Summer Transfer Window 2024

[Holmes_and_Watson]

24 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

Russell Martin on whether Saints need to add just one more or add two new players in the final third...

I think I need to help the lads. We need to help the lads a bit more as well.

Last summer Nathan Tella left and he went and had a great season, achieved brilliant things, and then we ended up playing Adam Armstrong out there. He did brilliantly but he's a guy that wants to play as a number nine really, and he did all last season - although he scored 25 goals or whatever.

We just need people that are a bit different to what we have right now just so we have various options. I'm really happy with the options we have. But we have a lot of similar options if that makes sense. We just need probably one or two points of difference at some point.

I think Mateus Fernandes can help us with that. Tyler Dibling and Sam Amo-Ameyaw are brilliant young players. We'll wait and see where we end up.

It depends on who leaves the building as well, whether it's one or two players or whatever, it will depend on maybe who goes out. It's probably frustrating for people but it also may be exciting for some to see what happens. I'm pretty sure whatever business we do, it will be good for us.

I'd be interested to learn just how different the players he'd like would be. Because all the ones that offer us something quite different, are the ones he wants to go. Tall, central striker who can head well; Full back who can deliver deep crosses; pace merchant down the flanks; attacking central midfielder who is good on the counter. All offer something different. All heading for the exit.

Martin did want a Tella replacement, missed out and we got Brooks in later who wasn't the same sort of player. He tried Mara in that role too, to minimal success. But Tella was direct and got a shot away.

He wasn't necessarily part of elaborate possession play Martin was trying to build when he left. Martin seems to want someone who fits well into his tactic while also having skills to break from it. Not looking for much.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 minute ago, SNSUN said:

With every day that passes as we head towards 11pm on Friday, the more I'm hoping we hang on to TP. The problem is the Turkish window shuts in mid-September (the Saudi window shuts after ours too incidentally) and we don't want to be in a position where our window has closed and we're still losing players that could help us. 

 

Thats ok, with the money we make on those sales we can panic buy in January again.

[Fabrice29]

6 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

Agreed, it would be odd.

We currently have 3 options for our right side. An 18 year old, Edozie who plays better from the left and AA who wants to play central (and has been concluded as out of his depth in this league by many) so I’d say signing a right sided player isn’t at all odd.

3 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

With every day that passes as we head towards 11pm on Friday, the more I'm hoping we hang on to TP. The problem is the Turkish window shuts in mid-September (the Saudi window shuts after ours too incidentally) and we don't want to be in a position where our window has closed and we're still losing players that could help us. 

 

Pretty sure based on Martins comments today that we sign a striker only if TP goes (or Stewart).

Edited August 27 by Fabrice29

[Luke SkyWalker-Peters]

10 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

Edozie predominantly plays left side and is better cutting in and from the little I know about Fellows that’s a different position to him. 

It's just how they are used in their system. They are both right footed wingers, but both fairly good with both feet. Fellows usually plays on the right wing to whip crosses in with his dominant foot, but has played on the left cutting in as Edozie usually does. Martin doesn't like to use wingers in this manner and usually has them cutting in. At the moment if Fellows was to whip crosses in there won't be anyone there with the way we are set up (and the way Martin usually plays).

9 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

Probably beating his man and then doing fuck all with it, tbh

But doing more with it than Fellows does, which is my point. Imagine how frustrating you'll find Fellows when Edozie was the far more productive player last season.

[Chez]

 

26 minutes ago, The Curse of St Mary's said:

Suggests Tom fellows link has legs. I like him as he's direct and quick but PL a huge jump in standard. 

Fellows reminds me a little bit of Brooks, but unlike him is genuinely two footed, which is rare these days. Not quite sure he has enough to unlock Prem defences, but you wont know until you see him try. He looks like a £15m player we might pull off rather than, what turned out to be a £25m guy, like Asprilla or Carvalho, which we really wanted. 

 

[Orkney Saint]

We don’t need any strikers with Russel Martin’s U Formation ™️. Need a lot of wide players though, so the more the merrier! 🤪

[SNSUN]

3 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

We currently have 3 options for our right side. An 18 year old, Edozie who plays better from the left and AA who wants to play central (and has been concluded as out of his depth in this league by many) so I’d say signing a right sided player isn’t at all odd.

