January Transfer Window 2024

[CB Fry]

10 hours ago, FarehamSaintJames said:

If I were on the transfer committee I’d be trying to negotiate deals for both Flynn Downes and Taylor Hardwood-Bellis; or at least have agreements in principle come January.

We've already got a deal in principle with Harwood-Bellis. If we go up it's a permanent deal.

Flynn Downes wait and see. If we go up he might stay, but he's a WHU fan, so likely he goes back unless he is told he's not part of any plans there.

Let's not kid ourselves that there is something a "committee" or anyone can do that is going to get these two players to no-questions-asked commit to us long term in January. Why should they or their agents do that?

If we don't go up expect both to leave.

This is why we need promotion, and not treat the season as "ooh look haven't we done jolly well to be fourth".

 

[hypochondriac]

2 hours ago, CB Fry said:

We've already got a deal in principle with Harwood-Bellis. If we go up it's a permanent deal.

Flynn Downes wait and see. If we go up he might stay, but he's a WHU fan, so likely he goes back unless he is told he's not part of any plans there.

Let's not kid ourselves that there is something a "committee" or anyone can do that is going to get these two players to no-questions-asked commit to us long term in January. Why should they or their agents do that?

If we don't go up expect both to leave.

This is why we need promotion, and not treat the season as "ooh look haven't we done jolly well to be fourth".

 

Absolutely. Next year will be much harder with no 

Downes 

Kwp 

Sulemana 

THB 

And that's best case scenario where none of the others leave. 

[Miltonaggro]

4 hours ago, CB Fry said:

We've already got a deal in principle with Harwood-Bellis. If we go up it's a permanent deal.

Flynn Downes wait and see. If we go up he might stay, but he's a WHU fan, so likely he goes back unless he is told he's not part of any plans there.

Let's not kid ourselves that there is something a "committee" or anyone can do that is going to get these two players to no-questions-asked commit to us long term in January. Why should they or their agents do that?

If we don't go up expect both to leave.

This is why we need promotion, and not treat the season as "ooh look haven't we done jolly well to be fourth".

 

In a nutshell. 

[tdmickey3]

5 hours ago, CB Fry said:

We've already got a deal in principle with Harwood-Bellis. If we go up it's a permanent deal.

Flynn Downes wait and see. If we go up he might stay, but he's a WHU fan, so likely he goes back unless he is told he's not part of any plans there.

Let's not kid ourselves that there is something a "committee" or anyone can do that is going to get these two players to no-questions-asked commit to us long term in January. Why should they or their agents do that?

If we don't go up expect both to leave.

This is why we need promotion, and not treat the season as "ooh look haven't we done jolly well to be fourth".

 

This exactly and if we are not promoted Russell Martin will be deemed a failure.

[S-Clarke]

3 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Absolutely. Next year will be much harder with no 

Downes 

Kwp 

Sulemana 

THB 

And that's best case scenario where none of the others leave. 

We really have to make the most of this season, the talent available to us at this level is ridiculous. We won't have anywhere near that next year, and no money to reinvest to replace THB or Downes as they're both loans. KWP will be cheap as he'll be down to 1 year, Che will leave on a free, ditto Stu Armstrong - so the chance to generate transfer fee's is kind of relying on Sulemana.

I don't think it can be stressed at how important this season is for the immediate future of this club.

Edited 17 November, 2023 by S-Clarke

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, S-Clarke said:

We really have to make the most of this season, the talent available to us at this level is ridiculous. We won't have anywhere near that next year, and no money to reinvest to replace THB or Downes as they're both loans. KWP will be cheap as he'll be down to 1 year, Che will leave on a free, ditto Stu Armstrong - so the chance to generate transfer fee's is kind of relying on Sulemana.

I don't think it can be stressed at how important this season is for the immediate future of this club.

Expect we will be relying on some of the youth more next year if we don't go up. 

[S-Clarke]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

Expect we will be relying on some of the youth more next year if we don't go up. 

There is a good crop to be fair - SAA, Dibling, Doyle. Not seeing anyone in our setup who could come in to replace THB, KWP or Downes though.

Maybe Zach Awe?

[hypochondriac]

10 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

There is a good crop to be fair - SAA, Dibling, Doyle. Not seeing anyone in our setup who could come in to replace THB, KWP or Downes though.

Maybe Zach Awe?

