CampionSaint

Mads has settled in well but I find it interesting that Denmark have presumably chosen Jelert ahead of him as he has more recent caps than Mads. I wonder what they see that we haven't yet ?

I think defensive midfield is our weakest area. Charles & Downes are the only experienced players there yet we seem overloaded in numbers elsewhere.

I agree. I'm really puzzled as to why Dibling is so much more attractive proposition than Fernandez. At least Mateus had a really decent prem season and showed he's not just potentially a great player but has had an excellent season in the Prem. Dibling is a really good deal for us at multiple levels including that he'll move into the last year of his contract at the end of the season so his value will plummet. Fernandez still has another 4 years on a reported £20k a week so there's good reason to keep him and is about the only player we have left of prem quality.

Archer was £15m and only scored 4 goals at most in the Prem and 11 is the most he's scored in the Champ. I think the likes of Sargent and good Championship strikers are nearer £20m.

I think it's easy to judge in hindsight. It was clearly a bit of a gamble and who knows what will happen in the next season or 2, but at £8m plus add ons (which I assume haven't been activiated) it wasn't an unreasonable amount for someone who had similarities to Rickie's reputation in lower leagues. As pointed out above all you need is a season or 2 like Ings and they've repaid their fee. I for one think that when he's fit he is our best striker and against Arsenal and even a little this season has shown his ability. If it's just a mild illness then hopefully we'll see much more of him. I for one am a bit more optimistic on him.

Well Ipswich are only drawing with Bromley. The cup is nothing if not unpredictable.

It's interesting he came running back to us from Chelsea so he's been stung already by moving to a big club and feeling lost. His parents by all accounts love the way Saints have developed their son.

Totally agree. He's worth more to us than others are prepared to pat for him. He's only on £20k a week and 4 years on his contract to run so his value won't drop soon. He's the sort of player we'll desperately need to get us promoted and to give us a chance of stating up.

I couldn't understand why we didn't recall Charles from his loan in January. It's not as if we have loads of quality central midfielders without him.

Joel Ward was club captain for Palace last season and hardly played and they didn't do too badly 🙂

I agree. Firstly we stand a far better chance of getting promoted and secondly at least the 1st three you mention are the only premier league quality players we have now KWP has gone.

I maybe optimistic but I can't see any of them going apart from Ramsdale. Fernández is on a contract till 2029 and seems happy here. Unless we got a crazy bid (£50m plus) like Lavia then he'll stay. Dibling seems happy according to Still and seemed homesick when he left for Chelsea and came back. THB could go to West Ham though not sure anyone is paying around £20m for him after last season.

Doesn't he have a £25m release clause ?

Agree, though I'm not sure Ramsdale thinks of it that way from what's been reported.

I wouldn't be surprised is Ramsdale went out on loan with a £3m ish loan fee with wages to one of the promoted sides. It would be a perfect solution if he returned and we got promoted, as he appears to love being at Saints apart from the fact next year if he's not in the prem it will hamper his World Cup chances ! Fernandez seems happy at Saints and I think could be persuaded to stay another season. I suspect we'll be after what we got for Lavia (£50m+) and there aren't many teams that will pay that much for someone who's just proven themselves over 1 season. Similarly I don't think Dibling will go as it's too much of a risk for potential buyers. We won't want to sell him cheap and prem teams won't want to pay big money for someone who's yet to prove themselves. I think we can get enough income (£60m plus) from Sulemana, Tall Paul, Amo-Ameyaw, Bednarek, THB, Armstrong, Aribo. What with getting big earners off the wage bill and shrink the size of squad I think thing could be looking postive for the new season !

Arma got 24 goals last season and was in the Championship team of the season. I'd be inclined to get back Romulu from Gotzepe, sell Archer and get a goalscoring Winger to replace Sule / Dibling.

If we keep Dibling, Harwood-Bellis & Ramsdale great. I we do sell we could get near £100m for all 3.

I think Celtic were probably looking for near £30m. Personally I think this is dead now. We will hopefully loan Ramsdale (as Lis has gone) and that will be about it unless we get a lot of money for Alcaraz / Bella Kothchap. They seemed to have a strategy of waiting for someone to leave (or is leaving) then replace unless it's a small amount. BBD for Che, Archer for Mara, Ronnie for Lyanco, Wood for Duleta Car. Sugawara was brought in as it seemed like KWP was leaving and was low risk because of cost and he's likely to be 1st choice RB atm.

No messing with Lesley !

This isn't a bad watch.

Personally I'm confident we'll stay up. Bournemouth minus Solanke & Brentford maybe minus Toney will both struggle imo. Forest, Ipswich & Leicester are likely to be in the mix and I have a feeling Brighton might struggle next year. With a decent keeper which I presume is inbound if Lus is on his way plus a striker and we'll be ok.

Someone who works in the Saints office is claiming we are finalising a deal for O'Reilly from Celtic for £22m plus add-ons. He appeared early on the BBD deal also so who knows 🙂

I guess you've got to add a "loan fee" in the mix so depends what that will be. I'm sure that will be at least £3m.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5657806/2024/07/25/west-ham-mazraoui-transfer-bayern-munich/ It seems like West Ham are closing in on another full back. KWP options maybe closing down and he'll be staying this season.

I thought Russ publicly committed to McCarthy being his No.1 this season.