Dusic

Featuring so heavily in pre season videos/kit launch etc is also an outward way of Saints showing that he is committed and not causing trouble and another message to clubs trying to knock down our price that from our perspective there is no need to comply with that. Same as with Tella. Pay what we want and pretty much any of these players will be gone, but unless they refuse to train or play, show bad attitude etc then we are happy to have them until that offer comes in.

Thought Martin interview was clear, confident and genuine. Can't ask for more than that and nice to hear a manager be able to articulate what their tactical ideaa are after the last two. Came across as being comfortable in a good way, that he trusts himself and will stick to his way which I think is a good thing. Also a nice bit of honest realism about transfers and the fact we will have players start the season who will end up being sold but that he will take out anyone who isn't committed.

The basics still apply in the Championship which is why we are actively trying to get rid of him.

Remember that Wilcox is not rhe Head of Recruitment, that is Darren Mowbray, who is experienced in that role. I would actually say that rather than being a mess we seem to have been able to recruit well respected people into roles where they each have relevant experience. It will take time to settle but Wilcox reassures me - he wouldn't have joined if he didn't believe in SR, and he knows what elite looks like.

We have been repeatedly linked with Grimes who is very much an experienced player at this level. That central midfield recruitment is going to be massive considering the quality we will lose and the importance of the position in a possession team. Personally prefer Downes to Grimes.

The shame about Tino is that he would have been the best player of his position in the league had he stayed, or almost certainly the best. With the volume of players who will leave there is a danger of ending up very average. People expect us to be right in the promotion race but you do actually have to be a good team to do that, and I don't see that too many of our good players will still be around in Sept, certainly not the ones that will be considered amongst the best in the division. I think we will end up signing a lot of players in August after the season has started as many outgoings will also be done late.

Leicester moving for Harry Winks. He will be an excellent player at Championship level, particularly in a ball oriented team.

I am not at all suprised there is interest in Tino and the club won't be either. I'm sure he will go, as will others because that tends to be the outcome after relegation and we actually have a number of individuals who are worth signing. Regarding fees its a murky world because aside from the clubs nobody knows and there is so much spin. For example, he may have a contractual clause which is now relevant? If there isnt a clause then I am sure there is no way we will be selling him for £12m, despite what the Newcastle friendly journos say. You only have to see the difference in the numbers of their Tonali deal to see this - the Italians said it was €80m, the NE lads said £50m. But end of the day, he might be grateful to our physios but he is clearly going to want to join a CL team, and it may actually be better for his body to play fewer games than to be flogged through a gruelling Championship season. We will raise a lot of cash as I think all of JWP, Lavia, KWP, ABK, Salisu, Alcaraz and Adams will go (some we will want to go due to contract status) but it will be hard for Martin and Wilcox to build a team until thats all happened.

I tend to agree. There is so much uncertainty to the point that its hard to really make a convincing argument that any of our current players will definitely still be at Saints come September. For me the sooner the outgoings happen the better. We know some players, JWP for example will give his all until it happens but some will become troublesome pretty quickly I imagine. - Who are the leaders of this team going to be? - Who are the first choice centre backs considering all 6 could in theory leave? - Which players are going to get the 75 or so goals that would surely be needed for automatic promotion as a minimum?

If you have a read back then quite a few of your comments did seem pretty personal. "Its nothing personal", "its not aimed at you as such". Looks like a bit of a backtrack since you have been directly and politely called out.

If correct would be a good addition, has a lot of Championship experience as a mnager and is known to be a good coach. That said, would be a little suprised as pretty sure Martin will be bringing in his guys.

The pictures were probably done in March or April. Don't see how it really makes a difference.

Hooiveld was often clumsy but did the basics of a CB's job pretty reliably game after game: marking, positioning, winning headers etc. You knew what you would get from him and so did his teammates. Lyanco doesn't consistently do the basics hence why his level is so up and down.

Usually you have some good insights but this worries me. He is obviously awful, whatever Whoscored says. If he isn't good enough to start every week in the Championship and be good, why the fuck did we sign him in the PL? He is the most clear case of take the loss,(which is minimal) and get rid.

We are where we are precisely because of players like Lyanco, i.e ones that are not good enough for the PL, have huge flaws and who we shouldn't have signed. He was bought in the Gao era because he was cheap when we needed to sign a starting XI player. Not bothered what fee we get, just get him gone. Awful player who cons fans by showing some emotion.

Nice sentiments and I am sure they are genuine. But he isn't going to turn down a PL return at a decent club if one is offered. None of our players will. Thats what happens when you get relegated.

I don't think he has ever said that and why would he? He may well be happy to stay but could be equally or more happy moving. I doubt any of our players would turn down a PL move to stay in the Championship if it was a direct choice between the two. That said, surely we would be quoting something starting with a 3. Brighton are cash rich after big sales and Caicedo cash to come but would they stretch to that? Who knows. He is definitely a class player.

He is a Schneiderlin type of player, not his role to score or assist. Would be more a Lavia replacement. Obviously a Martin favourite.

Flynn Downes linked. Makes a lot of sense and would be a better signing than Grimes. £30m plus Downes for JWP?

Imagine JWP is a floater on many teams recruitment lists depending on whether they can get their first choices.

https://www.swanstrust.co.uk/news/trust-statement-russell-martin/ This is an interesting read and helps to put into context some of the numbers during his time at Swansea. I am pretty sure when he joined Saints that Poch would have lost more games than he had won at Espanyol - sometimes its more nuanced than that. Clearly there is a feeling that with more money and better players he will be able to do better at Saints than he did at Swansea - hence why he has chosen to leave them and join us - we have more resources to offer. Its pretty clear from the pieces we have all read that the attraction is him being able to coach and clearly implement a particular style of play, one which Wilcox is well versed in.

Good to get it sorted, good that Wilcox was the driver behind it. Interesting to note the section in the announcement basically asking fans to give him a chance - think that is fair enough. The guy has been in management nearly 4 years and is yet to be sacked so he must be doing something right!

The three bits that sometimes get overlooked which are probably big motivators: 1. Money - he has very likely just been given a pay cut, yet moving would probably earn him more than he was on in the PL with Saints, and substantially more than he will get this year. 2. Pride - he wants the Beckham record, he has worked really hard to eatablish himself as a PL player and occassional England squad member. The inner motivation of a pro athlete will be to compete at the highest level possible especially in a tournament season where depending on injuries etc he still has a chance of beint selected. A year in the Championship and that chance is zero. 3. He is probably quite pissed off about what has happened at Saints over the last few seasons, especially as he has really given his all. Over the summer, someone in the PL will come in for him and I very much doubt he would turn down a PL offer to stay in the Championship.

Martin has known for a month, possibly longer that he is going to be Southampton manager in this upcoming season. Barely anyone is at Staplewood, most stuff will be dealt with on the phone, Zoom etc and as part of the 'recruitment process' I am sure he has been involved in whatever has been needed. I highly doubt during that month that he has done absolutely nothing that might help prepare for the day when his contract is officially signed. Just like Wilcox. Just like Crocker.

As said, the league should enforce their rules. Our issue should be directly with the league, not with Everton. Its not Saints job to enforce FFP.