Chez

I think people forget just how good a player he looked at Championship level. The RM system didn't make him, he made the RM system work. When he was missing we were terrible. Obviously we need a committed player, and whatever happened in the last window may mean he wants out (who knows?), but if he is now happy then I don't see why he can't play in Still's system. Quite frankly, if it isn't him, who is playing there? Charles, Aribo and Smallbone aint getting it done.

I'm not against reshaping the squad, but it's hard enough for us to attract and recruit players good enough to compete in the PL when we are in the PL. Trying to bring in that quality of player when in the championship is asking a lot. Lots of players out of contract next summer. If we get promoted we can take another stab at signing players that can keep us up.

they do need a keeper, but even if they were to paid him what we will pay him in the championship after a relegation reduction (let's say £60k a week for arguments sake), that would still be out of their reach. Maybe if his starting wage was £70k a week instead of £100k, that would bring it into the realms of possibility, assuming the new owners will be upping the wage bill a fair amount, but the £25m fee is still going to be beyond them.

That's a good point. He has joined us in a relatively big money move, then hardly got in the side (rightly IMO) and then farmed out on loan once we got promotion. Not sure he's going to feel any loyalty to Saints and if a Prem move is available, to be big club like Leeds, then you'd have to imagine he'd been keen for that move. However, my guess is that Leeds will be thinking a 'mid teens millions bid might be enough' rather than planning on spending £25-30m.

not sure we'll get that from Trabzonspor. They didn't want to spend that last summer. He only has a year left on is deal now and Banza scored 19 goals for them, so is an very good option for them.

I think that's the height he reaches when he jumps

If we can offload and buy better than we have, do it, but if players stay, then hopefully we can get promoted and then we can try and upgrade next summer.

OK, but did he play on his own or as a pair?

when he scored goals for Preston and Boro, did he play as part of a two up front or on his won with two wingers/wide forwards?

Anyone got a stat as to how many decent goalscoring chances he got this season? He may feel that we created jack, so that was to blame rather than his inability to create a chance for himself etc.

Yeah, I found it hard to believe that any player, no matter how good, got a contract that didn't include it. Financial suicide not to have it, as Sunderland found out with Rodwell.

Depends on his wage and contract. The interweb pointed to it being massive and with no relegation reduction, but not sure if either are true. A year left of his contract. I'd of thought unless he'd sit tight for a year, back himself to get into Still's side and then benefit from a free transfer.

Chelsea are one of the few clubs with more centre backs than us, but perhaps they will sell a couple this summer?

I'd say he is our most valuable player. Any replacement we get in the championship is going to be a massive downgrade. We wont want to sell him, but he wont want to play in the championship. He's too good to play at that level. There are going to be buyers and if there is a relegation clause of say £20m, then we will have no control. I think you have to accept that he wont be here, no matter how much you want him to be.

...plus navy (with the red and white shirts) just looks a lot better. We will probably only get them (navy shorts) for the 150th anniversary.

Home looks interesting. Not sure about the shoulder detail. Yellow, blue and black stripes. Bloody awful combination of colours. The badges on the third kit look cheap and tacky. Out of interest, how much do shirts go for these days?

I suspect they'd need CL qualification (I think they have 2 possibly 3 rounds of qualifying) to have the funds necessary to buy most of our players. I'd of thought, even with relegation clauses, many of our players would be on more than £30k a week, which I am guessing is about the amount their top earners get. I am guessing here though.

was thinking more the two tone red of the 1985 kit.

You could add Joe Jordan to that group. Not a giant, but he had a tremendous leap on him and a real desire to win everything. I do see similar desire from Onuachu, but not the leap of timing. I'm not a fan at all, but you have to feed him and we just haven't.

If we are not going stripes, then maybe a return to a predominately red shirt might be an option? Perhaps with two tone stripes like the 2022/23 Ivory coast shirt. Puma are often too fussy, but this is simple. too simple? Not sure if it works in red/off red...

I'd like us to go back to navy blue (which we had for 59 years) because it just looks better IMO. Red, white and black feels like a colour combination from the 1980s. Dated. Naff. It's subjective though...and the club wont be changing back.

Villa seems a good fit to me. safest £25m anyone will ever spend. Such an impressive keeper.

Likewise. he's pretty limited going both ways.

Very useful post thanks. Not having seen him, I was wondering if Matsuki might be good enough to play next season and the fact he gets in the Japan national side perhaps suggest he is. Looking forward to seeing him.

Thanks for taking the time. Hate how puma put their logo on the shoulders looks tacky, desperate...terrible.