like to look at things in that way, but using predominantly British numbering conventions. The numbers 7 and 8 are difficult to place in that system as their positioning has varied a lot over time. Italics indicate those players that may leave (though I have assumed rather optimistically that we will now keep Fernandes!). This doesn't rule out others from leaving - I am definitely NOT ITK about this!! Position No. Players who can play in this position Goalie 1 Bazunu, McCarthy, Long, Moody Right Back 2 Roerslev, Bree, Edwards Left Back 3 Welington, Manning, Sesay, Taylor CB 5,6 Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Edwards, Quarshie, Stephens, Taylor, Bella-Kotchap CDM 4 Charles, Downes, Matsuki, Sesay CM 7/8 Fernandes, Smallbone, Charles, Downes, Matsuki, Sesay, Aribo AM 8/10 Fernandes, Fraser, Matsuki, Sesay, Aribo Winger 7/8/11 Robinson, Fraser, Armstrong, Archer, Sesay, BBD, Edozie Striker 9 Stewart, Downs, Archer, Armstrong, BBD I accept that there is a fair degree of arbitration even in this approach, but I hope it is helpful for some. I think it is interesting that the position where we most want to see improvement (wing) is one where we actually have a lot of options - contrary to what some people are suggesting. The reason for this is perhaps mostly to do with the type of wingers we want. You will also note that I have listed Sesay in a lot of positions. This is based on his past where he started as a left winger, but was converted into a left back and has more recently been converted into a midfielder who can play in any of the midfield positions.

If Fernandes leaves you have got to think it could be to somewhere other than West Ham. Rumours have already suggested that they are not prepared to get anywhere near our valuation, but with West Ham rapidly looking like a relegation struggler will Fernandes really want another season like that? Of course, it maybe that the Chelsea thrashing will cause them to find another £10m behind Sullivan's sofa and Fernandes may be sufficiently convinced that he can help them to rise above that level, but it would be somewhat of a gamble for him in that sense. It would also be a gamble for West Ham if they think they may need to change their manager with all the extra costs that would involve. Nevertheless, some weeks ago Fernandes was linked with a move to one of several big European clubs and he seemed to prefer that option, so it remains to be seen if one of them finally makes a bid.

Dibling - I will be disappointed if he leaves, especially for less than £40m. I'll be especially disappointed if he goes to a relegation struggler club like Everton, rather than a club competing to get into European competition; even more so as a colleague supports them as does my brother-in-law. That having been said, Moyes is probably a good manager to nurture his talent. Fernandes - I will be very disappointed if he leaves. Just because a big club want him doesn't mean he WILL go! Still has said he wants him to stay and they want at least £40-50m if he does go. We also don't have any contract issues that mean we have any risk if we don't let him go straight away. He has also spoken positively about staying. Nevertheless, if we receive a large bid of at least £50m, we will find it hard not to sell. Taylor Harwood-Bellis - I'm hopeful he is going to stay and become our true captain - keeping Captain Jack out of the side and playing with any one of our up-and-coming hope-for-the-future young centre backs: Wood, Edwards, Quarshie, Kayi-Sanda. Wood and Edwards were already better than Bednarek and Stephens last season, in my opinion! Aribo, Fraser, Brereton-Diaz, Stephens, Bree - There's no major benefit in keeping any of them. Aribo, Fraser and Bree offer a little on occasions, but we can do better, already have better and hopefully can recruit better. Stephens is a liability and I remain absolutely devasted that the club have wasted precious resources giving him a new contract. Brereton-Diaz also offers next-to-nothing, though doesn't have the dreadful discipline issues of Captain Jack and isn't regularly culpable for us conceding ridiculous goals. Bella-Kotchap - I don't necessarily believe most of the unsubstantiated rumours about his attitude, but if they are even a little true then we should get rid. The likely fact is that he probably doesn't want to play in the Championship. If we can't get rid of him, then I hope that Still can encourage him to rediscover the ability that led him to be selected for the German national team. Even if his attitude sucks, he is still way better than Captain Jack. Arma - he has not got as much flair as Dibling, Robinson or Edozie and is not keen on playing as a striker, but you cannot argue with his goalscoring record at Championship level. As others have said, I would not want to sell him to another Championship team, but recognise he has perpetually struggled in the Premier League. He may well find the Scottish Premiership is the best level for his skills if we do sell him. Stewart - has a good record at this level and may well benefit massively from Still's high fitness regime. He will still be a useful option, but if we do sell him, it won't be the end of the world. Smallbone - he is still young and could benefit from Still's change of approach. He did well at Stoke. I hope he is a success, but I'm not sure we can pin too much hope on him right now. I would say he is currently behind Downes, Charles, Matsuki and maybe even Sesay in the pecking order, but we shall see. I am not one of those begging for us to sell him, but am not going to lose sleep if we do! Taylor – I would prefer him to be the experienced leader type instead of Stephens. He is a useful extra option for defence who can do a job off the bench, but in many ways is numerically a luxury extra player beyond what we need. Ballard – The likelihood is that we will either loan him or sell him. He was previously ahead of Dibling in the youth set-up but injuries have knocked him back. I hope he can rediscover his best form after finding a good/top league one side who will be fired to the top with his goals, I hope that we will be desperate next summer to give him a new contract and to bring him back to join the first team squad because he has done so well. Purchases First priority is another Attacking midfielder – either as cover or replacement for Fernandes (hopefully cover!) The other top priority should be central midfield, unless Still feels that both Matsuki and Sesay are fully first team-ready and of sufficient quality to become successful regulars in the future. We probably also need to buy another winger – especially if Dibling and/or Edozie leaves. It will be difficult if we don’t get rid of Brereton-Diaz and/or Fraser as it is another position where we have lota of players already! If we get rid of Bree then another right back would be good. In terms of keepers, I hope Bazunu will continue to show his pre-season form, but it’s a risk relying on that. A good keeper on loan to replace Ramsdale until next season would be great.

