gio1saints

This would be fun/ mental : 

Wojciech Szczesny not happy with €4m pa offer from Juve to renew his deal. Was on €6m pa 
Looking to Saudi. 
Transfer fee would be ( according to transfermkt) c €6M.
From saints perspective a loan or purchase deal with maybe possibility of being able to extend would cost us say c €3m fee plus say €6M in wages total €9m
For a class vastly experienced gk that could keep us in the EPL. cheap. Totally sorted out the gk position.  Still only 34. 😀

Whenever we make a big deal about a happy event it quite often acts as the sugar to sweeten the medicine we are about to take. 
In our case I think the sugar was Flynn signing and medicine is KWP leaving. The timing fans PR works better that way around. 

10 minutes ago, SaintNewForest said:

Adam Armstrong is in his final year as well. 

Can’t believe I overlooked that! 
Given we seem to have bought the replacements for KWP and Jan , should they leave, but have not done so for AA might it be that Saints are highly confident of a contract renewal?
We seem to have concentrated on sorting out the defence early but there’s a big elephant in the room regarding our attackers! Surely at least two new attackers imminent- and the announcement of an extension for AA.🙏And why isn’t RF training  with us yet???? Thought that was a done deal. 

Jan B and KWP. 
Both in final year of contract. 
Both key players for RM - like Che and Stuart. 
Combined  transfermkt value : c €30. 

RM publicly quoted as bemoaning that Stu and Che entered final year without renewal. 
TWO NEW CB bought already plus BK to return and TWO NEW FB’s also. 
Would we really do that if KWP and JB were not leaving? 
 

The money we get for them two will pay for the new #9 and possibly the new attacking  MF. 
 

My guess is the Lamine camara link was the plan B ( or C) if Flynn did not sign. Cue he probably joins us this window!😂

Shea is Flynn’s understudy. End of conversation. When Flynn is not playing Shea should play that role. Cup matches, suspensions, injuries and illness cover. That’s going to be at least 10 matches already.
 

Will CAN play that 6 role if needed but this year I’d pick Shea. 

There is no pressing need to get a back up for Flynn. 

There is, however, a #9 shaped gap in our squad now Che has gone - and that is clearly a priority, added to that there is also a Stuart Armstrong shaped starting role in first team that needs filling.
 

I’d say Both those positions are ahead of any ideas of a back up DMF / #6 on the transfer front. Unless Shea is loaned out, of course, which is not impossible. 
 

NB I do not rule out that AL may be the Stuart replacement but with no disrespect intended to AL -  I’d rather not and prefer to think it will be O’reilly. 

Surely arriverderci Kameldeen  if this Palace lad strolls up? Or if he doesn’t seems writing is starting to become visible on the wall for KS…

The point about Charley learning English is well made. In fact it’s make or break for his Saints career. 
As others have already mentioned he should be extremely willing and able to learn much from AL - but not if there’s no interest on his part in mastering the language sufficiently - which I understand is/was RM’s main point of frustration with him, talent unquestioned. 

Like every saints fan I find the KS situation frustrating. 
 

There’s a player in there. He has Mbappe-like acceleration. But that seems to be it so far. 

Every match I saw him last season he looked like he was playing with weights around his ankles. Our PB tactics basically shackled him and he looked awful. It afflicted SE to a an extent also. 

RF was the only winger with the ability ( I think it’s mostly football intelligence and maturity) to adapt his game to the way RM wants team to play. He’s not as technically or physically gifted as the other two but was miles more impactful. 

KS is currently not a starter nor even an impact sub at present. Unless something changes in pre season he is on the For Sale list imo. 
 

RM has already commented on Lallanas immediate and impressive impact upon training.  That’s usually his “tell” sign that the player is going to be on the bench!🤣

54 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

On the other hand, Spain had a plan for our players - for one, I noticed Saka had no space. Whenever he was on the ball he was doubled up on, normally Williams helping out there as well - Saka never had any real chance to take on a player and get past them as they did a good job marking him out of it.