Pretty sure based on Martins comments today that we sign a striker only if TP goes (or Stewart).

If Martin deems AA to be a striker, then he needs to play him there and stop having him wide in a two. The positions that AA and BBD took up against Forest were ridiculously wide for a team that didn't have a player in the middle. AA does make decent runs and he scored a decent amount of goals last season (including key goals) but I will never be comfortable with him playing as a striker - he doesn't have the speed of thought a Prem striker needs. However Russ is the manager and if he wants AA as a striker, then we can't really argue - but I agree that means we need to bring in a player on the right. I don't see Fellows being the answer too from what I saw of him last season - he's still too raw. Our strikers going into the season then are AA, Archer, TP and Stewart - one of whom will probably leave - with BBD able to do a job there too. That worries me.

How can a club that spots a player like Sugawara not be able to spot other similar gems?

[Saint Fan CaM]

6 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

If Martin deems AA to be a striker, then he needs to play him there and stop having him wide in a two. The positions that AA and BBD took up against Forest were ridiculously wide for a team that didn't have a player in the middle. AA does make decent runs and he scored a decent amount of goals last season (including key goals) but I will never be comfortable with him playing as a striker - he doesn't have the speed of thought a Prem striker needs. However Russ is the manager and if he wants AA as a striker, then we can't really argue - but I agree that means we need to bring in a player on the right. I don't see Fellows being the answer too from what I saw of him last season - he's still too raw. Our strikers going into the season then are AA, Archer, TP and Stewart - one of whom will probably leave - with BBD able to do a job there too. That worries me.

How can a club that spots a player like Sugawara not be able to spot other similar gems?

The trouble is when you look at the options available in the money range the club can sustainably afford, there’s not a great deal of choice. I suspect there are a number of permutations and discussions being held that were not party to - fingers crossed we unearth a gem.

[Fabrice29]

30 minutes ago, Luke SkyWalker-Peters said:

It's just how they are used in their system. They are both right footed wingers, but both fairly good with both feet. Fellows usually plays on the right wing to whip crosses in with his dominant foot, but has played on the left cutting in as Edozie usually does. Martin doesn't like to use wingers in this manner and usually has them cutting in. At the moment if Fellows was to whip crosses in there won't be anyone there with the way we are set up (and the way Martin usually plays).

But doing more with it than Fellows does, which is my point. Imagine how frustrating you'll find Fellows when Edozie was the far more productive player last season.

I’d use more relevant stats like chances created, the quality of those chances created and crosses completed rather than assists for this tbh if I were you.

[SNSUN]

17 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

The trouble is when you look at the options available in the money range the club can sustainably afford, there’s not a great deal of choice. I suspect there are a number of permutations and discussions being held that were not party to - fingers crossed we unearth a gem.

We played the loan market well last season, it would be nice to do that again - even if it's harder being a Prem side than a Championship side to do that.

[Fabrice29]

39 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

If Martin deems AA to be a striker, then he needs to play him there and stop having him wide in a two. The positions that AA and BBD took up against Forest were ridiculously wide for a team that didn't have a player in the middle. AA does make decent runs and he scored a decent amount of goals last season (including key goals) but I will never be comfortable with him playing as a striker - he doesn't have the speed of thought a Prem striker needs. However Russ is the manager and if he wants AA as a striker, then we can't really argue - but I agree that means we need to bring in a player on the right. I don't see Fellows being the answer too from what I saw of him last season - he's still too raw. Our strikers going into the season then are AA, Archer, TP and Stewart - one of whom will probably leave - with BBD able to do a job there too. That worries me.

How can a club that spots a player like Sugawara not be able to spot other similar gems?

A) Sugawara the full international and starter for a team in Europe and one of the top leagues in the world was hardly a difficult find. B) He’s played two games for us so deciding he’s a gem and others are not seems a bit mad. Especially those that we haven’t even signed yet. C) RB’s are slightly less in demand and slightly less specialist than strikers but if you do know any full international, starting strikers for European teams who’d be willing to join I’m sure Saints would be grateful for your suggestion. D) Signing off with ‘why can’t my club sign more players I like’ is great btw, especially considering B.

