January 2023 Transfer Window

[saintant]

  On 06/01/2023 at 16:25, Convict Colony said:

Just been looking through the Argentinan papers https://www.ole.com.ar/futbol-primera/racing-carlosalcaraz-benfica_0_mhUpSpAGmc.html

And they say with Alcazar that Benfica/Wolves and Us are interested and have contacted his agent to understand his conditions etc. Apparently though nothing further has come from Benfica yet (depends on Enzo Fernandes i guess) but Racing are demanding 15m euro's or 13.2m GBP for the player.

Seems doable but the only question i have is if we buy this player is as its the off season down there how fit is he or are we going to have another 6 weeks before he's EPL fit.

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I'm sure he'll be as fit as the rest of our plodders.

[derry]

Reports we are looking at Maeda from Celtic. He would be a cracking signing on the other wing.

[Guest]

Orsic at LWB and that Celtic winger playing as a fourth CB is gonna insane 😅

[niceandfriendly]

  On 06/01/2023 at 17:17, derry said:

Reports we are looking at Maeda from Celtic. He would be a cracking signing on the other wing.

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Haven’t seen much of him. Aribo and Elyonoussi shone in the SPL but have been a disaster in the Prem. Is Maeda believed to be a good prospect? 

[derry]

I've seen him several times recently, Quick, tenacious and a good finisher. Watch Celtic's opener against Rangers last Monday. Japanese international and 25 years of age. Looks a decent player. Aribo and Elyonoussie could hardly be called quick or tenacious. 

[Badger]

  On 06/01/2023 at 18:13, derry said:

I've seen him several times recently, Quick, tenacious and a good finisher. Watch Celtic's opener against Rangers last Monday. Japanese international and 25 years of age. Looks a decent player. Aribo and Elyonoussie could hardly be called quick or tenacious. 

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Doesn't he play on the same side an position as Orsic ?

[derry]

That's where he played on Monday but he looks two footed. You'll have to check his Japanese record. Cracking finish for goal nearly central after robbing Rangers around half way, ran through and comprehensively beat the keeper with a cool finish.

Edited 6 January, 2023 by derry

[ecurnew02]

Not going to claim to know Maeda well but looking around it seems like his biggest strength is pace and pressing 

[Convict Colony]

Armstrong and Moi currently in our team played and scored a lot of goals in the SPL, unless someone is ridiculous like Van Dijk its a no from me signing guys from there.

 

[Toadhall Saint]

  On 06/01/2023 at 18:52, Convict Colony said:

Armstrong and Moi currently in our team played and scored a lot of goals in the SPL, unless someone is ridiculous like Van Dijk its a no from me signing guys from there.

 

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Wanyama?

[Convict Colony]

  On 06/01/2023 at 18:59, Toadhall Saint said:

Wanyama?

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Destroyers are welcome all ways, he didnt score too many goals up there but he was good at rating spaghetti.

[LuckyNumber7]

From what my Celtic mate tells me and what I've seen of Maeda he's very workmanlike. Not a bad player by any means but not one I'd be overly excited about either.

[Suhari]

  On 06/01/2023 at 18:52, Convict Colony said:

Armstrong and Moi currently in our team played and scored a lot of goals in the SPL, unless someone is ridiculous like Van Dijk its a no from me signing guys from there.

 

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He's Japanese though. So it'll be different.

[Chez]

  On 06/01/2023 at 15:20, Dman said:

I don’t think he fancies it tbh. Always seems to be getting injured / going down. 
 

Looked like he couldn’t wait to come off, but hopefully I’m wrong on that account and that was just his playing style rather than attitude 

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Body language reading returns to the forum.

It was a nasty slip, possibly caused by the astroturf where the managers stand, and at the time I thought he may have done his cruciate. He tried to walk it off, but was in trouble. 

[CB Fry]

  On 06/01/2023 at 19:25, Suhari said:

He's Japanese though. So it'll be different.

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The changing rooms will be immaculate.

[Chez]

  On 06/01/2023 at 19:08, LuckyNumber7 said:

From what my Celtic mate tells me and what I've seen of Maeda he's very workmanlike. Not a bad player by any means but not one I'd be overly excited about either.

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Agree with him. I'm not excited.

Edited 6 January, 2023 by Chez

[derry]

  On 06/01/2023 at 19:08, LuckyNumber7 said:

From what my Celtic mate tells me and what I've seen of Maeda he's very workmanlike. Not a bad player by any means but not one I'd be overly excited about either.