Spain play good football, but their off the ball work was just as impressive. They pressed in packs, as groups - it was all choreographed. Whereas if we pressed it was a half arsed effort from Kane or Foden as a single press. Sometimes a couple pressed, but because it wasn't a concerted effort Spain would break the transition and be at us. Maybe we don't have the players to press like they did, but you could see the work Spain had done on us tactically to stop our threats, yet we just did the same things as we have done all tournament. 

Much overlooked aspect of Spains performances in this tournament was their press when out of possession. 
 

Spain have some excellent players - but so did most of the top teams - but none of them played as ferociously and as high up to regain possession as Spain, so often. And that was a key aspect of them winning the ball back and winning every game. *

I hope our press can be as effective as theirs this season. All the EPL teams will be practising press activation. Those that do it best will have better results than the others - even with apparently inferior players. Hoping our team spirit and relatively ego free squad will stand us in good stead there. 

* ps and neither was it that Spain’s players were fitter than everyone else’s players. Yes, Spains  players were technically competent and mentally alert when out of possession but It was the coaching and the team mentality that meant this was an automatic response not something that needed to be shouted at them from the sidelines. Big difference. 

I think Matt O’Riley, of all the players names we have been associated with, is the one I’d think most likely to make an immediate and positive impact upon our first team. 

In the continuing absence of a top CF and with Stu gone, doubts over Charlie and we not even got Flynn over the line yet this is exactly the kind of consistent high energy levels goalscorer and assist machine we need.
Seems a level above Aribo and Will IF he can bring anything like his Scottish form over to the EPL.

If it’s €25m that’s a lot - and no doubt his wages will be in line with that - but I think if we put whatever we get for Paul  towards it and remember we not paying Stus wages any longer it won’t seem so high. I’m 100% in favour of this rumoured transfer. 

30 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I'm not sure we have the space to accommodate him to be honest unless we ship out other players. Not sure with his injury record he's someone you'd want to be relying on. Edwards, Woods, Stephens, Bednarek, THB and ABK are too many CBs. Maybe we would try to keep him if Bednarek leaves or something but I can't see it. 

I think we will need six cb’s this season if RM continues the way we ended last year with 3CB’s on the pitch at anyone time.
The point regarding Jan is well made. Maybe Saints will let him run out the contract - but given the two newbies and the return of BK it does kind of point to Saints cashing in on him before he does a Che.  Hard call that as Jan was fundamental last year. 

2 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

….and made of glass and not someone would want alongside you in trenches as disappears when it’s tough.

Agree his injury record is not good. I made that a first proviso.
The thing about not wanting him in the trenches is a debatable comment. I do not know what it was like for him aged 20/21 in the uk playing in Ralph’s team but surely not easy and a walk in the park. German international defenders not usually cowards. I’d hope a years maturity - and RM “bravery coaching” influence - and staying injury free - might address any “resolve” issues 

 

I took a moment to remind myself about Bella-Kotchap. 

His injury record is obviously not good - but -

1. He is / was a German international centre back. When fit. 
2. I will repeat that - he is/ was a German international centre back - when fit.
3. He is only 22 years old. 
4. He speaks English, - pretty much essential for a RM player especially seeing how non speakers like lyanco and Charlie get shipped out. 
5. He is 6ft 3” and athletic with it, - our biggest defender in a team not all that big.
6. RM thinks he is an impressive massive unit and wants to get to know him better - from a fellow defender to take a personal interest like that is crucial. Can RM teach and motivate BK - and keep him injury free? If so skys the limit. 
7. BK has Rio Ferdinand as his hero role model- a classy cb good choice to aspire to. 

8. Bought for £11m still valued at £12m by transfermkt and cannot be on big wages. Selling him now for what we paid can be done - easy - but surely he’s worth a pre season at least to see if he’s able for the EPL with RM,s team?

9. His contract is until 2026 so we got time - if he does well we can sell him next year for a gazillion -or upgrade and extend his contract.

I don’t see much downside to keeping him in the squad. Go Bella! 

Guido Rodrigues has got a Barca, Juve and Inter free transfer written all over him. Current wages €32k pw so plenty of takers for him. The Barca offer was 2 yrs+1 at €52k pw I think.
 

To join the massive downgrade that is Saints compared to those elites he’d need to be financially recompensed to mad levels - breaking our wage structure and getting £100k pw+ and a £M’s bung to him and his agent. I reckon. And even then he could join a bigger team than us in the EPL and do better still Chelsea would have him lol as would Liverpool. 

