CSA96

One was Alan Pace with ALK Capital, now owner of Burnley I'm sure the common version is that Katharina Liebherr used her veto on his takeover because he wanted to carry out a leveraged takeover (which Burnley accepted) but Liebherr/Semmens weren't comfortable with it and wanted a new owner to be an individual or group of individuals with solid proof of funds from other businesses, rather than a capital group like ALK looking to raise investment funds first

I stopped reading when it said KWP was on £20k a week and earning less than Smallbone These numbers seem like absolute pie in the sky

Well, I am going for an 8, as much for getting rid of the vast amount of **** that we have cleared out, as the acquisitions. I think it might actually be a 7.5 because I wanted a new GK and the striker position is a bit of a question mark still. I'm also a bit surprised that for Spors and Still's comments on adding physical profiles, aggression and more athletic players that we didn't add a unit to the midfield. Maybe Jander is good enough to make me forget about that, but let's see Overall though, it's nice to have a squad that is the right size (!!!) and has the right profiles for the way the manager wants to play. My feeling after the Watford game was that we were a playoff team, but that was without Jelert, Jander, Fellows and Scienza involved and Azaz had only just started learning people's names. Flynn was messing around with his chicken again and missed out also. So that's as many as five starters missing. Let's see... I am just glad to see it freshened up though, as that group last season had built a lot of ill feeling and made us all feel unenthused towards our football club. It was important to freshen it up on the pitch and likewise, to freshen up the dressing room. We've definitely done that, so credit to Johannes and Rasmus (!) Over to you, Will...

Really? Maybe not 'surprises' but he's been ruthless with a few people. He inherited three right backs, all of them are gone (ok, KWP chose to leave). Aribo and Smallbone were routine starters in 23/24 and aren't even wanted enough to be here as squad players and were told they were free to go The only reason it's not surprising to us is because it's obvious just how much shit we have been carrying for the last year or so, but there are some who I assumed would have a role to play this year who it is clear that Still didn't fancy and were told to find themselves an opportunity to play somewhere else

Another thing I noticed... August 29: Fernandes sold for £42m August 29: Azaz signs for £15m August 29: Jander signs for £12m August 29: Fellows signs for £10m September 1: Scienza signs for £8m Total spend post-Fernandes: £45m Really good forward planning from Spors and Lederer *deal values include add-ons/bonuses

Just watched his interview. 'I play with a lot of intuition' - Russell Martin shudders

Incredible to move on from 20 members of the previous season's first team squad in one summer window - and still trying to get Aribo and Edozie out the door Ramsdale Lumley Walker-Peters Sugawara Bree Bednarek Bella-Kotchap Kayi Sanda Taylor Larios Ugochukwu Smallbone Fernandes Lallana Gronbaek Amo-Ameyaw Dibling Sulemana Brereton Diaz Onuachu

Good luck to him. Decent Champ midfielder, but not good enough for ambitions beyond that. Nice guy, good pro, academy lad who made it to the pro game. Hope he does well with Millwall - thanks for lifting the roof off St Mary's in the playoff

Gone to Millwall to get some minutes - contract expires in June 2026 so unlikely we'll see him again

Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail reporting that Birmingham have come in for Will Smallbone, likely to be a loan offer

Guess it depends if they think they're still 2-3 hours away from having the financials etc in place, but all parties are happy for him to travel so he's in the right place for when the agreement happens

Sky Germany: Leo Scienza is flying to England

Yeah, agree with this. I think from Saints perspective they've got their starting XI and key rotation guys signed now, so if others come in they'll be rotation options and they'll be coming in because we shifted the ones Still has decided he's not arsed about

Oops. Solid source indeed Maysie...