Fantasy Signings

[ally_uk]

What players would you keep and who would you sell? 

[Saint Matty 76]

Is this assuming we don't go back up? 

We'll immediately lose KWP, THB, Bednarek, Downes, S. Armstrong and Che at the very least I'd imagine. First thing to do would be to get on the phone to City and West Ham to see if we can get either of the two loanees back, immediately. I can't imagine THB coming back but I have a slight hope for Downes, whether on loan or us scraping together £10m~ on a perm. Looking at the list below, it really looks essential for us to keep hold of Bednarek.

GK: Max O'Leary (Bristol City)/Viktor Johansson (Rotherham), Gavin Bazunu, Joe Lumley

RB: ?, James Bree
CB: Jack Stephens, ?
CB: ?, ?
LB: Ryan Manning, Juan Larios

DM: Flynn Downes (West Ham), Shea Charles
CM: Joe Aribo, Will Smallbone
CM: Callum O'Hare (Coventry), ?

RW: Adam Armstrong, Sam Amo-Ameyaw, Tyler Dibling
ST: Ross Stewart, Sekou Mara, Dom Ballard
LW: Ryan Fraser, Sam Edozie

A lot of work that'd need done, particularly in the defence/midfield. I can't see any of the players currently loaned out returning. Sulemana probably get added to the loaned out list. 

Half of the job in this league is the best utilisation of your 5 loans, it seems.

Regardless, just wasted 10 minutes of work time because we'll be winning the play-offs anyway.

[SNSUN]

New GK 

KWP (ha, no chance)

THB (decides that despite not getting promoted he's happy here - again... HA, no chance)

New CB

New LB

New DM

New CM

New CM

AA

Ross (if he has risen from the dead by then, New Signing if not)

Fraser (or New Signing). 

 

Pretty much how I see it.

[Saint Garrett]

Realistically:

Bazunu; Bree Stephens NEW Manning; Charles Smallbone Aribo; Arma Stewart Fraser. 

[obelisk]

46 minutes ago, ally_uk said:

What players would you keep and who would you sell? 

Start with replacing the manager. Russell has shown the world that he'll never be more than a middling Championship manager. That's his level.

[SNSUN]

4 minutes ago, Saint Garrett said:

Realistically:

Bazunu; Bree Stephens NEW Manning; Charles Smallbone Aribo; Arma Stewart Fraser. 

Besides the front 3, the rest of the team is concerning.

[coalman]

Despite my frustrations over the last couple of months I've not not enjoyed this season. Still think we've got a shot in the playoffs so will reserve judgement until after then

Same as every season I just want a striker, a keeper and a defensive midfielder.

[benjii]

Assuming we don't go up...

Honestly, who knows? So many variables.

KWP off. THB off. Adams off. Probably at least one of Stewie or Aribo to manage the wage bill? Hopefully get some cash for Sulemana and Mara.

Can we keep hold of Bednarek? I'd like to, but maybe he'll want to leave.

Downes? Hopefully we can persuade him to join.

Fraser? Hopeful we can sign him.

That leaves us needing a rebuild at the back. In an ideal world that would include GK.

We would also want to strengthen at centre mid to give us a bit more defensive protection (and if Downes doesn't stay we would need to replace).

Up front, you'd hope we would still be pretty strong though:

Fraser, Edozie, Stewart (inshallah), Armstrong A, Amo Ameyaw, Dibbling 

 

[david in sweden]

16 hours ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

Is this assuming we don't go back up? 

We'll immediately lose KWP, THB, Bednarek, Downes, S. Armstrong and Che at the very least I'd imagine. First thing to do would be to get on the phone to City and West Ham to see if we can get either of the two loanees back, immediately. I can't imagine THB coming back but I have a slight hope for Downes, whether on loan or us scraping together £10m~ on a perm. Looking at the list below, it really looks essential for us to keep hold of Bednarek.

GK: Max O'Leary (Bristol City)/Viktor Johansson (Rotherham), Gavin Bazunu, Joe Lumley

RB: ?, James Bree
CB: Jack Stephens, ?
CB: ?, ?
LB: Ryan Manning, Juan Larios

DM: Flynn Downes (West Ham), Shea Charles
CM: Joe Aribo, Will Smallbone
CM: Callum O'Hare (Coventry), ?

RW: Adam Armstrong, Sam Amo-Ameyaw, Tyler Dibling
ST: Ross Stewart, Sekou Mara, Dom Ballard
LW: Ryan Fraser, Sam Edozie

A lot of work that'd need done, particularly in the defence/midfield. I can't see any of the players currently loaned out returning. Sulemana probably get added to the loaned out list. 

Half of the job in this league is the best utilisation of your 5 loans, it seems.

Regardless, just wasted 10 minutes of work time because we'll be winning the play-offs anyway.

Impressive list and comments Saint Matty.  I'd go along with many of your suggestions but have a few other thoughts.

Goalies:  Thanks and goodbye Macca, but I was also impressed by the Rotherham keeper Johansson. Yes, I know they are bottom pf the league,

but I have always maintained that a keeper is only as good as the defence in front of him  and memory says that Pickford was Sunderland keeper

when they were relegated but he survived and moved to Everton (and England).  Bazunu will improve and Lumley may well be a good extra keeper. 

