Chez

we ain't giving him a £100k+ a week, five year contract with low ball a CL side release clause.

So far he has been linked with Fulham, West Ham, Villa, Everton, Newcastle and Leicester.

He did a job the previous season and thus Ralph wanted him. If the first team manager wants him, then why is it Crockers fault for delivering him?

I guess we shall see over the next year or two, but this is what I am expecting.

Depending on the deal we manage to strike with the loaning club, it would save us about £2.5m in wages next year that could be spent elsewhere. Whether he'd want to go is a different matter. I'm hopeful the can come back next season with new found confidence and become the player we need him to be. Not confident, but hopeful.

I am not a big fan. Watch Lyanco closely at 1:56 in this video of us being tonked an Anfield, Yes the game was lost, but the way he just makes zero effort to win the header, turns his back and pretty much ducks under it, just sums him up. He is more than happy to take a man out from behind or dive in to intercept a ball no matter what the cost to the side if he gets it wrong, but ask him to do an honest job of standing tall and winning a header in the area and he hides. ...and here at 8:14. Sure, McCarthy has a mare, but just look a the state of the defending by Lynco here. He just backs away from the action as his man then wins a free header to score the winner. Fucking woeful.

Is the total budget sufficient to exceed the current expectation/outcomes? That's a different discussion. Could he have built a better side from the budget available? Again, a different discussion. All I am pointing out is that it's his side.

he's the first team manager. Every single player will be `signed' by him. If he doesn't fancy them or want them, they don't sign for SFC. Likewise, if he doesn't want to keep a player we don't offer them a new contract. Absolutely, finances dictate who is possible to bring in, and of course scouts and others are involved, providing information and guidance, but in the end, the buck stop with him as the manager. That's why he gets £6-7m a year. If he allows others to do the research/work, and make the decisions for him then that's his choice. But its still his responsibility. It's his side.

McCarthy - given 3 year contract by Ralph KWP - signed by Ralph Lyanco - signed by Ralph Stephens - given 3 year contract by Ralph Salisu - signed by Ralph JWP - given five year contract by Ralph Romeu - given 3 year contract by Ralph Ely Redmond - given 4 year contract by Ralph Armstrong - given 3 year contract by Ralph Armstrong - signed by Ralph Djenepo - signed by Ralph Smallbone - given 3 year contract by Ralph Long - given 2 year contract by Ralph Ralph actually signed all of them to contracts with Saints, except Ely.

Didn't Ralph sign most of them? The entire back five for starters have been given contracts by Ralph. Djenpo, Armstrong, Adams...

He gets the ball stuck under his feet a lot these days. Its like he hasn't touched a ball at all for six months at all. I don't understand how that can be.

I can see Cabellero getting a contract and then the other keeper `has' to be young to at least give us a chance of selling one keeper on for profit.

I've never had an issue with Ely. He is what he is. Neat and tidy, no pace, plays well when the side plays well, offers nothing when we don't. Maybe you are right about Diallo. He is still young, but bloody hell he really hasn't improved at all since he was here (is he not hungry?). Still lightweight and doesn't know how to play the position. Not sure Djenepo has ever been all that. His control of the football has been suspect since day one. He shows flashes of talent and every now and then he might try to beat a man, but is he going to become a Mane mark II for us next season? Boy do we need someone that is going to causes defences a problem next season.

Yep. If you are beaten near post you should be thrown to the wolves. Apparently. I should clarify that it's not why I don't rate him as highly as others.

if you keeping signing players that don't cut it...Lemina, Hoet, Carrillo...Vestegaard, Elyounossi, Gunn....Djenpo, Diallo, Walcott...then you are always trying to shift deadwood. That's one of the biggest problems with the Prem and the monstrous wages you have to pay. Make a mistake with a signing and you live with it...until the contract ends four years later.

Massively overrated. He gets beaten at the near post a lot. I think thats a trait that some fans on here don't appreciate.

If both FF and McCarthy were departing, then maybe one of the two incoming could be a 30 year old, but can't see us doing so now. It just wouldn't follow the business model the management want to follow.

How can you announce that a guy has signed a three year contract a year after he signed it? News ain't news if it isn't news.

Burnley fans seem to have mixed feelings about him. He hit the ground running with some brilliant goals early doors, but he has faded. They think the African cup of nations affected his form. They are playing him up front rather than on the left side.

This is the thread for potential players coming in, ones that want to play for us, not ones that are departing to earn more money at Spurs. 😉 You've got strong opinions about the keeper position DT. Who do you fancy as a replacement?

wow. this thread has reached new heights.

Plenty of time to do it after the season ends too. Weeks and weeks of having no news - perfect for announcing end of contracts. You never know, the PR department might even get round to announcing a few new contracts too. Announcing Stephens and McCarthy contracts from previous years might be a good place to start.

what about United? They need midfielders (Matic, Pogba, Lingard and Mata are all departing, and Pereira (one year left on his contract) and van de Beek obviously pushed out on loan) and they are not going to suddenly stop spending money now. Maybe Frenkie de Jong signs from Barca, maybe he doesn't.

Makes sense, although it would possibly have to say "Forster has decided not to accept an offer of a new contract and instead will depart in the summer. Saints thank you for your service."

he's started 13 of the last 18 games. Like all the strikers, he hasn't made much of an impact on proceedings recently. We don't create any chances for them though