Expect we could get a reasonable RB and CB in. Maybe Shea Charles will step up more for Downes. To be fair we are in a reasonable position as the likes of Edozie, Bree, Adam Armstrong, amo-ameyew, ross stewart and Jack Stephens are all decent championship players and we should be confident in keeping most if not all of them should we fail to get promoted. SLight chance we could keep Alcaraz for a season too which would be superb. Could line up as 

Bazunu 

Bree Bednarek Stephens Manning 

Charles Smallbone 

Amo-Ameyew/Fraser Edozie 

Alcaraz?

Armstrong/Stewart 

Which isn't a half bad Championship team (probably need something more in midfield and maybe an Alcaraz replacement but we'd probably make a signing or two.)

Edited 17 November, 2023 by hypochondriac

[SNSUN]

16 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

I’m almost certain it’s a guaranteed transfer if we go up, which is going to be almost as painful as actually missing out on promotion, when we lose in the playoffs. 😬

Yep. If we went up we'd probably only have him for season or two before he potentially fetches Van Dijk-esque sums of money so it would be gutting to not go up and miss out on him. 

Downes is a West Ham fan apparently so I think the chances of signing him are slim anyway - after a great season in the Championship he'll be chomping at the bit to become a regular there.

[gio1saints]

This is big news!

 If we don’t go up this year it will be harder maybe impossible to do so next season?

That our best Players will leave and it will all be down to SR Jason and RM for fucking it up?

This is very important and useful information. Why has it not been brought up before and factored into the SR business plan? They must be idiots! 

It may be too late already. Maybe we should cut our losses and get rid of Russ and Jason maybe get a whole new team in now before it gets any worse ( if it could get worse!)

On balance it seems for once I agree with some posters here that the club has got to stop this fannying around being happy with fourth and start going on an unbeaten run.
 

I even think I saw one of the players in Portswood high street other day and he was smiling. And dont get me started on Russ. The fool always seems to be smiling. Well I’m going go to have to tell him that it’s frankly not good enough. That will wipe that smile of his complacent face next time I see him! I will tell him “Don’t you know we are only fourth you fannying around playboy millionaire.” “Stop being happy and start winning every match. No excuses.” That should do the trick. 😛

 

Edited 17 November, 2023 by gio1saints

[Lighthouse]

3 hours ago, gio1saints said:

This is big news!

 If we don’t go up this year it will be harder maybe impossible to do so next season?

That our best Players will leave and it will all be down to SR Jason and RM for fucking it up?

This is very important and useful information. Why has it not been brought up before and factored into the SR business plan? They must be idiots! 

It may be too late already. Maybe we should cut our losses and get rid of Russ and Jason maybe get a whole new team in now before it gets any worse ( if it could get worse!)

On balance it seems for once I agree with some posters here that the club has got to stop this fannying around being happy with fourth and start going on an unbeaten run.
 

I even think I saw one of the players in Portswood high street other day and he was smiling. And dont get me started on Russ. The fool always seems to be smiling. Well I’m going go to have to tell him that it’s frankly not good enough. That will wipe that smile of his complacent face next time I see him! I will tell him “Don’t you know we are only fourth you fannying around playboy millionaire.” “Stop being happy and start winning every match. No excuses.” That should do the trick. 😛

 

I wouldn’t give up the day job for a career in alternative comedy.

[Dark Munster]

5 hours ago, gio1saints said:

That our best Players will leave and it will all be down to SR Jason and RM for fucking it up?

Yes.

Next question?

[david in sweden]

Given the fact that most of our summer signings have shown up reasonably well so far, we should try to make 

permanent deals for the likes of;  Downes,  Fraser and  Harwood-Bellis ...wherever possible. 

 

I'd be more concerned with who we might consider " letting go " in January, and get in a few "new faces".   

From a purely economic standpoint, we should get rid of Adams and McCarthy - whilst they have any value / worth, 

and ..in so doing, cut a slice off the salary bill in the process, but Onuacho's future is open to conjecture...stick or twist ?

 

However,  I'm (sadly)...still unimpressed by Aribo and Mara who should go out on loan to play regular football, or even be sold on.

 

 

[Master Bates]

20 hours ago, gio1saints said:

This is big news!

 If we don’t go up this year it will be harder maybe impossible to do so next season?

That our best Players will leave and it will all be down to SR Jason and RM for fucking it up?

This is very important and useful information. Why has it not been brought up before and factored into the SR business plan? They must be idiots! 

It may be too late already. Maybe we should cut our losses and get rid of Russ and Jason maybe get a whole new team in now before it gets any worse ( if it could get worse!)

