goodymatt

This is quite encouraging, you can see the understanding of the new style improving. Could be a fun watch this season.

Amo-Ameyaw, I’m very interested to watch him again. Is he a surprise replacement for Sulemana?

I also think KWP suits this inverted FB role as we move forward, technically good enough to do it.

Smallbone is well suited to possession football, good vision and moves the ball quickly. As I said during Goztepe, lad looks stronger now too.

Interesting that Alex McCarthy isn’t on the bench? Or any keeper for that matter.

Interestingly Diallo’s new manager in Qatar will be Hernan Crespo

It’s clear we have made necessary changes and Wilcox is now driving things. The point I was trying to make was that both Saints and Leeds adopted a ‘find the next best talent early’ approach and we both got the same result of relegation. I do expect the new structure to oversee a more balanced recruitment model. Leeds owner saying in that clip that they needed to sign more experienced and ready players with their £100m outlay, I feel the same about our £140m spend. Lavia was our best player last season, Alcaraz seems a rough diamond and ABK looked really good when he stayed fit. So youth wasn’t solely to blame. I think Bazunu was the biggest and most unnecessary risk. Letting Romeu leave and I do think Redmond could have offered more than those that remained too. Just a lack of leadership all over the pitch.

When Saints announced the ticket details they said they had taken the ‘maximum allocation of 2,400’. No idea why the lower tier isn’t available to us.

Got my ticket this morning, first time visiting Hillsborough. Any tips on parking and pre match pubs? Members sale this morning and lite members this afternoon. Looks on course for a sell out?

Piroe watch

Hopefully still a non starter 🤞

I worded that poorly, meant £15m including the add ons. It’s a big fee for a championship signing. Can’t see him not being a starter.

I know it’s Footy Insider but Newcastle’s interest in Tino isn’t going away just yet.

Think our model Is to bring these high performing academy players and be their platform. Shea Charles at £15m (with add ons included) won’t be sitting on our bench every week. Wilcox knows his ability and it seems he’s the Lavia replacement. Hopefully he’s more Tino/Lavia than Larios/Edozie/Bazunu. Playing these players regularly is what attracts them here in the first place over competitors, Leicester we’re interested in Charles too for example.

Not been the best of signings!

Find myself falling into the trap of hoping these players will just be significantly better in this league, however the lack of suitability to our possession based style is a huge concern.

That’s roughly £5m then total, we paid £4m to sign him?

One out of contract Swansea player that won’t be following Martin to Saints.

Looks like a permanent sale not loan with obligation according to The Athletic

Trying to make sense of our CB situation: 1. Bednarek - I think he stays as first choice. Leadership qualities came out towards the end of last season. I saw him giving one of his new pep talks to Lavia before he came on at Goztepe too. 2. Stephens - After playing PL footy last season, his expectation would be to start or surely he would want to leave. I remain unconvinced but hoping this is maybe his level? He does have some leadership qualities. 3. Lyanco - Off to Besiktas. Thank god, 4. Salisu - 1 year left and linked with Monaco and Everton recently. I 100% expect him to be sold. 5. DCC - Lost his place in the Croatia national team, struggled to hold down a place in our team last season. Also fully expect him to leave. 6. Bella-Kotchap - National team squad player for Germany already. Bags of potential but fitness is an issue. He will likely be going back to Germany. I wonder if that £25m release clause is too high? Martin may play 3 at the back, we will need 5 CBs or 4 with Charles/Bree/Manning making up that 5th back up if we have injuries. So I make it Bednarek, Stephens and possibly (but unlikely) Bella-Kotchap. We will need to sign two. Not sure if Holgate being the only addition would fill me with confidence. Other links that haven’t moved elsewhere yet are Cabango, Wood and Edwards. Would Stephens, Bednarek, Edwards and Holgate be strong enough? I think I’d take that.

Holgate?

Hello stranger 👋