[6ft8saint]

And the award for the worst written article goes to....

https://www.footitalia.com/southampton-make-bid-for-juventus-filip-kostic/

[Kristian Loekkegaard]

Can't believe Justin Bijlow failed his medical with us. Yes, I know he has an injury history, but still. What now???

[Dark Munster]

10 hours ago, Dellyears said:

Why blame SR? This habit of making SR the fall guy is absurd. They've poured money this window and strengthened us beyond expectations. They've invested more than any owners in our history, except perhaps Markus. Time they got a little credit.

Have they? I thought any money pumped into the club was from Dragan, and SR are just the ones spending the money. Just like Cortese with Markus/Kat's money. Cortese may have been a ruthless bastard, but at least knew what he was doing and was very successful, in contrast to SR who are mainly a bunch clueless muppets, led by the muppet-in-chief Rasmus.

[Nolan]

1 hour ago, Dark Munster said:

Have they? I thought any money pumped into the club was from Dragan, and SR are just the ones spending the money. Just like Cortese with Markus/Kat's money. Cortese may have been a ruthless bastard, but at least knew what he was doing and was very successful, in contrast to SR who are mainly a bunch clueless muppets, led by the muppet-in-chief Rasmus.

thankfully the "clueless muppets" of Sport Republic got 2 teams promoted last season.

Sounds like for some people the only thing that will make them believe in our management is a Champions League win.

[Kermitzasaint]

31 minutes ago, Nolan said:

thankfully the "clueless muppets" of Sport Republic got 2 teams promoted last season.

Sounds like for some people the only thing that will make them believe in our management is a Champions League win.

Whilst most Saints fan are grateful for the investment, the thing we are not happy about is the ridiculous spending and wastage on players which are clearly not going to work. That wastage could end up being the reason they realise it's a poor investment and decide to sell up. 

Our scouting and signing strategies are abysmal at best. Just because it's not our money doesn't mean Dragan will want to keep throwing it away. I wouldn't if I were him. 

[Give it to Ron]

6 hours ago, Fabrice29 said:

A) Sugawara the full international and starter for a team in Europe and one of the top leagues in the world was hardly a difficult find. B) He’s played two games for us so deciding he’s a gem and others are not seems a bit mad. Especially those that we haven’t even signed yet. C) RB’s are slightly less in demand and slightly less specialist than strikers but if you do know any full international, starting strikers for European teams who’d be willing to join I’m sure Saints would be grateful for your suggestion. D) Signing off with ‘why can’t my club sign more players I like’ is great btw, especially considering B.

Why does it have to be just European teams for strikers? 

[SNSUN]

Tolu Arokodare at Genk. 15 goals last season, 4 already this season, 6'6" 23 year old. The next Tall Paul. 😁

[Fabrice29]

23 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

Why does it have to be just European teams for strikers? 

Okay if people are going to reply to comments can they understand the context what they are replying to first please. 

[Dman]

9 hours ago, CSA96 said:

Russell Martin on whether Saints need to add just one more or add two new players in the final third...

I think I need to help the lads. We need to help the lads a bit more as well.

Last summer Nathan Tella left and he went and had a great season, achieved brilliant things, and then we ended up playing Adam Armstrong out there. He did brilliantly but he's a guy that wants to play as a number nine really, and he did all last season - although he scored 25 goals or whatever.

We just need people that are a bit different to what we have right now just so we have various options. I'm really happy with the options we have. But we have a lot of similar options if that makes sense. We just need probably one or two points of difference at some point.

I think Mateus Fernandes can help us with that. Tyler Dibling and Sam Amo-Ameyaw are brilliant young players. We'll wait and see where we end up.

It depends on who leaves the building as well, whether it's one or two players or whatever, it will depend on maybe who goes out. It's probably frustrating for people but it also may be exciting for some to see what happens. I'm pretty sure whatever business we do, it will be good for us.

If only we had a 6'7" target man, with a decent goal scoring record for every team hes player for..... knowing old Russ, if we did, he'd play without a number 9 and not even put him on the bench

[Dellyears]

19 minutes ago, Dman said:

If only we had a 6'7" target man, with a decent goal scoring record for every team hes player for..... knowing old Russ, if we did, he'd play without a number 9 and not even put him on the bench

Tall Paul has been rubbished on this site ever since he first came, now posters are crying out for him to play. Don't know why we are so keen to rubbish our own, I thought fans were meant to be supporters. I know I am old fashioned.

