Summer Transfer Window 2024

[Give it to Ron]

6 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Not sure about this one. Absolutely slated on their forum and hated. 

A bit like Mara then 🙂 Although not sure hated maybe bit strong 

Edited 16 August, 2024 by Give it to Ron

[Convict Colony]

Its interesting about archer as I read on scouting reports he likes to cut in from the left like BBD does, he's not a classic no. 9 in the hold up sense but I guess his movement will be crucial and his finishing excellent.

[Badger]

From BBC Gossip column Fabrizio Romano sayingArcher going on  loan, mentions Union Berlin or Getafe. 

So, Fabrizio v Ornstein, who is more credible? 

[Harry_SFC]

8 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Its interesting about archer as I read on scouting reports he likes to cut in from the left like BBD does, he's not a classic no. 9 in the hold up sense but I guess his movement will be crucial and his finishing excellent.

What we need now is someone to supply him. Still hoping we can somehow raise the funds for O'Riley.

Getting £20m in for Mara and ABK will be a big help though. 

[hypochondriac]

8 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Its interesting about archer as I read on scouting reports he likes to cut in from the left like BBD does, he's not a classic no. 9 in the hold up sense but I guess his movement will be crucial and his finishing excellent.

Sheffield United fans saying he needs to be played with someone leading the line. Not sure how that works for us. 

[Saint-Reece]

5 minutes ago, Badger said:

From BBC Gossip column Fabrizio Romano sayingArcher going on  loan, mentions Union Berlin or Getafe. 

So, Fabrizio v Ornstein, who is more credible? 

Ornstein actually has contacts at clubs, whereas I think Romano is almost purely agent fed. 

[Chez]

2 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Sheffield United fans saying he needs to be played with someone leading the line. Not sure how that works for us. 

If we play five at the back, it will be two up top. Last season it was BBD and him. Didn't work for Archer. He just didn't do anything. Starved of service, he had little impact on games. 

I'm far from convinced he is the answer. Maybe we will create more chances, but he isn't going to offer the hold up play we need to replace Adams.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

6 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Sheffield United fans saying he needs to be played with someone leading the line. Not sure how that works for us. 

They seem to have mixed views of him, some suggesting not strong enough for the PL and would be more suited for them in the Championship, Also saying signing BBD forced him out of the side.

Still, we must have seen something way back, we even named a stand after him back at the Dell.

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, Chez said:

If we play five at the back, it will be two up top. Last season it was BBD and him. Didn't work for Archer. He just didn't do anything. Starved of service, he had little impact on games. 

I'm far from convinced he is the answer. Maybe we will create more chances, but he isn't going to offer the hold up play we need to replace Adams.

Yes that's sort of what I was saying. Makes a new AM even more of a necessity. A Tadic is exactly what we need. 

[Badger]

10 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Sheffield United fans saying he needs to be played with someone leading the line. Not sure how that works for us. 

We seem to have a habit of signing what I consider the ‘nearly men’ , who’d be brilliant if we had someone better for them to play alongside ( whether it’s a target man, winger, different type of midfielder…) rather than being able to make an impact in their own right.

That seems to be allied with our blind spots for the ‘No 9’, and of course GK. 

[Sheaf Saint]

7 hours ago, Turkish said:

Loose lips sink ships 

Is this one of your cryptic clues?

Were we working on a deal to bring Neil Shipperly back but it's been scuppered after being leaked to the press?

[Badger]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Yes that's sort of what I was saying. Makes a new AM even more of a necessity. A Tadic is exactly what we need. 

And a Pelle

( or a Lambert but perhaps that’s too ambitious). 

[hypochondriac]

Still a bit concerned if this is the extent of our striker business that we haven't got someone who naturally leads the line. I hope Martin isn't doing the home doesn't care about formations and positions thing. 

[hypochondriac]

Just now, Badger said:

And a Pelle

( or a Lambert but perhaps that’s too ambitious). 

Yes but if we were signing someone like that then Archer wouldn't be getting in the team. 