On balance it seems for once I agree with some posters here that the club has got to stop this fannying around being happy with fourth and start going on an unbeaten run.
 

I even think I saw one of the players in Portswood high street other day and he was smiling. And dont get me started on Russ. The fool always seems to be smiling. Well I’m going go to have to tell him that it’s frankly not good enough. That will wipe that smile of his complacent face next time I see him! I will tell him “Don’t you know we are only fourth you fannying around playboy millionaire.” “Stop being happy and start winning every match. No excuses.” That should do the trick. 😛

 

The only person here that speaks sense...

Edited 18 November, 2023 by Master Bates

[Holmes_and_Watson]

2 hours ago, david in sweden said:

Given the fact that most of our summer signings have shown up reasonably well so far, we should try to make 

permanent deals for the likes of;  Downes,  Fraser and  Harwood-Bellis ...wherever possible. 

 

I'd be more concerned with who we might consider " letting go " in January, and get in a few "new faces".   

From a purely economic standpoint, we should get rid of Adams and McCarthy - whilst they have any value / worth, 

and ..in so doing, cut a slice off the salary bill in the process, but Onuacho's future is open to conjecture...stick or twist ?

 

However,  I'm (sadly)...still unimpressed by Aribo and Mara who should go out on loan to play regular football, or even be sold on.

 

 

I'd guess they and/or we would be waiting to see where we sit, and the pennies available, at the end of the season. If we've an option for THB that sorts that one out, one way or another. Fraser wants to stay. But wages might be an issue, if we stay down. With Downes, he's on a long contract with the club he loves. He's already showing he can play in that team. You never know, but that one seems less likely.

In January, it might be worth keeping Adams for the contributions he does make. He's getting game time with us, so unless we're replacing him in January might be worth keeping. Even if a fair bit of that game time is due lost to Stewart, it's depth to someone coming back from injury. Likewise with McCarthy and Baz. We've been trying to move him on for ages, but might regret that should Baz get injured.

I can't imagine Onuacho wanting to come back. It's been a bad match and Martin has had a look. I think all parties would be happy if he moves on for as much as we can get. If we can't then another loan.

Like Adams, Aribo is getting first team minutes. He's done a good job in a certain role late in games. Something we don't have elsewhere.

Mara would really have had to have shown Martin he can develop into Martin's system. He doesn't offer the things AA, Stewart, Adams or even Aribo offer. He hasn't shown goal scoring either. But it's not been in the best of circumstances. He's probably the one whose departure would have the least impact.

[Hodgey]

First priority for Jan for us is stability - try not to lose anyone you don’t want to lose. You can be sure that the teams fighting relegation will be looking at the champs - hopefully our players prefer the gamble here, than there, even better if our rivals lose their managers (Ipswich ?) or better players. We’ve also effectively got an early Jan signing in Ross.

I think we have some money to invest, and I think SR will spend it, let’s be honest - everyone expects Ipswich to struggle at some point with injuries/squad size, they may not (we didn’t) but it is likely. Then we have a race for 2nd place, Leeds certainly thinking the same. 
so where are the gaps ? I’m pretty sure they will be looking at a right back to understudy KWP (Bree is a different style player), and it wouldn’t surprise me if we go for another striker with Che off, whether we finally replace Tella as promised I’m not sure - but we do look short of a natural right winger. personally I’d like a better 1st choice left back (but don’t think they do).

we are in a great position, this really is a very good squad - question is whether it’s better than those teams above us.

[John B]

2 hours ago, Hodgey said:

First priority for Jan for us is stability - try not to lose anyone you don’t want to lose. You can be sure that the teams fighting relegation will be looking at the champs - hopefully our players prefer the gamble here, than there, even better if our rivals lose their managers (Ipswich ?) or better players. We’ve also effectively got an early Jan signing in Ross.

