macca155

Nothing wrong with your reasoning and I've thought the same myself. However there may be a bit of wishful thinking going on. I doubt Leicester will be that much of a basket case, and the usual subjects of WBA, Coventry, Mibblesborough, Blackburn, Bristol and Norwich will add to the threat from Utd, Birmingham, Wrexham, and Ipswich. Not to mention perennial disrupters like Millwall, QPR, Portsmouth, and for us probably Charlton. It is an incredibly tough and competitive league, and I can't wait to enjoy football again. Resilience and squad depth will count. My worry is that almost certainly there will be some welcome, and unwelcome, departures as the squad is still way too big. That could derail things a little.

I always think that players who see out their contract deserve respect. Nathaniel Clyne has always done that, and as such there is no bad feeling. KWP has been excellent for Saints, whether he finds a decent club is down to him now, but I wish him well

If our team can't dispatch a promoted side, that won't have had chance to fully integrate new players, then it really is going to be a long season. They just need to blot out all the noise before hand. As long as they absorb the inevitable early pressure, then Downes, Fernandes, and Charles should be able to take control of the midfield. Even without any additional signings, Dibling, Robinson, Edizie, Armstrong, and Stewart, in any combination, will keep their defence occupied. We all need to have a bit more faith.

Good analysis, Wrexham's problem will be that no matter how much money you have, building a Championship squad takes time. Playing then early doors is probably a good thing

Tough away start but once through that game on. Great run in though. Pompey games guaranteed move to 9am on Sunday

I think it's hard to look past Toby Alderweireld as he was absolutely top class. Ronnie Eckland East a good player but permanently injured if I remember correctly.

Onuachu and Sully were probably the easiest to sell. Saints want rid and aren't playing hard ball. That will be reserved for Fernandes, Dibling, Downes, and THB. Ramsdale will find a suitor somewhere. Same goes for Bendarek. However, what the hell do the club do with ABK, Frazer and Taylor. They are not going to give up a decent wage. Probably impossible to sell, the club will have to take the hit on loans.

4 hours later .... seats changed what a phaff. They better win a match this year, or am I expecting too much

Bloody hell, trying to move my season tickets. I'm number 92 in the queue, who ever is front of me bloody hurry up, no idle chatting. Oooh I'm number 86 now, going to be here a while

We had all this "they are all leaving, get rid" bollocks in 2023. You'd thought we'd learnt by now that players simply won't move if it means a drop in wages. There are always exceptions but generally they stay put until a decent offer comes along. I doubt many of us would either. Don't get hung up on my player categorisations, just see them as an example of the type. ABK, Onuachu, Sugawara, Bazunu, BBD, Aribo, Frazer, and Archer may well have suitors but nobody is paying them the wages Saints have stupidly signed up for, or a fraction of their perceived value. Saints will need to take the hit and loan them out until their contracts expire. The same applies to the slightly more marketable assets such as Downes, THB, Ramsdale, Bendarek, and Sulemana. Clubs need to stump up or they will be staying, how those players react will be key to how Still builds his side. The ones the club really want to keep Fernades, Dibling, Robinson, Charles, and Edwards will have other clubs prepared to pay a price and their wages. This will be where all the action will be. Players like Bree, Wellington, Smallbone, Stephens, Taylor, Manning, Wood, and Armstrong, are unlikely to attract attention. Not a chance other Championship teams can match their wages, and none of them have shown they can handle the Premier league. They will inevitably form the core of Will Still's side. In fairness they are very decent players at this level. Some pretty rank management has probably given the supporters a bias view of their abilities, but I'm sure they'll do well. However there is the nub of it. Doing well and probably scraping promotion, won't cut it. They'll be no x factor to take into the Premier League and we know exactly what happens then. In addition the club will still (pun not intended but unavoidable) be left with a path blocking huge squad.

Different opinions LD, they make the world go round. His style worked in the Championship as it was backed by decent finance. I didn't like it but we were promoted. Utterly crap in the Prem, no argument. My point was that maybe he has learnt to be more adaptable. Time will tell.