[Harry_SFC]

2 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Still a bit concerned if this is the extent of our striker business that we haven't got someone who naturally leads the line. I hope Martin isn't doing the home doesn't care about formations and positions thing. 

If Onuachu and Mara go then all we'd have is Archer and Stewart (not sure you can even count him myself) Although Martin will include AA and BBD in that even though they aren't out and out strikers. For some reason he seems like "flexible players" who can play across all 3 front positions. In reality I agree, we need a pure number 9. 

[Wade Garrett]

7 hours ago, SaintsFan86 said:

https://twitter.com/Bluecoxtra/status/1824214511768768927?t=rFiP8VZGFS9viPh2rE9KzA&s=19

Sekou Mara is leaving on a permanent?

€10/12Million.

They must have recruited our old recruitment team.

[Wade Garrett]

Do we need anyone to lead the line?

Plenty of sides don’t have a classic 9 any more.

Not that I wouldn’t want one.

[Barsiem]

Archer would be underwhelming, but guess we'll see what happens if he does join.  Maybe we'd negotiate the same kind of deal Sheff utd had, whereby Villa buy him back if we go down this season.  Hopefully not a loan at least, as it'd mean we couldn't get Ramsdale 

[hypochondriac]

9 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

If Onuachu and Mara go then all we'd have is Archer and Stewart (not sure you can even count him myself) Although Martin will include AA and BBD in that even though they aren't out and out strikers. For some reason he seems like "flexible players" who can play across all 3 front positions. In reality I agree, we need a pure number 9. 

I like flexible players too but there's some positions where you need a specialist to do a good job. Cb, gk, dm, striker then you can tinker a bit with some of the other positions. No doubt Martin will count AA and BBD as strikers but I think it leaves us light if Onuachu and Mara leave. I'd like to see us get another on loan maybe if we don't bring a keeper in on loan. 

[Sheaf Saint]

1 minute ago, Wade Garrett said:

Do we need anyone to lead the line?

Plenty of sides don’t have a classic 9 any more.

Not that I wouldn’t want one.

I think we do. Che might have had his faults, but we really missed his presence when he wasn't playing last season. He was frequently the glue that held our attacking play together.

It would be a huge oversight to go into a PL season without a single player who can offer what he did in that respect.

Unless, of course, we are pinning all our hopes on Stewart getting and staying fit. Which I really hope we're not.

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Do we need anyone to lead the line?

Plenty of sides don’t have a classic 9 any more.

Not that I wouldn’t want one.

Well given that Archer scored naff all last season with no one leading the line I'd say it's a legitimate concern that we don't currently have the quality of players to score enough to keep us up. 

[for_heaven's_Saint]

Echo now reporting that Mara to Strasbourg is expected to happen. Good news. 

[S-Clarke]

All that happened quite quickly, when I left yesterday there was an unknown move for a CM, but now Mara is off, the Chelsea guy is the CM and we're buying Archer.

The Chelsea guy was very highly rated when they signed him, £23-30m they paid. One of those 'top prospect' French DM's at the time. Never got a game at Chelsea but that's to be expected. If he can get back to the level he was at France we'll be laughing, he's huge.

No idea what to make of Archer. 

[Midfield_General]

8 hours ago, SaintsFan86 said:

https://twitter.com/Bluecoxtra/status/1824214511768768927?t=rFiP8VZGFS9viPh2rE9KzA&s=19

Sekou Mara is leaving on a permanent?

€10/12Million.

12m?? 

* Starts the car *

”Get in, Sekou, we’re driving to Strasbourg”

[Wade Garrett]

59 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Well given that Archer scored naff all last season with no one leading the line I'd say it's a legitimate concern that we don't currently have the quality of players to score enough to keep us up. 

I understand that.  All I’m saying is do we need a number 9 to hold the ball up with the way we play.  
Someone has just made the point about Che Adams.  Personally, I don’t think he was a great number 9.  If we went long he rarely got the better of a centre back.

Would I want somebody who could hold the ball, run the channels and finish, yes I would.

See Ipswich signing Smodics for £9m and talking to Chelsea about loaning Broja.

