Chez

Maybe we signed McCarthy to be back up, because we negotiated a fee with PSV for Bijlow in mid August, but he obviously failed a medical. Ramsdale was then signed. Not sure why we gave McCarthy a two year deal with Baz likely back in the frame half way through that deal.

or they were equally impressed by what he was doing at Stade Rennes and think Saints are possibly the problem.

Got injured in the Oxford friendly, which must have killed the deal. Benfica then signed left winger Muhammed Kerem Aktürkoğlu.

What were you expecting?

Brereton scored goals for Sheff United in the top flight, so maybe they see him in a sightly more favourable light? He could be the difference maker for the blades or Sunderland's promotion. Maybe we can play hardball?

Fair point but with Stewart's availability a major question and assuming Onuachu departs, we will need a central striker. I was actually thinking more about wide men and creative players to supply these prolific strikers. We need to sign some creativity, unless you think Fraser, Sulemena, Amo-Ameyaw and Edozie will give us that? Brooks was better for us than some think and needs replacing. If Dibling stays, that would ease my concerns. KWP was also one of our most creative players in the Championship and it looks unlikely he will be here next season (you never know).

No idea. It looks like Juric doesn't want him, so I would guess we would push for that. Doesn't mean we will get it.

Brereton now linked with Sunderland for a loan.

what? We agreed a £16.8m fee? What happened? Did he not want to go there?

Perhaps, but unless we sign some flair players in attack, this side might struggle for goals in the championship.

Sure money talks and the big clubs really have it sewn up. That fact still remains, Forest are in the title race, proving that smaller size clubs can challenge, all be it probably only for a short period. Leicester and them give me a little hope. Unfortunately, we (and may others) have not got it right over the last half decade or more, but that doesn't mean we can't. One day rodders...

Cheers. I misunderstood and thought it meant he wanted to sign 17 or 18 players! I hope he does play his best side. We need to give it our best shot. I know everything is shit right now, but a favourable draw and a few wins could see us in the later rounds and then you can dream of repeating what Wigan did. When the skates were in the Prem and won cup games I hated it and was always worried the might get to Wembley.

Leicester won the blooming league. Forrest beat Liverpool next week and they are challenging for the title. You can always dream...

is that something he has said?

Delap, Sara and Asprilla were possibly the championship guys to go for, but it's really hard to know if they will work out and perhaps just as importantly, almost immediately make an impact. Not sure Eze and Olise were amazing straight away for Palace. Downes was tremendous for us last season. We really had to bring him back.

Good news for the lad. Despite him not being a fans favourite, it's better having him fit than not. It's now up to the manager to make the right choices in terms of keeper selection/retention.

Thanks. Strange then that we stockpiled CBs if none are out of contract in the summer.

No. As I have said previously, I don't see any point in bringing anyone in this window. We are just too far adrift. £2m goes a lot further in the championship.

Still hopeful he can develop into a top player. The Blackpool loan didn't seem to go well terribly well if judged on goals, so not sure how far off he is being good enough for the Championship next year.

£2m would pay for a Banza season loan that might give us some firepower up front. Champ change.

Is Jack Stephens out of contract this summer or next? On page 1 of this thread it says 2026, but transfermarkt has him out of contract in 2025. In 2023 he signed a new two year deal: https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/stephens-signs-new-two-year-contract did he sign a one year extension at some point?

Yeah, 11 in 15 league games. Really not sure if goals in the Turkish league means a lot. He went on loan. I think Trabzonspor paid a €2m loan fee for the pleasure. Not sure he's good enough/physical enough to play on his own up front in the Prem, but he couldn't have been much worse than BBD, Archer, Armstrong and Onuachu. Maybe we offload Onuachu to Trabzonspor next summer and bring Banza here? The Championship might be a hard sell, but we have to try to find a striker that can make the leap from Championship to Prem. If not him, then someone else. Maybe break the bank getting Awoniyi from Forest? Yeah, that ain't happening either.

I thought Juric might have waited until after this cup game to see what Edwards was like, but maybe he saw enough on the training pitch. Martin obviously didnt think he was ready. Hopefully he does well in the championship and then we can reap the rewards next summer - although there will still be lots of other CBs under contract. Personally, I've not been as impressed with Wood as others so far. Some of the issues he had at Swansea seem to be there in terms of poor decision making when he has the ball - by that I mean putting teamates in deep shit with the wrong pass. Perhaps he needs more time to settle in and gain confidence - which may help him make better choices. That doesn't mean he won't be a good signing for us over the long term, but he makes me nervous. He does have the physical attributes, but I dont see any of our CBs as powerful dominating players. We saw how Awoniyo bullied ABK two seasons ago and I wonder how we will fair against him and Chris Wood in a week or two. If I was ABKs agent, I'd be trying to find him a new home too.

it's only the tickets that are free.

...in the Gene Kelly stand...and unsurprisingly we got wet. Brilliant end to the season though.