Good job for Russell to land, a great opportunity for him to show he has learnt from his time at Southampton. He was great for us in the Championship, his man management was desperately needed after a few miserable years. His style didn't work in the Prem, but how much that was down to him, or the resources available, is a debatable point. Anyway good luck to him.

Liverpool to win again. More misery for Utd. Ipswich to win the Championship. Can't predict Saints yet, too much still to happen but they'll be in the mix. Cardiff to win L1, Notts County to win L2 That bet is a cool 1281 / 1

I'm not sure comparing the transfer window of 40 years ago, with today's money driven media drama is particularly valid. In the 22/23 season all 3 promoted sides survived. I expect Leeds will give it a good go next year. So I don't buy into the everything is lost scenario. What is needed is an intelligent focussed strategy.... and a lot of luck. Brentford showed that. Last year Saints had the exact opposite. Feels like they are making a more positive start this time. However it's going to be more about who they can get rid of than buy. That squad is so bloated.

I don't think the original comment is necessarily about the competency of the recruitment team, although they clearly didn't do well. I think clear outs can be very cathartic for the fans, but inevitably the replacements aren't Messi, and disappointment looms. We have several players who get dogs abuse from some on here. In reality they are good pros, just not up to Prem level. Get rid we all shout, makes us feel better, but what then. Finding improvements who are at least as good, and can prosper at a a higher level is a difficult task. I guess this is why the club bought players like Sando. To survive in the Prem you need to take developing, decent young players with you. That of course is a gamble but it really is the only way. Good business model as well.

What the hell was Smallbone doing there. That was terrible.

We'll need a double digit score then

That was on a plate for Stewart, what a waste. Imagine Sir Ritchie with that chance ...

The Championship is a mental league. Even in lower mid table you are probably 2 wins from a play off place. If you start listing the contenders, you'll be well into double figures. In no particular order Ipswich, Saints, Leicester, Sheffield/Sunderland , Bristol, Coventry, WBA, Norwich, Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Wrexham, Birmingham, and Sheffield Wed You can guarantee one or two of the other teams will put a run together, like Millwall did this year. It all adds up to a pretty difficult league to predict. Ipswich are probably favourites, but after that it will depend on what sort of summer the other contenders have.

Totally support the club re Rohl. The guy isn't that great a catch. If he wants to play silly buggers he can foxtrot. Very few of us know much about Will. Certainly not enough to make any judgements. However unless the club have a major clear out, he will be dealing with a lot of toxicity in the dressing room. A lethal combination of bruised egos, and a losing ethos. There will be some players the club don't want, and they don't want to be here. Problem will be no one else will want them either. Why the hell they are letting him see the Arsenal game is beyond me. He better have signed by then.

Seems a more sensible appointment than the previous 5, although the bar is very low. Clearly knows a lot about football and seems adaptable. He reminds me of Potter when he first appeared on our radar. Huge question mark as to whether he has the gravitas and resilience, for a Championship season. However everyone has to start somewhere. Fans are going to have to be patient though. His approach will take time to bed in.

Great title, sums up the season. One last hurrah boys

Good to see Wood in the team. Some of his performances have been quite reasonable, better than ABK. He doesn't shirk away from the battle and we'll need him next year. Disappointed Stewart isn't playing from the start. He seems to be moving through the gears now.

Judge the better players comment in September MLG. The summer could make quite a difference. Budget wise we should be big dogs but that doesn't always follow through.

Whilst there remain a few questions marks with Lampard, it does feel like he is maturing as a manager. He certainly wouldn't be the worse appointment for Saints. However I think we are in danger of being a tad entitled, if we think he will chuck Coventry for our basket case of a club . He'll probably hang in there with Coventry for the time being. His agent will link him with every vacant Premier League vacancy. Spurs and West Ham are bound to come up soon, and he'll be seen by many, as a good fit for both those teams.