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Probably miles better than our normal dross. Aribo, Elyonoussi, Walcott, A Armstrong and quick and a hard worker. Looking at what we have to suffer at the moment and certainly quicker and harder working and doesn't look like our resident chickens. Reported we are looking at him and again at the S cup semi final this weekend.

Edited 6 January, 2023 by derry

[Whitey Grandad]

  On 06/01/2023 at 19:33, Chez said:

Body language reading returns to the forum.

It was a nasty slip, possibly caused by the astroturf where the managers stand, and at the time I thought he may have done his cruciate. He tried to walk it off, but was in trouble. 

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I thought that he trod on something.

[Killers Knee]

Maeda was impressive in the WC, scored vs Croatia.  If we got him it would be an upgrade: 

"Arthur Papas, who also coached Maeda during his time at Yokohama, has said Maeda "possesses athletic qualities far superior to most players at the professional level", hailing his pace and sprinting"

 

He sounds "Jonno Quick"

Edited 6 January, 2023 by Killers Knee

[Wurzel]

  On 06/01/2023 at 20:34, Killers Knee said:

Maeda was impressive in the WC, scored vs Croatia.  If we got him it would be an upgrade: 

"Arthur Papas, who also coached Maeda during his time at Yokohama, has said Maeda "possesses athletic qualities far superior to most players at the professional level", hailing his pace and sprinting"

 

He sounds "Jonno Quick"

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Hasn't Yoshida been seen at our last couple of games? Maybe recommending his team mate to us ( or us to him)? Or helping to ensure a move goes smoothly ?

[Weston Super Saint]

  On 06/01/2023 at 21:17, Wurzel said:

Hasn't Yoshida been seen at our last couple of games? Maybe recommending his team mate to us ( or us to him)? Or helping to ensure a move goes smoothly ?

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He was definitely at the Brighton game - bumped into him in the stairwell after the game.  He had a couple of mates with him but don't ask me to identify them from their ear lobes, I was way too pissed by that point!

Edit - just googled him and I definitely would have remembered meeting a member of the Yakusa! The two mates were smaller and both had hair...

Edited 6 January, 2023 by Weston Super Saint

[Guest]

Anyone reckon our next signing is going to be Walcott or Bednarek on a new four year deal? 👀

Jokes aside, it’s very refreshing to see the club go for experience and not another child. Several more need to come in to even give us a fighting chance of staying up.

A change of manager would probably help too. 🤣

[Ex Lion Tamer]

Southampton have been overrating players from the Scottish league since Neil McCann

[Suhari]

  On 06/01/2023 at 23:26, FarehamSaintJames said:

Anyone reckon our next signing is going to be Walcott or Bednarek on a new four year deal? 👀

Jokes aside, it’s very refreshing to see the club go for experience and not another child. Several more need to come in to even give us a fighting chance of staying up.

A change of manager would probably help too. 🤣

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Hard to disagree.

Edited 7 January, 2023 by Suhari

[Holmes_and_Watson]

  On 06/01/2023 at 23:46, Ex Lion Tamer said:

Southampton have been overrating players from the Scottish league since Neil McCann

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At only 47/48 time is on the side of promising youngster McCann to come good. 🙂

[a1ex2001]

  On 06/01/2023 at 23:46, Ex Lion Tamer said:

Southampton have been overrating players from the Scottish league since Neil McCann

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We’ve probably signed more good than bad from Scotland!  Wanyama, van dijk, davis, armstrong have all been good signings for us!

[Fitzhugh Fella]

  On 06/01/2023 at 23:26, FarehamSaintJames said:

Anyone reckon our next signing is going to be Walcott or Bednarek on a new four year deal? 👀

Jokes aside, it’s very refreshing to see the club go for experience and not another child. Several more need to come in to even give us a fighting chance of staying up.

A change of manager would probably help too. 🤣

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Was that a joke? 

[Chez]

  On 07/01/2023 at 07:13, a1ex2001 said:

We’ve probably signed more good than bad from Scotland!  Wanyama, van dijk, davis, armstrong have all been good signings for us!

