Saint86

Thiago silva is 5'11", as are Nathan Aké, Marc Guehi and David Alaba Puyul is 5'10" Mascherano 5' 8" as well. I wouldn't dismiss a 5'11" defender based on height.

Give they've spelt "shirts" wrong, i very much doubt this is true. Also, not sure the ladies team will be wearing "DUALBITS" across their fronts.

Agreed. But if we can sell him at a reasonable profit and then strengthen elsewhere its what we should do frankly. We won't stay up next year because of an inconsistent 21year old Argentinian lad playing as a CAM, no matter how much most of us like him. 2 good players to strengthen the glaring weak spots in the team is worth it (sadly). And lets not shit about the bush, we need 1 starting full/wing back, backup for KWP (who hopefully doesn't leave), and GK, Downes, and a Striker that will score the goals to keep us up (assuming AA will be out right most of next season). And that's just to have a fighting chance. Sulemana and Alcaraz are probably our 2 most valuable not critical assets that we can sell. I would dearly like us to keep Charly and have him replace Stu in the squad. But if Martin doesn't fancy him then we need to just get the deal done quick and strengthen.

HCDAJFU in all seriousness. Especially at the right price. Strength in depth and experience boxes ticked.

Shearer in particular just can't bring himself to criicise his mate Southgate. Whereas anyone still defending southgate either suffers from serious bias or is so tactically illiterate they may as well be watching rugby

Does knowing a "name" give you any more idea about how our recruitment process works?!?! Our head of recruitment is Mowbray. Wilcox was director of football and oversaw the general restructuring of the playing and supporting staff, he wasn't our head of recruitment. Does that help you understand the transfer process, how we select players, how we negotiate for them? 😄

Absolutely this. So much pessimism on here regarding "certain relegation" from a few people. But the reality is that we were very savvy in the championship with loans - THB and Downes in particular, as well as Brookes and Fraser. All of them would do a job in the prem for us. Why do people think we are able to make good loan signings in the champ but not in the prem. Especially given Rasmus' connections to his brother's marketplace.

Sulemana should work in our system. When you watch us play - passing the ball along the middle of the pitch, and players constantly making runs behind - smallbone, AA, Stu etc. - all constantly going up making runs through the defence one at a time like a metronome, just waiting for the killer pass to come. Sulemana should be lethal in that setup... but he hasn't been, and the question is why not? He has electric pace, he can dribble and beat a man (pace/slills) for fun, and there is evidence to say he can finish! But for saints it has never worked - is it because of injuries last year? And perhaps a paired with a negative attitude over the summer ("i'm better than the champ" - which afflicted many) that cost him game time? I do think there is a very good player in there (hopefully for saints), but time (and money) is running out to demonstrate it. Would be a bit of a leap of faith / gamble on him now.

Just more shit from Tanswell, why people give him column inchest beyond me.

If Ings can stay fit, i'd sign him for circa £5M for sure. Our possession play and constant running off the ball generates a lot of quick play and chances around the box. Time and again we've been let down by the finishing, and Ings is a superb finisher... Those goals would keep us up. Big ifs though. Is he fit enough? And is he available for the right price?

Thats a shame, could easily have done a job for us in Martin's system and far better than what we've got (Manning/Bree). For such a cheap fee its shame to let him go and still need to sign at least one full back / wing back for both sides.

Probably for FFP reasons - (accounting windows run until end of june i think?)

Yes, and also, the club might have wanted them out for financial reason. The Alcaraz move (with large loan fee) for example.

Ending the season with Arsenal (h), Man City (h), and Everton (a) means we essentially need to be safe by the end of April or we're relegated. Grim. In fact, if you look at our last batch of fixtures its a load of bogey games or title chasing sides... We don't traditionally get man points at Spurs, Everton, or west ham. Leicester away is also a pretty shit game for us broadly (albeit this year i think they're a cert for relegation). And then City and Arsenal, whilst at home, will be fighting for the title/CL. God knows what Villa will be like by April, but probably out of europe and having a late season charge to catch up points on the European spots. Its a very very tough run into May and April. August and September aren't bad, but when do saints ever start a season well? Could be the case that we drop points in our most critical games before we ever get going - clearly a good start will be required. Because Forest, Ipswich and Leicester at home in 3 of our first 4 home matches is our main relegation rivals out the way by November. 3 must win games. Everton as well on the 2nd November. The Christmas break looks kind, not an awful lot of travelling, and broadly speaking some easier games during the peak congestion period.

Duplicate post.

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/lallana-returns-as-first-summer-signing Tell you what, in the video on the club website he looks bloody ancient. He's certainly not the fresh faced Nivea boy he once was... Are we sure he's only 36? 😨

He's back then.... How this all plays out with the fans should be interesting 😂

Some of the gobshite fans that continue to slag him off are either stupid or incredibly immature imo. The reasons for his move are obvious, and by all accounts it was a very tough choice for him. All in all, he chose to let go of saints (which he very clearly cares deeply about) in a gamble to play for england in a major tournament. He backed himself, but he didn't wager on southgate continuing to shaft him - particularly with his frankly crazy early form at west ham and still getting overlooked for england. Its worth noting as well, that anything he says about saints and his move at the current time has to be tempered by the fact that he is a west ham player and has to not upset their fans either - but you can bet that what he really thinks is he wishes he'd never left to chase a call up from the fraud southgate and had instead led us to promotion. I'd have him back if the right deal could be struck - and it strikes me we could well get one of downes or JWP this summer (stranger things have happened). But i don't think it would necessarily be the swansong some imagine. The reality is that he did leave the dressing room in the championship to go play prem football and chase england, they managed to get up without him, and it will not be the same for him coming back now - things have moved on. Similarly his bond with the fans will be weakened, and he'll obviously attract more flack if we go through periods of poor form etc. now. Its a shame its all played out the way it has. But wish him well regardless, hope he gets a good reception when we play them, and hopefully we do get to see him again in a saints shirt (whilst he's still a good player).

Maybe, but at least with this post you can pull "a Turkish" and reference getting 26laughing emojis on the forum!

From an FFP perspective, we spend the money without restriction, and within a couple of years it starts to deliver more "income" to use against wages/transfer costs etc.

What has Strachen got to do with Redknapp and Portsmouth?

This is the kit i reckon.

Technically Matt Le Tissier for football betting - he just escaped prosecution

Guly Du prado - drink driving

Yes, he had a pretty rough 2023 with hamstring troubles and surgery. Not sure if he was rushed back, but recurred again in Jan/Feb. Managed to play 1 game this season just gone for spurs. Was a player with huge potential once upon a time.