West end Saints

I don't know much about Rudoni but is he competing with Shea? I see Shea as a clear first choice this season (more than FD). Is Spertsyan competing with Fernandes? If so, is there anyway we keep MF and spend on Spertsyan?

What does WS stay when he first sits down?

I'm surprised, given his potential, that a club like Man City or Chelsea don't sign him to stop their competitors getting him and loaning him back. Could be an easier sell to Saints and TB plus will have a player more ready to make an impact

Even at his age huge upgrade in Downes. Him alongside Shea Charles would be as good as seen at this level. (Can dream of MF in front!)

UK Company House CARNIVAL PLC Company number 04039524 CompanyOverviewfor CARNIVAL PLC (04039524) Filing historyfor CARNIVAL PLC (04039524) Peoplefor CARNIVAL PLC (04039524) Chargesfor CARNIVAL PLC (04039524) Morefor CARNIVAL PLC (04039524) Registered office address Carnival House, 100 Harbour Parade, Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom, SO15 1ST Also, 1,600 employees at their Southampton site - the biggest local company employer. Very much a Southampton company. On top of this tens of thousands of their customers visit Southampton each year. I don't know what you define local company as??!

No

That's not evidenced by results though - most managers who do well in championship do so with no experience in this league

If you watched the three play off games, the most important and highest pressure games at the level we are back at - you will have seen a very effective championship player. The most listened to championship podcast had him as the player of the play offs, so not just biased saints fans. He looked out of his depth on prem. I hope we are aiming for a better midfield so he is not a starter. However, to say he wasn't effective in our last championship season is wrong, he played well.

I personally think we will go on stronger. We all knew most of those players were leaving. The players we used most last time were KWP - will be missed Stephens, Smallbone, Bazunu, THB, Downes, Manning, Adam A, Aribo, Charles, Fraser. All still here. Bednarek gone but potentially improved upon. Charles looks a lot better. Plus good young depth a CB. Robinson. I think we will either have Fernandes or a replacement so stronger there. Che v Downs? Poss Dibling

Strange man! It's what close season football forums are for -speculation , guessing and discussion

Early predictions? Mine - Shea Charles (If Fernandes leaves)

Their view could be - we were promoted with these keepers, and a manager who took risks at the back / not great at organising a defence - with more protection and a couple of years older why couldn't he be part of a promotion side again? Not saying that's my view as clearly Ramsdale would hugely increase our chances

Of course I want Ramsdale to start and he was ok last season but I was disappointed in him. I've seen keepers make more of a difference to us over a season, handful of good games but also mixed with he didn't look top level

Would a midfield /attack of this go up? Downes Charles Fernandes Dibling (Armstrong) Downs (Stewart, Archer) Edozie (Fraser) With Bragg, Ballard, Robinson tried.

Last promotion team, based on most mins played was Manager RM (v Still) Bazunu Walker-peters (v Bednarek THB Manning stu (v Fernandes, ) Smallbone Downes Adam A Che (Downs, BreretonDiaz, Stewart, Fraser Plus Dibling, Shea Charles, Archer, Edwards, wood, Sugawara, wellington, Quarshie, Aribo, Edozie They have already said they want a creative midfielder. I would expect if Ramsdale, Dibling and Fernandes go significant money will be spent. I think we will be stronger

I guess THB being the most experienced of those at 23 is why we need JS

And yet over the final, hardest, highest pressure part of our promotion push last time in the league was superb. (2nd Tier podcast had him as the player of the play offs). Proven as decent in championship. Would rather Fernandes, and agree Smallbone was out of his depth this season, as was Downes and many more) but don't get this hate on him. Happy to have better but he just isn't as bad as some people love to post - in this division

Before social media you had racist old gits staring into their beer (red wine?) ranting about "them coming over here", they would generally be ignored as their bitter ignorance deserved, now they can form political parties appealing to the lowest common denominator. Sad.

Thread for a rumour? Too early I thought he must have signed when I saw the thread!

Downs follows Quarshie on Instagram - have they played together?

Is the deadwood the players who got us promoted last time or Fernandes / Ramsdale etc?

Did you see the squad two years ago??? Of the players who started at least half of our games with have lost Mara, Che Adams, Stu A, and KWP. We have gained Ramsdale, Fernandes, Nathan Wood, Kayi Sanda, wellington, Taylor, Sugawara, Archer, brereton Diaz, onouachu, Dibling breaking through, Edwards, Shea Charles returning as player of the season, edozie after ok loan. Players will go, but as will signings arrive. We will be stronger than last promotion season....is the manager better or worse?

I think we are half agreeing - CA does at times make an impact (in better sides tho) , but MF offers more,all round play and less like to have a brain fart and pass to the wrong team

I liked him and had flashes where he showed ability and tried things others wouldn't. I liked his character and enjoyed watching him. However, it wasn't him being adventurous which slowed his progress it was misplaced easy passes, mistimed tackles etc. He is still young and there is a player in there, but he isn't one that I feel we have lost out on. The RM argument fails when you see how a younger adventurous midfielder, who likes driving forward and passing forward has done so much better - in higher league, and worse team Fernandes showed more than CA. As he gets older, more experienced he may well be a regular starter, rather than odd exciting flashes. I have no idea whether we pushed him out or he wanted out but we have lost dozens of better players.

Reading this forum; Promotion is very hard and teams can't be expected to bounce back and may plummet Russell Martin was poor Our players weren't great last season Russell Martin can't organise a defence Bazunu is the worst goalkeeper in professional football And yet he played 41 times in a team that got promoted!