gio1saints

I was not all that serious, as usual, but given the effing useless composition of this bloated squad maybe we should do an Estate agents style Open Day on unwanted forwards and FB’s. You turn up at SMS on a certain day by appointment and the players all line up maybe do a few tricks got shiny boots and fresh kit on hair washed and cut that kind of thing maybe even have a chance to do a meet and greet have a selfie with a potential buyer. If we need to shift a few it’s worth a try I’d say. 🤭

And one reason I think it’s a good chance we start out with three forwards on pitch is that we still got loads of them to shift and probably will have a few left over come start of season. Plus Still will want to start as offensive as possible. Essentially, TD and JR are forwards. RF and SE ditto. CA, RS, AA BBD and DD same. And ditto Ballard. Total 10 - And that’s with two taken out! I think we will end up with 6/10. A couple loaned out and a couple sold.

Yes true BUT ( and I’m in favour of starting with CA but think only fair to point something out first … …That rather fails to point out that CA’s most recent goal scoring spree record is 2 goals…from 1071 minutes……and for those out there who prefer it as goals per game that’s a magnificent one goal every 17.5 matches : 20 starts and 15 sub appearances. Yes EPL is tough I get it…oh it was in a bad team I also get that ….but I watched most those games and did not get the impression here is a player going to take the game - ANY Game - by the scruff of the neck and turn it around for us. Game changing he was not. Prolific in running into spaces where the ball isn’t - he was. My only hope is that if he plays alongside DD his runs into Outer Space will leave DD with a tad more time and space to do a shoot and score things that we used to see long time ago from our centre forwards before it became unfashionable. All imho of course. NB. Think I’ve just created a new nickname for CA: “Spaceman” and we all know the song…😁

That quote is straight from “The Managers handy guide to answering reporters questions”. There are 3 possible answers to the reporters question “ are you going to overhaul the squad ” 1. Yes. ( Unspoken - I’ve already seen some of the players are weak) 2. No ( Unspoken - I’ve already seen some of the players are weak but I don’t want to undermine morale early doors - or let them know I’m ditching them until I’ve got someone else lined up) or 3 “There does not need to be a massive overhaul “ etc - this is essentially the same as (1) but put more diplomatically.

All by car as there’s no return trains…

The equation is thus: Saints - TP + athleticism + potential + modest fee and wages = DD. References: See : Joachim Kayi-Sanda.

Do you think we will start with Gav in goals again? IF AM is the starting gk v Wrexham would mean Gavin will probably want to go out on loan to get playing time…And so we’d need another goalie- in which case I’d like a new starting #1 imo - not another reserve whilst we wait to see if Gav gets better. We know what AM brings and it’s plenty good enough for the Championship so I’m fairly calm about the situation but overall I can sense a new #1 incoming later in window somehow…

Plus Sammy Saint had to take a cut don’t forget.

It’s only strange because EVERYONE and his dog knew how we were going to play under RM. If it seems like it’s unclear what system Still is going to use I’d say thats a good thing and I hope he keeps everyone guessing all season. It may just be you’ve identified his system - no system just do what’s specifically needed to win v each opponent. WRT to transfers I think we have a very good idea of the player characteristics SFC will prefer in general : height, pace, athleticism.

