the saint in winchester

It's ironic isn't it. He wants to go to a team challenging for a champions league place. We can't afford to buy in players of that level, but if he helped improve his colleagues now, we could well get there with us, especially this season when the league is open. But I guess he'd rather go back to being a bit-part player in a squad that has a higher probability of getting there. I'm surprised.

Our ambition? FFS, we are trying to stay in business. Lower your expectations, Danny, and your wage demands as well. We have to pay back the £80M emergency loan by 2025 and £7M loan interest per year until then. We don't have spare cash lying around. Want to go back to Liverpool's bench then?

Yes, agreed. We know Long was given an extended deal because Ings said he likes playing with him. And still Ings isn't putting pen to paper yet. No more sweeteners. We have to tighten our belt for next 5 years. Are you in or out, Danny boy?

Yes, you're right. Only the super-rich will be able to continue without breaking stride. Indeed, although we will need to sell our top players, you're right to point out other clubs won't be looking to buy. Contracts will have to be re-negotiated. A lot of clubs have commented recently they are looking to reduce playing staff, not increase.

Wow, this was a sobering read. So it seems whereas some clubs laid off staff, or furloughed them, we carried on paying everyone in full. I thought that meant we were in good shape financially, but now it seems we simply took out an onerous hardship loan. Although the loan is only repayable in 2025, we have to pay 9% interest on that annually for the next 5 years (c.£8m interest). With no in-stadium support, we are looking at TV revenue and merchandise, primarily. Unless football can get a better deal off TV companies, clubs are in trouble. For us, the tables are turned. We now NEED to sell Ings, Vestie and JWP in the next 5 years to realise £80M to repay the loan. This is business. N'Dululu, Tella and co are going to be our future. This is a step we need to take, and we will grow again. Lots of clubs will be going through this organic change too, so we won't be alone. We will rise, selling our young players and bringing through new ones. In fact, we'll be better than most clubs through our academy. Unless a new owner appears and has £100M to pay off our debts? Unlikely. Fasten your seatbelts, then ...

Nice. I've never been to Maidstone.

Will be a shame if the Cup game gets postponed, as Frazer needs to get more minutes under his belt sooner rather than later.

Higgi is a pundit on NBC Sports, was on last Sunday. Looks and sounds in good nick.

According to that report, he has "excelled so far" at Saints, but hasn't been given the chances to play, so Vellaloid (sp) are prepared to make us an offer. I hope this is indeed garbage. We haven't set eyes on him yet.

I'm undecided between leaving the first-teamers on the bench (a la LeG) and hoping they're not needed, OR playing a strong team for an hour, hopefully retiring them after an hour at 3-0 up, and letting the youngsters close out the game (per Teddee above). 🤔 Today I think I want to rest them, maybe on the day I'll want to play them.

Well, Fraser is going to make a name for himself now. Either a good name or a bad name, we will see! If it goes well, we extend his contract (lol) or if it goes badly, he's on the Tuesday morning plane to Glasgow. We have faith, Fraser. Take your chance.

Maybe so, but after seeing 6 Liverpool players in Garth Crooks' Team of the Year, let's rejoice we have a player in this one. Would have liked to have seen D.Ings but accept Salah and Kane in a front two.

NO. If we had been winning recently, rather than dropping points left, right and centre then I would have taken a point here. But in the circumstances, we have to go for the win and accept we may come away losing. But please, not another sterile goalless draw.

We don't seem to want players "to create something out of nothing" any more. It's become 'football by numbers', constant passing sideways, retaining possession, hoping our swilling the ball side to side will cause the oppo to leave space we can exploit. It doesn't happen. It's become stale. No-one takes on a player, tries to get through from the midfield and go for goal. It's not just Saints. Watching so many live games, I'm seeing all teams do this. It's just the tempo and pace that changes.

I hope I'm wrong, but we rushed him back too soon before and paid the penalty. Here we are rushing him back again. Should be on the bench to give us 20 mins tops. He wasn't ready to play before, and I fear he will not be match-fit again. ps. why aren't we asking for the game to be re-arranged with Ralph and maybe othered Covided? I know the answer - different rules apply for non top 6.

All the pre-game write ups say Antonio is OUT ….. but you never know. Funny ol' game, Saint, funny ol' game. About time we played for a win, not a clean sheet. Play N'Dululu or Obafemi up top and tell Walcott to back them up.

Honestly think Everton should be awarded the game. "Multiple" Man City positive for Covid? There's no excuse for that. I'm sure they have 11 fit and healthy players who could be playing this game. If not, concede the points.

Yeah, I think the IN's will be totally depending on the OUT's column. We don't need anyone currently, but if there is demand for our players and anyone leaves, then we will likely need to bring in cover.

PSG are currently behind Lyon and Lille, so not a one horse race this season.

Maybe in the past we were. But we since brought in Walcott. And we have Tella as well. We're well stocked in the wide area now. But if Redmond were to go, and a squad place was available for Gray, he's a good player.

Agree this is a harder proposition now than it was a few weeks ago. At home, Fulham can dominate. Diallo in for Romeu is an easy decision. And I think he will shine, and become a starter very soon. He has had to wait, now is his time. Like Lighthouse (above) I wonder if Ralph will simply start N'Lundulu up top, leaving the wingers unchanged? If it isn't working for him, then revert to Walcott alongside Adams. Maybe not a must-win, but we do need to get a win soon, as we're dropping off the pace.

Ings - we'd hope for more than £35M surely? Either way, he needs to sign that contract extension even if only for us to get the £50M he should be priced at. VVD, sorry Vestergaard - he's loving his cemented place right now, he wouldn't want to leave, so if we need to extend it, do it. He's already a £50M player, and if he continues playing as well as he is, his price will increase.

I would go with that team, apart from using Long and Obafemi instead of Redders and Djenepo. Play Long and Tella on the wings, N'Lundulu and Oba up top. We need to see who impresses.

And that's the point. We have regular first choice players in those positions, so we appear to be looking for a reserve player. Imagine the conversation : "so Brandon, we'd like to bring you in on a salary lower than you are on now, and no, you're unlikely to get any game time, but we do have excellent facilities, and you can get a decent coffee in the restaurant. What do you say?" Gonna be a hard sell.

As a Saints fan, I would offer to extend his contract. But agree, it looks like he may not make the matchday squads as it stands. In which case, try to recoup/sell for revenue in January. I can't see any advantage to Saints in simply loaning him out again when his contract expires next summer. However, Josh may want to run down his contract, leave for free in the summer and start again.