Miltonaggro

The player who put the shit in dog shit.

He consistently looked like he was enjoying himself last season, which was nice to see, but there were indeed quite a few mind the gap and banana skin moments. You are right about him getting crucified at the franchise clubs if that happened. I think it's 50/50 he stays at Saints and much will depend if it looks like we can maintain a bit of positive momentum into this season, hope he does as a really good fit for us.

He joined in September 2022 and eight weeks later Nathan 'whistle' Jones turned up, poor bastard probably thought swopping Sampaoli and Tudor for the Welsh wizard might have been an error at that point. Despite Nat clearly having superior Europe-wide stats than those two no-marks, with the greatest respect. Guess we will never know...

Really thought DCC would be terrific for us and was the centre back I wanted us to sign under RH. I think he is obligated to join Lyon on a reduced fee but there is a chance Martin will have a look. Probably prefer him to ABK, thirty games for Lyon last season at least suggests he's fit and wants to play.

Charlton would be a good fit.

The fucking Alamo!

Yes. Fraser is close from what I’ve heard about getting all the bodies in the room after hols. I hope West Ham are sensible at least with Downes, as we were with Prowse. I’m coming round to BBD as our main striker target, and if that started with a season long loan then win win. Keeper worries me, and like last close season is going to be sport republic’s canary in the coalmine - we need to buy a first choice and let Bazunu challenge once he’s back fit.

That’s a good strategic summary. Club needs to retain the proven core and strengthen both ends whilst being canny with the bargains, freebies and loans. Loans could be as crucial to us this year as last IMO.

West Ham board are a known pain in the arse and will try it on. The fee haggling will dictate when Downes joins us, but I’m very sure its will not if. Can’t see us getting gazumped at around £12-15 million and can’t see the Irons hanging on to him once that figure is realised.

No discernible football brain, literally runs out of runway and then the grey matter fails him.

You’d like to think there’s a better chance of the second variable.

Saints have to be looking at Brereton-Diaz alongside the other targets. Cast iron no brainer.

Hand fucking crimped boys - the transfer business this window is in good artisan hands!

Nat Jones to put the count in country!

Yep, that’s the thesis!

Heard a while ago that toob broadband were sniffing around the shirt sponsorship, but that may have been in terms of Saints in Champs rather than Prem - all about the lolly as usual. At least less silly than DP / Moonpig.

Genuinely bit of everything from an effective number 9 here, a big mobile unit:

Meant potential for saints Turkish rather than age :). My Hearts supporting pal of the same opinion and baffled by the exclusion, said to have a look at his goals last season, proper all rounder.

Shankland likely to be the forward target north of the border. Hope so, bags of potential and injury free…

Stansfield another good shout, and my goodness we dodged a bullet with Buttner! I think with our rapid rise L1 and Champs that the fanbase were upbeat and happy to give SFC recruitment the benefit of the doubt, currently it's the opposite and we could do with a summer 2012 type window to reset. You would imagine a proper clear out of remaining loanees and fringe, whilst they get Fraser and Downes done, thereafter some interesting deals in the Gray / Stansfield mould. Juve will probably ask for £50m plus Alcaraz for Soule...

That's the rub I suppose, and the expertise we were paying for with the much lamented Mitchell. Gray at Leeds would be a great shout, and in terms of the positions we most need and Melton most likely to have scouted / longlisted, Patterson, Clarke and Bellingham (Sunderland), Hackney (Boro), O'Hare (Coventry), Cabango and Wood (Swansea). SPL maybe Mitov (St J), O'Reilly, Scales (Celtic), Spittal (Motherwell), Shankland (Hearts - now more likely than Miovski in my view). Loans will be absolutely crucial to get right and I think we would get better bang for buck looking at Netherlands and Scandinavia than Germany (too dear) or France / Italy (hopefully lessons learned). Whether our current black-boxers feel the same is another matter.

Are they BUPA dentists?

Shaqiri looking fitter and stronger at Euros than he has in years, four years younger than Lallana and at the end of his contract. Him, Armstrong and Fraser would be fun to watch for Saints, like a swarm of angry red and white bees.