Yes I think so too. It’s was like he’d memorised a bullet point about each player so he could appear informed. Like when he calls out “ Shea” during the rondos. FWIW here’s my version of post it notes to help Will : AM: an experienced starting goalie - until I find a better one. GB: is it true you are an overrated gk. Show me otherwise. Or bye bye. James Bree : nobody liked him at first. Right footed FB. Ryan. Nobody liked him either much apart from his exboss but he’s competent and willing. But is he good enough to start? We will see. Shea : He’s been playing well. Potentially a good un. Be nice to him. BBD: Spanish speaker used to score, bit of a rep but that’s not going to fool me if he’s past it. So he’d better work hard. Be good. Or it’s adios Ben. AA - same as BBD except speaks Northern. SE: ex Man City. What you got son apart from weird hair and an expensive price tag for this league? RF: old dog Scottish c@nt of a shorter winger bit of a joker. Popular. But overpaid. Deliver or go. WS: easy to recognise but what does he do? Keep an eye on him & see when / if he disappears. Is he a lightweight? FD. Cheeky chappy cocky cockney and popular in squad - be good to get him onside but also make sure I’m not having any of that pass back negative shit this year. JS: Captain but I don’t have to play him if I can find better. Which I think I can. But he’s Influential and could be an enforcer for me in dressing room. AL: he is a God of football compared to the rest but I’ve got to treat him like the cone man and bib collector that he’s gonna have to be. But I will always talk with him cos he’s, well, Adam Lallana! Paul Trollope. He can be my Mr. Nasty until I find my shouty voice. About 4 weeks or so. Tyler : would you like a sweetie Tyler? Mateus : How about you? Cameron: small young and runs a lot but rarely impacts a game so it’s a mystery. Of unused talent. Might have to bin him if he does not get on the bus quick and sort out his shit. Joe : nice song and scored in a euro final but been told you are out so sorry fella. THB: posh sounding name are you posh? heard you a baller. Had you in one of my online teams. As the Clash once remarked time for you to decide if I should stay or should I go. If you stay you’re my likely first choice CB maybe Captain. If you go please eff off quickly. Jan : respect to a good Polish pro. But I understand you are offski so good luck! CT: were you pushed around last year? Well - what you got? Old dog new tricks or not? RS: always a crocked one in the squad. I will help you up to a point but your contract is ticking down. Play and play good don’t be injured- or eff off. Jay: I’ve not got anymore sweeties left cos Tyler and Mat took them but here you can have my top trumps Wayne Rooney gold card edition if you like. Wellington: Brazilian. Must be technically good, right? Yuki : the smiley Japanese player who is going to translate for the other left footed Japanese player can’t remember his name. Must remember to learn Japanese word for “ attack!”. There’s a few more notes on the rest of the players but they fell out his kit bag so gonna have to retrieve them..

No I’m sure it’s not - I used him as an example of someone that the managers might be talking about over there paid for by the club lattes.

Thanks @Farmer Saint. That’s about as top as top gets when it gets to its snippets, short of you posting a TikTok of DD shaking hands with Spors and giving Will a hug. Appreciated, nice gesture to a forum which can so often literally show no receipts. Here we have the receipts! Kind of. Very nice work, please thank agent and no need but if you wish confirm it’s not a lack of discretion simply a show of something that’s already clearly in public domain so no harm done. 💪

I think Tired Legs got sold by Wrexham so he won’t be there on opening day. Bit of a shame if you ask me as the tussle Armstrong v Tired Legs has got tabloid back page news written all over it..

No it does not I’m afraid. But they did have a mobile craft beer set up outside Saints end entrance last year so there’s compensation!

We have lost two forwards- KS and TP. And three of the current forwards we have were playing elsewhere last season ( SE, BBD and AA). And RS, RF and CA may as well have been on loan for all the minutes they played. DD, for all his critics above, does seem to have characteristics missing or that we could benefit from in this squad. Height speed and strength basically. Breakthrough USA Full International. It’s a no brainier buy for me if it’s £8m. Plenty upside. Moderate downside. NB : caveat : I do not expect all of AA, BBD, SE and CA to be with us for start of season. So, If one or two go I’d want a proven goals scoring (as they were/are) replacement - not a project. There’s no guarantee they will go because of their high wages relative to our league - so assuming they do not get shifted adding DD to the mix makes sense and is not a bad idea either way.

I think it’s not unreasonable to think Downs may have been given a positive heads up by his National team boss, MP on Saints. In which case thank you Poch!