I think there are a lot of people panicking on here that may actually find that we do better than they expect. I'm not saying I don't want any incomings - we all want to see the squad being developed to become the strongest that it can be, BUT if we don't then I remain confident the squad will be competitive... unless of course all of our best players are sold and not replaced! But where we find ourselves at this moment, I think we have a stronger squad than when we were in the Championship before: Positn Current Squad 2023-24 squad GK (Ramsdale), Bazunu, McCarthy Bazunu, McCarthy, Lumley FBs Welington, Taylor, Sugawara, Manning, Bree KWP, Manning, Bree, Larios CBs THB, Stephens, Edwards, Wood, Quarshie, Bella-Kotchap Bednarek, Stephens, THB, Wood, Holgate CMs Downes, Charles, Smallbone, Aribo, Sesay Downes, Smallbone, Aribo, Charles AMs Fernandes, Matsuki S.Armstrong, Rothwell, Alcaraz (half a season) Wings Dibling, Robinson, A. Armstrong, Edozie, Fraser, Brereton-Diaz A.Armstrong, Edozie, Fraser, Brookes, Amo-Ameyaw Strikers Downs, Archer, Stewart, Ballard Adams, Mara, (Stewart) It is also worth pointing out that just because a player was crap under certain managers last season in the Premier League does not mean that they are going to be crap this season under a different manager in the Championship. Also, a lot of our players are young and developing. In theory that should mean that they will get better over time. That should give us reason to be less scathing about Smallbone, Charles, Edozie, Sugawara, Welington, Wood, Dibling, Archer, Bazunu, Edwards and others, some of whom seem to be the butt of a lot of criticism at times.

When a number of our fans turned on him a few years ago when our defence was struggling under Hassenhuttl, I always thought it was unfair. At that time he was the experienced defender always putting in a good shift and striving his hardest to cover for the errors of others (e.g. Salisu). Yet, because he was the player frequently struggling to cover two or three positions he got all the blame and his head dropped. Then he spat his dummy out and went to Villa, only grudgingly returning when that didn't work out. After he returned he never really restored the level of effort that he had previously shown in my opinion, though he did ok in our promotion season. Last season it felt like instead of being the player covering for other players shortcomings, he was instead the player blaming others for his own shortcomings. I think it illustrated to me that he had lost belief in Saints and maybe even in his own ability. I am therefore pleased to see him go. I hope for his own sake that he can rediscover his best form and be successful at Porto.