FB : I think Bree is a good full back and didn't do a lot wrong before the harsh red card (should have been yellow) and an Oscar to the Ipswich attacker.

Manning may have been RM's favourite at Swansea, but he has a hard time convincing Saints fans.  Larios  is still an unknown quantity , and still

fairly young for the LB role.  I'd take back Roman Perraud (presently on loan) ..who is no worse than Manning.

CB : Difficult this one.  Will THB stay ?..and also Bednarek who wanted away last summer ?.Stephens still has a lot of mileage in him but this position needs sorting.

MF: once again..will Downes stay ?.and what is Shea Charles best role ?  Aribo and Smallbone have improved a lot, but we really need a tough Case / Marsden type.   I agree with the interest in O'Hare, and he looks a real handful.   Brooks would be a good buy - if he wants to stay.

WINGERS  / STRIKERS: A mixed bag here . Sam A-A and Sam Edozie are exciting prospects but doubtful if they are automatic choices for a whole season?  but hope we can keep Fraser.  Amongst the younger talents.. both Dibling and a fit Ballard would liven up a strike force, but neither of them    is a 38/ 46 game player , and I am still unconvinced that Mara ( like Alcarez)  is really "one for our future". 

Thankfully ....in Adam Armstrong, we have a 20 goal striker who doubles up as a good defender in almost every game. ( My player of the season ).   

It really is time for Che Adams to move on ..he's always put in a good shift and taken the knocks up front, but the Middlesboro game showed his vulnerability as a top-end striker.  Ross Stewart maybe the answer to my lifelong wish for a " big centre forward " type  (in the mould of Davies, Beattie, Lambert and Pellbut we only get one of those every generation.  IF  Stewart stays fit and scores goals it's no problem, but we do need              an "extra" striker with real League experience.

 

Edited April 3 by david in sweden

[Bob60]

16 hours ago, Saint Garrett said:

Realistically:

Bazunu; Bree Stephens NEW Manning; Charles Smallbone Aribo; Arma Stewart Fraser. 

Don't think this is too bad when you add four or five loans, the young players and a couple of signings.

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, Bob60 said:

Don't think this is too bad when you add four or five loans, the young players and a couple of signings.

That midfield for this level is really bad, we'd never have any control in games. We need a hell of a lot better than Smallbone if we are to see the best of Charles.

[Whitey Grandad]

5 hours ago, benjii said:

Assuming we don't go up...

Honestly, who knows? So many variables.

KWP off. THB off. Adams off. Probably at least one of Stewie or Aribo to manage the wage bill? Hopefully get some cash for Sulemana and Mara.

Can we keep hold of Bednarek? I'd like to, but maybe he'll want to leave.

Downes? Hopefully we can persuade him to join.

Fraser? Hopeful we can sign him.

That leaves us needing a rebuild at the back. In an ideal world that would include GK.

We would also want to strengthen at centre mid to give us a bit more defensive protection (and if Downes doesn't stay we would need to replace).

Up front, you'd hope we would still be pretty strong though:

Fraser, Edozie, Stewart (inshallah), Armstrong A, Amo Ameyaw, Dibbling 

 

Isn’t Stewie out of contract?

[Bob60]

1 hour ago, S-Clarke said:

That midfield for this level is really bad, we'd never have any control in games. We need a hell of a lot better than Smallbone if we are to see the best of Charles.

I am not saying or assuming that would be the starting lineup and assume that area would be improved with loans or signings as per my post.

[Fabrice Fernandes no.1 fan]

The loan army return and we re-start with:

                   Lis

Payne   ABK   DCC  Perraud

  Lyanco Alcaraz Vokins

Ballard   Tall Paul   Merry

[Saint Gifford]

Only thing I would add, if we don’t go up, what about the kids in the academy. 
 

Haven’t heard a lot about if any of them are ready to make the step up to the First team. 
 

Im talking particularly about our U18 scholars. I would not want a team of kids next season, but just wondering if a couple in there are nuggets worth giving a go. 
 

Either attacking or defensively. 

[S-Clarke]

52 minutes ago, Fabrice Fernandes no.1 fan said:

The loan army return and we re-start with:

                   Lis

Payne   ABK   DCC  Perraud

  Lyanco Alcaraz Vokins

Ballard   Tall Paul   Merry

I can genuinely see Charly, ABK and Perraud back in the mix - who is going to touch ABK after this season? At this stage it's probably in his and our best interests to keep hold of him next year, get him a season under his belt and see where he goes. He will still hold value as he has a long contract, so we're not losing out. I imagine takers will be low anyway, needs a season to build his value again.

Edited April 3 by S-Clarke

[Saint Garrett]

On 03/04/2024 at 12:21, S-Clarke said:

I can genuinely see Charly, ABK and Perraud back in the mix - who is going to touch ABK after this season? At this stage it's probably in his and our best interests to keep hold of him next year, get him a season under his belt and see where he goes. He will still hold value as he has a long contract, so we're not losing out. I imagine takers will be low anyway, needs a season to build his value again.

