Dusic

Smallbone? I think he can be a decent PL player, absolutely has the atttibutes. Martin played in the PL for a few years. He isn't going to be naïve about the quality of the league. Stephens loan - I know where you are coming from but I think he is saying you need good characters at the club, whether they are regulars or not. Stephens is clearly committed and a leader. He would certainly have been more useful and more of a positive influence over the season than Caleta-Car or Lyanco for example.

Its Chris Wood btw - and no idea why anyone is talking about him? On a serious topic, seems clear Onuachu will end up moving on a late loan back to Turkey. Supposedly we want upwards of £10m which will never happen. Trabzonspor typically spend a max of about £4m on their most expensive signings so zero chance they go double on a player who is 30! At least we have good SR experience of dealing with Turkish clubs - they seem to be massive time wasters when it comes to transfers!

I think thats the going rate for a young player with high potential who has demonstrated they can trouble defenders at the top level. Joao Pedro was the same and he had done less at the top level. We signed Sulemana for £20m.

Steele is just like Bazunu, his best attribute is ability with his feet which is why RDZ liked him. As an actual goalkeeper he is pretty average and for the majority of his time at Brighton has been a backup. Would definitely fit the style and might even be available on loan, but definitely not better than McCarthy aside from with his feet.

Pretty clear what he could offer from this. Also see here: https://x.com/SaintsSocialite/status/1795382597389828159?s=19

Re Stephens (and to an extent Lallana/Fonte) if this season has shown one thing its that when it counts it pays to have players who are committed to the cause and a good spirit including those who are not playing but might be called upon at any time. It has been evident, especially when it really counted, that Russell Martin has created a good culture and I am sure as Captain that Jack Stephens has contributed significantly to that. You only had to see the celebrations to see that he, and Arma, are leaders in the group. Not saying those players need to play every week or be untouchable (far from it), but why anyone would happily wish someone like that gone is a bit bizarre. We have built back from a fractured squad with more than a few whose interest/commitment could be questioned - and clearly next season will be tough - so the character and culture of the squad will be even more important and the more plauers with leadership qualities the better.

https://sportwitness.co.uk/one-last-dance-portuguese-media-southampton-make-offer-jose-fonte-summer/#google_vignette Portuguese report suggesting he has had an offer to return to Saints in some capacity... Three offers from Portugal, one from England. At the end of the Blackmore interview he suggested his biggest priority is to be able to spend more time with his family and it sounded like they are still based here...

With Adams leaving and Mara surely likely to as well, I think Stewart will certainly be in the core first team squad assuming he stays fit and would imagine he gets a decent amount of minutes. I would definitely be keeping him until January at least, we need all the available options we can get and at the very least might as well see what he has got - he looks to have the type of attributes that suggest he might be capable of making the step.

Bayern are never going to be in the poaition of having one of the worst squads in their league so yeah they are obviously looking at the style of play, media handling, player coaching etc more than specific results which have no clear context to them. Juat like it was obvious we hired RM due to clear implementation of a style of play, ability to unite squad etc and knew with better players he would finish higher than 10th.

Personally not against Brereton-Diaz. Did very well at Blackburn playing right across the front and can finish well with both feet. Managed to score 6 in 14 in PL for a hapless Sheff Utd. Has international experience and is only 25 still with something to prove. Hasnt worked out (yet) at Villareal but that happens and before he went there he was quite coveted. Whoever we sign there will be some question marks over otherwise they would go or be at more established PL clubs, but could be a solid option.

Its a really good interview and he comes across very well. Recall Parsons saying they have made a big effort to be more welxoming of ex players so hopefully they will get him along to a game soon at the very least.

From his point of view (injury aside) a great way to finish here. He probably expected to go last summer and instead was integral in winning a promotion and leaves on a high. I hope he experiences playing abroad, when so many British players seem reluctant to. Good signing, seemingly a popular guy within the club and good character - glad he leaves on good terms!

Jobe Bellingham wouldn't have been a starter for us this season, let alone next. I don't think we have enough cash to be blowing £20m on squad players, especially when we have our own young players like SAA and Dibling who are amongst the best in the country for their age.

I think Meghoma is the one that might have the best chance. He was pretty much faultless when he played this season, and has that initial acceleration that you need as a PL defender. Given our lack of LB aside from Manning I think he should get minutes in pre season.

Would imagine that, at best, one of the promoted clubs will stay up. We probably picked one of the worst years to be relegated and then promoted as the PL looks verybstrong next season and a couple of the teams you would normally look at to struggle like Palace and Bournemouth appear fairly well set. Hard to really see us being superior to any of last season's PL sides that stayed up without some really effective recruitment and even then it will be very tough because of the vast sums spent throughout the division and amount of good managers these days.