Anybody see BK in the pre season training testing? I’m pretty resigned to him being unsellable! BUT if physicality is going to be our new thing, well, he fits the bill…

@goodymatt don’t get me wrong I rate / love him him. And £25-£30m is not excessive for a British international CB. However: In the Championship he is great but was he in the EPL? My view is he needs a little bit more time on the ball than the speed of play at highest level here. Certainly in a team like ours which will usually be under relentless pressure (when /if) we next go up. Hence somewhere continental Europe is perfect. OR play for a team that will hog possession- like Man City or Celtic basically. Ronnie Edward’s is a ball playing CB ready to play in THB’s role and the shift towards physicality with the new guy shows the direction of traffic there.

If I was THB I’m checking my passport is up to date. Porto? Lovely city. Great weather. Brilliant stadium. Great home support. Champions League football. Likely to win a cup / league title whilst there. Only a few hours flying away. Will play with some great players and definitely be in Tuchels eyeline. Would probably score a few as well out there. Plus not be quite under so much pressure to defend as Porto are a dominant team out there. His passing ability and extra bit of British vigour would go down well. And I’d be glad for him. You join Saints and do alright then a CL team can come in for you. That’s the message. As for price - if it’s £20m I’m taking it if I was Saints. A player on his third time around in the championship will not be as motivated as the new guys despite THB being a top bloke top-ish player and never gave less than 100%. Would go with my blessing and goodwill anyways. NB. If he stays he’s going to be a cheat code CB for us this season. The outstanding CB in the league in all probability. But all the same, would not deny him his big chance.

Well I for one always look forward to the Eastleigh game. Reinforces community in a positive way.Its not a match for purists but it Puts ££ into them for a guaranteed full house. Get to see squad players have a run. We saw Jay for example last time and Yuki's debut. And Adam lallanas not debut 😉.

Wow. Was like that £27m they got for Bellingham was burning a hole in their pocket! Plus £20m on the guy from Roma. We spent (I think )£18m on Flynn as our marquee EPL signing…X2. And £20m on THB. Interesting. Do they have any more money left ? because if that’s it they are certainly doomed to finish bottom before a ball is even kicked imo.

Further on comparing Leeds to Saints. When Leeds failed to get promoted last season they unloaded FIVE of their better players : Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter, Archie Gray, Jack Harrison and Luis Sinisterra( who had been on loan) I think most of those five would start at Saints this season! Thing that’s probably surprising is they kept the Manager. I think that’s a mistake. So although relegation is NOT same as failure to get promotion, to equal Leeds work in outsourcing at least three more first team starters need to leave beyond KS and PO..

It’s interesting that Leeds look likely to break their transfer record on a new striker. Muniz has a £35m price tag! This, despite having a record goal scorer and assists player ( Piroe) purchased for a high fee also I might add (£12m) from the championship promotion season in their squad already. It’s almost as if they saw what we did last year and realise they need better., much better. Whether Muniz is the answer is a moot point but their apparent desire to upgrade certainly contrasts starkly with our poor/absent decision making and vision in same time last year. NB. piroe is quoted as an £18m value player on transfermkt. So if anyone thinks we are bidding for him this year I’d be surprised. And why would he forego chance to play EPL for yet another year in the champs anyway even if we did/could?

If that’s right and we end up with a 48% reduction BEFORE The wage reductions come in we can take an educated guess and say that the remaining salaries ( of c £500k) will reduce by I think it’s 40% ( or 50%?) with the relegation clause. That means a new salary bill of c £250k-£265k before the wages of the new players are added in. Say they are all £30k each and there’s 3 more to come means salaries at c £340-£350k this season at Saints. Still higher than nearly all other championship teams I guess but not ridiculously higher like when it was near a Mill.

Excellent choice. We were really, really good. It was no fluke short lived one off period, our team(s) were full of great all time players and we were one of the best, if not quite the best, teams in the country for certainly 18-24-36 months.