Quite a few in Europe I would think.

[Wiffle Waffle]

Alex McCarthy, Stu and Che will leave at the end of the season when their contracts expire.

If we don’t go up, we will have no chance of signing THB and Downes, I suspect Brooks will have prem suiters and I doubt we could afford Fraser’s salary. I suspect that Rothwell is the only loanee that we would have a chance of signing permanently.

KWP will certainly be off this summer regardless of if we promoted due to his contract situation. Sule will go out on loan as we won’t find anyone willing to pay the price we are asking. Juventus will likely get Charlie on another loan. I suspect that Bednerak will want to leave and Mara I suspect will push for a move for more consistent gametime.

I would imagine that we might look to offload Aribo due to his high wages, same with our loanees like Lyanco, Tall Paul and Perraud

 

That leaves us with the below squad:

GK: Baz, Lumley, Lis

FB: Bree, Manning, Larios, Meghoma

CB: Stephens, Lawrence

CM: Smallbone, Charles

AM: Edozie, SAA, Dibbling

F: Stewart, A.Armstrong, Ballard

[ally_uk]

The board have finally realised we need more firepower up top and have greenlit the move for you to bring in a new striker. 

So who would you bring in? Keep it realistic 

Evan Ferguson -  

19 years old, Brighton linked with a move away could possibly get him on loan? 

Danny Ings -  Already has turnt us down ?

Broja -  Could he worth a punt

Callum Wilson - bit injury prone 

Carlton Morris /  Adebayo  -  Luton lads 

Any foreign talent out there lads ?

Post suggestions keep it realistic

[Saint_lambden]

I think we need x2 players if/when Alcaraz goes. 

I'd go after Sem Steijn at FC Twente as an attacking midfielder - scored 17 times for them in the Dutch league last season which is superb for someone who isn't a striker. He's only 22 so has potential to improve as well. 

Then for a number 9, either Fofana from Chelsea who was on loan at Burnley last season if we have the funds to buy him permanently or Ioannidis from Panathinaikos. 

[SNSUN]

15 minutes ago, Saint_lambden said:

I think we need x2 players if/when Alcaraz goes. 

I'd go after Sem Steijn at FC Twente as an attacking midfielder - scored 17 times for them in the Dutch league last season which is superb for someone who isn't a striker. He's only 22 so has potential to improve as well. 

Then for a number 9, either Fofana from Chelsea who was on loan at Burnley last season if we have the funds to buy him permanently or Ioannidis from Panathinaikos. 

Seems to have very Tadic-y numbers... which is ironic seeing as he's at the same club we got Tadic from.

[Bad Wolf]

If Broja hadn't been with us previously and had had that decent 2-3 months with say Palace or Brighton, the suggestions of signing him would be laughed off in an instant.

[benjii]

Fantasy suggestions lads, but keep it realistic, aye.

[Disco Stu]

46 minutes ago, Saint_lambden said:

I think we need x2 players if/when Alcaraz goes. 

I'd go after Sem Steijn at FC Twente as an attacking midfielder - scored 17 times for them in the Dutch league last season which is superb for someone who isn't a striker. He's only 22 so has potential to improve as well. 

Then for a number 9, either Fofana from Chelsea who was on loan at Burnley last season if we have the funds to buy him permanently or Ioannidis from Panathinaikos. 

Would be an ideal signing but apparently he's about to sign a contract extension.

[Disco Stu]

Realistically, we're looking at the likes of Josh Sargent and Emmanuel Latte Lath. Perhaps we've identified a lesser known talent on the continent that could do a job for us but probably wishful thinking given our recent scouting record.

On the more fantasy end of the spectrum, Memphis Depay is still looking for a club.

Edited August 26 by Disco Stu

[James]

Josh Sargent

Evan Ferguson (loan)

Eddie Nketieh (loan)

We need a focal point relatively urgently or we are done. If we can afford a striker then let’s get Fraser and play BBD centrally. 
 

Stewart would be decent but he’s never fit and has barely played a minute for us. God we’ve really been fucked by signing him. What is it with SR and strikers?!

[Nordic Saint]

 

On 26/08/2024 at 13:28, ally_uk said:

Any foreign talent out there lads ?

Post suggestions keep it realistic

We need a striker so:

1. Ayoub El Kaabi 

2. Vedat Muriqi 

 

 

Edited October 4 by Nordic Saint

[ally_uk]

Good shout regarding Sem Stejin, I mentioned him in the transfer thread previously and agree wholeheartedly he would be a great signing for us. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

Eddie Nketiah would be an outstanding signing if it could be achieved, but I just don’t think there’s the will or the money to get that class of player. Same with Broja, who also is a big risk following injury. Whoever we get, if we get anyone atall, it’ll be pointless unless the stupidity of playing our strike force on the wings is corrected. I can’t think of a single positive attribute to our attacking play and that opinion hasn’t just surfaced - I’ve thought it since way before the play-off final, it’s just that in the Championship there was always a glimmer of opportunity to get it right or for the opposition to screw something up.