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, Dellyears said:

Tall Paul has been rubbished on this site ever since he first came, now posters are crying out for him to play. Don't know why we are so keen to rubbish our own, I thought fans were meant to be supporters. I know I am old fashioned.

I expect the posters are different people. Personally I don't think he's ever had a proper chance and if we had signed him this season with his previous goal record we would be quite excited. 

[gio1saints]

Situations like Saturday where it was just not happening, RM putting Paul into the centre forward space and him competing in it by his presence alone was simply not an option - cos he was not on the bench. 

When he last played for us he got fouled a bunch of times in the last five minutes cos defenders rarely have to deal with that kind of attacker anymore. He could help generate Free kicks and positions which could be exploited. Let alone anything he does himself with the ball.
 

He is a different kind of problem to that which most defences been dealing with. A very stark contrast. If we go into last five and it’s equal him coming in certainly gives opposition cause for concern - which makes them even less likely to score against us and it more likely we will create goal scoring opportunities.

And who is to say if he is a success that he does not just be a last 5/10 mins impact player but plays more and more. Won’t know unless he’s given the chance. Which he will not my guess as he is 100% not on brand.

My favourite brand of football for Saints is winning then next is not losing- then I may give you my style preferences further down that list - and the style IS important to me - but I know the first two always - as do most Saints fans…

[Suhari]

18 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I expect the posters are different people. Personally I don't think he's ever had a proper chance and if we had signed him this season with his previous goal record we would be quite excited. 

Yep.

Pretty sure he has far more 'top flight' goals than anyone else in our squad. Of course 'top flight' has not been EPL, but nor has it for most of our squad.

I'm still hoping he gets a game tonight and is kept around for this season. He could become a cult hero.

Bet he'll leave for peanuts though.

[OldNick]

11 hours ago, Turkish said:

Our keeper situation is a debacle. Of our two fit keepers One of them is shit and the other is so shit when our first choice keeper got injured he went from being second choice to second choice  🤣🤣🤣

That is so disrespectful of Macca, ok he's not the best with his feet, but without him I doubt we would have promoted and secondly we would have lost by far more on Saturday. 

[a1ex2001]

23 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I expect the posters are different people. Personally I don't think he's ever had a proper chance and if we had signed him this season with his previous goal record we would be quite excited. 

And the truth is likely somewhere in the middle, TP is clearly a limited footballer otherwise he would be playing at a higher level already but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t be an option when we are chasing a game or just need to change things up a little.

Personally I’d like to see us buy a better number 9 but until that happens we should be finding him a spot on the bench there are plenty of spaces these days.

[ally_uk]

In all honesty why can't we say give Tall Paul five games up top and see how he actually gets on before writing him off?

If he gets a couple of goals happy days. 

Would add another dimension to the attack worth a go surely ? Just seems silly just to have him here and not utilise him properly mind you I felt the same about Alcarez.

One of the best technically gifted, forward driven midfielders who isn't afraid to break out the system and actually attack..... What are we trying to do?

Sell the guy 

Can somebody actually just explain such baffling decisions properly ? 

Surely we should be playing to both strengths.... 

 

 

 

[SaintLondon]

I actually agree that we might as well give TP a go if Trabzonspor are effing about with low fees it's worth a shot.

I can't remember what game it was but at the tail end of the relegation season he came on and caused all sorts of problems and hit the crossbar with the header. (Or am I looking back with hopeful memories?)

[OldNick]

Sadly I fear that RM is so set on his principles that we wont give TP the chance. I was hopeful at the end of last season that RM started to be pragmatic and go a little against his ways, but it seems he is out to prove his system is going to work just to show his critics he was right all along.

[Turkish]

9 minutes ago, OldNick said:

That is so disrespectful of Macca, ok he's not the best with his feet, but without him I doubt we would have promoted and secondly we would have lost by far more on Saturday. 

Which other premier league club would he get into? He'd struggle to even be second choice at 2/3s of them i'd say.

