gio1saints

I'm sure i'm stating what is common knowledge but there are some strong facts about SFC transfer biz and our squad: 1. Our squad has too many Below Average EPL (BAEPL) standard. Our recent league placings tells you this clear as day. These BAEPL players are proving virtually unsellable. So, we cannot "unload" them off the payroll or get a transfer fee out of them. Neither does it make sense to pay up their contracts whilst there is even a chance they can play for saints in a mega injury crisis situation. 2. As older players leave the squad our recruitment team is attempting under the SR / in Ralph we trust model to backfill with Moneyball sweetspot right age young talents (ie 19/20/21). The idea is these young talents cost £5M-10M but can sell at £20M-£30M after less than one good EPL season (see T Livramento). It pays many SFC bills if you we reliably pick up one or two like that each year. 3. These big increases in value do not come from playing Championship football. In order to attract the big bids these players must showcase at EPL level. 4. Relegation is an financial catastrophe but not terminal if the assessment is that an immediate return is highly likely. Consequently, the manager must be of great experience to know what is the right blend of added value youth and no or little resale value more aged but experienced bros- but it is not an absolute deal breaker if SFC goes down. 5, Saints are not attempting to win the league or get top six. Not every coffee shop opening in your high street is hoping to be a Pret a Manger. Instead they aim for a long term self sustaining business. 6. Fans are the fly in the ointment though, as despite being historically considered important ( this is no longer true- fan value is only in its monetisation value - not the intangibles that are what we all really care about) so they are essentially paid lip service as they are relatively uncontrollable. Do not expect fan power to change transfer policy- unless its incredibly well supported - such as SMS riots / massive hostility to news of saints selling JWP for instance - or merging with pompey!

Your response, albeit half tongue in cheek, does raise the bigger old chestnut question though - which is that of saint ticket pricing in general. We cannot afford new players without changing more to watch. Everybody who posts that we need new players should also post a disclaimer stating they know this likely means the ticket prices will probably need to go up- and that's ok. Everybody knows Saints have to max commercial revenue any way it can to offset wages and stay FFP compliant. But we all conveniently forget when it comes to how much we want club to spend. Not may clubs have found the "sweet spot" between "fair" matchday ticket revenues and the transfer fees + wages that are seemingly required to deliver a moderately winning team that stays in the EPL and gets that TV money. SR have spent a lot on new players - and their wages. We currently have very few outgoing to reduce the wage bill or even able to bring in a transfer fee. Be under no illusions. The prospect of subsidised away trips for hardy loyalists and so forth are not good. A simple example was two recent home friendlies- children and concessions should have been free. The goal should have been a full house. Perhaps everyone paying £5 or £10 and a charity donation to Hants underprivileged children and families in need. Would be a Sell Out. And we know with a family crowd there's the merch and consumables on top. Plus the prospect of a loyal customer for life. Plus teh excellent PR and community goodwill uplift. Instead we get the unimaginative unambitious uncreative take take not give give approach same as what happens every year : very low mediocre attendance for supposedly glamour fixtures and a lunar atmosphere. No owner dares take that chance. Every season its the same. Its only a couple of matches so I am still perplexed that they don't think the maths add up. We cannot afford £40m Broja but we can afford to do this. And if it does end up that we can afford a £40M Broja why on earth could we not afford do the right thing on the support for the friendlies, and indeed with deference to Turkish, do something to help the away fan?

No Liam Delap in the Man City line up today. Cannot make the bench for the Charity Shield? Either injured or….

Ralph talks in the present tense about the forward - using the definitive “he” - which suggests it’s a known player and he’s in the bag essentially - rather the more uncommitted ””they” which would have suggested we were not quite so certain who it might be. it may well be Ralph’s command of English means we should not pay credence to this interpretation - but by adding in my analysis of his body language to me he seemed to “ know” who the “ he” is that he was inferring we were still to get. Interesting.

SG - you are probably right. Just checked and it was £40M in 2019/20 season but suggestions are his value has dropped since then. Liverpool were periodically sniffing him as I recall and they are usually very good at identifying a baller ...

He is rather similar to what we've got so i can see why there's a possible connection. But surely Ismaila Sarr is the one you'd buy from Watford if he was available as a first preference?

Belated hullo to all forum posters here I know and love. My take on this transfer window is that we need an Alpha male striker. We have almost always done better when there is such a player in the squad/team. It seems we have a budget of up to £30M for this striker (or more-who knows?), in other words its potentially/probably going to be a saints record transfer. That would be a massive statement from SR. Will it be spent on more UK based but over-priced potential - or on a non UK better value more seasoned player? If you look at how much "potential" we have already brought on board this window the answer is : A LOT. If its likely to be a record transfer my thinking is that id be expecting a higher level CV from the new striker. Or maybe the more un-provens we buy the better chance at least one of them becomes Sadio Mane or Gareth Bale.. S Whilst the "all-in" nature of a Liam Delap or Broja joining at mega fees is fun the speculation may also be a smokescreen. From what I've read neither Broja ( I suspect Newcastle or Everton will over pay/wage him) or Delap are likely as if we can get them then Newcastle and Everton can as well. And probably pay much more. Which leaves us with other young strikers abroad or not quite so young perhaps, but more realistic. And if we are not breaking the transfer record does it mean we are allowed perhaps that just one older experienced goal-scorer with less resale but a cheaper transfer cost? Somebody with medals? Or even a previous player ;-)?