SNSUN

Our business has been good so far, THB, Taylor, Edwards, even Lallana will add squad experience. I still half expect us to go all Saintsy and announce we’re in talks to resign Mason Holgate or something.

I'd say all transfers are a risk if you think about it unless you are prepared to spend money on someone like Mo Salah. Even someone like Rickie Lambert was a risk at the time (just an example). Ings was a risk because of his injuries at the price we paid but that turned out OK (also just an example). A CB jumping two divisions to play in the Prem for the first time I'd say qualifies as a risk, even with the attributes he has and praise he gets. However it is definitely a good risk both because of his age and his price and it is definitely one I'm glad we've taken. I agree this (and the Wood transfer) bode us well for next summer, either they power us to safety, we make money from them or we have good CBs ready for a Championship season. Good decision from the club. When I lie down, I'm a foot tall. And when I lie down and get an erection, I'm still a foot tall. I'm like Ken from Barbie and Ken.

That’s a big yes please, it’s also a very West Ham-style signing.

I tell women I’m 6’1” but I’m actually 5’11” and a half. Ok that’s a lie, I don’t talk to women. Transfermrkt has him as exactly 6’, Wiki says 5’11”. Either way not the tallest as CB’s go but as long as he’s committed, quick and reads the game well, he’s got all the attributes to do well in the Prem. THB, Jan and Wood are 6’2” so we will have some height there. It may only be an inch or 2 but every inch matters - amirite ladies!?

Bree is fine as a back up RB IMO, getting the 1st choice RB right post-KWP is key. The fact we’ve been linked to RBs shows we’re preparing to sell KWP this summer, though I’m not sure Aarons is the answer. Aarons and Bree as a pair of RBs doesn’t fill me with as much confidence as Bree being a back up to KWP. Ross Stewart will be very much part of our attack IMO. He would have been first choice last season had he not got injured and we’ve already lost (tbc) Adams from that striker list. I just hope he makes the step up. We definitely need another striker though, maybe even 2 (or a versatile winger than can also play as a striker) as we cannot rely on Mara in any capacity from what we’ve seen. Sulemana and Alcaraz… that’s anyone’s guess. I’d like to see Alcaraz stay but I’m not sure where he fits into our system. Sulemana I’m non-plussed about apart from giving us an extra attacking bench option.

Smart signing - it’s a risk as most transfers from a lower league are but it’s a risk worth taking. Other Prem clubs have been sniffing around and he seems to have all the tools to succeed. Sure he’s not the tallest as CBs go but plenty of CBs have been a success without hitting 6’, it’s all in the reading of the game. Welcome on board.

Question is - would we have renewed McCarthy's contract without Bazunu's injury? Possibly not and let's just say we still got promoted with Baz in goal, we may very well be going into the Premier League season with him as No 1 again and Lumley as back up - and that would worry the hell out of me as Baz doesn't fill me with confidence and nor would Lumley as a 2. McCarthy isn't perfect and I'd prefer someone "better" but I think he's more solid than Baz. But that's IF McCarthy is in our planning as a No 1, which, while some people think he is, I'm still dubious of. You need 3 Keepers in the Prem and, if Baz is out for 6-8 months or so (could be out the whole season), I still think we'll bring in another (possibly loan). Just a hunch.

As a right wing back fine, but he's not a great right back having seen him play for Norwich. We've just sorted out left back defensively, I hope we don't know screw up right back unless we're planning to bring in 2 of them (with PSR I can't see that).

I think the biggest lack of something we've seen so far, bar very fleeting glimpses, is quality bearing in mind the players we have on offer. We're not defensive per se, we're just too safe. I think I've seen enough effort from England as the tournament has progressed, just not enough quality.

The Wicker Man > Alan Whicker > Born in Egypt > Player born in Egypt > Mohammed El Elneny.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/david-de-gea-sends-three-29422279 Factors you'd have to consider is fitness and wages. Yes, signing De Gea would be an easy decision for a club like Saints as he's very good but his wages will be too high even after a year out the game. Then there are question marks over why he was out for a year and why other clubs didn't go in for one of the best keepers of the last 10 years. Enjoying life too much perhaps? Attitude? I still think he's end up in Saudi.