Which other top half championship club does he get into? 

Whilst being one of our highest earners for the last few years he's made 30 appearances for us since the start of 2021/22 season and now in his ninth season only 131 ever. There is a reason for that.

 

[S-Clarke]

10 hours ago, CSA96 said:

Wow, that is a mad price for him

 

The Burnley meltdown at the moment is quite something. They're selling anyone who moves.

Of the team that started against Luton, they've lost or are going to lose 7 of that (most in the last week too)

Edited August 28 by S-Clarke

[Turkish]

1 minute ago, S-Clarke said:

The Burnley meltdown at the moment is quite something. They're selling anyone who moves.

Of the team that started against Luton, they've lost or are going to lose 7 of that (most in the last week too)

wondered why i'd not see that yank bird gobbing off on twitter for a while

[beatlesaint]

3 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

The Burnley meltdown at the moment is quite something. They're selling anyone who moves.

Of the team that started against Luton, they've lost or are going to lose 7 of that (most in the last week too)

Making it tough for Scottie Parker to get them promoted.

Shame, such a nice man 😏

[saint michael]

I’m not sure what Martin sees as success. 
 

he was really pleased with Newcastle result based on the way we played and said on another day we would have scored 3 and won 3 1.  The reason we didn’t is because of the skills and ability of the players we have. He doesn’t seem to connect the two together. Success and failure is a fine line. I wonder if us having 20% possession tonight and winning 1 0 with TP getting a late headed goal from long delivery into box would be a success for him. 
 

I wonder what level of player skill he looks for when you see who we are currently connected to. 

[Badger]

15 minutes ago, SaintLondon said:

I actually agree that we might as well give TP a go if Trabzonspor are effing about with low fees it's worth a shot.

I can't remember what game it was but at the tail end of the relegation season he came on and caused all sorts of problems and hit the crossbar with the header. (Or am I looking back with hopeful memories?)

West Ham away. I don't recall him causing al sorts of problems, but certainly gave their defence something to think about, and he did hit the bar (think their GK tipped it on to the bar)

[Colinjb]

8 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

The Burnley meltdown at the moment is quite something. They're selling anyone who moves.

Of the team that started against Luton, they've lost or are going to lose 7 of that (most in the last week too)

#Free-InsertNameHere-

[notnowcato]

TP is just not mobile enough, and would require a dramatic change in the team’s philosophy to bring him into the game. We are going to continue to play the way we’ve played since the beginning of last season, to rip that up is no guarantee of success. 
 

The performance at Newcastle was ok, although having seen them at Bornmuff I’m not convinced it was as good as I first thought. Forest was largely disappointing but if you change your philosophy following such a performance you’ll run out of options very quickly. Stick with what we know, support the boys in what was always going to be a difficult season. 

[obelisk]

5 minutes ago, Badger said:

West Ham away. I don't recall him causing al sorts of problems, but certainly gave their defence something to think about, and he did hit the bar (think their GK tipped it on to the bar)

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12848468/post-p-onuachu-86-west-ham-1-0-southampton

[S-Clarke]

Strike me a bit confused, but how are Leicester doing this - what with all the financial restrictions around them?

Leicester set to sign El Khannouss in £19m deal from Genk

Latest from Sky Sports News' Lyall Thomas:

Bilal El Khannouss is expected to have a medical with Leicester today.

The Foxes have agreed a deal at just over £19m to sign the attacking midfielder from Genk.

[Saint_Ash]

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1828709264757522828?t=lbwZeI6pdDgRrcsxq9NyjA&s=19

Edited August 28 by Saint_Ash

[gio1saints]

If we cannot find a way to play TP is there an argument to suggest we are going to find it hard to play RS also? 

Last match I saw RM played him in the touchline hugging right wing…

This not playing Paul him cos he’s leaving is an all preseason long unhelpful story. If he’s still here Friday we’ve potentially  wasted thst preseason by not practising using him on the pitch. 

Even with RS fit if TP cannot get a kick I’m not sure we’ve played a formation yet that would optimise his or indeed any conventional #9 strengths. 

And THAT would be the negligent element of his transfer - not his unfortunate post purchase injury problem.
 

