Saint86

Not sure even MLG would have spotted that one 🤯😲

We have a stronger squad currently than the one that just went 21 league games unbeaten, knocked the English champions out of the cup, and nearly dumped Man City's "galacticos" out of the fa cup semi final at wembley (only really losing to a deflected outside of the box bouncing shot deep into the game...

https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1098752/lewis-dobbin

I wouldn't be quite so hasty to rule it out. The Swansea fans seem to think there is something in it, and blackmore thinks there is something in it whilst being at pains not to comment too much. You would think its too much money.... but... we were in for Lankshear and ultimately seem to baulk at the price, if Vipotnik is available for similar money the maybe that was why - sign a relatively unproven youngster or sign last season's 24year old top scorer 🤷‍♂️. I still think it seems crazy/reckless for saints to spend that much whilst in the 2nd tier, but there is noise about him moving to another championship side, and we've been quietly mentioned in a few places, and we need 1-2 quality additions rather than depth at this point.

We have the same attackers as last season, plus we have added Dobbin (who has all the attributes to be a good goal scorer at this level). of our 4 goals in that Leicester game, the last 3 were scored by Manning, Stephens, and Charles. We spread goals out throughout the side last year, it is part of what made us so effective. Don't get me wrong, i would like us to sign a quality CF to rotate with the 31year old Larin... but i'm not panicking over it. This team showed they can "suffer", see out games, and has goals all over the pitch. And Dobbin (stats from preston below), will be a very good addition for us with respect to goal contributions (goals/assists/key passes etc).

I just can't see how we could afford him without major sales.

If we have a sell on fee then i bloody hope so...

I am wary that this may not be the case, and that another sale is required for any serious additions. None of us know the financial state of the club until last year's accounts are published, although clearly we had enough to sanction Peretz and Larin's transfers within the PSR window. Just from a balancing the books perspective, this is the business we seem to have done so far this summer (ignoring unknown distribution of installments): Money out Peretz, Dobbin, Larin signed for circa £18.5M. Drop in parachute payments of circa £15M. Money in Fernandes sell on of circa £6M Bllard sell on of circa £1M Charles transfer sale of circa £25M x 0.85, so circa £21m coming in. So currently we're on about -£5.5M on outright transfer dealings and drop in tv monies, although i'm aware we seem to have done a lot of work reducing the wage bill and outstanding loan debts/interest payments. We need to sign a new CM and CF with the remaining money. And personally i am not happy going into the season with Long as our only GK backup. Remaining assets we may see leave: Ramsdale, Archer, BBD, Bazunu, Edozie, JayRob, Sugawara, Downs. Not clear how many of those we'll be able to shift for meaningful money. Edit - if the AA january sale is included (circa £7M) we are roughly balanced on recent transfer sales.

Would be a good move for him in fairness.

The rumored figure that is being quoted is £25.7M (not £30M - you are quoting a euros figure in pounds). I would say that is a reasonable fee for Charles, and a good price for saints given we need to pay City their sell on. I agree with others who say that we'll look back on it as the one that got away, but right now he's a player we can afford to lose that brings much needed funds in. Saints do need to sell, we lose £15M on parachute payments this year, and have the outgoings of Larin, Peretz, and Dobbin to cover with just the fernandes monies (which will be installments) coming in.

That was basically an admission that everyone does it... to be Pompey manager and not put the boot in over that question is actually quite staggering.

Yup, £4M for Saints. Would be a good addition up front.

I still think he'll get anything from a fine with suspended ban, to a 3-6 week touchline ban. What he did was less impactful than Bielsa (spying on all teams throughout a season vs 3 teams and failing to win any of those games) and there is no evidence of personal bullying by Eckert (that we are aware of) for the FA to make that charge stick. People can say there is now an EFL rule all they want, but the EFL don't get to sanction Eckert, and there is no FA rule about spying - the challenge for the FA is to show that Eckert's behavior was notably worse than Bielsa's - and without evidence of Eckert bullying staff, and the fact that Bielsa's spying was far more widespread, that's going to be very difficult for them. As a result, if they go to hard then we will appeal and potentially take them to court.

Couldn't see a thread on this - bit of fun ahead of the new season. Expectations for relegated sides: West Ham - Autos Wolves - Playoffs Burnley - Playoffs Established championship teams to watch (i.e., for promotion/playoff charge): Southampton, Norwich, Middlesbrough. Promotion picks: West Ham, Southampton, Norwich Relegation Contenders: Blackburn, Portsmouth, Bolton, Lincoln, Charlton Relegation picks: Blackburn, Portsmouth, Bolton. Top scorer (1 pick): Vipotnik Most goal involvements (goals/assists): Bowen Eckert ban decision sweepstake: Thursday 13th August Saints hot take : Peretz to average under 1.0 goals against per game. *all southampton predictions assuming we keep Eckert.