Complete free agent list. Still lots of quality players available. Maybe signing an experienced CB like Matip or Varane to help the 3 young CBs out (out of our wage range but that sort of idea) would be sensible. It's also gone quiet on those links to Ghoddos and O'Hare unless they were just rumours. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/statistik/vertragslosespieler Any of our forum club contacts heard anything about Matias Soule? I believe we were heavily interested but it depended on whether we went up or not. Which we did. Obviously.

Gareth is OK at selecting them, it's just that he's then far too cautious. It would be like choosing Margot Robbie AND Jennifer Aniston and then not having sex with either for fear of chlamydia.

I think Saints are really interested in O'Riley as a top target as we've been chasing him for a few windows but it seems we're looking at having to pay around £30 million and some huge wages and I reckon the meatball will be too spicy for us, particularly with other Prem clubs circling. Getting Downes should be a priority though.

I have the Dutch in my work sweep and as I'm in charge of my work sweep I'd rather they didn't win it or I'll basically be buying myself a bottle of JD (the prize being a bottle of booze of the winner's choice at my expense). Actually... come on the Netherlands!

I'm not even sure where to start on this one! We just signed what will most likely be our first choice left back, we also have Manning, Larios and Meghoma although it is possible the last two will go out on loan. Our left back business is probably done. Sessegnon is training with Palace so will likely join them. Soares and Cork 😄 I do think we need two strikers or will need two strikers once any players leaving are confirmed, I wouldn't be against Ings on reduced wages. Shankland I don't know much about, 29 come the new season but does score a lot for Hearts. I liked what I saw of Clarke at the start of last season but he'd be costly and he wasnt as effective when he came back from injury. On RTG they think he's great for the Championship but not quite good enough for the Prem which is why clubs are reluctant to pay the money they want for him... and that when they played Prem clubs he was largely ineffective. Of course you dont know someone is good enough for the Prem until yoh try them but it's a lot of money for a risk. I do think we'll get Fraser but I'm kinda hoping he's just a back up to a first choice.

Edwards is a decent bit of business for the future, has been quite sought after by Prem clubs and is very highly rated. Both him and Wood will be “gambles” as the Premier League goes but Edwards in particular is one worth taking. With THB that’s 3 young, English CBs on board this summer. Add Stephens for leadership/experience and the only question mark is over the future of Bednarek - I hope he stays but I can understand the club wanting to cash in if he doesn’t sign a new contract, and if he doesn’t there’s every possibility we could bring in a 4th new CB. A complete rebuild of the CB department is well underway it seems.

https://www.premierleague.com/news/4047111 Adams makes the Premier League's list of best free transfers available

Hypothetically we could see both on the same pitch if we play with 3 CBS, as Taylor can play LCB and Manning as a wing back.

We did loan him out last time we were in the Prem in favour of other CBs so it seems the powers that be didn't think so (although we were a clusterf*ck back then), but after a good season in the Championship and having played in the Euros group games he's possibly a more experienced player this time round and I like him. I said the other day if we were linked with a CB who is at the prime age of their career who has tons of experience and just had a great Championship season, we'd be happy, but with PSR haunting everyone, we also need to remember he only has one year of his contract left - if he's not going to sign a new one we either sell him this summer for funds or lose him next summer on a free.

Or the make up of our Championship team in 2025-6. But yes our first XI is nowhere near strong enough right now but we still have 6 weeks or so to sort it. Wait...6 weeks?

I might be very wrong but I'd be very surprised if a £4 million (Source Swansea forums) CB from the Championship will be starting on Day 1 of the Premier League season (barring injuries to other CBs). To me the Wood deal smells of us signing a back up who may or may not improve, based on his age, speed and height. I still think we'll bring another CB in (or deem Jan as being good enough for a season in the Prem now). Swansea fans seem to think he lacks concentration, positioning and plays it safe and they universally seem to dislike him. Maybe we think he's got the raw materials to be a decent defender and can be coached. As I said, I would be very surprised if he was a starting CB in August.

Feel for Slovenia they gave it their all. Costa on fire

Well that’s surely that…

Slovenia miss, CR7 scores. Of course