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completing the set:

Forster, Hooiveld, Stephen Crainey, McCann, Nieimi, Kanchelskis, Scott Marshall, Derek Allen, Colin Cramb, Paul McDonald, Paul Sheerin, Terry Hurlock, Ian Andrews, Ken Armstrong, Jim Steele, Alley McLeod, Gerry O'Brien, Eric Martin, Campbell Forsyth, Dave Paton and Ian Black.

 

[M271]

  On 07/01/2023 at 08:52, Chez said:

completing the set:

Forster, Hooiveld, Stephen Crainey, McCann, Nieimi, Kanchelskis, Scott Marshall, Derek Allen, Colin Cramb, Paul McDonald, Paul Sheerin, Terry Hurlock, Ian Andrews, Ken Armstrong, Jim Steele, Alley McLeod, Gerry O'Brien, Eric Martin, Campbell Forsyth, Dave Paton and Ian Black.

 

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Steve Davis

[Dellman]

  On 07/01/2023 at 08:52, Chez said:

completing the set:

Forster, Hooiveld, Stephen Crainey, McCann, Nieimi, Kanchelskis, Scott Marshall, Derek Allen, Colin Cramb, Paul McDonald, Paul Sheerin, Terry Hurlock, Ian Andrews, Ken Armstrong, Jim Steele, Alley McLeod, Gerry O'Brien, Eric Martin, Campbell Forsyth, Dave Paton and Ian Black.

 

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Ah! Ian Black, those were the days. I was ten when he was transferred to Fulham, and I cried. I didn't know it was only the beginning of a lifetime of transferring our best players. How many top stars have stayed? Paine, Holmes, Le Tiss and JWP. Not many in 75 years 

[Ex Lion Tamer]

  On 07/01/2023 at 08:52, Chez said:

completing the set:

Forster, Hooiveld, Stephen Crainey, McCann, Nieimi, Kanchelskis, Scott Marshall, Derek Allen, Colin Cramb, Paul McDonald, Paul Sheerin, Terry Hurlock, Ian Andrews, Ken Armstrong, Jim Steele, Alley McLeod, Gerry O'Brien, Eric Martin, Campbell Forsyth, Dave Paton and Ian Black.

 

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It was a slightly flippant comment but in fairness my original post was "since Neil McCann", which rules out most of these. The Scottish league has gone down a lot in quality since the 80s and earlier when you could easily pick up quality players.

Nowadays a player has to be really excelling to be good enough for the Premier League. Wanyama and Van Dijk were outstanding prospects. Armstrong got 15 goals in a season. Davis got 13 assists and 5 goals. Maeda is nowhere near this. Neither was Aribo.

Also you missed Skacel 😀

Edited 7 January, 2023 by Ex Lion Tamer

[Ekelund]

  On 07/01/2023 at 10:21, Ex Lion Tamer said:

It was a slightly flippant comment but in fairness my original post was "since Neil McCann", which rules out most of these. The Scottish league has gone down a lot in quality since the 80s and earlier when you could easily pick up quality players.

Nowadays a player has to be really excelling to be good enough for the Premier League. Wanyama and Van Dijk were outstanding prospects. Armstrong got 15 goals in a season. Davis got 13 assists and 5 goals. Maeda is nowhere near this. Neither was Aribo.

Also you missed Skacel 😀

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Probably because he’s not signed yet 

[derry]

Anti Niemi, didn't he sign from Hearts?

[Chez]

  On 07/01/2023 at 10:21, Ex Lion Tamer said:

It was a slightly flippant comment but in fairness my original post was "since Neil McCann", which rules out most of these. The Scottish league has gone down a lot in quality since the 80s and earlier when you could easily pick up quality players.

Nowadays a player has to be really excelling to be good enough for the Premier League. Wanyama and Van Dijk were outstanding prospects. Armstrong got 15 goals in a season. Davis got 13 assists and 5 goals. Maeda is nowhere near this. Neither was Aribo.

Also you missed Skacel 😀

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You are right, and I missed Henri Camara too, although technically they were signed from Marseilles and wolves.

I think there are still players worth looking at from Scotland, but both the national side and league is weak, so quality is thin on the ground. 

[Chez]

  On 07/01/2023 at 11:00, derry said:

Anti Niemi, didn't he sign from Hearts?

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yes. Hence he was on the list, but maybe we are not finnished

[Turkish]

Why are we being linked with wingers and midfielders when Jones tactic 5-3-2 and lump it 70 yards? Surely we should be trying to get a 6ft 4 striker in as a priority. 

