gio1saints

I’d check out the Har bar hotel for incomings tonight.May be around there tomorrow morning. Tall guy dark hair Scottish accent right 😎

A google search tells me the following are currently represented by Jonathan Barnet’s CAA Stellar agency : JWP, Salisu, Tella, Paintsil, Jack Stephens, Adam Armstrong, Caleta-car and Matt Grimes amongst a bunch of interesting names ( inc Guido Carillo!!) They are a big agency I know but the number of current and recent SFC players they are associated with from our recent squads is fairly high (c20%!). I have not bothered to check if there are other big agencies monopolising SFC players/ squad but all the same it may be of interest to know this info, as well as to know who else they represent that may fit our shopping list- as these are probably simpler to “ get over the line” based on the existing cosy relationship we seem to have as a club with this agency.

FWIW I don’t think Paintsil will happen . I’m not so certain we have paid Genk all the Onuacho fee. Think of the implications vis the Paintsil proposed fee. It also seems they don’t want him back (maybe neither does he which would be understandable). MANY of the current squad players have the speed & skills to develop into a Nathan Tella and frankly most have already got more potential than he had 2-3 years ago when NT was knocking on the first team squad door. Paintsil in to “replace NT” is a red herring for me. Get another goalscorer in - which is what NT was last year at Burnley - is what Russell really means. And what we really need - Not necessarily yet another fast small tricky winger type attacker. Of which we are blessed with quite a few already… That’s why I can see at least ONE recognisable goalscorer coming in (to replace NT) and TWO if Che leaves. And they don’t have to be called Paintsil.

Latest odds on New Skipper for Saturday from Gio.com 😇 Che 11/8 Flynn : 2/1 Manning, S. Armstrong 5/2 KWP : 3/1 A. Armstrong : 9/2 W. Smallbone : 5/1 Beds : 11/2 G Bazunu : 10/1 Sammy the Saint 1000/1 😇 Seeing some strong pre match action for Stu Armstrong atm…😂 Beds getting some support.

Have Che and Stewart played and trained together for Scotland? If so that’s certainly a plus.

I think you are close to the right answer. Imagine it’s January 24. Che has scored 8 goals. Stewart joined, is fully fit and fully up to speed on the RM playlist. Already notched a few from the bench. We are in the top six and looking good for automatic . Even if Che leaves in Jan window to a EPL team needing a forward Ross has learned his lines. I’m hoping the “ at least stay til Xmas Che and see how you feel as there’s always the Jan window” chat might actually be effective.

Ross Stewart = SRL.

Dont think there will be an announcement or announcements today. Tomorrow or Friday hopefully. 😎

Interesting way of solving the issue and the romantic in me hopes that would sway him too. We all realise though that is the ££ and length of contract on offer that’s the main thing. And on that subject I think, only IMO that whilst the weekly money we are offering might be “alright” we are probably not offering another 3 years. And that’s down to his age and, frankly, previous goal scoring record in the EPL. IF Palace Boscombe or Fulham or a n other offer him three years at EPL wages I think he would be mad not to take it. I think Saints would, on balance, be a bit foolhardy to offer it- so Captain or no I think he’s leaving - if a suitable offer comes in that is. No desperate £15m cash last minute offers accepted for example.

Andi Zeqiri is 24 and does look like the sort of player we might buy. He is in final year of 3yr contract at Brighton, was bought but then loaned out to German then Swiss (Basel) clubs last two years. Scored a decent amount last year (11/30) and is a full Swiss international. Can play wing or CF and bears an uncanny facial resemblance to Broja! Might be a cheap CF option / Tella replacement ?

I am confident we will not repeat historical mistake of being striker-lite or wrong type striker in at close of window. If the signings of Holgate and Fraser are anything to go by even a Loan striker rather than a purchase would not surprise either. RM has repeatedly said if Che leaves he will be replaced- and I don’t think he meant Mara. But he might have done. Don’t think he was being disingenuous there. Straight talking so far and refreshing to boot!

I was initially dubious about Ryan Fraser ( especially “ he’s not here to replace Nathan” 😉) but I can already sense he will be a good model for SAA and Ed. They did not have that before. They do now. In the short time Ryan was on he always looked dangerous. I particularly liked his link up play with AA - we did not see too much of that from either of the younger players - and the fact that his football intelligence seems high. Knowing to run on from that direct free kick for example showed he is alert to score- pity he didn’t but fair do’s the keeper for an excellent stop.

Quite intrigued by the Fraser loan because as far as I recall he joined Newcastle when out of contract. Ie on a free. So I’d guess he might be on a high weekly wage at NUFC - lol certainly compared to Saints squad atm. Indeed would not surprise me if he’s on the highest wage this season already. Interesting wage differentials issues coming into play with these loaners…

Did anyone else notice Bella on the pitch at the end giving claps all round to the support? it looked to me ( Hope I’m wrong) that he was taking the chance to say goodbye to a full SMS if indeed he’s leaving this week. Hope I am wrong. He is going to be a good in I’m sure and I’d prefer he did it with us!