[Saint Scott]

I'm personally hoping Archer is a Mara replacement and we're still looking for another forward to replace Che

[Dusic]

I think Archer could potentially be a decent addition - from the clips he reminds me of Craig Bellamy in that he he is very sharp over short distances and looks to be a composed finisher with both feet - and enough about him to create chances for himself.

Also knows the level of the PL so won't need a year to adapt and had a good pre season with Villa so has some kind of form.

Hasn't really been settled yet with various loan spells so good chance to find a home.

Interesting that RM said power and athleticism was the biggest difference between PL and Champ - both these signings have those attributes.

Also interesting how coy RM was about O'Riley when Alfie House asked about him in the embargoed section yesterday - certainly didnt sound totally dead.

Edited 16 August, 2024 by Dusic

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, Saint Scott said:

I'm personally hoping Archer is a Mara replacement and we're still looking for another forward to replace Che

For a rumoured 17 million plus? I very much doubt it! 

[suewhistle]

11 hours ago, Osvaldorama said:

It’s all the others on that list that are shocking. Like… what the actual fuck were the scouts looking at? I watched 5 minutes of Guido Carrillo and it was obvious he was atrocious. Same with many of those others. Just never, ever premier league players, let alone top half which is where we were at the time. 

I wouldn't necessarily blame the scouts but the more senior people who sanctioned the move: in this case wasn't it Pellegrino wanting him and Les Reed approving?

I recall when we sold Bale we got Tommy Fourpast as a make-weight. Our scout told Rupert Lowe that he was a useless goalkeeper, and when Lowe asked him how he knew the reply was "It's my job to know". Another waste of a salary amongst many others..

[SW5 SAINT]

8 hours ago, SaintsFan86 said:

Something to note about Mara, The money brought in is pure profit.

Also the remaining payments out of Saints for his signature sre null in void. 

Because Bordeaux no longer exist.

It’s not pure profit, we paid £10m for his services, in fact I seem to remember something about not trying to rip Bordeaux off because of their then financial woes. Even if Bordeaux now no longer exists, I’m sure their creditors do…..

[St Chalet]

So if I understand this PSR correctly:

We buy a player for £10m on a four year contract, we essentially lose £2.5m per year on him

We sell that same player for £10m two years later we have essentially made a £5m profit (In PSR Terms)

[Saint_clark]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

Yes that's sort of what I was saying. Makes a new AM even more of a necessity. A Tadic is exactly what we need. 

Dibling?

[gio1saints]

Where is Shea going ? 

[Turkish]

1 hour ago, Wade Garrett said:

They must have recruited our old recruitment team.

Or seen his mum

[Saint_clark]

4 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Where is Shea going ? 

Over there.

[Turkish]

24 minutes ago, suewhistle said:

I wouldn't necessarily blame the scouts but the more senior people who sanctioned the move: in this case wasn't it Pellegrino wanting him and Les Reed approving?

I recall when we sold Bale we got Tommy Fourpast as a make-weight. Our scout told Rupert Lowe that he was a useless goalkeeper, and when Lowe asked him how he knew the reply was "It's my job to know". Another waste of a salary amongst many others..

Yes it was. A manager we sacked 6 weeks later. When we sacked him they admitted they had already thought about sacking him but every time they did it he got a postive result. Absolutely ludicrous we'd let a manager sign a club record player on his say so then sack them a few weeks later. Sums up what a shambles it all was back then.

[Ken Tone]

So was the deal last year that Sheffield United bought Archer but Villa had to buy him back if sheff were relegated?  That's the first deal like that I've heard of. Interesting alternative to a year's loan with option or requirement to buy. 

Certainly implies Villa don't rate him much.

[Gloucester Saint]

2 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Is this one of your cryptic clues?

Were we working on a deal to bring Neil Shipperly back but it's been scuppered after being leaked to the press?

The club decided against signing him as heard he is a bit of a wanker and quite flash(ing).

Mara potentially going is great news, fingers crossed on ABK, should see some activity. Not sure about Archer, too similar to what we already have. 

