Forester

Definitely not great timing, but then again our team prior to new signings should have been good enough to beat Pompey when playing at our best. I am concerned that we may change too much with limited training time given international absence. Would probably limit changes to Downes for Robinson and start other signings on bench.

It really isn’t, see other comments that have totally discredited it. We spent more on one day, Friday, than Sky think we have all summer, it’s bollocks

Always a good trip to Watford, albeit frustrating to lose the lead twice. My reflections would be: - Wrong choice to play Robinson in midfield once Downes withdrew. And this was our conclusion as soon as we kicked off and saw formation rather than hindsight. Would have preferred almost any other logical choice, eg Wee Man deeper, Edwards, Matsuki, Stephens in that role - Azaz looks class, and looks a very good signing. A touch of the Lallana/Tadic/Boufal unpredictability about him, albeit he has much to do to be in the same class as the first two - While a bit chaotic, the playing ball earlier and behind Watford defence looked dangerous and is likely to get best out of our forwards given their profile. Can see this working well away from home, but at St Mary’s doubt we will be given much space as teams defend deeper - I felt Roeslev looked injured/knackered from about 65 mins onwards and should have come off sooner. For this and the Robinson decision it is Still’s least impressive game management fixture so far for me, but am sure he will have learned much. Overall I am not as concerned as many on here. I remember leaving home at 330am almost exactly two years ago to be battered 5-0 by Sunderland, and you can see Ipswich are yet to get going too. We need ultimately two points per game and so we have three points to make up in 42 games, with news signings yet to feature. Very early days.

Any stream for those of us on holiday?

Baz THB, Stephens, Quarshie Roerslev, Charles, Downes, Welington Fernades, Stewart, Robinson Tough on Wee Man but unlikely Roerslev will play 90 mins

Very good signing, hopefully will lead to Sugawara, one of the worst natural defenders I have ever seen play for Saints, going.

Well that is quite the first ever post….👀👀👀

Good post. It’s faintly ridiculous to have Martin (unless he goes on to have a much improved career) and Puel is the same sentence. Briefly: - Puel led Monaco to be French champions, and managed several other top flight European clubs - Puel’s only season, having had Pelle, Mane and (for most of season) VVD all sold or unavailable was eighth - Puel led us to cup final, including clean sheets in both legs against Liverpool and Arsenal away Martin was sacked halfway through a Premier League season en route to us collecting 12 points, and finished fourth below Ipswich who were in League One the prior season. He managed the play off mini season very well, to be provide balance. Absolutely chalk and cheese careers so far A bit of time helps people have some perspective

Thanks to Chez who is engaging with the on topic discussion while others play dictionary pedantry. If everyone stayed, in my opinion it is a stronger squad than last championship play offs team. Goalkeepers as we were, one down in numbers, but Baz looks better than last time Defenders, weaker at right back having lost KWP, better stocked for centre backs despite losing Bednarek (we occasionally had to use Charles as emergency last time), better options at left back Midfielders, as we stand today, much improved. Charles a better player, Fernandes, Dibling and Robinson all upgrades on Kamaldeen, Rothwell and SAA. Stuart Armstrong and (from Jan) Brooks we’re quality players albeit we didn’t see the best of Brooks Upfront I believe we are potentially stronger, but accept some of that is unproven. Mara was poor, but Adams very good at that level. However Archer, BBD, Downs and a fully fit (if possible) Stewart are potentially stronger. Squad looks deeper at this point in my view, even if starting eleven isn’t much better than last time

Just a different take on things, but how many Saints fans would be happy if the window shut tonight and we hadn’t sold a single extra player, but similarly hadn’t bought anybody more either? My sense is that is that many fans would be unhappy, as we would have only bought two players. But I think other clubs in the championship would be envious of what we have. The reason I put this out is that it is perfectly possible that the Board are preparing for a scenario (even if it isn’t the most likely one) that they don’t see value in selling players BECAUSE they can’t get key replacement targets, for a wide range of reasons. I still think Edozie, Aribo and ABK will go, and probably Dibling, and if so wingers are needed in. But I would be fine if nothing changed from where we are. January window will be along sooner than we think.

Based on assumed fitness and availability I would go for: McCarthy Sugawara, TBH, Wood, Taylor Sesay, Matsuki, Fernandes Stewart, Archer, BBD I would look to give Stewart and Fernandes only 45 mins as think both should be considered as starters for Ipswich but they need game time. So Downs would replace Stewart for second half.

I like that but have Sugawara for Quarshie (Edwards centre back) and Downes (hopefully) for Fraser. Most teams would say that is a very talented championship team irrespective of our pessimism as fans

To me this is one of the easier dilemmas we have faced. With the caveat that the more reliable sources are correct. £50 million (in some form) is decent value for a highly promising but unpredictable talent. However, if it isn’t met, he stays. We hear he isn’t a problem player. But crucially, unlike an older player moving through his contract at say aged 28 does anyone seriously think his valuation will fall over one year? And so I hope we don’t budge an inch and the ball is in Everton or whoever’s court. Pay up or fuck off

In which case I am glad you are not leading negotiations! Free transfer for Smallbone and BBD!!!

And Morsy gone

You will love this new thing called “Google”…try “what is cost of relegation from Premier League” and report back on your findings….! I’ll give you a clue, read my initial post for a good guide!

Just out of interest, what would have been your plan to bridge an £80 to £90 million gap? Please set this out

That’s not how it normally works. Options usually means prior price agreed

Different division and a year older though

I think Still is simply talking common sense in the Blackmore interview. In terms of trimming the squad, I would have thought that most fans would say it is not controversial to assume the following would go between now and end of window: - one of the three keepers, replaced with cheaper 3rd option (a la Lumley) - one of the three left backs - ABK & Bednarek - Dibbling - Matsuki Others may have more names on their list but that is six more exits (albeit a keeper coming in too).

I blame Eric Black

Can I just check, as this argument is presented as an unanswerable headline, that you are aware of extent of revenue drop and FFP rules? So before you are tempted to say “yes, but if we get promoted it doesn’t matter”, wind the clock forward one year when we have been promoted (we hope). What do you then want to happen? The answer should be massively more investment in quality than that which happened last year when we went up. But every pound we spend now, or pound we don’t raise through sales now, will constrain what we can do in a year’s time. That was part of the problem last time in that we had racked up ludicrous bills on total shite over the prior season. So it isn’t quite as simple and myopic as the argument you put forward.

Well said but I fear falls on deaf ears for morons like Lighthouse. Hopefully he or she never experience the need for urgent support for them or their family. Well done to your daughter for doing great work

We won’t let Smallbone contract run down as would get a decent fee for him to a championship club. Same for Stewart if his fitness holds up

I still think we will make some further sales or loans out, but am pleased to see that Still sees this largely as a retention window given quality we have for this level, rather than Premier League. The other factor I think Saints will consider is whether any of Rambo, THB, Fernandes or Dibbling are likely to FALL in value in a year’s time if we don’t go up. I would have thought not, other than injury. And so unless someone offers really big money we aren’t in any kind of hurry.