Team for the championship - likely exits, and what will be required for promotion and staying up

[Tommy]

If the likes of Fraser & smallbone are still in this squad at start of season I despair. 

[Matthew Le God]

2 minutes ago, Tommy said:

If the likes of Fraser & smallbone are still in this squad at start of season I despair. 

They'll be hard to shift!

[gio1saints]

6 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

That is not true. Shea Charles and Joe Aribo are both taller than 6ft. Both shrug off Championship players with ease.

Right about Shea -I’d forgotten him! Joe is just about 6ft not a massive 6ft plus and I would not say his aerial ability is his biggest strength-at all - though he is one of the few we have hard to push off the ball that’s true - but the point about Saints future propensity to assess a players worth by height and athleticism before passing skills remains highly likely however - and should make identifying the new players to arrive - and those who will go - quite transparent. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

8 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Right about Shea -I’d forgotten him! Joe is just about 6ft not a massive 6ft plus and I would not say his aerial ability is his biggest strength-at all - though he is one of the few we have hard to push off the ball that’s true - but the point about Saints future propensity to assess a players worth by height and athleticism before passing skills remains highly likely however - and should make identifying the new players to arrive - and those who will go - quite transparent. 

Declan Glass joins Saints from Cove Rangers, as the first of their transparent signings. At 5' 9" there were rumblings that some feared would shatter the deal. 🙂

[Saint Fan CaM]

I would start the clear out with any player that has a propensity to move the ball upfield and then turn back to re-cycle it to the defence/keeper….Manning, Bree and Smallbone come to mind. In terms of defenders I’d also transfer list Bednarek, Stephens, ABK, Larios, Sugawara, McCarthy and Bazunu. Forwards/midfielders to see the door would be Downes, Fraser, Edozie, Sulemana, Armstrong, Archer, Tall Paul, BBD, Cornet.

In fact the only certain players I’d retain if atall possible would be Ramsdale, THB, Wood, Edward’s, KWP, Welington, Fernandes, Charles, Dibling.

[Matthew Le God]

6 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Forwards/midfielders to see the door would be Downes, Fraser, Edozie, Sulemana, Armstrong, Archer, Tall Paul, BBD, Cornet.

Some good news for you!

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/cornet-returns-to-west-ham

Probably easy to miss as he had no impact for us, but Cornet left in January when his loan was cut short, he then went on loan to Genoa and was never ours in the first place to stay beyond this season anyway. 

Edited Thursday at 03:55 by Matthew Le God

[gio1saints]

11 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Declan Glass joins Saints from Cove Rangers, as the first of their transparent signings. At 5' 9" there were rumblings that some feared would shatter the deal. 🙂

Holmes you do know he’s not joined as a footballer right? He is obviously way too short to be a footballer ~ in the Spors image.

My ITK says he has been recruited primarily as an IT assistant, first line. Apparently he got a GSCE in IT and can work an IPHone. During his interview he helped restart the catering managers laptop which was a big plus. He is also only on probation so Spors has got up to three months to suss out wether he can help the cafe manager ( and others - there’s also the shop to consider) to switch the till off, take the plug out then reput the plug in and switch it back on.
My only concern would be if there is any plug socket located at higher than , say 6ft, as he won’t be able to reach it -and that might be the end of his career. Might have to go back to being a footballer. 🫢

[gio1saints]

Saints new pre season fitness testing :

 

Edited Thursday at 08:21 by gio1saints

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, gio1saints said:

Holmes you do know he’s not joined as a footballer right? He is obviously way too short to be a footballer ~ in the Spors image.

My ITK says he has been recruited primarily as an IT assistant, first line. Apparently he got a GSCE in IT and can work an IPHone. During his interview he helped restart the catering managers laptop which was a big plus. He is also only on probation so Spors has got up to three months to suss out wether he can help the cafe manager ( and others - there’s also the shop to consider) to switch the till off, take the plug out then reput the plug in and switch it back on.
My only concern would be if there is any plug socket located at higher than , say 6ft, as he won’t be able to reach it -and that might be the end of his career. Might have to go back to being a footballer. 🫢

All good points Gio. You outline the many, many variables involved. It's not as crystal clear as it can seem.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, gio1saints said:

Saints new pre season fitness testing :

 

I'm a little concerned that they could use footwear to reach this vital criteria.

The last thing we want is having a Messi sneaking into our side, having worn platform shoes for that test.

[gio1saints]

26 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

I'm a little concerned that they could use footwear to reach this vital criteria.

The last thing we want is having a Messi sneaking into our side, having worn platform shoes for that test.

If MLT was famously able to cheat the pre season weighing scales by leaning against a wall I don’t see the problem with some of our more vertically challenged players using platform shoes and inserts. If it’s good enough for the POTUS after all. Think the games up for Fraser though. Sadly. Even in platforms he only reaches 5ft. The upside is he never bashes his head on the ceiling of the changing rooms though that’s scant consolation I suppose as he considers his future career options. 

[disconnect]

13 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

I would start the clear out with any player that has a propensity to move the ball upfield and then turn back to re-cycle it to the defence/keeper….Manning, Bree and Smallbone come to mind. In terms of defenders I’d also transfer list Bednarek, Stephens, ABK, Larios, Sugawara, McCarthy and Bazunu. Forwards/midfielders to see the door would be Downes, Fraser, Edozie, Sulemana, Armstrong, Archer, Tall Paul, BBD, Cornet.

In fact the only certain players I’d retain if atall possible would be Ramsdale, THB, Wood, Edward’s, KWP, Welington, Fernandes, Charles, Dibling.

Sadly you've listed the 5 most likely players to leave as the ones to retain.

I think we'll finally see Bella-Kotchap and Larios go, both to have good careers elsewhere. I doubt Downes will leave unless we get our money back, and would like to see Edozie and Archer given another chance in the Championship. Cornet left in January and now plays in Italy I think. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

5 hours ago, gio1saints said:

If MLT was famously able to cheat the pre season weighing scales by leaning against a wall I don’t see the problem with some of our more vertically challenged players using platform shoes and inserts. If it’s good enough for the POTUS after all. Think the games up for Fraser though. Sadly. Even in platforms he only reaches 5ft. The upside is he never bashes his head on the ceiling of the changing rooms though that’s scant consolation I suppose as he considers his future career options. 

Fraser facing those pre season tests...