I think we have some money to invest, and I think SR will spend it, let’s be honest - everyone expects Ipswich to struggle at some point with injuries/squad size, they may not (we didn’t) but it is likely. Then we have a race for 2nd place, Leeds certainly thinking the same. 
so where are the gaps ? I’m pretty sure they will be looking at a right back to understudy KWP (Bree is a different style player), and it wouldn’t surprise me if we go for another striker with Che off, whether we finally replace Tella as promised I’m not sure - but we do look short of a natural right winger. personally I’d like a better 1st choice left back (but don’t think they do).

we are in a great position, this really is a very good squad - question is whether it’s better than those teams above us.

but is the squad good enough for the PL with a few additions

[Hodgey]

Not without some major additions no. But you worry about that when you get there (along with the huge increase in transfer budget / allure of playing in the Prem)

worse case is you go back down with another 3 years parachute - we’re already seeing how much stronger a position that puts you in the much inferior quality wise Champs

[Saint_clark]

2 hours ago, John B said:

but is the squad good enough for the PL with a few additions

It will require a CB, striker, LB and CM to have even a slight chance of staying up, plus a GK, another CB and an AM to be sure of it. 

[John B]

1 hour ago, Saint_clark said:

It will require a CB, striker, LB and CM to have even a slight chance of staying up, plus a GK, another CB and an AM to be sure of it. 

Is it worth it ?

 

I have been supporting the Saints for over sixty years it was great for the first 30 years but when we have been in the PL came it has been pretty dire so I do not care if we return to the PL or not

 

 

[Saint_clark]

20 minutes ago, John B said:

Is it worth it ?

 

I have been supporting the Saints for over sixty years it was great for the first 30 years but when we have been in the PL came it has been pretty dire so I do not care if we return to the PL or not

 

 

Think about the Adkins, Pochettino, Koeman and first half of the Puel season rather than second half of the Puel season, Pelligrino and onwards. It's worth it. 

[hypochondriac]

47 minutes ago, John B said:

Is it worth it ?

 

I have been supporting the Saints for over sixty years it was great for the first 30 years but when we have been in the PL came it has been pretty dire so I do not care if we return to the PL or not

 

 

I watched us play in Milan and Prague and get extremely close to winning a meaningful cup. It's absolutely worth it. 

[stknowle]

On 17/11/2023 at 12:32, S-Clarke said:

We really have to make the most of this season, the talent available to us at this level is ridiculous. We won't have anywhere near that next year, and no money to reinvest to replace THB or Downes as they're both loans. KWP will be cheap as he'll be down to 1 year, Che will leave on a free, ditto Stu Armstrong - so the chance to generate transfer fee's is kind of relying on Sulemana.

I don't think it can be stressed at how important this season is for the immediate future of this club.

That post just depressed/scared me.

On 17/11/2023 at 12:41, hypochondriac said:

Expect we could get a reasonable RB and CB in. Maybe Shea Charles will step up more for Downes. To be fair we are in a reasonable position as the likes of Edozie, Bree, Adam Armstrong, amo-ameyew, ross stewart and Jack Stephens are all decent championship players and we should be confident in keeping most if not all of them should we fail to get promoted. SLight chance we could keep Alcaraz for a season too which would be superb. Could line up as 

Bazunu 

Bree Bednarek Stephens Manning 

Charles Smallbone 

Amo-Ameyew/Fraser Edozie 

Alcaraz?

Armstrong/Stewart 

Which isn't a half bad Championship team (probably need something more in midfield and maybe an Alcaraz replacement but we'd probably make a signing or two.)

That post cheered me up a bit.

[stknowle]

On 17/11/2023 at 13:44, gio1saints said:

This is big news!

 If we don’t go up this year it will be harder maybe impossible to do so next season?

That our best Players will leave and it will all be down to SR Jason and RM for fucking it up?

This is very important and useful information. Why has it not been brought up before and factored into the SR business plan? They must be idiots! 

It may be too late already. Maybe we should cut our losses and get rid of Russ and Jason maybe get a whole new team in now before it gets any worse ( if it could get worse!)

On balance it seems for once I agree with some posters here that the club has got to stop this fannying around being happy with fourth and start going on an unbeaten run.
 

I even think I saw one of the players in Portswood high street other day and he was smiling. And dont get me started on Russ. The fool always seems to be smiling. Well I’m going go to have to tell him that it’s frankly not good enough. That will wipe that smile of his complacent face next time I see him! I will tell him “Don’t you know we are only fourth you fannying around playboy millionaire.” “Stop being happy and start winning every match. No excuses.” That should do the trick. 😛

 

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

[Ex Lion Tamer]

7 hours ago, Hodgey said:

Not without some major additions no. But you worry about that when you get there (along with the huge increase in transfer budget / allure of playing in the Prem)

worse case is you go back down with another 3 years parachute - we’re already seeing how much stronger a position that puts you in the much inferior quality wise Champs

There is talk that parachute payments will be reformed. There's certainly a lot of clubs who think they give an unfair advantage

 

 

 

 

[Ex Lion Tamer]

Maybe things are different now but it's worth remembering that last time we got relegated from the Premier League, we did better in our second Championship season than our first. So I'm not sure it's all or nothing, although obviously better to get promoted this year if we can.