27 minutes ago, HKsaint said:

In the above case, RF would say to NUFC that I have agreed my salary with Southampton and so you either pay me the difference or I will stay. 

Yup I guess so. If he went from £70k with them to £35k-£50k pw or so with us thats north of £1M less for him this year. why move to get >£1m less - even if he is happier here? Getting £1m more just for training a year is a lot of money. Forget about “ wants to play” and “ enjoys his football again”. 

What he might earn - or more what would clubs be willing to pay him in year two though is anyone’s guess.

I imagine that is what our salary and number of years contract offer to him takes into account and what the haggling is over. 

My best guess is he might be offered £35k -£40k pw over a two year contract with us - and simultaneously is hoping to get at least £700k  ( basically 10 weeks pay +) 

He will have to compromise on that if he wants to get away though ..and get an extra year ( or two) tagged into the contract - and that’s the haggling part. 

My guess is that RF is not going to be in anything like £70pw at Saints. 

If he is on £70pw at NUFC and has a year to go in which he is unlikely to play it’s going to cost them £3m plus a bad at us and optics unless they get rid. 

Clearly NUFC would love a fee but it seems we are the only game in town. Indeed he is asking for a pay off . I suspect they will end up giving him £750k and we’d put him on £49-£50k pw as a top earner on a free. Two years. 

Hi Kristian, Any ideas from the Danish press on why O’Reilly, supposedly a £30M player (and superstar in Scotland) and eligible to play for Denmark did not make the Danish euros final squad? Would be interested to know if there was any reasons speculated or otherwise seeing as he’s been heavily promoted here as a possible - and highly desirable - Saints signing. 

1 hour ago, Nolan said:

Worth noting that Transfermarkt list him as having same agent as one Flynn Downes. Wasserman

Read his wiki.

Written and edited by somebody who wants Southampton to make an offer.

“Plays like Flynn Downes”. “ takes feee kicks like James Ward Prowse or Rickie Lambert….” 😎…..Looks like a wind up or a phishing exercise or both. 

Im half expecting Saints asked to send bank details and a small deposit to pay air fare in return for a free transfer…

Open training session men’s and ladies teams  announced at SMS for 1/8/24 starts c 1pm outside but interviews at 2pm and actual training on pitch from 2.30 onwards. Free tickets available via the app in kingsland.
Good and rare opportunity for saints supporting students of body language and non verbal comms in general to get an insight into the group and Individual dynamics at play in the squad. As well as the mechanics of the actual training itself of course. 

I think I agree on Ings. Time to move on. If we are going to struggle to score in the EPL with whoever plays up front at least let someone younger and new have a chance at it.

Ings and Che are unlikely  to set the EPL on fire and become overnight goal scoring machine revelations - neither probably is RS- but I’d rather he be given the place in the starting line and offered the chance than those two if there was the choice. And in any case we need at least two so attacking players like Delap and O’reilly as well are required, or both better. 

38 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

Are we sure he is Brazilian? He doesn't seem to possess any of the skills that you normally associate with a Brazilian. Mind you neither did Lyanco 😂

I’m not sure that’s entirely true. 😃. Lyanco was and is acutely aware of his Brazilian heritage. Indeed it was probably the main reason he ultimately could not play in a RM team.  

The times I watched him play - including his last match away to Gills, it was clear he was not following the instructions he was given as diligently as others regarding position or when to pass or how and instead wished to rely on his Brazilian passion and the occasional Hollywood pass or trick to plat his football.
Being Brazilian this is natural but his relative ill discipline plus the disadvantage of not being Neymar and playing at CB meant it was not going to end well..

NB. But he gets full marks for passion/charisma but that alone is not enough to win football matches unfortunately.  Who doesn’t like watching saints players with that fire in the belly. We’ve had a few - Ruddock and Williams, Case and Dennis spring to mind..

Got my ticket and really looking forwards to seeing especially whoever RM plays up front ( hoping for RS - With RF andAA all at same time 😃

I voted. I’m a Northam st holder. It’s gonna ruin my view unless they take it off before kick off though. 😄