That will really limit possibilities including some perfectly valid and good options like Kevin Keegan, Ricky Lambert and Rod Wallace. Having said that I almost thought I might be able to make Rod Wallace work as there was a player who played for us in 1906-7 called Wally Radford, but sadly his name was short for Walter and not Wallace! So, with this more limited field I would go for Charlie George (Lawrence).

Some people have definitely forgotten the thread title was the *best* Saints players with two first names! Struggling to imagine Jack Stephens being in anything but the worst player to play more than 100 games for Saints! However, some laughed at Ricky Lambert, but actually Lambert can be a first name, so I am backing that suggestion! If he hadn't had so many injuries I think Luke Shaw could have got a consideration too, but sadly those injuries have kept him from quite hitting the heights he was destined for! Maybe he could have achieved them if he had stayed at Saints...! Rod Wallace would probably be the player who would ultimately get my vote!

It is interesting that Still has said he will be taking a 'reduced group of players' to Spain, which will send out a message that will be 'pretty clear'. Quite how many players he will take and who will be in it will be interesting to see. Solak has also said that Saints want to trim the squad to no more than 27 players. Whether 27 will go to Spain remains to be seen. In theory this is Saints' current squad of 36 players: GK: McCarthy, Bazunu, Ramsdale, Wright FB: Sugawara, Bree, Welington, Manning, Taylor CB: Stephens, Wood, Edwards, THB, Kayi Sanda, Quarshie, Bednarek, Bella-Kotchap, Lawrence CM: Downes, Charles, Smallbone, Sesay AM: Fernandes, Matsuki, Aribo W: Edozie, Dibling, Robinson, Armstrong, Fraser, Brereton-Diaz F: Downs, Stewart, Archer, Dipepa, Ballard However, Ballard has seen no opportunities to play in pre-season (just one appearance on the bench I believe) and now that Downs has arrived you would imagine Ballard and Dipepa will return to the U21s. Similarly, Kayi Sanda, Quarshie and Sesay may return to the U21s or U18s, while Nico Lawrence and Ollie Wright will probably either be sold or loaned out. That would still leave 29 players including Bella-Kotchap, Aribo, Brereton-Diaz and Bednarek. Leave those 4 behind and Still will have a squad of 25 (as shown by players in red). If he takes 27 then which of those four goes too? Brereton-Diaz and Aribo? That still leaves a few questions, though... Will THB go? Is he fit enough? Is he happy to play in the Championship? Will we take 5 full backs? If not, who stays behind? Will we take three keepers? If not, who stays? Is two AMs, Fernandes and Matsuki, enough? Will some of the wingers fulfil that role? Will Fraser go? Is he in Will Still's plans? Would he go as a winger or AM? Or both? The Echo don't think Bednarek will go, but they also don't think Taylor will be there despite the positive things that Still has said about him. Clearly a few players are going to be disappointed - especially quite a few centre backs!

Good point - I meant to check things like that before posting it and had a feeling a couple had already gone. I know quite a few were players that were of interest to other clubs as well as Saints.