[coalman]

  On 07/01/2023 at 11:15, Turkish said:

Why are we being linked with wingers and midfielders when Jones tactic 5-3-2 and lump it 70 yards? Surely we should be trying to get a 6ft 4 striker in as a priority. 

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It is in keeping with the lack of consistent plan or direction for the club.

[derry]

Terrem Moffi. I watched his last two games and he only had a couple of touches and looked totally disconnected and just trotted around. I couldn't get it out of my head, how could he have scored his goals playing like that. I've had a good look round to try and find the answer. What I found was he looked amazing around the penalty area, looked super aware and one on one with the keeper scored in all sorts of ways. It may be he is on his way somewhere and that was the reason for the disconnection. He certainly looks like a goalscorer and although two footed and good in the air looks to have a cracking left foot. Maybe that's why he is being looked at. 

[davefizzy14]

Need a top quality striker now. Please do everything we possibly can to get Ings back.

[Christophenburg]

  On 07/01/2023 at 11:15, Turkish said:

Why are we being linked with wingers and midfielders when Jones tactic 5-3-2 and lump it 70 yards? Surely we should be trying to get a 6ft 4 striker in as a priority. 

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I really don't think is is Jones' tactic at all but rather a reflection of our squad's defensive fragility and complete lack of confidence

[goodymatt]

  On 07/01/2023 at 11:18, davefizzy14 said:

Need a top quality striker now. Please do everything we possibly can to get Ings back.

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Telegraph reported we recently failed in our attempts to convince him to come back and  be King of the Scummers. Big shame as he’s exactly what we have been missing, since he left!

[Ex Lion Tamer]

  On 07/01/2023 at 11:18, davefizzy14 said:

Need a top quality striker now. Please do everything we possibly can to get Ings back.

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He has rejected us

[tdmickey3]

  On 07/01/2023 at 11:18, davefizzy14 said:

Need a top quality striker now. Please do everything we possibly can to get Ings back.

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He’s off to a CL team mate

[davefizzy14]

  On 07/01/2023 at 11:34, tdmickey3 said:

He’s off to a CL team mate

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Who?

[swannymere]

Anyone remember the last time player from South America ended up being any good for us?

[Chez]

  On 07/01/2023 at 11:24, Christophenburg said:

I really don't think is is Jones' tactic at all but rather a reflection of our squad's defensive fragility and complete lack of confidence

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I didn't think it was either - more a case of fans seeing long balls more because the manager has a reputation for long ball football  - but CBs playing angled long balls out wide happened quite a lot on the Forest game.

We still passed it short too, but Lavia was pretty poor (pus space was tight for him) and other midfielders didn't seem to find space to receive balls from defenders, so perhaps options became limited.

I find it hard to believe the manager is telling these Prem players to smash it long, all the time, and even harder to believe they are saying yeah, OK, lets do that.

I wonder if our stats guys can tell us if there has been a change in the percentage of long balls since NJ arrived.

[SotonianWill]

if we lose stuart armstrong this window, the already pissed off fanbase may get even more toxic. even the happy clappers will be storming the pitch. 

[Chez]

  On 07/01/2023 at 11:37, swannymere said:

Anyone remember the last time player from South America ended up being any good for us?

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Guly?

[Chez]

  On 07/01/2023 at 11:43, SotonianWill said:

if we lose stuart armstrong this window, the already pissed off fanbase may get even more toxic. even the happy clappers will be storming the pitch. 

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Not sure why their is such a clamour for Stuart Armstrong to play. It's not like Branford leaving Le Tiss on the bench. If it's simply because he is regarded as being better than Ely, then fair enough, but in reality he's done fuck all for quite a long time...and that's from someone that loves his bursting runs.

[Fabrice29]

  On 07/01/2023 at 11:58, Chez said:

Not sure why their is such a clamour for Stuart Armstrong to play. It's not like Branford leaving Le Tiss on the bench. If it's simply because he is regarded as being better than Ely, then fair enough, but in reality he's done fuck all for quite a long time...and that's from someone that loves his bursting runs.

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Also, he's evidently been unable to play 90 minutes for quite a while now. There's not some sort of conspiracy here, he's just a talented player with fitness concerns. The other night he was grimacing after a short burst and clearly took a booking because he was unable to chase back. Not sure any team able to pay his wages would be particularly interested in him for those reasons. 

Edited 7 January, 2023 by Fabrice29