For all the fan talk of getting a goalscoring #9 what if we do not and continually will not play in a way which complements one?Is it lots of Southampton Nil results incoming…or do we crack the false #9 code with Tyler or others? It’s the gamble if our season imo. 

It's a massive ideological issue - and maybe the hill that RM chooses to die on - or achieves glory on. Or both! 

[Saint NL]

4 minutes ago, Saint_Ash said:

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1828709264757522828?t=lbwZeI6pdDgRrcsxq9NyjA&s=19

No mention of the Victor Hugo loan/buy/whatever

[Matty's Caddy]

1 hour ago, Dellyears said:

Tall Paul has been rubbished on this site ever since he first came, now posters are crying out for him to play. Don't know why we are so keen to rubbish our own, I thought fans were meant to be supporters. I know I am old fashioned.

He has because he’s no god with his feet and looks awkward but we play with 2 wide men and try to get to the byline, why wouldn’t you put a big man in the box?

[sfc4prem]

6 minutes ago, Saint_Ash said:

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1828709264757522828?t=lbwZeI6pdDgRrcsxq9NyjA&s=19

Gets us some capital for an asset we seemingly weren't going to be using much...

 

Is £15.6m a bit cheap? Probably.

Edited August 28 by sfc4prem

[OldNick]

2 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Which other premier league club would he get into? He'd struggle to even be second choice at 2/3s of them i'd say.

Which other top half championship club does he get into? 

Whilst being one of our highest earners for the last few years he's made 30 appearances for us since the start of 2021/22 season and now in his ninth season only 131 ever. There is a reason for that.

 

The reason for that is the club invested in a young keeper who they thought was the bees knees. It turns out he was Nora Battys knees.

He also was up against Forster, after he had a poor period. Now working under a highly rated goal keeping coach his sharpness has returned. Personally I am cool with him being our number 1. I assume you wouldn't have Nick Pope just look how useless he is with his feet, he is an absolute joke kicking the ball but he does what a goalkeeper should do, save the ball. I have been going to games for a very long time and Shilton was terrible kicking the ball out unless it was a drop kick launch. Niemi a fantastic keeper but he wasnt one you could trust with his feet.

[S-Clarke]

5 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

Gets us some capital for an asset we seemingly weren't going to be using much...

 

Is £15.6m a bit cheap? Probably.

All in we've made about £20m, if you factor in the £5m loan fee to Juventus in January.

That £40m future buy clause was always a funny joke, we were never getting that. Half at best, which is what we've done really.

[jamesfp1]

Any keeper rumours?

[hypochondriac]

30 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

The Burnley meltdown at the moment is quite something. They're selling anyone who moves.

Of the team that started against Luton, they've lost or are going to lose 7 of that (most in the last week too)

Sadly could be a predictor of where we might be next year. 

[beatlesaint]

4 minutes ago, OldNick said:

The reason for that is the club invested in a young keeper who they thought was the bees knees. It turns out he was Nora Battys knees.

He also was up against Forster, after he had a poor period. Now working under a highly rated goal keeping coach his sharpness has returned. Personally I am cool with him being our number 1. I assume you wouldn't have Nick Pope just look how useless he is with his feet, he is an absolute joke kicking the ball but he does what a goalkeeper should do, save the ball. I have been going to games for a very long time and Shilton was terrible kicking the ball out unless it was a drop kick launch. Niemi a fantastic keeper but he wasnt one you could trust with his feet.

Its a fair point and the examples are 100%....... i mean as ive said before the easiest way around this problem should we not get a ball playing keeper is not pass back to him so much and stop the titting around so close to our goal, move it upfield a bit and cut down on some of the risk. We can still play flowing, sideways passing non moving football near the half way line as we can near our penalty area 🤪 

Edited August 28 by beatlesaint

[benali-shorts]

28 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

The Burnley meltdown at the moment is quite something. They're selling anyone who moves.

Of the team that started against Luton, they've lost or are going to lose 7 of that (most in the last week too)

The last time we went down, we had some highly valuable assets to sell (Lavia; Tino; JWP etc).  If we go down, we’ll presumably have to cover this window’s spending,which given lower-value player assets might be very painful. Something to look forward to…….