Edited 16 August, 2024 by Gloucester Saint

[hypochondriac]

14 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Dibling?

Again, we absolutely should not be entrusting the success of our season on a young player with very little experience. Martin will feel the same way. 

[egg]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

Again, we absolutely should not be entrusting the success of our season on a young player with very little experience. Martin will feel the same way. 

I agree that we shouldn't, but with what RM has as his disposal, then Dibling is probably his best AM option. It'll end up being Lallana though, assuming his legs ever work again. 

[macca155]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

Again, we absolutely should not be entrusting the success of our season on a young player with very little experience. Martin will feel the same way. 

Agree that's how to ruin a great prospect. He will be targeted very quickly by opposition managers, if Saints constantly channel our attacks through him.

However he is a very talented player and I definitely think he'll have a part to play. Probably as a decent sub to start with.

[OldNick]

16 hours ago, Chez said:

We want £10m for Onuachu. Not sure that extra £2-3m sways you in favour of selling?

No as 10m will get us little to replace although it seems Ipswich are getting Smolicks for 9m

[Saint_Ash]

19 minutes ago, St Chalet said:

So if I understand this PSR correctly:

We buy a player for £10m on a four year contract, we essentially lose £2.5m per year on him

We sell that same player for £10m two years later we have essentially made a £5m profit (In PSR Terms)

I doubt it. We can't keep a players cost on the balance sheet and release the deferral over the whole four years if we sell him after two, I would expect to release the balance when he's sold.

[egg]

1 hour ago, S-Clarke said:

All that happened quite quickly, when I left yesterday there was an unknown move for a CM, but now Mara is off, the Chelsea guy is the CM and we're buying Archer.

The Chelsea guy was very highly rated when they signed him, £23-30m they paid. One of those 'top prospect' French DM's at the time. Never got a game at Chelsea but that's to be expected. If he can get back to the level he was at France we'll be laughing, he's huge.

No idea what to make of Archer. 

Which Chelsea lad are we linked with? 

[Toadhall Saint]

2 minutes ago, egg said:

Which Chelsea lad are we linked with? 

Lesley - cannot spell or pronounce his last name.

[skintsaint]

9 hours ago, SaintsFan86 said:

https://twitter.com/Bluecoxtra/status/1824214511768768927?t=rFiP8VZGFS9viPh2rE9KzA&s=19

Sekou Mara is leaving on a permanent?

€10/12Million.

[hypochondriac]

7 minutes ago, egg said:

I agree that we shouldn't, but with what RM has as his disposal, then Dibling is probably his best AM option. It'll end up being Lallana though, assuming his legs ever work again. 

I don't disagree. I don't think that's enough for survival though. 

[hypochondriac]

7 minutes ago, macca155 said:

Agree that's how to ruin a great prospect. He will be targeted very quickly by opposition managers, if Saints constantly channel our attacks through him.

However he is a very talented player and I definitely think he'll have a part to play. Probably as a decent sub to start with.

Yep I'd like to see him get loads of game time. Just not as our best and only hope in his position. 

[austsaint]

1 minute ago, Toadhall Saint said:

Lesley - cannot spell or pronounce his last name.

Nor can I, but it's sounding and feeling like a smart bit of business.    

[gio1saints]

Archer in Mara out seems straight swop almost publicised in sync. 
The Chelsea DM in but no incoming publicised poses intriguing questions. 

It is inconceivable to me that we have two top end DM’s as back up to Flynn. Thats one too many- OR  we are going to try play with two at same time - meaning the end ( or at least temporary abandonment) of the Jack Stephens front sweeper role. 

For me, the longer it goes without a named outgoing ( Shea or Jack gets dropped)  the greater the likelihood that this aspect is part of a connected purchase or loan - the most public one being MOR. 
Which, if any of those lives of thought we end up going for anyone’s guess. Indeed - knowing how highly Shea is rated, it may just be we may still just keep Shea and have extra cover in the DMF position. Probably not a bad move given we are likely to be having to defend a bit more than last year I’d imagine! 

which is best though?