Southampton Incoming Transfer Rumours so far this summer I have taken a bit of time to gather details about players who rumours have suggested have been linked to Southampton. I have excluded rumours that seem to be only coming from Saints Marching rather than any more credible source - though not suggesting any of these sources are necessarily credible! Player Club Position Source(s) Date Goalkeepers Anthony Patterson Sunderland GK https://www.footballinsider247.com/southampton-plotting-to-sign-sunderland-star-anthony-patterson 3/7 Daniel Peretz Bayern Munich GK https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/25122469.bayern-munich-goalkeeper-reportedly-interests-southampton 29/4 Yahia Fofana Angers GK https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/southampton-involved-in-double-premier-league-transfer-battle-for-yahia-fofana 23/5 Aleksandar Vulic Spartak GK https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/25122469.bayern-munich-goalkeeper-reportedly-interests-southampton 29/4 Defenders Max Johnston Sturm Graz RB www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-southampton-push-to-sign-max-johnston-as-walker-peters-replacement 25/6 Joe Mendes SC Braga RB www.expressen.se/sport/fotboll/forre-aik-backen-joe-mendes-aktuell-for-flytt 4/7 Juma Bah Man City CB www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/25229683.southampton-linked-man-city-defender-played-still 11/6 Matt Targett Newcastle FB https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/newcastle-could-use-matt-targett-in-southampton-tyler-dibling-deal 17/5 Midfielders Bobby Clark Liverpool Midfield www.thisisanfield.com/2025/07/bobby-clark-wanted-by-at-least-15-clubs-liverpool-have-sell-on-clause 14/6 Lewis O’Brien Forest Midfield https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/birmingham-southampton-transfer-race-nottingham-forest-lewis-obrien 22/6 Besfort Zeneli Elfsborg Midfield https://eflanalysis.com/transfers/southampton-can-land-their-new-pierre-emile-hojbjerg-as-midfielder-reacts-to-saints-links 12/6 Wingers Lucas Cepeda Colo-Colo Winger https://eflanalysis.com/transfers/southampton-make-bid-for-excellent-forward-but-39m-real-madrid-deal-poses-major-problem 11/6 Luis Guilherme West Ham Winger https://www.claretandhugh.info/saints-interest-in-wonderkid-could-have-unexpected-consequences-report 7/5 Adnane Abid Patro Eisden Winger https://insidefutbol.com/2025/05/19/southampton-were-present-to-check-up-on-young-winger/683841 19/5 Jesrun Rak-Saki C.Palace Winger https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-southampton-reigniting-move-to-sign-rak-sakyi 12/6 Forwards Richard Kone Wycombe Striker https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/middlesbrough-birmingham-city-southampton-richard-kone-wycombe-wanderers-5181670 17/6 William Boving Sturm Graz Forward https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-southampton-want-to-sign-title-winning-forward-william-boving 29/5

In Stephens case perhaps it should become donkey jokes instead! Although, of course, the horse jokes weren't on this thread, they were on the transfer window thread! I can see zero logic in this. I did wonder if they might be thinking they could keep him here and then develop him as a future coach on the basis that some of the best managers are mediocre players. But that still doesn't justify a three year contract! We should have left him on one year and offered him the opportunity to do his coaching badges... perhaps loaning him out to do them at Goztepe where he might be a useful back up for them!

I like the rumour that Saints have rejected a bid for Sulemana that seems better than some on here think he is worth. Hopefully we will manage to get an even better deal! Yes, it is a risk, but hopefully Spors knows what he is doing. I think Sulemana's performances at the end of the season are enough to suggest that there is more waiting to be discovered with him. Whether or not that will be the case remains to be seen. Personally, I have found Sulemana hugely disappointing, but those performances at the end of the season have begun to change my mind. I recognise that some of you do not think it possible that he could ever amount to anything more and that is fair enough with what we have seen throughout most of his time with Saints. At the same time, I also think it is quite hard to judge Sulemana's end product when he has had to deal with a complete lack of quality strikers to whom he could pass the ball! Even more so in a system that has been set up by managers who don't have a clue about fast, incisive attacking football! Of course, we can only judge Sulemana on the end product that he has delivered (which is nothing), but I do hope that Atalanta or others might see the positives and be prepared to stump up the cash to buy him!

Age is a significant factor in all of this. At 31 years old, Onuachu is no spring chicken and getting €8m for him is actually quite a coup - especially for a player who is so lacking in pace and skill. On the other hand, Sulemana is still young and while all the naysayers are slating him here, in the last few matches of the season he was one of the few bright lights in our side and there were glimpses of what he could become. While Jones brought him in out obsession with pace rather than any consideration for his tactical nouse or ability to cross, Simon Rusk did seem to unlock a little bit more than others have managed. With that in mind, I think the club have done the right thing to turn down a fee as small as €10m. Hopefully if he does go it will be for a fee significantly in excess of that and closer to his original purchase cost.