One nightmare scenario that is in my mind is if Man City, Chelsea and Everton all get relegated for financial irregularities. Then we'd have a heck of a job getting promoted, unless they get relegated and a points deduction in the Champ

[Badger]

1 hour ago, Ex Lion Tamer said:

Maybe things are different now but it's worth remembering that last time we got relegated from the Premier League, we did better in our second Championship season than our first. 

Starting our second season down last time without a disinterested ‘Arry on a deliberate collision course with the Chairman and Director of Sport (or whatever title SCW had) might also go some way to explaining why we did better by comparison.

As for your nightmare scenario next season don’t forget we might also have the biggest football club known to (Neanderthal) Man , Portsmyth, in our division. Not many Championship clubs claim to have 50,000 locked out every week. 

Edited 18 November, 2023 by Badger

[sad saints fan]

2 hours ago, Ex Lion Tamer said:

One nightmare scenario that is in my mind is if Man City, Chelsea and Everton all get relegated for financial irregularities. Then we'd have a heck of a job getting promoted, unless they get relegated and a points deduction in the Champ

Surely if these teams are relegated .They will have the same problems as other relegated teams in that their best players would not want to being playing 2nd tier football.

[AlexLaw76]

7 hours ago, sad saints fan said:

Surely if these teams are relegated .They will have the same problems as other relegated teams in that their best players would not want to being playing 2nd tier football.

Maybe for Everton, but if city and Chelsea were to be forced into the championship, they’d comfortably run away with the league, with by far the best squads 

[trousers]

IF the likes of Chelsea and Man City were  thrown out of the Premier League, would the EFL be obliged to accept them into the Championship or could they refuse? (All very hypothetical of course as we know that they'll get away with it)

[AlexLaw76]

45 minutes ago, trousers said:

IF the likes of Chelsea and Man City were  thrown out of the Premier League, would the EFL be obliged to accept them into the Championship or could they refuse? (All very hypothetical of course as we know that they'll get away with it)

Probably not, but not a chance on gods fine green earth would they do it

[St. Ciervo]

...

Edited 19 November, 2023 by St. Ciervo
Someone beat me to my comment.

[FarehamSaintJames]

I imagine Che Adams will go for cut price in January.

Alex McCarthy should go, but then again if I was on the wages he’s on I’d be happy to sit on the bench.

Jo Aribo and Sekou Mara should leave. Neither have the ability or attitude required.

[Dusic]

42 minutes ago, FarehamSaintJames said:

I imagine Che Adams will go for cut price in January.

Alex McCarthy should go, but then again if I was on the wages he’s on I’d be happy to sit on the bench.

Jo Aribo and Sekou Mara should leave. Neither have the ability or attitude required.

Out of interest, how do you know about Aribo & Mara having attitude issues?

Certainly at odds with Russell Martin's recent comments on Aribo in particular where he basically said the opposite.

[HarvSFC]

Aribo and Mara have a lethargic playing style that isn't really suited to English football, it's better in Europe where players get more time on the ball. Pretty poor from the recruitment team when they were signed for a manager that likes his attacking players to press from the top.

The two had question marks hanging over their heads in the summer given they showed moments of quality last season and you could forgive some for being poorly managed last season, while Mara himself is still young and moved to a new country.

However, neither have really answered those questions in a better team who are lacking a bit of a killer instinct at the moment and neither Aribo nor Mara have shown anything to say they can provide it. Two luxury players who are being carried in the squad at the moment and blocking Amo-Ameyaw in the matchday squads. If we don't sell them in January then they'll surely be sold next summer given the intention to move forward.

[FarehamSaintJames]

Comments have been made previously about Mara and Aribo and their attitude.

You can also see on the pitch by their lack of movement and energy that they’re either not all in or simply not good enough. It was pretty evident last season, and the fact we’ve had a changeover of staff and coaches and they still don’t play probably tells you all you need to know about their ability.

Edited 19 November, 2023 by FarehamSaintJames

[pimpin4rizeal]

Think arribo has done reasonably well in a couple of his sub appearances.. he’s created chances in small amounts of game time ....

it always bugs me the grief the bench/squad players get .. it’s very hard for them to come in for 10-15 minutes and impact a match Fraser is a rare exception.