I can sense that Everton may have allowed us Mason Holgate in return for some quid pro quo with Che- or indeed a n other of our attackers. The timing of this apparently long wanted loan deal in context of their ££ issues and the Che offer turned down is interesting. This may be just the first part of our dealing with them. Given main man 6ft 2” Calvert Lewin is injured / always getting injured might it not be beyond the realm of possibility that they might want to take Onuacho on loan from us if they are desperate last thing deadline day? Given they also wanted Gnonto the same could be said for Sulemana who might be regarded as similar - let alone their obvious interest in Che. I think there’s a fair chance we will be dealing with Everton again before the window shuts.

Just remarking on what may purely be coincidence but it looks quite like the finance team is trying to balance the cash flow quite strictly. Note for example the Onuacho v Paintsil swop deal idea, note the two loans, note that we apparently only wanted c £5m in cash up front of the £15m for Che - and that we have recently apparently offered c £7m in cash plus add ons for the swans CB. Money in money out from now on it seems.

I think Holgate and hopefully Wood are in to replace two or three out of ABK, Lyanco, KWP, Larios, Bree and Perraud. Both are potential starters but probably would be bench at first. Given the high number of games and the increased booking suspensions from new rules this season plus more injuries ( from playing 100minutes not 90) they will certainly get good game time and opportunity to claim starter spots. Id prefer we kept KWP and ABK of course out of the five most at risk…

The loan system is a farce. Said Turkish. I agree if ABK gets simply loaned to Dortmund. Flynn is how it’s “meant” to work from that perspective. Player loans are today primarily a feature of “trading” not “playing” or “ squad management “. It’s yet another indicator of how much football has changed in a short short time. That’s capitalism for you!

WRT to Nathan Wood today is first I’ve even heard he exists. But checking his wiki and the usual publicly available info sites it’s clear he is an extremely viable Saints prospect. specifically 1. He is a young promising CB to perhaps directly replace a likely outgoing Bella-K. 2. Got his First u21 England cap in March 23. Multiple caps at lower age group levels . Probably upward transfer value trajectory especially as CB. But would need leave Swans to accelerate that. ( NB see Maquire…) 2.Pace, Athleticism AND 6”2. Speed ability and height. 3. Already coached in the Russell way so short induction time. 4. Saints perfect onward development club for him and for us. If it’s £10m and a sell on it’s a fair price. Oh, and I actually think he would accelerate his learning playing with the better players at Saints. Especially the experienced ones like KWP, Beds, Jack and Stu.

Che leaves on a free next year. Means he would likely get a sign on bonus from whoever bought him and very tasty wages. Stay at saints score lots of goals take your pick of the clubs. versus : get a bigger wedge than he is on currently with Everton and an extended contract. versus : accept saints offer and contract extension. it’s clear the third option is the non starter. It’s between the first and second and given he needs relocate to Liverpool and Everton’s recent bad form it’s not clear cut to me he would be delighted to join them.

RM has said publicly he expects at least one or two incoming imminently , and more. I don’t have him down as a liar but shit happens The reset will not take 3 months or One transfer window. Nothing sustainably good happens overnight.

Imagine it’s 10pm last night of the transfer window. Saints have accepted bids of £20m for Che, £20m for Charlie, £20m for Nathan, £20m for KWP, £20m for Sule, and allowed Alex a free. What players would we want and what would we be prepared to pay? Our propensity to pay a higher price goes up the nearer the end of window we get So, if Swans wanted £18m for Piroe today it’s £25m on last day of window, macatee, grimes, Doyle etc ditto. there’s room to negotiate both ways because of that. And that’s what’s holding stuff up.

I think SR strategy is NOT. to recruit what’s traditionally required to get out of the Championship. Because history shows those clubs inevitably get found at in the EPL. likely means we are looking at promotion yes- but promotion in a way SR calculate will mean we have a better chance of staying up. So do t expect us to steamroller every team. It might take a season to truly get this system for our players ( and support). sadly, support does not have more than two minutes patience at kick off so it’s an incredibly hard ask. Far easier to boot it long with big guys everywhere.

Ha. Too easy. Virginia Plain

Che is / will/would be a monster at this Championship level. He already looks a bully in the two sub appearances he’s made. He knows how we play- means a lot in this Russell team and possession style of playing. Is it worth £12M to get those goals and for that continuity? If he leaves preference is a direct replacement WHO KNOWS HOW WE WILL PLAY. And we all know who they should be to get that instant understanding. Only Piroe fits that description. Is it worth paying a premium for Piroe ( maybe £5-£10m over the Che fee) to get that - or is it better to give Che a fat new extended contract and think about it next season when we are in the EPL? Thats what Willcox and co are working out imo.