The Kraken

Our manager. Great presser. It also has the written press Q&A which get delayed until much later on.

Very surprised that nobody has had a nibble at THB for £15M.

It’s of course up to you what you would or wouldn’t be shocked with. I watched the press conference where Russ said that, and he was absolutely unequivocal about the fact that it would be “madness” if Che left and he wasn’t replaced. That is pretty much exactly what Martin said in his press conference last week as well. So, when Saturday comes we’ll have a definitive picture of how the club have done with this, and also of the Tella replacement which they said is a high priority. We at least know for sure what the communicated objective is.

Thursday rest day, Friday travel day.

I think it’s as simple as said….Rusty previously said that Che has been offered a new contract that involves being vice captain. So if he’s still here on Saturday he’s staying and takes the armband by default. If he doesn’t stay,I can see one of the new boys taking it, likely Manning. It’ll be someone who is likely to play every game and I’m not sure if Bednarek is that even with Stephens out for a while. Could be Adarma, I suppose.

Really good presser from Rusty. A summary: There will be lots going on for duration of the window. It’s dependent on getting players out as to ascertaining who will come in. Replacing Tella is high on the priority list, got a few options lined up, let’s see which one lands. Nathan Wood, likes him a lot but he’s a Swansea player, let’s see. Che Adams, three options: 1 we keep Che; 2 we sell Che and replace him; 3 we keep Che and sign someone else as well. Any other option not being looked at, selling him and not replacing him would be mad. Also, Russ still sounded pissed off that has been leaks from the club about Adams training separately. Jack Stephens injury not anywhere near as bad as anticipated. Hurt his calf, will miss 7-8 games which sounds a lot but they feared the worst so treating it as a positive. Downes, Holgate and Fraser all have a good chance of starting Saturday. Overall, looking forward to the window closing and getting with the job. Juan Larios back training and an option on the left, natural LB and pushing Ryan Manning well. Romain Perraud didn’t really suit the way we played. New captain……..you’ll find out on Saturday. Ross Stewart, really like him, tried to sign him before. We’re going to be linked with some, lots reported are miles off the mark, we’ll see.

We’ll see one way or another by the end of Friday.

Club says Fraser is not the Tella replacement and we’re after one more. So, if that does happen, it’s Sulemana and Tella out, Fraser and AN Other in.

On the flip side, he was the record transfer just last January for a mid size PL club and he can argue that the previous managers barely gave him a chance to settle in. £30M fee seems very high to me considering he’s barely done fuck all save for a good game against a Liverpool side who had pretty much downed tools. But he was scouted by us for a reason, and he’s got a tiny bit of pedigree to show in the PL. Not surprised he’s looking for a way out tbf to him. Not surprised to see there’s lot of interest from Ligue 1 for him. Def think he’ll be gone but reckon a loan as the transfer fee will be too high for who is in for him.

It is, but there’s previously been reports that City could let him go on loan as part of an agreement to extend his contract with them by another year, so they’d still retain him next season.

It’s possible I guess. And depends just how keen the club are to get rid of him. I’d say, the flip side of that is that if the deal on offer is not good enough from a financial point of view, is there enough money in the club to take the hit and keep hold of him, at least until January? I think he’ll be off, sounds like neither side are busting a gut for him to stay. Just that Everton don’t necessarily sit in a financial position of strength, we may need another club or two to emerge if a decent resolution is to be had.

All reports on Everton’s Beto deal is that they’ve paid zero up front, won’t pay anything until the next financial year. Probably might struggle to even get a loan fee out of them. So they’re not exactly the most appealing club to sell/loan to.

That’ll do his peak fitness levels all sorts of good then.

And yet the majority of them on there are desperate for Stewart to either sign his new contract or for their club to just give him what he wants in wages, rather than take a hefty transfer fee. So maybe they’re mad too.

No, no further news on Che. News that saints have had an initial bid for Ross Stewart rebuffed but may go back in for him. Wanton speculation abound as to whether Stewart is a replacement for Che or a signing in his own right. Paul Onuachu not seen in training yesterday and everyone has got their fingers crossed.

Just been reading the Sunderland forum, they largely rave about Ross Stewart and would be devastated to lose him. Multiple comments saying that he’s the best striker in the division. They think they’re a bit stuffed without him at this late stage so it’s not there yet but sounds like Stewart is refusing to sign a new contract so they may want to cash in. Who knows?! Hope to find out soon, exciting last few days of the window ahoy.

Very interesting programme just finished now on BBC1, a bunch of lads who got released by pro clubs and are being managed in a special new group being run by Gifton Noel Williams. One of the lads is Jake Flannigan who played for Saints. Episode 2 just played but they’re all available on iPlayer. Good watching.

They’ve already done something right fella. Downes, great signing. Fraser, much promise. Charles, super prospect. Manning looks ok so far, especially going forward. Hard to criticise players in so far, surely? And we’ll see about Holgate, no idea myself but we’ll see and if he’s good enough to get on £70k in the first place, there’s the potential of a player there. If that doesn’t meet a benchmark of doing something right, I fear you’ll just be disappointed with the vey thing else that’s left. Meh, up to you what you think but doesn’t make too much sense to me for the metrics you’re putting out.

Just to clarify…which of the signings we’ve made so far this summer have been on the cheap and mediocre players for this level?

The rumours are as depressing as you interpret them. They’re not always the truth. They might be, they might not be. Getting depressed about them seems a bit far. Down negative man, down.

He really is. He’s an absolute mad man, but at least he’s getting his fix of being an online obnoxious prick somewhere else.

He’d be sailing this dirty old town back into the Premier League.

Or another theoretical…keep Che, sell Tall Paul, buy Rod Stewart. Nah, far too optimistic that.

The talk was about KWP.

2 years left on his contract, goes to summer 2025.