In a dream world perhaps. Nobody is paying £15m for Sulemana or £7m for Perraud. The kind of clubs who will take them will only be intetested in loans. Besides, for players like Sulemana and Onuachu in particular we will still be paying their sizeable fee installments so you can take that off anything we do get too. Basically no chance of raising anything like £70m for these players.

Totally agree, imagine we would only be offering a one year deal so fair enough if he csn get better elsewhere. Haa been a good signing and committed player over 6 years withba standout spell under Ralph but the PL takes no prisoners and we need to be ruthless.

How about 16 goals in Scotland or Holland? Sometimes you have to look beyond just one number. At times he was almost unplayable for us and troubled really good PL CBs. That suggests to me that he has the ability and has proven it over a short period. That he dropped off a bit is fairly explainable: the whole team did and he personally suddenly had a lot of hype, attention and doubtless many people telling him what to do. Since then he has been injured, messed around by chaotic Chelsea and then finding himself behind the emerging Muniz at Fulham. If since his six goals he hadnt been injured he would be unattainable for us - our targets will always have some kind of flaw, whether thats totally unproven in the PL or over the hill - someone like Broja has a huge upside at a price we could afford. I really think he just needs a 'home' and then will be really good - certsinly far more likely to be a success than someone like Miovski because he has all the attributes you need and has shown he can do it in the PL - pace, power, finishing, ability to create for himself - they are just raw.

He wouldn't have started for us this season so definitely wouldn't next. I wasn't overly impressed when I watched him, certainly wouldn't be near the top of the list of Championship players I would target.

Meghoma has a higher ceiling than either Manning or Perraud. A good pre season could see him earn a place in the first team squad IMO. If we are likely to play with wing backs more regularly then need someone with more mobility and stamina than Perraud or Manning anyway.

Probably amongst the greatest unpublished works. Anyway, one impact of promotion will surely be on the supposed player pathway and the immediate next steps for our best young players. Would imagine that after pre season Ballard will go on loan and Sam Amo and Dibling probably need to as well. There is surely a limited amount they can now learn from age group football, yet they aren't likely to get first team mins either. Perhaps there might be a role for Meghoma in the first team squad, but if not then same applies to him. So difficult for young players to get PL opportunities at a club like Saints until we either a.) reach midtable security or b.) are already relegated with two months of the season to go.

Amazed so many are against the idea of Broja. I saw a player who was making his first steps at PL level who had all the attributes to be a really good PL striker: pace, power, finishing ability and an ability to create something for himself. That he hasnt shown it since is down to a.) injury and b.) lack of opportunity/confidence in him. Assuming the former hasn't significantly hampered him - which is hard for anyone to really judge admittedly - then if a club provides the latter I see no reason why he wouldn't be really successful. Aside from Ings he was easily the best striker we have had for ages and in his best spell he really troubled top PL centre backs which isn't easy to do and when signing someone who has never played in the PL you have no clue if they even have the ability to do that or not. We know Broja can. The fact he will now be available for much less and therefore affordable for us is just a bonus.

I'm not bothered about a kit but I really hope we try to bin off gambling sponsors and find a company we can develop more of a long term tie with, even better if they have some local affinity, a bit like the Brighton & Amex link which has worked brilliantly for both parties.

https://x.com/SaintsSocialite/status/1795382597389828159?s=19 https://www.sussexlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/brighton-liverpool-jurgen-klopp-seagulls-6112018 Both the above show why he can be important. Player who has learned from excellent PL managers (Poch, Rodgers, Klopp, Potter, De Zerbi), could be a handy squad option especially from the bench and is vastly experienced at PL level - which isn the case for many of our squad and/or staff. Imagine he could be very useful for RM in a variety of ways, especially as most of the coaching staff will have had little/no recent experience of the PL, let alone what it takes to be successful in it. Wants to be a coach and has already worked with Eng U21s this season as well. Will be cheap, eager you would imagine to turn the tide of opinion and also likely seeking a longer term coaching gig. I really don't see much risk. Its clear from all the celebrations on and since Sunday how much you need leaders and senior players in the squad, they set the tone for everyone else and often the impact is hard to measure unless you are in the environment and see it everyday.

I think he has been excellent for most of the season and also really stepped up and had probably his best spell when it counts. Looks a really good player for that role in a midfield three and IMO should and likely will start the PL season in the team. Believe he signed a 3 year contract last summer....I would be looking to add a year or two to that.