 

[SaintBobby]

Aribo has been okay this season. A solid 6 or 7 out of 10.

[Saint_clark]

4 hours ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Think arribo has done reasonably well in a couple of his sub appearances.. he’s created chances in small amounts of game time ....

it always bugs me the grief the bench/squad players get .. it’s very hard for them to come in for 10-15 minutes and impact a match Fraser is a rare exception.

 

 

1 hour ago, SaintBobby said:

Aribo has been okay this season. A solid 6 or 7 out of 10.

Completely agree. Considering he could probably move to another side and look very good at this level, we're very fortunate to have him happy to stay as backup putting in solid sub performances. 

He's a better back up than Steve De Ridder was.

[Master Bates]

Scouts will be at Austria v Germany tomorrow.

[Tommy Mulgrew]

“Scouts will be at Austria v Germany tomorrow.”
 

why?

[VectisSaint]

53 minutes ago, Tommy Mulgrew said:

“Scouts will be at Austria v Germany tomorrow.”
 

why?

Is it Bob a Job week?

[The Cat]

A cheeky bid for David Alaba to solve our left back issues?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

2 hours ago, Tommy Mulgrew said:

“Scouts will be at Austria v Germany tomorrow.”
 

why?

Oompah bands are the new light shows. 🙂

[pimpin4rizeal]

18 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

 

Completely agree. Considering he could probably move to another side and look very good at this level, we're very fortunate to have him happy to stay as backup putting in solid sub performances. 

He's a better back up than Steve De Ridder was.

His skill set could actually work quite well in a russ team. He’s technically very good, creative and also think he has a eye for an incisive through ball.. In a team that keeps possession should really suit him 

Edited 20 November, 2023 by pimpin4rizeal

[Master Bates]

10 hours ago, Tommy Mulgrew said:

“Scouts will be at Austria v Germany tomorrow.”
 

why?

To scout players funnily enough, Manprit Sarkaria and Maximilian Entrup.

[david in sweden]

On 18/11/2023 at 18:17, Saint_clark said:

Think about the Adkins, Pochettino, Koeman and first half of the Puel season rather than second half of the Puel season, Pelligrino and onwards. It's worth it. 

Somewhat different circumstances in each case, perhaps..?

It was tough on Adkins being replaced by Poch, after getting us back into the Prem. with a team that cost less than 7 million  and the subsequent signing of

Jay Rodriguez  was a good buy in the long term, but Pochettino  took credit for developing Luke Shaw (who had already played a dozen games before he arrived)

and his main contribution to improving the squad ...was getting the club to buy Dani Osvaldo (!).      He won't be quick to include that in his autobiography.

NIcola Cortese should have kept out of the football side of things as his signings of Osvaldo and Ramirez (and others) nearly bankrupted the club a second time.

 

Koeman almost bought a new team  and  had the pick from the Dutch league (Pelle, Tadic and Co.) but the signing of Mane was the icing on the cake at the time. 

 

Bringing in new managers always includes the Board's promise to sign ...one of their favourite players / targets no matter who they are. 

For Puel it was Boufal ....and in turn Pelligrino was allowed to buy Carrillo.(!)    Nuff said.  The main problem is always that the incoming manager always brings 

in his own staff (expensive deal when it goes wrong)... and a new formation to force on the existing players in an already-misfunctioning squad. 

They all did it... Hasenhuttl, Jones and Selles..and even RM.    Some good players fell by the wayside by being excluded, and/ or being played out of position.

 

This season brought yet another dimension ..as many good / overpaid players left the club because they (1) deserved to stay in the Prem. and

(2) our previous " spending sprees"  had cost us over 130 million with little noticeable effect of performances and brought about the inevitable outcome.

This summers " fire sale"  merely balanced the books on transfers, although thankfully many of the newest acquisitions look to be very good deals.  

[Master Bates]

21 hours ago, Master Bates said:

Scouts will be at Austria v Germany tomorrow.

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/southampton-set-to-scout-two-potential-targets-ahead-of-january-transfer-window/

[Wade Garrett]

On 18/11/2023 at 21:03, Ex Lion Tamer said:

There is talk that parachute payments will be reformed. There's certainly a lot of clubs who think they give an unfair advantage

 

 

 

 

So what, fuck ‘em.

[Wade Garrett]

22 hours ago, Master Bates said:

Scouts will be at Austria v Germany tomorrow.

Cubs or sea?