CamSaint

For everyone wanting some extra depth in one or more positions, we shouldn't lose sight of the size of the squad and its manageability, number wise. In addition to our 9 new arrivals, Bazunu, Edwards, Charles, Edozie, Matsuki, AA and BBD all returned from loan at the beginning of pre-season. None of those 7 were named in the first team squad that finished last season, so we effectively had 16 incoming, plus we have added Sesay from the U-21s. I think that a great job was done in moving on so many unwanted players during the window, but the fact remains that there are still 29 in the current first team squad as listed on the OS, and that number will remain unless Edozie, Aribo or both are moved on soon. The 29 includes 4 keepers, but only 2 would feature in a matchday squad of 20 players. That means that there are 18 matchday spaces for the remaining 25 outfield players. So, if everyone is fit, no less than SEVEN of our first team squad won't make it into matchday! Obviously there will be injuries (for example, Welington currently has a long-ish term injury) and suspensions to deal with, but it is going to be quite a challenge keeping everyone happy!

Not quite in the same category but I see that Nico Lawrence was let go yesterday (https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/academy-confirm-transfer-deadline-day-movements). I seem to remember that he was very highly rated a couple of years ago but hasn't been able to kick on despite having several loans.

Bit of a risk as if he turns out to be like our other strikers, we'll be stuck with him when we get back to the PL

Interesting that Fabrizio's original tweet yesterday said that personal terms had already been agreed and it was the fee that was being negotiated. Who to believe, eh?

It started off as a good idea.........

According to Transfermarkt he only played 12 matches last season, missing 22 games due to a variety of injuries. On that basis, he does sound very 'Saintsy', but I wouldn't be very happy if we were after him!

So a bit like loaning out Shea Charles for a season because he didn't play regularly and who has come back a much better player as a result of the loan?

You can't have loan with an option to buy as he only has one year left on his contract. If we loan him out for a year he will then be a free agent so no fee, but finally off our books!

Indeed it was, but it only goes to highlight the fine margins between success and failure. He got just enough on the ball to divert it round the post. Slightly less power on the deflection and it would have crept inside the post and once again he'd have been vilified on here as the worst keeper in the universe and those hilarious 'crisp packet wrists' quotes would have been back with a vengeance. I am not a particular fan of Baz but there is no denying that he has played well in pre-season and has continued that form today. Having said that, I do hope that we will get another keeper in who will challenge Baz for the shirt. That should keep him really focused on maintaining this form and if he doesn't, we would have a competent alternative to take over.

But haven't we signed him to replace Adams?

There are shades here of the Willy Gnonto situation at Leeds 2 years ago (although he was on a much longer contract than Dibling): "Leeds United winger Willy Gnonto has effectively gone on strike in a bid to force through a move away from Elland Road. The Italian asked to be left out of the side’s Carabao Cup win against Shrewsbury on Wednesday night as he seeks a move away from the club. Leeds have made it clear they want to keep the winger, who signed a five-year deal with the club only 12 months ago. Gnonto was a leading light for Leeds last term, despite their relegation to the Championship." (https://metro.co.uk/2023/08/10/willy-gnonto-goes-on-strike-to-force-through-leeds-united-exit-19314505/) I can't remember what sort of offers Leeds got for him, but obviously they were able to hold on to him for both of their years in the Championship.

The Edozie move seems to have gone very quiet. A week or so ago it was being reported as virtually a done deal.

I thought though that one of Still's attributes was that he wasn't irrevocably wedded to one system? I'm sure he said in one or more interviews (no, can't remember which, so can't provide a link) that he was prepared to change systems during a match or from match to match depending on what he thought would give his team the best chance of winning. That's exactly what he did on Saturday with his substitutions, and it made a big difference. Having said that, he will obviously want to evolve a basic style of play, but until the squad takes its final shape at the end of the window and we hopefully acquire some creative options, I suspect that we might see quite a variation in personnel and formations that many won't be particularly happy with!

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/saints-and-brighton-face-each-other-in-behind-closed-doors-training-exercise

Martin's goalkeeping coach was replaced in June by Rubén Martinez as part of Still's new coaching team (https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/new-additions-boost-stills-coaching-team) 'New to the club is Rubén Martínez, who joins as Goalkeeping Coach. The 48-year-old represented Barcelona’s B team in his playing days and later worked alongside Tito Vilanova as a coach. Martínez has since held coaching roles at Brighton and Watford, as well as Maccabi Tel Aviv, RB Salzburg, Saint-Étienne, Olympiacos, Celta Vigo and Stade Reims on the continent, all alongside Óscar García, before working with Still for a period at Reims. Martínez has also enjoyed success with the Spanish FA, helping Spain reach the final of the 2023 European Under-21 Championship and winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics in 2024 at the expense of the much-fancied host nation in the final.'

Ollie Wright has joined Accrington Stanley on a season-long loan.

It will be interesting to see if Edwards is included in the squad for Spain. Still mentioned in his interview yesterday that he and Fernandes were back and had done a couple of light training sessions. Also possible that Downes & Dibling may not travel if they are injured, which will set the rumour mill going!

Yep, training camp in Spain next week & playing Espanyol behind closed doors next Saturday.

Another RB?!!

One interesting comment (IMHO) from Still's interview was: "We're being hard on them, especially physically, which they're not used to, or weren't used to in the previous years. They've run a lot, we've worked incredibly hard and we're going to keep working incredibly hard." It reinforces what many people thought about fitness levels under RM, especially last season, and suggests that it is a key area that they are working on. Fitness levels at the start of pre-season are usually pretty low in general, but it sounds like there is a fair way to go to get to where Still wants them to be.

Who was the on-field captain in the 2nd half?

True, but Bazunu, Edozie, AA & BBD have also come back from their loans and we've since added Quarshie & Downs.

Also Big Les & Groenback

Fair enough, I didn't realise that. I thought that perhaps Burnley were being ruthless, as probably we should have been last year with AA, as stats-wise (I know, I know) Brownhill wasn't anywhere near as prolific in the PL in 23-24 when they got relegated.

I've seen Josh Brownhill mentioned on here before. Currently without a club having been released by Burnley. 18 goals and 6 assists in 42 Championship matches last season and 7 goals and 8 assists in 41 matches in the 22-23 season. Could he fit the midfielder profile we're supposedly still looking for? Obviously Burnley don't fancy him as a PL player, but bags of Championship experience (and end product). A 2 year contract might work (although in fairness, the last 2 year contract we offered to a player released by Burnley (Taylor) hasn't worked out very well).