Chez

Makes sense. No one was complaining about a lack of spending last summer. It's not a bottomless pit. The players that are here need to up their game, come together as a side and start getting some results. Hopefully there will be some money to spend next summer, although it will require plenty more outward loans and might require sales of the likes of Armstrong to fund it.

Quite a jump from league 1. Its mute as he won't leave Cardiff for us.

You might be right, which would get rid of that as an argument against the bubble. It would be interesting to know the police bill for the league cup game there in 2019. It's our taxes that pay for the policing of these games. As fans, we don't really want a bubble and we want good value policing too. Questions should be asked by councillors. If they have everything wrapped up in a bubble, is a helicopter really necessary? When budgets are tight, could less be spent on these games and that saved money be used elsewhere.

Dylan Lawlor might be a good replacement, although Cardiff would be reluctant sellers.

If I was Archer, I'd be looking for a move. If I was Armstrong I wouldn't turn my nose up at a move to Boro or Wrexham. A little `smoke' around both does suggests that moves are possible, but they will be dependant on us finding someone.

Good luck making that deal. He's scoring goals for fun for them isn't he?

Not sure the cub are "desperate" to sign a striker.

Probably. Even at a discount, Rangers don't spend £10m+ these days With PSR, clubs seem to keep players on the books, letting their value depreciate (while they are perhaps sent out on loan) rather than selling earlier at a loss. Someone who knows accounting and PSR better than me can put me straight, but I guess it's along the lines: Buy £20m (player on a 4 year deal). Player value goes down £5m each year. After year 1, value is down to £15m, with £5m 'loss' accounted for in PSR. Alternatively, if you sell that player for £10m after one year, that puts a £10m hole in your accounts rather than the £5m depreciation. For me, getting £10m back is better than £0 if you allowed the player to stay for four years while continually going out on loan, but maybe PSR is more of an issue than cash flow.

Everton have Keane, Tarkowski, Branthwaite (now fit) and O'Brien. Where does THB fit in?

I know it's phraseology, but "monitoring" what exactly? Monitoring whether anyone else puts a bid in before they offer buttons at the 12th hour? They are "considering making an approach". I'd of thought if they were interested, they'd of enquired some time ago (which they may have). I guess the later teams leave it the better deal they think they can get. Just how much if his wages do they want us to pay you wonder?

Sorry, it was £700,000 for both games, not just Sunday. But it was said by the Police commissioner that it would cost "more than £700,000". I don't know what is included in that figure, but I guess the cost of transporting people and the horses etc. will be included, and time planning it must be taken into account too. There was also a helicopter for Sunday, not sure if there was one for the game at SMS too. What's important is knowing whether that cost would come down significantly if there wasn't a bubble. Unless it comes down, then the Police are going to recommend it is used again.

That feels like a temporary Armstrong replacement not strike partner. My guess is if Armstrong stays, we won't be signing another striker in this window.

Another option to get rid of the bubble is to question the value the general public are getting. The cost was reportedly £700,000 for sunday's game. That's a shit load of money to sheppard 2700 fans. I suspect local councillors with budgets routinely cut might wonder if this is good value. From the email reply you got, it sounds like the police put a plan in place, told the clubs and with little objection it proceeded as planned. However the police told the world that it was the clubs that 'pushed' for it which doesn't sound quite true. Might be worth asking Nick llingsworth his version of events, all be it he only attended the second meeting and police plans were probably well in place by then.

...there was the link today to Branimir Mlacic

A bird in the hand...but there is an art to selling players before they fall of a cliff. We did it with Ings...or were forced to. Maybe now is the right time with AA? At the current scoring rate or a goal every 2.63 games, he is going to get 17 goals by the end of the season. That's down from 24 in 2023/4, which is down from 28 at Blackburn in 2020/1. 17 is still pretty good, although is a long way behind some of these: 2024-25 - Joel Piroe (19 goals) 2023-24 - Sammie Szmodics (27 goals) 2022-23 - Chuba Akpom (28 goals) 2021-22 - Aleksandar Mitrovic (43 goals) 2020-21 - Ivan Toney (31 goals) 2019-20 - Aleksandar Mitrovic (26 goals) 2018-19 - Teemu Pukki (29 goals) 2017-18 - Matej Vydra (21 goals) 2016-17 - Chris Wood (27 goals)

Eight figures...I know the discussion has been around us selling for £15m, but I wonder if we might consider selling him for £10m? I guess if Armstrong wants to leave then he wont be signing a new contract and that might force their hand a little. Sports joining Saints was announced on 7th Feb while Armstrong departed on loan to WBA on the 4th Feb, so whether he had any input on that loan (and an indication of how highly he is rated by him) is hard to say.

what a '3000 away fans' head in hands' moment that was. I went to every game that season home and away. Still not sure how we didn't survive with the players we had. So many fuck ups.

they would have (Redknap could spot the odd decent player when his mind wasn't on other things)....a lot more than bloody Davenport anyway. With Jamie Redknapp and Bernard also arriving, you can see how hard it is to attract player when you are a sinking ship. My man Henri Camara the exception to the rule of course.

I know it's a situation of SR's own making, but our situation is a little different from the Blues as we have players like Aribo and Edozie sat around doing nothing and host of other players out on loan (some we may be paying a percentage of their wage) that will be back in May on the wage bill. Once we sort out those players (hopefully a few departing permanently), probably in the summer, there will be a bit more flexibility.

Reid was a Bagpuss target in January 2005. Forrest accepted our £3m bid, but he wanted to join Spurs. Prutton and Higginbottom was earlier, January 2003 I think.

GB is Greg Baker - Chief revenue officer https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/meet-the-saints-leadership-team

Armstrong Broja (on loan) Walcott (maybe more of a winger) Mara Onuachu Stewart Archer Brereton-Diaz Downs

You are right, Madsen came in on loan, along with fan favourite Jermaine Wright, Tejaro and Darren Potter. Chaplow also signed on loan in February??? and that certainly gave us a lift.

Not sure who it was that posted on here: "one or two in, but you wont be excited by them", but this would fit that profile. Nothing wrong with adding young talent of course. I think the club believes we have the first team players here to win games, they don't want to add more bodies now and the summer is the time to rework the squad.

Bagpuss departed in December, so I think most were happy when we signed a manager with a decent track record, but we lost 6 or 7 games (one draw, one win) in that December-January period, so I am not sure I felt great at the same time (end of January) in 2006. Sure Rasiak joined and a late rally prevented us from getting relegated, which was a possibility, but to see a rosey future when losing away to QPR with the likes Quarshie putting fuck all effort in would have taken some foresight.